Effect of Ocimum tenuiflorum Leaf Extract against Infective Endocarditis

The ever increasing resistance of pathogens to antibiotics as well as the undesirable side effects of certain antimicrobial agents has necessitated the discovery of novel natural products. The ethanolic extract of O. tenuiflorum was investigated against S. aureus isolate which is a major pathogen causing infective endocarditis. The total phenolic content in O. tenuiflorum was found to be 1289 μg gallic acid equivalent/g and HPLC profile revealed the presence of catechin, Caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. The antibacterial profile of O. tenuiflorum against S. aureus isolate from infective endocarditis patients exhibited significant inhibition at the MIC of 50 μg/ml and the standard antibiotic Vancomycin showed inhibition at 40 ng/ml. Percent inhibition of viable growth was found to be >95% and the scanning electron micrographs (SEM) revealed the disruption of the membrane of S. aureus treated with O. tenuiflorum extract. The antimicrobial activity correlates with phenolic content of the extract. These results demonstrate the potency of O. tenuiflorum, could serve as a new source of antimicrobials with potential applications and related health benefits

Chemical and microbial dynamics during Composting of herbal pharmaceutical industrial waste

A study was performed to analyze the dynamics of chemical, biochemical and microbial parameters during composting of herbal pharmaceutical waste. All the parameters were analyzed at three different intervals of composting (1(st), 15(th) and 60(th) days). Temperature of the compost pile was initially high (46.2 degrees C) and on 60(th) day it dropped to 33.3 degrees C. The pH of the sample was initially acidic (2.39) and with the progress of decomposition gradually changed to neutrality (7.55). Electrical conductivity (EC) value was high (3.8 mS) during last day of composting compared to other stages. The activity of degradative enzymes namely amylase, invertase and urease were initially high (4.1, 4.79 mg of glucose/g/h and 0.19 mg of ammonia/g/h respectively) while it decreased with composting. The beneficial microbial load was initially low and very high at the last stages of decomposition. The bioassay studies using compost extracts revealed that the 60(th) day old sample was not phytotoxic in nature

Genetic variability, combining ability and molecular diversity-based parental line selection for heterosis breeding in field corn (Zea mays L.)

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGBackground: The demand of maize crop is increasing day by day, hence to reduce the production and demand gap, there is a need to extract the high yielding parental lines to improve per se yield of the hybrids, which could help to enhance the productivity in maize crops. Methods and results: The present investigation was carried out to select the best medium maturing inbred lines, among a set of 118 inbred lines. Based on the Duncan multiple range test, out of 118 lines, 16 inbred lines were selected on the basis of its high yield per se and flowering time. The molecular diversity was carried out using SSR markers linked to heterotic QTL and up on diversity analysis it classified selected genotypes in to three distinct groups. Among the selected inbred lines, a wider genetic variability and molecular diversity were observed. A total of 39 test crosses were generated after classifying 16 inbred lines in to three testers and thirteen lines (based on per se grain yield and molecular diversity) and crossing them in line × tester manner. Conclusion: Combining ability analysis of these parental lines showed that female parents, PML 109, PML 110, PML 111, PML 114 and PML 116 showed additive effect for KRN and grain yield, whereas male parents, PML 46, and PML 93 showed epistatic effect for KRN and PML 102 showed epistatic effect for grain yield. The generated information in the present investigation may be exploited for heterosis breeding in filed corn. Key messages To tackle the balanced dietary requirement of Indian population; we focused to enhance the productivity of maize hybrids using genetically broad based, elite, diverse inbred lines. Combination of selection criterion, not only augment the productivity but also improves the quality of hybrid/s

Dihydroxy Flavone - Induced Cytoplasmic Membrane Damage in Staphylococcus aureus

Leucasin is one of the active antimicrobial principle of Leucas aspera. The effect of this compound and other antibacterial agents with known mechanisms of action upon the cytoplasmic membrane integrity of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated by comparing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and potassium loss profiles from bacterial cell suspensions. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of leucasin, novobiocin - the bacteriostatic antibiotic and penicillin G – the bactericidal antibiotic against S. aureus (ATCC 12600) were determined as 35 μg/ml, 55 ng/ml and 40 ng/ml respectively. The morphology of S. aureus was impaired, when treated with leucasin showing mucilaginous mass, which could lead to the impairment in cell division, as observed under SEM. When S. aureus were suspended in potassium free media containing 35 μg/ml leucasin, a 100 fold decrease in viability was observed after 12 h. Potassium loss assay revealed that S. aureus treated with 35 μg/ml leucasin lost 17% more potassium than untreated control populations whereas, cells treated with 40 ng/ml of penicillin G exhibited 9% increase in potassium loss and 55 ng/ml of novobiocin had no effect on potassium loss. This data may be attributed to either direct damage to the cytoplasmic membrane or indirect damage affected through autolysis/weakening of the cell wall and consequent osmotic lysis

