Ethnomedicinal plants and isolated compounds against Snake venom activity: A review

491-505Snakebite is an occupational hazard that has affected the population in tropical and subtropical countries. Worldwide approximately 5.4 million bites, 2.7 million envenomations, and 81,000-1,38,000 deaths are observed per annum. The incidences are higher among farmers and plantation workers. Antivenom is the only treatment available and the production of the same is challenging due to geographical variation of snakes, storage conditions, and non-availability of venom for production. Antivenom therapy is associated with immediate or delayed hypersensitivity and does not prevent local tissue damage. Thus the search for medicinal plants by the scientific community has become relevant. The ethnobotanical studies on various plants have revealed their use to treat various ailments including snakebite. Hence, the review is aimed to amass the medicinal plants studied and also emphasize various components isolated that have shown promising results

Biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles: A review

The synthesis of nanostructured materials, especially metallic nanoparticles, has accrued utmost interest over the past decade owing to their unique properties that make them applicable in different fields of science and technology. The limitation to the use of these nanoparticles is the paucity of an effective method of synthesis that will produce homogeneous size and shape nanoparticles as well as particles with limited or no toxicity to the human health and the environment. The biological method of nanoparticle synthesis is a relatively simple, cheap, and environmentally friendly method than the conventional chemical method of synthesis and thus gains an upper hand. The biomineralization of nanoparticles in protein cages is one of such biological approaches used in the generation of nanoparticles. This method of synthesis apart from being a safer method in the production of nanoparticles is also able to control particle morphology

Biosynthesis of Metal Nanoparticles: A Review

The synthesis of nanostructured materials, especially metallic nanoparticles, has accrued utmost interest over the past decade owing to their unique properties that make them applicable in different fields of science and technology. The limitation to the use of these nanoparticles is the paucity of an effective method of synthesis that will produce homogeneous size and shape nanoparticles as well as particles with limited or no toxicity to the human health and the environment. The biological method of nanoparticle synthesis is a relatively simple, cheap, and environmentally friendly method than the conventional chemical method of synthesis and thus gains an upper hand. The biomineralization of nanoparticles in protein cages is one of such biological approaches used in the generation of nanoparticles. This method of synthesis apart from being a safer method in the production of nanoparticles is also able to control particle morphology

Gingipain Genotyping as a Potential Predictor for the Assessment of Periodontal Health and Disease Condition

Oral hygiene maintenance is important to maintain optimal oral health. Oral health is affected by dysbiotic oral microflora in the dental plaque. Virulent factors of pathogenic organisms, such as gingipain, are responsible for tissue degradation and host tissue invasion in periodontal disease. We sought to investigate the distribution of gingipain genotypes (rgpA and kgp) of P. gingivalis in patients with chronic periodontitis and healthy individuals. The study included individuals positive for P. gingivalis, with 95 samples in the chronic periodontitis (CP) group and 35 samples in the healthy (H) group. We found that kgp-I and kgp-II types were prevalent in 67.36% and 32.64% of the samples in the CP group, respectively. In the H group, kgp-II was highly prevalent (97.14%). The rgpA genotype, type A was found in 78.95% and 82.85% of the samples in the CP and H group, respectively. The mean level of PD and CAL were increased in the presence of kgp-I and decreased in the presence of kgp-II. The mean level of P. gingivalis was increased in the presence of kgp-I and rgpA, type A. Our results show that kgp-I and kgp-II are strongly associated with disease and health condition, respectively

Ethnomedicinal plants and isolated compounds against Snake venom activity: A review

Snakebite is an occupational hazard that has affected the population in tropical and subtropical countries. Worldwide approximately 5.4 million bites, 2.7 million envenomations, and 81,000-1,38,000 deaths are observed per annum. The incidences are higher among farmers and plantation workers. Antivenom is the only treatment available and the production of the same is challenging due to geographical variation of snakes, storage conditions, and non-availability of venom for production. Antivenom therapy is associated with immediate or delayed hypersensitivity and does not prevent local tissue damage. Thus the search for medicinal plants by the scientific community has become relevant. The ethnobotanical studies on various plants have revealed their use to treat various ailments including snakebite. Hence, the review is aimed to amass the medicinal plants studied and also emphasize various components isolated that have shown promising results

