ETHNOMYCOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OF SOME WILD MUSHROOMS OF NORTHERN DISTRICTS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

  Objective: Mushrooms are known for their nutritional and medicinal importance from ancient times throughout the world. The use of mushrooms as valuable tonic, food, and ethnomedicines has also been reported from India. However, information on the ethnomedicinal use of mushrooms is not available from the surveyed area of Kashmir valley. Therefore, the objective of this work is to study the ethnomedicinal use of wild mushrooms from the Northern districts of Jammu and Kashmir.Materials and Methods: Different remote areas of Northern districts, Baramulla and Kupwara of Kashmir Valley were surveyed to document the indigenous use of various mushrooms growing in the area by local tribal people and local herbalists. Mushroom hunters, local Hakims, herbalists and aged people from tribal communities and nomads were consulted, interviewed and taken as guides to collect various mushroom species.Results: The mushroom samples collected from the study area were used as a source of food and medicines for different ailments. The specimens collected were photographed by Sony cyber shot 12.1 megapixel camera in their natural habitats and were identified on the basis of macro and microscopic characters, expert mushroom taxonomists, field guides and standard related literature. The study revealed that 33 mushroom species belonging to Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were used for their nutritional and medicinal values. These mushrooms were used by the local hakims against various ailments ranging from respiratory, blood and heart ailments, arthritis, nervous and urogenital diseases either alone or in combination with some herbs.Conclusions: It was concluded from this study that all the mushrooms used by the local tribal people and local herbalists for different ailments can be further evaluated for medicinal value and for bioactive constituents

Exploration of Two Cucurbitaceae Fruit (Muskmelon and Watermelon) Seeds for Presence of Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

Cucurbitaceae family fruits, especially melons, offers significant quantities of minerals carotenoids and phenolic compounds, contributing to their antioxidant activity. However, seeds of these fruits are usually discarded as waste by products. In current study, seeds of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) were separated, dried, grounded and extracted, with 70% ethanol, to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), carotenoid content (TC) content, and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Further, antimicrobial activities of these extracts were tested against selected bacterial and fungus strains. Results showed that extracts of both cucurbits presented significant amounts of phytochemicals, with higher quantities presented by watermelon seeds. In watermelon seeds, TPC were found 156.50 mg/GAE 100 g, TFC 56.78 mg CE/100 g, TC 36.65 mg/100 g, and TAA 71%, and these amounts were significantly higher than those found in muskmelon seeds. Antimicrobial study results showed that extracts of both seeds exhibited significant zone of inhibitions against three bacterial and three fungal species, and these values were very comparable to the reference antimicrobial drug used, Ciprofloxacin. Findings of current research work provided significant grounds for presence of phytochemical bioactives in two melon fruits seeds, providing the basis for extraction and utilization of these bioactives, through processing and fortification different pharma foods

Poly-L-arginine Coated Silver Nanoprisms and Their Anti-Bacterial Properties

The aim of this study was to test the effect of two different morphologies of silver nanoparticles, spheres, and prisms, on their antibacterial properties when coated with poly-L-arginine (poly-Arg) to enhance the interactions with cells. Silver nanoparticle solutions were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, as well as antimicrobial tests. These ultimately showed that a prismatic morphology exhibited stronger antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. The minimum bactericidal concentration was found to be 0.65 μg/mL in the case of a prismatic AgNP-poly-Arg-PVP (silver nanoparticle-poly-L-arginine-polyvinylpyrrolidone) nanocomposite. The anticancer cell activity of the silver nanoparticles was also studied, where the maximum effect against a HeLa cell line was 80% mortality with a prismatic AgNP-poly-Arg-PVP nanocomposite at a concentration of 11 μg/mL. The antimicrobial activity of these silver nanocomposites demonstrates the potential of such coated silver nanoparticles in the area of nano-medicine

Poly-L-arginine Coated Silver Nanoprisms and Their Anti-Bacterial Properties

The aim of this study was to test the effect of two different morphologies of silver nanoparticles, spheres, and prisms, on their antibacterial properties when coated with poly-L-arginine (poly-Arg) to enhance the interactions with cells. Silver nanoparticle solutions were characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, as well as antimicrobial tests. These ultimately showed that a prismatic morphology exhibited stronger antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica. The minimum bactericidal concentration was found to be 0.65 μg/mL in the case of a prismatic AgNP-poly-Arg-PVP (silver nanoparticle-poly-L-arginine-polyvinylpyrrolidone) nanocomposite. The anticancer cell activity of the silver nanoparticles was also studied, where the maximum effect against a HeLa cell line was 80% mortality with a prismatic AgNP-poly-Arg-PVP nanocomposite at a concentration of 11 μg/mL. The antimicrobial activity of these silver nanocomposites demonstrates the potential of such coated silver nanoparticles in the area of nano-medicine

Indigenous Curd as a Functional Food: A Source of Potential Pathogenic Bacterial Control

