Partial Purification and Biochemical Characterization of Extracellular Pectinase from Aspergillus Niger Isolated from Groundnut Seeds

To produce and partially purify pectinases from Aspergillus niger isolateJGIm2, characterize the enzymes for potential industrial applications in clarifying fruit juices. Methodology and results: Isolates of Aspergillus niger were screened for ability to produce pectinases by the enzymatic index method. All the 34 isolates screened were producers with isolates JGIm2, JGIm3 and JGIm5 being the best. Optimum enzyme production was found with medium containing 1.5% pectin after 48 h of fermentation. Partial purification of the enzyme was carried out by ethanol precipitation to give two fold purification and 56% yield. The enzyme had pH & temperature optima of 4.0 and 45°C, Km and Vmax values of 0.178 g/dl & 11.62 IU/mg protein, respectively. Clarification of banana and pineapple juice using the partially purified enzyme resulted in 38 and 41% reduction in viscosity as determined spectroscopically

A Review on Eight System Inspection Model

The FDA's Drug Manufacturing Inspection Compliance Program, which constitutes instructions to FDA personnel for conducting inspections, is a systems-based approach for inspections and is very consistent with the robust quality systems model presented in this guidance. The diagram below shows the relationship among the six systems: the quality system and the five manufacturing systems.  The quality system provides the foundation for the manufacturing systems that are linked and function within it. The quality systems model described in this guidance does not treat the five manufacturing systems as discrete entities, but instead integrates them into appropriate sections of the model. Those familiar with the six-system inspection approach will see organizational differences in this guidance; however, the inter-relationship. Generally, the term quality unit is used in this guidance.  However, quality control unit is used when directly quoting parts. United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) propose Six System Inspection Model for the audit of pharmaceutical organization for minimization of regulatory submission. Author studied this system, then added and modified this to Eight System Inspection Model to make this more useful and user friendly for the pharmaceutical organization which wants to go for USFDA or other international audits. While doing this author added two additional systems (Management/Regulatory) and four additional points (Validation, HVAC System Validation, Water and Steam System Validation and Vendor Certification)

Histogenesis and Histomorphometric study of Human Fetal Small Intestine

Background: Intestine plays a major role for the normal growth of the fetus during the prenatal period. The process of the embryonic development is not quantified histologically. Therefore the main aim of the study was to measure the thickness of all part of the wall of the small intestine that are mucosa, submucosa and muscularis externa and to look for the appearance of the Brunner’s glands and Peyer’s patches in the submucosa of duodenum and ileum.Methods: The present study was carried out on 30 fetuses of gestational ages ranging from 11-36 weeks. Ten fetuses from each trimester were used in the study. Fetal small intestine were dissected carefully, and were separated as duodenum, jejunum & ileum and fixed in formalin solution. The tissue was processed for histology and then slides were stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin. The microscopic features were noted using light microscope.Results: The thickness of the mucosa, submucosa and the muscularis externa was observed to be increased in first trimester, decreased in the second trimester and again increased in the third trimester, which could be because of the increase cell turnover and the arrangement of the collagen fibers as to support the mucosa and the muscularis externa.Conclusion: Thus, the knowledge of the histogenesis and histomorphometry of the human fetal small intestine is crucial for the adult gastroenterologist to appreciate, because of the potential for these early life events to affect the responsiveness of the intestine to physiological or pathological challenges in later life.

Study on impact of different climatic zones on physicochemical and phytochemical profile of Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal

The main objective of the present investigation included a comparative physicochemical, phytochemical along with chromatographic evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots collected from various Indian climatic zones. The study includes macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation of W. somnifera roots collected from different climatic zones (desert, plains, coastal and plateau) of India. Further, chromatographic evaluations were carried out taking Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A as biomarkers with the help of HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were found to be within the prescribed limits of the WHO, while the phytochemical analysis showed the higher quantities of phytoconstituents obtained from desert followed by coastal regions. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents in sample from coastal and desert region. Further, the quantification of Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC. The results confirmed higher quantity of both the biomarkers in samples collected from desert followed by coastal region. Thus, the study may be helpful in understanding the role of climatic zones in relation to the variability in phytochemical composition of medicinal plants such as W. somnifera. This will help in selecting the better quality of medicinal plant for preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that will serve the society

