ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY,TOTAL PHENOL,FLAVONOID,ALKALOID,TANNIN AND SAPONIN CONTENTS OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF SALVINIA MOLESTA D.S.MITCHELL

AbstractObjective:The main aim of the study was to screen leaf extracts of  Salvinia molesta ,a fresh water weed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and also  to quantify total phenol,flavonoid,alkaloid.tannin and saponin contents in order to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants in food and pharmaceutical formulations.Methods:Qualitative and quantitative analyses of  significant phytochemicals were performed by standard methods.The antioxidant activity was evaluated using extracts of aqueous, ethanol, methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether by DPPH assay.Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT), Gallic acid (GA) and Quercetin (Q) were taken as standard.Results:Among the five different solvents, maximum antioxidant activity of salvinia molesta was found in ethanolic extract (90.3%) followed by other solvents.Total phenolic content measured by Folin-Ciocalteau method was 9.84 mg Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE)/g and the total flavonoid contents as measured by aluminium chloride method was 10.89 mg Quercetin Equivalents (QE)/g.Alkaloids,tannins and saponins were measured by standard methods and found in significantly high ranges exhibiting a rich source of phytochemical constituents ensuring the plant as a useful therapeutic agent.Conclusion:Salvinia molesta a fast growing fresh water weed,also abundantly available in nature possess significant antioxidant activity and hence can be used as an potent therapeutic agent. Key words : Salvinia molesta, antioxidant activity, Total phenol ,Flavonoid,Alkaloid,Tannin and Saponin.Â

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH ON BIOREMEDIATION OF HEAVY METALS IN TANNERY EFFLUENTS WASTE USING STREPTOMYCES SP.

  Objective: The present study is conducted to investigate the abilities of microorganisms to degrade heavy metals in industrial tannery effluent sample.Methods: Tannery effluent sample was collected from effluent treatment plant and analyzed for physicochemical parameters. The potential microbes were isolated and identified by morphological and biochemical characterization. The sample was analyzed before and after to assess the heavy metal reducing the ability of the microorganism and the respective percentage of reduction were studied using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.Results: The samples were initially found to be highly contaminated with chromium, nickel, and cadmium. Out of three potential isolates, the isolate Streptomyces sp. was found to exhibit a better reduction against chromium (25.7%), cadmium (14.6%), and nickel (23.1%) in 50 ppm at longer incubation period. Comparatively, the reduction abilities of all the three isolates against all the three heavy metals increased with the increase in the incubation period but decreased with the increase in initial metal ion concentration except in the case of Streptomyces sp. against nickel where the reducing ability increased with the increase in metal concentration.Conclusion: Apparently, the present study revealed that Streptomyces sp. had a better remediation potential than the indigenous Pseudomonas sp. and Aspergillus sp. Ultimately, the finding of this research has shown that the Streptomyces sp. can be used as a potent bioremediation agent for treating tannery and industrial effluent in an eco-friendly process

STUDY OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEIN FROM THE HEMOLYMPH OF FRESHWATER CRAB OZIOTELPHUSA SENEX SENEX AND ITS EFFICACY AGAINST THE HUMAN PATHOGENS

 Objective: The study was done to isolate the antimicrobial protein from the freshwater crab.Methods: Antimicrobial protein was purified by sequential step of ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, and fast protein liquid chromatography. The apparent molecular mass was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS/MS). Primary structure analysis was done from MASCOT search engine. The antimicrobial activity of the protein was done using well diffusion method against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.Results: The molecular mass of antimicrobial protein was determined to be 33KDa by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-MS/MS. The antimicrobial protein contains eight peptides which were determined by MASCOT search engine. The protein exhibited antimicrobial activity both for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: The results could provide information for investigating the antimicrobial protein derived from the hemolymph of the freshwater crab Oziotelphusa senex senex

IMMUNE PROTECTION OF SALVINIA MOLESTA D.S. MITCHELL IN FRESHWATER CRAB OZIOTELPHUSA SENEX SENEX BACTERIALLY CHALLENGED WITH AEROMONAS HYDROPHILA

  Objective: This is aimed to study the immune protection parameters of freshwater weed Salvinia molesta in bacterially challenged freshwater crab Oziotelphusa senex senex.Methods: In this present study, ethanolic extract of freshwater weed S. molesta was tested for its ability to induce immunity in bacterial challenged freshwater crab O. senex senex. Male and female crabs were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila in relevant concentrations. The treated groups were allowed to withstand for 96 hrs. After relevant incubation time, the hemolymph of the treated crabs was subjected for various hematological, biochemical, and immunological assays.Results: Total hemocyte count increased on infection at 96 hrs, whereas significantly reduced on treatment with S. molesta at 96 hrs. All the three cell types of differential hemocytes showed significant positive changes on treatment. Levels of prophenoloxidase decreased significantly on infection and showed a significant increase in treated groups at 96 hrs of treatment.Conclusion: The present study elucidated the medicinal and pharmaceutical role of S. molesta weed which is been subjected to eradication in the recent days. Thus, the plant source can be utilized as an immunomodulatory agent and a better alternative to treat aquatic diseases

Nutraceutical Potential of Apiaceae

Apiaceae family is large, with over 3.000 species worldwide cultivated for many purposes. Some plants in this family such as carrots, parsley, parsnip and celery are common vegetable crops, while other members like anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, fennel, lovage, angelica and dill are famous for their medicinal and aromatic properties. Usage of these plants is very popular in everyday diet because of their documented health benefits. Apiaceae are a very important source of phytochemicals – chemicals with biological activity. However, phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals, also called nutraceuticals. They are widely used for prevention, treatment or cure of conditions or diseases. Bioactive compounds with nutraceutical potential are polyphenolic compounds, polyacetylenes and terpenoids. The aim of this review is to represent selected plants of Apiaceae family currently used as nutraceuticals and describe their nutritional benefits