Biochemical characterization of radical scavenging polyphenols from Nyctanthes arbortristis

Context: Antioxidants are quenchers of free radical that are responsible for inducing oxidative stress generated via reactive oxygen species-induced degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases etc. Plant and plant products are recognized as safe and potential health promoting and nutritive sources. Aims: To investigate the antioxidant potency of polyphenol extract (PE) of Nyctanthes arbortristis leaves and identification of the active constituent by HPLC. Materials and Methods: PE of N. arbortristis leaves was investigated for antioxidant activity employing various established in vitro systems, such as lipid peroxidation in liposome, DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power assay, and iron ion chelation. Identification of active constituent in PE of N. arbortristis responsible for antioxidant activity by HPLC. Statistical analysis used: All experiments were carried out in triplicates. Data were shown as mean ± standard deviation (SD). SPSS 10.0.5 version for windows (SPSS software Inc., USA) computer program was used for statistical analysis. Results: Identification of active constituent in PE revealed gallic acid 75.8 ± 0.21, protocatechuic acid 14.6 ± 0.5, chlorogenic acid 6.79 ± 0.43, and caffeic acid 5.34 ± 0.2 μg/ml. PE showed strong inhibitory activity of 73% at 200 μg/ml toward lipid peroxidation in egg lecithin, concentration-dependent inhibition of deoxyribose oxidation at 200 μg/ml was 85% inhibition, and considerable antioxidant activity in DPPH radical assay system at 200 μg/ml was 79% inhibition. BHA and gallic acid showed significant observations. Conclusion: The antioxidant potency significantly correlated with the phenolic content of PE. Considering that medicinal herbs contain potent phytochemicals, which is effectively utilized for various degenerative disease, these in vitro results showed that N. arbortristis leaves could be effectively employed in functional food, to alleviate oxidative stress

Dihydroxy flavone - induced cytoplasmic membrane damage in staphylococcus aureus

eucasin is one of the active antimicrobial principle of Leucas aspera. The effect of this compound and other antibacterial agents with known mechanisms of action upon the cytoplasmic membrane integrity of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated by comparing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and potassium loss profiles from bacterial cell suspensions. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of leucasin, novobiocin - the bacteriostatic antibiotic and penicillin G – the bactericidal antibiotic against S. aureus (ATCC 12600) were determined as 35 μg/ml, 55 ng/ml and 40 ng/ml respectively. The morphology of S. aureus was impaired, when treated with leucasin showing mucilaginous mass, which could lead to the impairment in cell division, as observed under SEM. When S. aureus were suspended in potassium free media containing 35 μg/ml leucasin, a 100 fold decrease in viability was observed after 12 h. Potassium loss assay revealed that S. aureus treated with 35 μg/ml leucasin lost 17% more potassium than untreated control populations whereas, cells treated with 40 ng/ml of penicillin G exhibited 9% increase in potassium loss and 55 ng/ml of novobiocin had no effect on potassium loss. This data may be attributed to either direct damage to the cytoplasmic membrane or indirect damage affected through autolysis/weakening of the cell wall and consequent osmotic lysis

Antioxidant properties of a novel flavonoid from leaves of Leucas aspera

The crude methanol extract of Leucas aspera leaves showed strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DDPH) and superoxide radical-scavenging activities compared to other polarity-based extracted fractions. It was selected for purification of the bioactive compound. The activity-guided repeated fractionation of the methanol extract by silica gel column chromatography yielded a compound that exhibited strong antioxidant activity. Based on various physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses, e.g. UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectroscopy, the bioactive compound isolated was elucidated as 5,7-dihydroxy-2-14-methoxy-15-propyl phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (leucasin). Radical-scavenging potential and strong inhibition of lipid peroxidation in a liposome model were observed at a leucasin concentration of 40ppm. These results demonstrate the antioxidant potency of leucasin which could be the basis for its alleged health-promoting potential

Chemical and Microbial Dynamics during Composting of Herbal Pharmaceutical Industrial Waste

A study was performed to analyze the dynamics of chemical, biochemical and microbial parameters during composting of herbal pharmaceutical waste. All the parameters were analyzed at three different intervals of composting (1st, 15th and 60th days). Temperature of the compost pile was initially high (46.2 °C) and on 60th day it dropped to 33.3 °C. The pH of the sample was initially acidic (2.39) and with the progress of decomposition gradually changed to neutrality (7.55). Electrical conductivity (EC) value was high (3.8 mS) during last day of composting compared to other stages. The activity of degradative enzymes namely amylase, invertase and urease were initially high (4.1, 4.79 mg of glucose/g/h and 0.19 mg of ammonia/g/h respectively) while it decreased with composting. The beneficial microbial load was initially low and very high at the last stages of decomposition. The bioassay studies using compost extracts revealed that the 60th day old sample was not phytotoxic in nature