Protective Effect of Solanum nigrum

The prophylactic or curative antioxidant efficacy of crude extract and the active constituent of S. nigrum leaves were evaluated in modulating inherent antioxidant system altered due to immobilization stress in rat brain tissues, in terms of measurement of glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS), and free radical scavenging enzymes activities. Rats were treated with single dose of crude extract of S. nigrum prior to and after 6 h of immobilization stress exposure. Exposure to immobilization stress resulted in a decrease in the brain levels of glutathione, SOD, GST, and catalase, with an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels. Treatment of S. nigrum extract and its active constituents to both pre- and poststressed rats resulted in significant modulation in the above mentioned parameters towards their control values with a relative dominance by the latter. Brain is vulnerable to stress induced prooxidant insult due to high levels of fat content. Thus, as a safe herbal medication the S. nigrum leaves extract or its isolated constituents can be used as nutritional supplement for scavenging free radicals generated in the brain due to physical or psychological stress or any neuronal diseases per se

Role of Glutaraldehyde in Imparting Stability to Immobilized β-Galactosidase Systems

ABSTRACT This review article highlights the role of glutaraldehyde as a matrix activator/stabilizer in imparting higher operational and thermal stability to β-galactosidase (βG) for biotechnological applications. Glutaraldehyde has been used extensively as a crosslinking agent as well as for functionalization of matrices to immobilize β-galactosidase. Immobilized β-galactosidase systems (IβGS) obtained as a result of glutaraldehyde treatment has been employed to hydrolyze whey and milk lactose in batch reactors, continuous packed-bed and fluidized bed reactors under various operational conditions. Moreover, these IβGS have also been utilized for the production of galactooligosaccharides in food, dairy and fermentation industries. It was observed that glutaraldehyde provided remarkable stability to immobilize βG against various physical/chemical denaturants, thus enhancing thermal/operational stability and rendering it more suitable for repeated utilization in industrial scale operations

Antibacterial activity of iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation technology against Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella pneumoniae

The present study investigates the synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) for their antibacterial potential against Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella pneumonia by modified disc diffusion and broth agar dilution methods. DLS and XRD results revealed the average size of synthesized Fe3O4-NPs as 24 nm while XPS measurement exhibited the spin-orbit peak of Fe 2p3/2 binding energy at 511 eV. Fe3O4-NPs inhibited the growth of K. pneumoniae and B. cereus in both liquid and soild agar media, and displayed 26 mm and 22 mm zone of inhibitions, respectively. MIC of Fe3O4-NPs was found to be 5 μg/mL against these strains. However, MBC for these strains was observed at 40 μg/mL concentration of Fe3O4-NPs for exhibiting 40–50% loss in viable bacterial cells and 80 μg/mL concentration of Fe3O4-NPs acted as bactericidal for causing 90–99% loss in viability. Hence, these nanoparticles can be explored for their additional antimicrobial and biomedical applications

Reno-protective effect of garlic extract against immobilization stress induced changes in rats

Objective: To examine immobilization stress-induced antioxidant defense alterations in rat kidney and the antioxidant effects of aqueous garlic extract in pre and post stress extract treatments. Methods: Albino rats were treated with aqueous extract of garlic both before and 6 h of immobilization stress. Pro-oxidant eminence of rat kidney was assessed by determining the levels of glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase and antioxidant enzymes activities. Results: In response to 6 h of immobilization stress, a significant rise in the level of kidney enzymes was recorded. However, antioxidant enzyme activities showed a sharp decline. Conclusions: The extract treatment before and after the stress reverted the activities of above mentioned enzymes towards their control values. Hence, garlic extract can be given as nutritional supplement for scavenging the free radicals generated in rat kidney