Recent evolutionary trends in the production of biofuels

Substitutes for fossil fuels or petroleum-based diesel have comparable addresses to monoalkyl fatty acid esters or methyl ethyl esters (biodiesel) and might lessen carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel may be made from renewable and sustainable ingredients consisting of vegetable oils and non-poisonous to the ecosystem. The manufacturing of biodiesel with renewable feedstocks and enzymes as catalysts can be supported commercially; however, studies into enhancing performance may be beneficial. Biodiesel gives a sustainable possibility to address the socio-economic and sustainable fuel problems. For competitive biodiesel, massive studies have been focused on growing new and sustainable biodiesel manufacturing technology to enhance productivity. Recently, fourth-generation biofuels (FGBs), genetically modified (GM) algae biomass, have attracted much interest from educational and business communities. However, changing FGBs with mineral assets stays fraught with many demanding situations. In particular, the technical elements of genetic engineering features want to be specified. However, little or no interest has been paid to GM algae biomass. Algal Genetics has a restricted quantity of development views and demanding situations dealing with FGBs. The fourth-generation biofuel concentrates on improving the microorganisms genetically. Although, in the primitive grade, the last two generations of biofuel require genetic change for the more like-suited in yielding a high-quality amount of green diesel. The aim is to define four generations with the most recent developments. This paper consists of the current production strategies of biofuel and the improvement efforts significant for third and fourth generations, mainly a genetic exchange of algae or bacterial strains and co-cultivation of several microorganisms

Exploring Bioactive Phytochemicals in <i>Gymnema sylvestre</i>: Biomedical Uses and Computational Investigations

The main objective of this research was to perform Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) extract’s phytochemical screening and identify its therapeutic potential. Using a Soxhlet apparatus, the powdered plant material was extracted using ethyl acetate. The preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, and steroids. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis of the extract was performed and confirmed the presence of 11 compounds. As per the quantitative analysis, the extract exhibited a phenolic content of 948 µg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, a total flavonoid content of 398 µg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight, and an alkaloid content of 487 µg atropine equivalent/g dry weight. As per the in vitro cytotoxicity test using A549 cells, the IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value for the extract was found to be 76.06 ± 1.26 µg/mL, indicating its cytotoxic effect on the cells. The ethyl acetate extract showed significant antibacterial efficacy, as evidenced by a zone of clearance measuring 3 mm against Escherichia coli and 6 mm against Bacillus subtilis. For anthelmintic activity, the earthworm paralysis time induced by G. sylvestre extract (10 mg/mL) was 28.13 ± 0.8 min, and the time of death was 68.21 ± 1.72 min. In comparison, the reference drug, piperazine citrate (10 mg/mL), caused paralysis in 22.18 ± 1.02 min and resulted in death at 66.22 ± 2.35 min. Similarly, the coagulation time was notably prolonged, with blood clot formation observed at 1 min and 40 s, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, which underscores the potential anticoagulant or hemostatic modulation properties of G. sylvestre extract. The test extract showed good inhibition of alpha-amylase activity and exhibited an IC50 value of 15.59 µg/mL. The IC50 value for DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-scavenging activity for the extract was 19.19 µg/mL. Based on the GCMS results, the compound 2,7-dimethyl-undecane was selected for its anticancer potential. Docking studies were conducted with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein, specifically the 5WB7 variant associated with lung cancer. The docking score was −4.5, indicating a potential interaction. Key interaction residues such as ASN328, VAL350, and THR358 were identified. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the phytochemical composition and diverse biological activities of G. sylvestre extract, offering a foundation for further exploration of its medicinal and pharmacological potential

