Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights in Fisheries: The Indian Context

At the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1994, the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement was implemented to regulate standards of Intellectual Property (IP) regulations in WTO member countries. The Uruguay Round introduced IP rights into the multilateral trading system for the first time through a set of comprehensive disciplines. Being a member of the WTO and a signatory to the TRIPS agreement, it is compulsory for India to formulate its IP regulations to comply with the TRIPS agreement. The TRIPS Agreement is subject to WTO dispute settlement mechanism, which is contained in the Dispute Settlement Understanding (“Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes”, TRIPS) (Grain, 1998

Green Mussel extract (GMe) goes commercial First Nutraceutical produced by an ICAR institute.

Green Mussel extract (GMe) goes commercial First Nutraceutical produced by an ICAR institut

Selective enrichment of n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with C18–C20 acyl chain length from sardine oil using Pseudomonas fluorescens MTCC 2421 lipase

An extracellular lipase purified from Pseudomonas fluorescens MTCC 2421 was used to enrich sardine oil triglycerides with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n−3) and linolenic acid (18:3 n−3) to 35.28% and 8.25%, respectively, after 6 h of hydrolysis. The corresponding n−6 fatty acids (18:2 n−6 and 20:4 n−6) exhibit a reduction (54.93% and 50%, respectively). Structure–bioactivity relationship analyses revealed that the lower hydrophobic (log P values) constants of 18:3 n−3 and 20:5 n−3 (5.65 and 5.85, respectively) result in their higher hydrolytic resistance towards lipase, leading to their enrichment in the triglyceride fraction after lipase-catalysed hydrolysis. Lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of sardine oil for 6 h followed by urea fractionation at 4 °C with methanol provided free fatty acids containing 42.50% 20:5 n−3 and 10.31% 18:3 n−3, respectively. Argentation neutral alumina column chromatography, using n-hexane/ethylacetate (2:1, v/v) resulted in 20:5 n−3 of high purity (83.62%), while 18:3 n−3 was found to be eluted with n-hexane/dichloromethane (4:1, v/v) as eluting solvent with a final purity of 75.31%

Evaluation of chemical compounds for induction of male sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The short-list of eleven chemical hybridizing agents (CHAs) showing 98% or more induction of male sterility were identified following application at the pre-meiotic stage of wheat. Among ethyl oxanilates, 4-fluoro (CHA A1), 4-bromo (CHA A2), 4-trifluoromethyl (CHA A5), and 4-cyano (CHA A3) derivatives; and among pyridones, 4-chloro (CHA B3), 4-fluoro (CHA B1), 4-bromo (CHA B2), and 4-trifluoromethyl (CHA B6) derivatives were the most promising. These agents showed no adverse effects on plant growth and yield. Ethyl 4-fluoro oxanilate (CHA A1) was tested on 29 wheat genotypes at 1500 ppm and induced 99.76±0.37% male sterility. Ethyl 4-fluoro oxanilate residues were non-detectable in grain and husk and thus appeared to have no lasting residue effects

Fisheries technology management at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): An IPR perspective

Technology management in intellectual property rights (IPR) is a procedure, which incorporates technology production, promotion and their commercialization. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organization, and is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture in the entire country. With the aim of utilizing the vast research and development facilities and knowledge available with its institutions, ICAR has started a technology management and business incubation drive, intended for the Indian agricultural sector to promote agribusiness. This apex body has established a three-tier IP management system, which is presently giving a scope of demonstrated results by securing its research assets with different IP tools like patents, trademarks and designs; and commercializing its research outcomes. Six ICAR fisheries research institutes filed 84 patent applications, out of which 55 were filed during the last 5 years. Seven patents were conceded to 3 of these establishments, which fall under the IPC classifications A, B, C and E. Eight trademarks were additionally enlisted at the Indian Trademark Registry for diverse fish based products. To commercialize the fisheries research outcomes, including 142 technologies, 207 partnerships were developed by various institutes with 135 national and international organizations. IP protected technology commercialization is on its higher side with 21.12%, achieved within a short time span. These endeavors of technology management at ICAR, coupled with an effective technology protection and commercialization of the vast and diversified ICAR knowledge base, gave a renewed boost and a decent way for the Indian fisheries research and a new agribusiness paradigm

Antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of sulphated polygalactans from red seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria opuntia

Antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory potential of sulphated polygalactans isolated from the red seaweeds Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria opuntia were acquired by employing different in vitro systems. The sulphated galactopyran motif derived from G. opuntia possessed significant antidiabetic properties as identified by α-amylase (IC50 0.04 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 0.09 mg/mL) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4, IC50 0.09 mg/mL) inhibitory activities. Based on the detailed nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments the sulphated galactopyran motif of G. opuntia was designated as →3)-4-O-sulfonato-(6-O-acetyl)-β-D-galactopyranosyl- (1→4)-3,6-anhydro-(2-O-sulfonato)-α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→3)-4-O-sulfonato-( 6-O-acetyl)-β-D-xylosyl-(1→3)-4-O-sulfonato-(6-O-acetyl)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-( 1→4)-3,6-anhydro-(2-O-sulfonato)-α-D-galactopyranan, while the one from K. alvarezii was demonstrated to be →4)-4-O-sulfonato-(2-Omethyl)- β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-3,6-anhydro-(2-O-methyl)-α-D-galactopyranan. The sulphated galactans from G. opuntia showed greater antiinflammatory inhibitory activities as determined by cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1, IC50 0.01 mg/mL), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, IC50 0.03 mg/mL), and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activities (5-LOX, IC50 0.24 mg/mL). This study revealed that the sulfated polygalactan enriched concentrate from G. opuntia can be used as potential therapeutic candidate to suppress the hyperglycemic response in diabetic conditions and inflammatory activity. They can be used to develop functional food ingredient in nutraceutical products