Background: Dahi is a functional food that is largely consumed in our community.  The current study was designed to explore the efficacy of antibacterial agents that are present in the local indigenous curd of Lahore, Pakistan.Method: Dahi was collected from various areas in Lahore. Bacterial cultures were isolated from this local curd and identified using a molecular technique that used 16S rRNA gene primers in PCR and sequencing. The antibacterial assay was carried out using the agar well diffusion method. Out of all the characterized bacteria isolate P26 displayed the best results for the control of pathogenic bacteria. Bacteriocin from isolate P26 was partially purified and its antibacterial assay was performed against sixteen indicator organisms and kanamycin was used as a standard for this experiment. Characterization of bacteriocin was performed at various temperatures, pH, and treating with enzymes.Result: After the molecular characterization through 16S rRNA, Strain P26 was characterized as Bacillus vallismortis. A protease-sensitive antimicrobial substance was produced by Bacterial strain P26 (Bacillus vallismortis), isolated from local curd (Dahi). This isolate has a broad-spectrum inhibitory activity that can inhibit the growth of both food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. According to results It was clear that protease-sensitive antimicrobial substance produced from strain P26 is more effective as compared to the antibiotic kanamycin. Maximum activity was shown against Staphylococcus species, a pathogen that is a common cause of gastroenteritis worldwide. This substance was active at 100 ºC for 30 minutes and pH (2-9). The activity was lost after treatment with proteases, so it is classified as bacteriocin.Conclusion: Bacteriocin P26 is a more effective antibacterial agent than kanamycin, and it can be produced cheaply using local cardkey.Keywords: Protease; Bacteriocin; Staphylococcus carnosus; Kanamyci

Colorimetric Detection of Mercury Ions in Water with Capped Silver Nanoprisms

The emission of mercury (II) from coal combustion and other industrial processes may have impacts on water resources, and the detection with sensitive but rapid testing methods is desirable for environmental screening. Towards this end, silver nanoprisms were chemically synthesized resulting in a blue reagent solution that transitioned towards red and yellow solutions when exposed to Hg2+ ions at concentrations from 0.5 to 100 µM. A galvanic reduction of Hg2+ onto the surfaces is apparently responsible for a change in nanoprism shape towards spherical nanoparticles, leading to the change in solution color. There were no interferences by other tested mono- and divalent metal cations in solution and pH had minimal influence in the range of 6.5 to 9.8. The silver nanoprism reagent provided a detection limit of approximately 1.5 µM (300 µg/L) for mercury (II), which compared reasonably well with other reported nanoparticle-based techniques. Further optimization may reduce this detection limit, but matrix effects in realistic water samples require further investigation and amelioration

Chemistry and Functionality of Bioactive Compounds Present in Persimmon

Extensive research has related the consumption of persimmon with the reduced risk of various diseases and particularly highlighted the presence of bioactive phenolic compounds for their therapeutic properties. Major phenolic compounds present in persimmon are ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid. β-Cryptoxanthin, lycopene, β-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein are important carotenoids having antioxidant potential. They are important to prevent oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, safeguard beta cells of the pancreas, and reduce cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and damage caused by chronic alcohol consumption. In this paper, the chemistry and health benefits of bioactive compounds present in persimmon are reviewed to encourage impending applications and to facilitate further research activities

Chemistry and Functionality of Bioactive Compounds Present in Persimmon

Extensive research has related the consumption of persimmon with the reduced risk of various diseases and particularly highlighted the presence of bioactive phenolic compounds for their therapeutic properties. Major phenolic compounds present in persimmon are ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid. -Cryptoxanthin, lycopene, -carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein are important carotenoids having antioxidant potential. They are important to prevent oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, safeguard beta cells of the pancreas, and reduce cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and damage caused by chronic alcohol consumption. In this paper, the chemistry and health benefits of bioactive compounds present in persimmon are reviewed to encourage impending applications and to facilitate further research activities

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum); phytochemistry, pharmacological characteristics and functional food applications

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) from the family Linaceae, is a valuable medicinal oil seed crop cultivated all around the world. Presence of proteins, dietary fiber, fatty acids, especially α-linolenic acid, vitamins, minerals, phenolics, flavonoids and other bioactive components in significant amounts, enhances medicinal, pharma food and commercial value of flaxseed. It has been added in a variety of bakery items, beverages and dairy products. Moreover, consumption of flaxseed upsurge due to its risk lowering ability of numerous degenerative (diabetes, obesity) and chronic disorders (cardiovascular diseases and cancer). Flaxseed also has prebiotic properties and improve the health of gut microbiota. Additionally, flaxseed also contains several antinutrients such as phytic acid, protease inhibitors, and cyanogenic glycosides, which can limit the bioavailability of certain essential nutrients and can reduce nutritional value. Flaxseed meal interactions, dosage and supplementations have also been discussed. The focus of the current review is on recent studies on humans and animals as well as flaxseed's commercial use in a variety of food products as proof of its phytochemical content and potential health benefits