Bioprocessing of Agro-Industrial Waste for Maximization of Pectinase Production by a Novel Native Strain <i>Aspergillus cervinus</i> ARS2 Using Statistical Approach

The demand for microbial pectinase has increased due to its vast applications in different industries. The current study dealt with the synthesis of pectinase by a novel native strain Aspergillus cervinus ARS2 using agro-industrial waste. Comparative studies conducted on pectinase production by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) showed that pectinase activity was more increased in SSF (44.51 ± 1.33 IU/mL) than in SmF (40.60 ± 1.15 IU/mL) when using orange peel as a substrate. Using SSF, one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) studies were conducted, considering different process variables such as inoculum size, initial pH, incubation time, moisture content, incubation temperature, and substrate particle size, all of which affected the pectinase activity. OFAT results showed the highest pectinase activity at an inoculum size of 106 spores/mL (43.11 ± 1.06 U/mL), an incubation time of 6 days (43.81 ± 1.21 U/mL), a moisture content of 100% (44.30 ± 1.69 U/mL), a substrate particle size of 1.7 mm (42.06 ± 1.20 U/mL), an incubation temperature of 37 °C (45.90 ± 1.33 U/mL), and an initial pH of 4 (43.31 ± 0.89 U/mL). The identified significant process variables were then optimized by response surface methodology (RSM)-central composite design (CCD). The results showed optimum pectinase activity of 107.14 ± 0.71 IU/mL for a substrate particle size of 2 mm, an incubation temperature of 31.5 °C, an initial pH of 4.9, and a moisture content of 107%, which was obtained from the Minitab optimizer. By using statistical optimization, the pectinase production from the isolated novel fungal strain A. cervinus ARS2 was increased 2.38-fold. Therefore, the A. cervinus ARS2 strain can be further explored for large-scale pectinase production which could meet the growing industrial demands

Comparison of e-test Values for Standard Antibiotics and Conventional Antimicrobial Assay Values for Ethanoic Acids against Nosocomial Multidrugresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The present study aimed to determine the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients with nosocomial infections to standard synthetic chemical antibiotics and organic ethanoic acids derived from local produce. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the standard synthetic antibiotics determined from standard e-test results and antibiotic sensitivity tests showed many multidrug-resistant strains among the isolates. We compared the susceptibility of these strains to organic ethanoic acids derived from different sources using standard microbiological assays. All strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from the patients were susceptible to the organic ethanoic acids with a satisfactory MIC and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Therefore, organic ethanoic acids were more effective against P. aeruginosa than standard synthetic antibiotics

Production and Purification of Pectinase from <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> 15A-B92 and Its Biotechnological Applications

Enzymes that degrade pectin are called pectinases. Pectinases of microbial origin are used in juice clarification as the process is cost-effective. This study screened a pectinase-producing bacterium isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus subtilis 15A B-92 based on the 16S rRNA molecular technique. The purified pectinase from the isolate showed 99.6 U/mg specific activity and 11.6-fold purity. The molecular weight of the purified bacterial pectinase was 14.41 ± 1 kD. Optimum pectinase activity was found at pH 4.5 and 50 °C, and the enzyme was 100% stable for 3.5 h in these conditions. No enzymatic inhibition or activation effect was seen with Fe2+, Ca2+, or Mg2+. However, a slight inhibition was seen with Cu2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+. Tween 20 and 80 slightly inhibited the pectinase, whereas iodoacetic acid (IAA), ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), urea, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) showed potent inhibition. The bacterial pectinase degraded citrus pectin (100%); however, it was inactive in the presence of galactose. With citrus pectin as the substrate, the Km and Vmax were calculated as 1.72 mg/mL and 1609 U/g, respectively. The high affinity of pectinase for its substrate makes the process cost-effective when utilized in food industries. The obtained pectinase was able to clarify orange and apple juices, justifying its application in the food industry