Isolation and characterization of antagonistic Streptomyces spp. from marine sediments along the southwest coast of India

Antagonistic Streptomyces spp. were isolated from marine and mangrove sediment samples collected off Cochin, along the southwest coast of India. Sediment samples were pre-treated and following the soil dilution technique, samples were surface plated on starch casein agar and actinomycetes isolation agar. In the primary screening, 7.4% of presumptive actinomycetes (135 isolates) showed antibacterial activity against one or more bacterial fish pathogens and 3.7% of these cultures showed broad spectrum activity against the tested pathogens. Morphologically white powdery colonies with chalky white /grey appearance were selected as presumptive Streptomyces cultures. Isolates subjected to biochemical, physiological and 16S rDNA characters revealed the presence of three species of Streptomyces dominated by Streptomyces tanashiensis followed by S. viridobrunneus and S. bacillaris. Isolates characterized by 16S rDNA indicated the presence of 650 bp band in Streptomyces spp. Primary screening for activity against selected fish pathogens was done by a cross streak method using modified nutrient agar medium. Prominent isolates showing high zone of activity against the fish pathogens ranged 17-35 mm by the paper disc method. Enriched broth of selected isolates showing high antagonistic activity was screened for pharmacologically active agents revealed ethyl acetate fractions to be active against selected microbial pathogens

Biogenic guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties from natural mangrove hybrid Rhizophora annamalayana

Previously undescribed guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the chloroform fraction of the natural hybrid mangrove Rhizophora annamalayana, and were characterised as (Z)-3α,4,5,6-tetrahydro-5α-isobutyl-2β-(methoxymethyl)-7-methyl-3H-cyclohepta[b]carbolactone (1) and (7Z)-isopentyl 3α,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-2β-((E)-11-methylbut-10-enyl)-1-oxo-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-6-carboxylate (2). Compound 2 displayed greater antioxidative activities {1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-azino-bis-3 ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulphonic acid diammonium salt (ABTS), IC50 0.65 and 0.62 mg/mL, respectively)} compared to 1 (IC50 0.83 and 1.14 mg/mL, respectively) (p < 0.05). Compound 2 recorded no significant difference in DPPH. scavenging activities (IC50 0.65 mg/mL) compared to α-tocopherol (IC50 0.63 mg/mL). Pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity of 2 was found to be comparable (IC50 0.98 mg/mL) to that displayed by synthetic anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IC50 0.93 mg/mL). Compound 2 showed significantly greater selectivity index (anti-cyclooxygenase-1/anti-cyclooxygenase-2 = 2.15) than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory ibuprofen (<0.5) (p < 0.05), and therefore, might be used as selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. The hitherto undescribed guaianolide lactones might be used as potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidative pharmacophore leads

Oxygenated heterocyclic metabolites with dual cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory potentials from Rhizophora annamalayana

Previously undescribed oxygenated heterocyclic metabolites were purified from the ethyl acetate fraction of natural mangrove hybrid Rhizophora annamalayana. The purified metabolites were characterized as 11-(tetrahydro-14α-hydroxy- 13β-methylfuran-12-yl)-10β-methylbutyl benzoate (1), 13-(tetrahydro-15β,16α-dimethyl-18-oxo-2H-pyran-14-yl)-10β- methylhept-12(E)-enyl benzoate (2), and dihydro-11-((7E)-2-hydroxy-8β-methyl-2H-chromen-9-yl)-13-methylpent-12(E)- enyl)-17β-methylfuran-19(3H)-one (3) by the combined spectroscopic experiments. These metabolites were assessed for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and compared with the commercially available standards. The purified compound 3 exhibited greater antioxidant activities as deduced by 2, 2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl quenching properties (IC50 2.10 and 2.22 mM, respectively) compared to the positive control (α-tocopherol, IC50 1.46 and 1.69 mM, respectively). Consequently, the anti-inflammatory activity of compound 3 with regard to the inhibitory property towards pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase was greater (IC50 2.16 mM) than that exhibited by the synthetic anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen (IC50 4.51 mM). Electronic and hydrophobic parameters were deduced to find the target bioactivities of the studied compounds. These oxygenated heterocyclic metabolites could be used as potential therapeutic lead compounds in the pharmaceutical applications

Nutraceutical Products of CMFRI

Nutraceutical Products of CMFR