Phytosomes: A Novel Drug Delivery for Herbal Extracts

The term “phyto” means plant while “some” means cell-like. Phytosome is novel emerging technique applied to phyto-pharmaceutical which contains phytoconstituents to herbal extract surrounds and bound by lipids. Phytosome shows better absorption, hence produces better bioavailability than the conventional herbal extracts. Because of their improved pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties. Phytosomes are herbal formulation which has enhanced the therapeutic effects of the plant extracts and herbal lead molecule by increasing bioavailability in the target site compared to conventional herbal extracts. This is improved forms of herbal formulation which contain the bioactive phytoconstituents of herb essence enclosed and bound by a lipid. Phytosomes demonstrated improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic response than customary botanical extracts.  Keywords: Phytosomes; Bioavailability, Phospolipids, phytoconstituents.  &nbsp

Nanosponges: A Novel Trend for Targeted Drug Delivery

Effective targeted drug delivery system has been a dream for a long time, but it has been largely frustrated by the complex chemistry that is involved in the development of new systems. Topical drug delivery system has many problems like poor permeability, skin irritation, allergic reactions etc. major problems of newly developed chemical entities is their poor solubility in water and pharmacokinetic issues. These poorly-water soluble drugs show many problems in formulating them in conventional dosage forms and the critical problems associated is its very low bioavailability. The invention of Nanosponge has become a significant step towards overcoming these problems. Nanosponge is tiny sponges with a size about a virus (250nm-1um), which can be filled with a wide variety of drugs. Nanosponge play vital role in targeting drugs delivery in a controlled manner. This sponge can circulate around the body until interact with specific target site and stick on surface and releasing drug in controlled manner both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs are  incorporated in nanosponge . Important characteristics of these sponges are their solubility in aqueous from and suitable for the drugs with poor solubility. This review is focusing on the preparation method, applications of nanosponge, factor in the field of drug delivery.            Keywords: nanosponge, poor solubility, Biodegradable polymers, synthesis, preparatio

Study on impact of different climatic zones on physicochemical and phytochemical profile of Withaniasomnifera (L.) Dunal

486-493The main objective of the present investigation included a comparative physicochemical, phytochemical along with chromatographic evaluation of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal roots collected from various Indian climatic zones. The study includes macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical and chromatographic evaluation of W. somnifera roots collected from different climatic zones (desert, plains, coastal and plateau) of India. Further, chromatographic evaluations were carried out taking Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A as biomarkers with the help of HPTLC and HPLC analysis. The physicochemical parameters evaluated were found to be within the prescribed limits of the WHO, while the phytochemical analysis showed the higher quantities of phytoconstituents obtained from desert followed by coastal regions. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of maximum number of phytoconstituents in sample from coastal and desert region. Further, the quantification of Withaferine-A and Withanoloid-A was carried out using HPTLC and HPLC. The results confirmed higher quantity of both the biomarkers in samples collected from desert followed by coastal region. Thus, the study may be helpful in understanding the role of climatic zones in relation to the variability in phytochemical composition of medicinal plants such as W. somnifera. This will help in selecting the better quality of medicinal plant for preparation of herbal formulations with best therapeutic value that will serve the society

Impact of Fatty-Acid Labeling of Bacillus subtilis Membranes on the Cellular Lipidome and Proteome

Developing cultivation methods that yield chemically and isotopically defined fatty acid (FA) compositions within bacterial cytoplasmic membranes establishes an in vivo experimental platform to study membrane biophysics and cell membrane regulation using novel approaches. Yet before fully realizing the potential of this method, it is prudent to understand the systemic changes in cells induced by the labeling procedure itself. In this work, analysis of cellular membrane compositions was paired with proteomics to assess how the proteome changes in response to the directed incorporation of exogenous FAs into the membrane of Bacillus subtilis. Key findings from this analysis include an alteration in lipid headgroup distribution, with an increase in phosphatidylglycerol lipids and decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine lipids, possibly providing a fluidizing effect on the cell membrane in response to the induced change in membrane composition. Changes in the abundance of enzymes involved in FA biosynthesis and degradation are observed; along with changes in abundance of cell wall enzymes and isoprenoid lipid production. The observed changes may influence membrane organization, and indeed the well-known lipid raft-associated protein flotillin was found to be substantially down-regulated in the labeled cells – as was the actin-like protein MreB. Taken as a whole, this study provides a greater depth of understanding for this important cell membrane experimental platform and presents a number of new connections to be explored in regard to modulating cell membrane FA composition and its effects on lipid headgroup and raft/cytoskeletal associated proteins