Hypolipidemic effect of Terminalia arjuna (L.) in experimentally induced hypercholesteremic rats

The hypolipidemic activity of the 50% ethanol extract of bark of T. arjuna were evaluated in rats. The 50% v/v ethanol bark extract at the dose of 40mg/kg body weight, substantially reduced the plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol while HDL cholesterol increased in experimental group in comparison with hypercholesterolemic animal group. Atherogenic index and liver weight of treated animals also showed significant decrease. A significant increase in the activities of lipoprotein lipase and plasma LCAT enhanced hepatic bile acid synthesis and thereby increased degradation of cholesterol to neutral sterols. Furthermore, the activities of lipogenic enzymes like HMG-CoA reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase were significantly reduced. The bark extract of Terminalia arjuna has excellent hypolipidemic activity. The effect of the extract seems to be mediated through increased hepatic clearance of cholesterol, down regulation of lipogenic enzymes and inhibition of HMG- CoA reductase

A novel and sensitive agar plug assay for screening of asparaginase-producing endophytic fungi from Aegle marmelos

Twelve strains of asparaginase (L-asparagine amidohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.1.1) producing filamentous fungi were isolated from the bark and leaves of Aegle marmelos Linn. In the present study, a new method of isolation and selective screening of asparaginase producing endophytic fungi was developed. Asparaginases producing filamentous fungi were screened by a novel rapid dye based agar plug assay. Agar plug screen is a novel method for efficient screening of large number of fungal isolates. All endophytic fungi could grow on modified Czapek Dox agar medium with phenol red, a dye indicator that changes from yellow (acidic condition) to pink (alkaline condition). This method is not only rapid and cost effective but also less labor intensive and could be efficiently used for isolating high yielding strains