Adverse effects of the toxic industrial dye malachite green on the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Allium cepa L.

The therapeutic importance of Allium cepa L. has been well established through ethnobotanical studies. Malachite Green is a highly toxic dye that finds extensive use in the textile industry as a fabric colorant. A. cepa was treated with malachite green solutions (20mg/l and 40mg/l) for 45 days. The roots actively take up malachite green and impede the plant's growth in root length, shoot length and fresh weight. A. cepa is rich in bioactive compounds, which have superior antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. We observe that the antimicrobial activities decrease by 36% for Staphylococcus aureus and 31% for Escherichia coli on the treatment of A. cepa bulbs with 40 mg/l malachite green. Antioxidant activity was similarly lowered by 61% under the toxic effects of the dye. Reduction in the efficacy of A. cepa in terms of the critical medicinal properties and general retardation in growth is a cause of concern. This article reports a previously unknown aspect of malachite green toxicity and presents the effect of any dye on the medicinal properties of A. cepa for the first time

Three dimensional structure prediction and ligand-protein interaction study of expansin protein ATEXPA23 from Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Arabidopsis thaliana L. is a small flowering plant that is widely used as a model organism in plant biology. In the present study, we study the peripheral membrane protein ATEXPA23 from Arabidopsis thaliana L. using homology modelling and molecular docking. The microarray analysis shows expression of ATEXPA23 (AT5G39280) protein, which leads to loosening and extension of plant cell walls. This protein is differentially expressed during different stages of plant embryogenesis. It contains one expansin-like CBD domain and one expansin-like EG45 domain. ATEXPA23 belongs to the expansin family in expansin a subfamily. The 3D model after refinement is used to explore the xyloglucan binding characteristics of ATEXPA23 using AutoDock. The docking analysis shows that the surface exposed aromatic amino acid residues Phe 193 and Phe 265 interact with ligand xyloglucan through CH-л interaction. The binding energy values of docking reflect a stable conformation of the docked complex. The interaction of expansin protein with carbohydrate xyloglucan, present in hemicellulose structures of plant cell wall, is thoroughly analysed with cellotetrose and xyloglucan heptasaccharide using electrostatic potential calculation. This CH-л non-covalent interaction predominates on the cellulose-xyloglucan interaction in plant cell wall during cell growth

SILVER NANOPARTICLES OF MORINGA OLEIFERA – GREEN SYNTHESIS,CHARACTERISATION AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY

Abstract : The traditional medicinal plant Moringa oleifera is an integral part of the Indian diet and has notable beneficial effects in its leaves, stems, flowers, roots, bark and seeds. It has reported properties like antimicrobial, anti inflammatory, ant diabetic, anti oxidative, anti tumorogenic amongst many other properties. In the present study we have devised a new green method of synthesis of silver nanoparticles to evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy using the aqueous plant extract as the reductant as well as the stabilizer. A cold method of synthesis of silver nanoparticles using silver nitrate solution is performed. After the synthesis step, the nanoparticles are characterised using UV VIS spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show the incorporation of the silver ions in the extract and also the reduction of the particle size to the nano range. The antimicrobial potential of these nanoparticles synthesized is tested against various gram positive and gram negative strains of bacteria keeping streptomycin as the standard positive control antibiotic. The antibiotic assay is performed using agar well diffusion method and comparable results are obtained in comparison to the standard antibiotic. It is seen that the nanoparticles have good antibacterial efficacy against the tested strains. Hence nanoparticles of Moringa oleifera aqueous extracts can be used as a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics using this non toxic safe way of green synthesis. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, silver nanoparticles, antimicrobia

EVALUATING THE ANTI-MICROBIAL EFFECT OF EUGENOL EXTRACTED FROM OCIMUM SANCTUM

Eugenol is a phytochemical present in herbal and medicinal plants. It possess anti tubercular, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic properties. Commercial or synthesised eugenol is used extensively in the market nowadays. The aim is to evaluate the anti-microbial property of eugenol extracted from both the powder and leaf samples of Ocimum sanctum (tulsi) and to have a comparative analysis of the synthetic eugenol and the naturally extracted eugenol from tulsi leaves. The eugenol is extracted from tulsi leaves by steam distillation. For quantitative analysis of the natural eugenol, HPLC and UV Spectroscopy are performed with commercial eugenol as the reference. While Raman Spectroscopy is performed for qualitative analysis of the constituents of tulsi leaves. Membrane casting is done with eugenol as the core ingredient and porosity of the membrane is checked by SEM. Further microbial assay is performed to evaluate the effect of eugenol. From the results it can be concluded that the eugenol extracted from the powder and fresh leaves of tulsi has anti-microbial effect and the membrane composed of eugenol has the capability to retain the eugenol. Keywords: Ocimum sanctum, eugenol, anti-microbial, membrane,anti-microbial

