Potential applications of ferulic acid from natural sources

AbstractFerulic acid (FA), a ubiquitous natural phenolic phytochemical present in seeds, leaves, bothin its free form and covalently conjugated to the plant cell wall polysaccharides, glycoproteins,polyamines, lignin and hydroxy fatty acids. FA plays a vital role in providing the rigidity to the cell wall and formation of other important organic compounds like coniferyl alcohol, vanillin, sinapic, diferulic acid and curcumin. FA exhibits wide variety of biological activities such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antiallergic, hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, antithrombotic, increase sperm viability, antiviral and vasodilatory actions, metal chelation, modulation of enzyme activity, activation of transcriptional factors, gene expression and signal transduction

<i>Candida albicans</i> biofilm inhibition by synergistic action of terpenes and fluconazole

1032-1037The current treatment options for Candida albicans biofilm-device related infections are very scarce due to their intrinsic increased tolerance to antimycotics. The aim of this work was to study synergistic action of terpenes (eugenol, menthol and thymol) with fluconazole (FLA) on C. albicans biofilm inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assayed using CLSI M27-A3 broth micro-dilution method showed antifungal activity against C. albicans MTCC 227 at a concentration of 0.12 % (v/v) for both thymol and eugenol as compared to 0.25 % (v/v) for menthol. FLA was taken as positive control. The effect of these terpenes on metabolic activity of preformed C. albicans biofilm cells was evaluated using 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay in 96-well polystyrene microtiter plate. Thymol and eugenol were more effective at lower concentrations of ≥ 1.0 % (v/v) than menthol. Synergistic studies using checkerboard micro-dilution assay showed fractional inhibitory concentration index (Σ FIC=0.31) between thymol/FLA followed by eugenol/FLA (Σ FIC=0.37) and menthol/FLA (Σ FIC&lt;0.5) against pre-formed C. albicans biofilms. Thymol with fluconazole showed highest synergy in reduction of biofilm formation than eugenol and menthol which was not observed when their activities were observed independently. Adherence assay showed 30% viability of C. albicans cells after 2 h of treatment with 0.05 % (v/v) thymol/FLA. Effect of thymol/FLA on C. albicans adhesion visualized by SEM micrographs showed disruption in number of candidal cells and alteration in structural design of C. albicans. Thus, the study demonstrated synergistic effect of terpenes with fluconazole on C. albicans biofilm, which could be future medications for biofilm infections. </span

Assessment of fuel properties on the basis of fatty acid profiles of oleaginous yeast for potential biodiesel production

Over the last decade, there has been a huge upsurge of interest in sustainable production of biomass-based biofuels to fulfill the existing energy demand and simultaneously reducing the environmental deterioration. Earlier, vegetable oils and animal fats were utilized for biodiesel production, but due to food crisis and environmental sustainability, renewable sources such as neutral lipid derived from microbes are gaining much attention for budding biodiesel industries. Among various types of microorganisms, oleaginous yeasts are more promising feedstock to accomplish the current demand of biodiesel production and utilize a large number of cost-effective renewable substrates for their growth and lipid accumulation. However, biodiesel obtained from oleaginous yeasts have certain restrictions regarding their commercial utilization due to their unstable fuel properties such as oxidative stability, cetane number, viscosity and low-temperature performance etc. Numerous articles have been published in the public domain describing the fatty acid profiles of oleaginous yeast as feedstock for biodiesel production. However, the evaluation of quality parameters of biodiesel obtained from oleaginous yeasts is still in infancy. Although there is a huge disparity in a number of papers published for biodiesel production yet the reporting performance on diesel engines need to be verified in details. In this review article, attempt has been made to assess the important biofuel properties on the basis of the fatty acid profile of oleaginous yeast. Thus this evaluation would provide a guideline to the biodiesel producer to improve the production plans related to feedstocks for oleaginous yeast, culture conditions and biodiesel blending

Biomedical applications of ferulic acid encapsulated electrospun nanofibers

AbstractFerulic acid is a ubiquitous phytochemical that holds enormous therapeutic potential but has not gained much consideration in biomedical sector due to its less bioavailability, poor aqueous solubility and physiochemical instability. In present investigation, the shortcomings associated with agro-waste derived ferulic acid were addressed by encapsulating it in electrospun nanofibrous matrix of poly (d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/polyethylene oxide. Fluorescent microscopic analysis revealed that ferulic acid predominantly resides in the core of PLGA/PEO nanofibers. The average diameters of the PLGA/PEO and ferulic acid encapsulated PLGA/PEO nanofibers were recorded as 125±65.5nm and 150±79.0nm, respectively. The physiochemical properties of fabricated nanofibers are elucidated by IR, DSC and NMR studies. Free radical scavenging activity of fabricated nanofibers were estimated using di(phenyl)-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)iminoazanium (DPPH) assay. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay confirmed the cytotoxicity of ferulic acid encapsulated nanofibers against hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. These ferulic acid encapsulated nanofibers could be potentially explored for therapeutic usage in biomedical sector

Impact of infectious <i style="">Candida albicans</i> biofilm on biomaterials

417-422In the present investigation, biofilm formation by Candida albicans was studied on different polymeric surfaces, viz., polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and silicone rubber (SR). Amongst these polymeric surfaces, the maximum biofilm formation was recorded to be 64.19, 50.31, and 45.09% for PS, PP, SR, respectively in comparison to PVC after 48 h using XTT [2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)2H-tetrazolium-carboxanilide] tetrazolium reduction assay. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) production during biofilm formation, when assessed using acetone precipitation technique, was found to be 11.45, 9.41, 8.65 and 6.95 g/cm2 for PVC, PS, PP and SR, respectively. Atomic force microscopic and goniometric analysis showed maximum roughness (134 nm) and hydrophobicity (97°) for PVC. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) studies revealed maximum biofilm thickness (117.5 µm) on PVC surface when analyzed by z-sectioning. Further, the data were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for biofilm growth on these biomaterials. It was observed that PVC as biomaterial is most susceptible for C. albicans biofilm formation, while material surface properties like roughness and hydrophobicity promotes C. albicans adhesion and biofilm development