In-vitro screening of amylase producing halophilic bacteria isolated from seawater

In this study, eight halobacterial strains were isolated from seawater. Among the eight isolates, four strains grew well in nutrient medium with 40 g/100 mL of sodium chloride concentration. Amongst all, HA01 was found to show highest amylase activity than others. Highest amylase producing bacteria, i.e. HA01 was subjected for 16S rRNA sequence based identification and it was found to be Aquabacterium sp. strain AS02. The organism showed optimal amylase production at pH 7 and temperature of 42 °C and NaCl concentration of 3 M. The two substrates (banana peel and potato peel) were used for the amylase production among which banana peel showed that highest amylase activity of 6.12 U/mL than potato peel (4.27 U/mL)

Cardio protective activity of Sargassum wightii on isoproterenol induced myocardial stress in rats

The aim of this investigation is to determine whether the methanolic extracts of Sargassum wightii can protect rats against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Four different groups of rats (6 rats in each group) were taken; where group 1 comprised of normal untreated rats, group 2 was injected with Isoproterenol (synthetic catecholamine), group 3 was considered as standard and hence, was injected with Isoproterenol + Simvastatin and group 4 was treated with Isoproterenol + Sargassum wightii’s extract. Cardioprotective effects of Sargassum wightii was observed via the changes in the lipid profile, cardio marker enzymes and through histopathological studies. Rats treated with the extract of S. wightii showed a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides and increase in HDL- cholesterol level indicating an undamaged myocardial membrane. Likewise, low enzyme activity in Sargassum wightii treated rats clearly indicated the cardioprotective effects of Sargassum wightii. Histopathological studies were also done to observe the changes on the rats at the tissue level and no pathological changes were observed in Sargassum wightii treated rats. Hence, methanolic extract of Sargassum wightii is evidenced to possess cardioprotective activity against myocardial infarction

Effect of Oscillatoria willei – a Marine Cyanobacterium on Hydrazine Induced Toxicity

Aims: To find out the effect of crude extract of Oscillatoria willei, a marine cyanobacterium on hydrazine induced toxicity. Methodology and Results: In this study, the experimental mice were injected intramuscularly with 5 mg of hydrazine/kg body weight continuously for 20 days. Crude extract of Oscillatoria willei was given to the animals induced with hydrazine toxicity. The animals were subjected to various biochemical and immunological parameters after exposing to hydrazine and followed up treatment. The results revealed that intra-peritoneal administration of O. willei reduced interleukin 2 (IL-2), reducing sugar, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), liver enzymes, bilirubin, creatinine and uric acid level. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: O. willei treatment was found to reduce the ill effects induced by hydrazine

CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE SYNTHESIZED BY BACILLUS CEREUS

Objectives: To characterize the Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) produced from Bacillus cereus using various instrumental methods and reduce them to the nanoscale which can be used as drug carrierMethods: The isolated bacterium was identified by 16S rDNA analysis. PHB produced by the bacterium was extracted by a process using boiling chloroform followed by methanol which selectively precipitates PHA. The polymer produced was analyzed using various instrumental techniques like FTIR, GC-MS, 1Hand 13C NMR, XRD and FESEM. This biogenic PHB has been reduced to nanospheres which were analyzed by FESEM.Results: A bacterium with the ability to produced PHB was isolated from the cloth used to smear oil on pan cake pan which was identified as Bacillus cereus by 16S rDNA analysis. The organism was capable of accumulating 1.19 g L-1 of PHA corresponding to 49.7% of its dry weight after 48 h of incubation. The polymer produced was analyzed using various instrumental techniques which identified the polymer as PHB.Conclusion: The organism seems to be a potential candidate for the biogenic synthesis of PHB which can find application as drug carrier.Â

Utilization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) impregnated activated carbon for removal of hexavalent chromium

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal present in industrial effluent which could cause degenerative diseases on ingestion. Therefore, elimination of Cr from contaminated water becomes essential to preserve and sustain the quality of life. In this study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were impregnated on activated carbon and checked for enhanced removal of Cr(VI). Thus, granular activated carbon (N-GAC) of mesh size 8 ∗ 20 was impregnated with SPIONs to produce SPIONs impregnated activated carbon (Sp-GAC) and characterized using UV-VIS spectrophotometer, FT-IR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and VSM. Sp-GAC was found to be possessing superparamagnetic behavior, and it was used in batch adsorption study where the adsorption parameters like pH, concentration of adsorbent, and adsorbent-adsorbate were optimized. It was found that Cr(VI) adsorption was predominant at acidic pH (pH 3) for both cases; moreover, N-GAC showed better adsorption comparatively. Both the N-GAC and Sp-GAC adsorption were found to be obeying to Langmuir

Bioactivity Studies of Datura metel, Aegle marmelos, Annona reticulata and Saraca indica and their Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticle

In this study, various plants like Datura metel, Aegle marmelos, Annona reticulata and Saraca indica were collected and subjected for extraction using various solvents, namely Water, Chloroform and Ethanol. The extracts were done with TLC bioautography for Antioxidant activity and Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP) and Phytochemical analysis. Plants used in this study showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity. These extracts were further utilized for Silver nanoparticle production and were characterized. Silver nanoparticles were utilized for In vitro antibacterial activity, where they did not show any antibacterial activity

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

Extraction, purification, and characterization of polysaccharide of Araucaria heterophylla L and Prosopsis chilensis L and utilization of polysaccharides in nanocarrier synthesis

Background: Plant gums consist of polysaccharides which can be used in the preparation of nanocarriers and provide a wide application in pharmaceutical applications including as drug delivery agents and the matrices for drug release. The objectives of the study were to collect plant gums from Araucaria heterophylla L and Prosopis chilensis L and to extract and characterize their polysaccharides. Then to utilize these plant gum-derived polysaccharides for the formulation of nanocarriers to use for drug loading and to examine their purpose in drug delivery in vitro. Methods: Plant gum was collected, polysaccharide was extracted, purified, characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, TGA and GCMS and subjected to various bioactive studies. The purified polysaccharide was used for making curcumin-loaded nanocarriers using STMP (sodium trimetaphosphate). Bioactivities were performed on the crude, purified and drugloaded nanocarriers. These polysaccharide-based nanocarriers were characterized using UVVis spectrophotometer, FTIR, SEM, and AFM. Drug release kinetics were performed for the drug-loaded nanocarriers. Results: The presence of glucose, xylose and sucrose was studied from the UV-Vis and GCMS analysis. Purified polysaccharides of both the plants showed antioxidant activity and also antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp. Purified polysaccharides were used for nanocarrier synthesis, where the size and shape of the nanocarriers were studied using SEM analysis and AFM analysis. The size of the drug-loaded nanocarriers was found to be around 200 nm. The curcumin-loaded nanocarriers were releasing curcumin slow and steady. Conclusion: The extracted pure polysaccharide of A. heterophylla and P. chilensis acted as good antioxidants and showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus sp. These polysaccharides were fabricated into curcumin-loaded nanocarriers whose size was below 200 nm. Both the drug-loaded nanocarriers synthesized using A. heterophylla and P. chilensis showed antibacterial activity with a steady drug release profile. Hence, these natural exudates can serve as biodegradable nanocarriers in drug delivery