Purification, characterization and utilization of polysaccharide of Araucaria heterophylla gum for the synthesis of curcumin loaded nanocarrier

In this study, gum of Araucaria heterophylla was collected. The collected gum was subjected for extraction of polysaccharide using solvent extraction system. Thus, extracted polysaccharide was further purified using solvent method and was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Phenol sulfuric acid assay, FTIR, TGA, TLC and GC-MS. The gum derived polysaccharide was found to have the following sugars Rhamnose, Allose, Glucosinolate, Threose, Idosan, Galactose and Arabinose. The extracted polysaccharide was tested for various in-vitro bioactive studies such as antibacterial activity, antioxidant activity and anticancer activity. The polysaccharide was found to have antioxidant and anticancer activity. Further, the polysaccharide was subjected for carboxymethylation to favor the nanocarrier synthesis, where it was chelated using Sodium Tri Meta Phosphate (STMP) to form nanocarriers. The nanocarriers so formed were loaded with curcumin and were characterized using FTIR, SEM, EDX and AFM. Both the loaded and unloaded nanocarriers were studied for its in-vitro cytotoxic effect against the MCF7 human breast cancer cell lines. The nanocarriers were found to deliver the drug efficiently against the cancer cell line used in this study

Evaluation of Antibacterial Properties of Leaves and Barks of Rhizophora stylosa against Gram-Positive and Gram- Negative Organisms

The number of multi-drug resistant microbial strains and the appearance of strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics are continuously increasing and it has been attributed to indiscriminate use of broad spectrum antibiotics. It is common sense that the scarcely explored extensive Malaysian biodiversity would yield countless opportunities to find plant species potentially secreting metabolites, exhibiting antimicrobial activity, among other medicinal properties. In this study leaves and barks of Rhizophora stylosa were collected and extracted using various organic solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. These crude extracts were further evaluated for antimicrobial properties by different methods against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aueroginosa. The bark extracts were more potent than leaf extracts of R. stylosa. The chloroform extracts were found to have the highest antimicrobial activity with an MIC of 0.1 mg/ml and MBC of 6.3 mg/ml

Antioxidant and Quorum Quenching Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa SU-18 of some Edible Fruit Juices

Besides being an essential source of nutrients, the bioactive components of some fruits also help in enhancing the physiological functions by expressing its therapeutic action, acting as radical scavenger, improving digestion and healing. Here, seven edible fruits juices of Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Anana scomosus, Ficus carica, Vitis vinifera, Vitis amurensis and Carica papaya were utilized against biofilm forming Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evaluate its effect on Quorum sensing. On proving its antibacterial activity and anti-swarming motility in our earlier report, this work is extended to determine the biofilm inhibitory action of these fruit juices due to the impact on AHL (Acyl Homoserine lactone), the signaling molecule responsible for developing cell-cell communication and also on AHL mediated metabolites production. The fruit juices were evaluated for their Antioxidant activity on subjecting to TLC bioautography, DPPH and FRAP assay. AHL, Pyocyanin and Rhamnolipid were extracted from fruit juices treated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the influence of fruit juice was identified by FT-IR and LC-MS analysis. However, AHL production was not stopped by fruit juice molecules but showed least production level in Punica granatum treated P.aeruginosa. Whereas the production of pyocyanin pigment was disturbed in Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis and Vitis vinifera treated culture. The production of a biosurfactant called Rhamnolipid (Rha 10) was a failure in Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis, Vitis vinifera and Ficus carica treated P.aeruginosa. Thus the organism was restrained by the fruit juice molecules from expressing its virulence factors in spite of having no impact on AHL synthesis

Electricity Generation using Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Kitchen Waste as Substrate by Exiguobacterium sp SU-5 in Mediatorless Microbial Fuel Cell

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) has become a great attraction amongst most researchers, where degradation of waste takes place simultaneously produces electricity. Using an efficient organism and a better proton exchange membrane gives out good electricity. In this study, Exiguobacterium sp SU-5 was isolated from soil and used for producing electricity against carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in Nafion membrane and Salt bridge fitted MFC, where both act as proton exchange membrane. The organism was found to produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC. Later the organism was subjected to produce electricity against kitchen waste and the kitchen waste was also checked for BOD, COD and other water analysis before and after the treatment. The organism could produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC and found to reduce chloride, fluoride and hardness of water