Development of a Fiber Optic Sensor for Online Monitoring of Thin Coatings

 The thickness measurement of gas, liquid and solid layers is not only important for the basic research on nanoscience but equally valuable in contemporary applied biomedical research. Here, we have developed an optical spectroscopy based technique for the online monitoring of thin films (coatings). A low cost light emitting diode (LED) source combined with a fiber optic bundle and grating based spectrograph have been used to generate white light interferogram. We have monitored online change of refractive index of an air film (~4 μm thickness) with temperature following the change in the intensity profile of the interferogram. A thin film of water between two cover slips (thin glass plates) has also been monitored. We have proposed a schematic for further lowering the cost of the developed instrument for the online monitoring of the coating thickness (semitransparent liquid/gas/solid films) during manufacturing/processing. A brief theoretical analysis on the detection limit of the developed technique has also been discussed in the paper

Bioactive Silver Phosphate/Polyindole Nanocomposites

Materials capable of releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) can display antibacterial and anticancer activity, and may also have anti-oxidant capacity if they suppress intracellular ROS (e.g. nitric oxide, NO) resulting in anti-inflammatory activity. Herein we report silver phosphate (Ag3PO4)/polyindole (Pln) nanocomposites which display antibacterial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity, and have therefore potential for a variety of biomedical applications

Assessment of Efficacy of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Management of Low Back Pain with Unilateral Radiculopathy in Industrial Workers: A Randomized Control Trial

Introduction: Disability related to chronic Low Back Pain (LBP) is a multi-factorial phenomenon, associated with high social and health costs, with a prevalence ranging from 11 to 76%. Significant and long-lasting pain relief can be achieved with transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Surgery is indicated for those patients with progressive neurological deficits or severe LBP refractory to conservative measures. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of transforaminal epidural steroid injection through pelvic angle measurement, pain and disability measurements in patients with LBP and radiculopathy. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized controlled study was conducted in Department of Pain in ESI institute of pain management for the industrial workers at Kolkata, India between October 2015 and September 2016. Sixty patients aged between 18 to 60 years, who attended pain clinic with complaints of LBP with unilateral radiculopathy due to lumber disc herniation were included in this trial. Patients were divided into 2 groups (30 patients in each group); Group I: Test group received single transforaminal epidural steroid injection with deposteroid (20 mg) and 0.25% bupivacaine (total 2 ml) together with oral medications and exercises at day 0. Group II: Control group received only medications and exercises on day 0/visit 1. Each patient was followed up for one month at visit 2. Each patient was assessed with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain intensity and modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for measurement for disability and pelvic angle measurement on affected side. Results: During study period, 60 confirmed patients were included in the analysis. NRS for pain intensity measurement between visit 1(V1) and 2 (V2), showed significant improvement (p-value is < 0.001) in group I. ODI scores between 2 visits showed better outcome in group I. Pelvic angle measurement of affected limb on second visit in both groups as compared to first visit, showed significant improvement, but changes are more evident in group I than group II. Conclusion: Transforaminal epidural injection not only decreases pain and disability due to pain significantly but also decreases pelvic angulations significantly after one month in lumber disc herniation with unilateral radiculopathy

Ginseng used for bone tissue scaffold

696-701The scaffold based tissue engineering materialized for bone tissue therapy. Gelatin-glutaraldehyde cross linked scaffold was prepared by solvent casting -porogen leaching method. It was characterized by FTIR and SEM microphotograph analysis. Absence of peak at waves no. 1625 cm−1 in ATR-FTIR indicated formation of cross-linking. FE-SEM micrograph showed honeycomb pad like structure with high porosity. Methanolic extract of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) root extract induced MC3T3 E1 osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation on porous gelatin scaffold. GC-MS analysis pointed out presence of 4-amino- 2-ethyl-3-methylquinoline, an active phyto-chemicals having tissue regeneration potential. High anti-oxidant capacity down regulates cell death mechanism by scavenging free radical. The biocompatible gelatin scaffold has RGD moiety that attune the MC3T3 E1 osteoblast cell adhesion. Withania somnifera root extract may boost up cell proliferation on scaffold. Therefore treatment with Withania somnifera root extract may be the new approaches for designing bone tissue scaffold for bone tissue therapy

Three dimensional structure prediction and ligand-protein interaction study of expansin protein ATEXPA23 from Arabidopsis thaliana L.

20-27Arabidopsis thaliana L. is a small flowering plant that is widely used as a model organism in plant biology. In the present study, we study the peripheral membrane protein ATEXPA23 from Arabidopsis thaliana L. using homology modelling and molecular docking. The microarray analysis shows expression of ATEXPA23 (AT5G39280) protein, which leads to loosening and extension of plant cell walls. This protein is differentially expressed during different stages of plant embryogenesis. It contains one expansin-like CBD domain and one expansin-like EG45 domain. ATEXPA23 belongs to the expansin family in expansin a subfamily. The 3D model after refinement is used to explore the xyloglucan binding characteristics of ATEXPA23 using AutoDock. The docking analysis shows that the surface exposed aromatic amino acid residues Phe 193 and Phe 265 interact with ligand xyloglucan through CH-л interaction. The binding energy values of docking reflect a stable conformation of the docked complex. The interaction of expansin protein with carbohydrate xyloglucan, present in hemicellulose structures of plant cell wall, is thoroughly analysed with cellotetrose and xyloglucan heptasaccharide using electrostatic potential calculation. This CH-л non-covalent interaction predominates on the cellulose-xyloglucan interaction in plant cell wall during cell growth