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Bioactive Components and Antioxidant Activity in Selected Dry Beans and Nuts

Dry beans and nuts are vital in our daily diet and contains high dietary fiber, poly-unsaturated fatty acids and phytochemical compounds such as phenolic and flavonoids. The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant activities in selected dry beans and nuts and the effect of roasting. Roasted and raw dried nuts and beans were grounded into powder, extracted in 70% methanol and evaporated. The methanol extracts were subjected to 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, 2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, total phenolic content (TPC) assay and total flavonoid content (TFC) assay. Results were analyzed using ANOVA (p value <0.05). The results of DPPH, ABTS, TPC and TFC assays were found in increasing pattern from cashew nut (CN), almond (AN) to walnut (WN) among nuts, and from chickpea (CB), green pea (GB) to mung bean (MB) among beans. Whereas in roasted condition, increased activities were found in CN, GB and CB while decreased activities were found in AN, WN and MB for DPPH assay. In ABTS assay, increased activities were found in CN, GB, CB and MB but decreased activities were found in AN and WN. For TPC assay, increased activities were found in all of beans and nuts except for WN. As for TFC assay, decreased activities were found among all nuts and beans except for CN and CB. The study indicates roasting process alters the antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS), TPC and TFC in dry beans and nuts

Effect of Glutathione, Ascorbic Acid and Multivitamins on Sensitivity of Norfloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae

Several studies have suggested that irrespective of the mode of action of antibiotics, induction of oxidative stress also contributes to their bactericidal actions. When antioxidants are supplemented with antibiotics, the bactericidal effect of the antibiotic are reduced. Thus, in this study, sensitivity of norfloxacin was analysed in the presence of antioxidants like glutathione and ascorbic acids, then the influence of multivitamins in the sensitivity was also analysed. The effect was studied though disc diffusion, MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and DNA damage assays against the model organisms - Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. This study suggested that the antioxidant and vitamin solution were having influence over sensitivity towards the antibiotics whose MIC was determined at highest concentration with reduced zone of inhibition and DNA damage. Hence, these results lead to a hypothetical claim for the involvement of multivitamins / antioxidants to have antibacterial resistance development

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Plants Collected from Malaysia

Five plant species namely, Phyllanthus acidus, Piper aduncum, Pandanus amaryllifolius, Macaranga peltata and Acacia mangium were analysed for their effective in-vitro bioactivity. The chloroform and aqueous extracted of the selected plants were subjected to TLC bioautography for antioxidant activity later all the extracted were subjected for DPPH assay where the chloroform extracts were found to express maximum antioxidant property. Amongst all the plants, Macaranga peltata accounted to 95% DPPH scavenging activity. The antimicrobial studies of the plant extracts were performed via agar well diffusion method, MIC determination, Biofilm inhibition assay in microtitre plate against clinical isolates like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that Piper aduncum (chloroform and aqueous extract) and Macaranga peltata (only aqueous) expressed antibacterial activity, of which only chloroform extract of Piper aduncum could show negative influence against the biofilm development of P.aeruginosa

Production and Utilization of SPIONs for In-vitro Drug Release and X-ray Imaging

In this study, SPIONs were produced in the presence of cobalt as catalyst. SPIONs formed by this chemical co-precipitation were size around 20 nm. After producing the SPIONs, it was subjected for functionalization with oleic acid and loaded with drug - itraconazole (a drug possess antifungal and antibacterial activity) and encapsulated with polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The produced core-shell SPIONS was used for antimicrobial study against two bacteria namely - Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Brevibacillus brevis and a fungi - Candida albicans. It was found to be effectively releasing drug for more than 3 hours. The SPIONs alone was acting good as contrasting agent and used for enhancing X-ray imaging

Green Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity Studies of Silver Nanoparticles from the Aqueous Extracts of Euphorbia hirta

The aqueous extracts of Euphorbia hirta was used to synthesise silver nanoparticles using bioreduction method. The nanoparticles were characterised by UV Vis spectroscopic analysis, SEM, EDX, AFM, XRD analysis. The silver nanoparticles were also tested for antibacterial activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. The minimum inhibitory concentration for the synthesised nano particles were also tested against the two bacterial species for the least concentration of 0.5µg/mL. The swarming motility assay and protein leakage assay was also tested for the nanoparticle. The silver nanoparticles were found to be much effective