Antioxidant activity of fungi isolated from soil of different areas of Punjab,India

The study was carried outto investigate the antioxidant activity of fungi isolated from soil of different areas of Punjab, India and compare their efficiency with a known antioxidant, ascorbic acid. The antioxidant potential of fungal extracts was quantified by DPPH and reducing power assay. Total phenolic contents were estimated using Folins-Ciocalteau (FC) reagent. Out of 113 fungal isolates selected, 51 were having antioxidant potential and these were further assayed quantitatively. All of these showed good activity against DPPH radical while 32 of these isolates demonstrated reducing potential also. In addition, some were equally good as ascorbic acid. The present study demonstrated potential of soil fungi to have antioxidant activity similar to plants and mushrooms. High phenolic content of fungi further highlight their significance as new sources of natural antioxidants. These fungi may provide easier set up for production and purification of natural antioxidants as compared to higher plants

Antioxidant Activity of Aspergillus fumigatus

The antioxidant activity of Aspergillus fumigatus was assayed by different procedures and correlated with its extracellular total phenolic contents. Different physio-chemical parameters were optimized to enhance the activity. The culture grown under stationary conditions for 10 days at 25°C at pH 7 gave the best antioxidant activity. Statistical approaches demonstrated sucrose and NaNO3 to be the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. Response surface analysis showed 5% sucrose, 0.05% NaNO3, and incubation temperature of 35°C to be the optimal conditions for best expression of antioxidant activity. Under these conditions, the antioxidant potential assayed through different procedures was 89.8%, 70.1%, and 70.2% scavenging effect for DPPH radical, ferrous ion and nitric oxide ion, respectively. The reducing power showed an absorbance of 1.0 and FRAP assay revealed the activity of 60.5%. Extracellular total phenolic content and antioxidant activity as assayed by different procedures positively correlated

MITIGATING EFFECTS OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE AGAINST REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY INDUCED BY DICHLOROVOS IN MALE RATS

Objective: Aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Z. officinalein mitigating oxidative damage and reproductive toxicity in the testis, induced by chronic dichlorovos administration in male Wistar rats.Methods: Twenty four adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats in each group. Group I received olive oil (1 ml/ kg bwt/day) and served as control group, while Group II was administered dichlorovos (20 mg/kg bwt/day) and Group III & IV received a combination of dichlorovos (20 mg/kg bwt) andZingiber officinale (ginger) extract (100 & 200 mg/kg bwt) for 45 days. At the end of the treatment period, the rats were sacrificed.Results: The weight of the reproductive organs and serum FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assayed. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) (indexed by MDA) and antioxidants enzymes GSH, SOD, CAT were also analysed. Dichlorovos treatment decreased the weight of testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicle as well as the serumlevels of FSH, LH and testosterone. There was a decrease in the activities of GSH, SOD and CAT as well as an increase in MDA concentration.Conclusion: Co-administration of aqueous extract ofZingiber officinalewith dichlorovos showed protective effect and increases the reproductive organs weight and enhancesserum hormones level along with increased antioxidants activities and reduced lipid peroxidation. This indicates that Zingiber officinale mitigates reproductive toxicity and oxidative damage induced by dichlorovos exposure due to its antioxidant activity in the testes

Syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis mimicking dengue encephalitis in a child

The syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) has been infrequently reported in children. This condition can mimic many serious conditions of the central nervous system, while actually being benign in nature. The authors present the report of an 8 year old developmentally normal female with family and personal history of migraine, which was initially suspected to have Dengue encephalitis. She had an episode of seizures, meningism and altered sensorium. Normal mental status and physical findings were observed intermittently. Detailed evaluation including analysis of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging were done. Neuro-infections, vascular pathology and autoimmune disorders were ruled out prior to reaching a diagnosis of HaNDL. She responded well to symptomatic treatment and made a full recovery. She was discharged on migraine prophylaxis considering her history. Dengue as causation and the occurrence of seizures in HaNDL has not been reported previously

An overview of the genus Dioscorea L. (Dioscoreaceae) in India

The present paper depicts an overview and elucidated assessment of published data and herbarium records on the diversity, distribution pattern, endemism and threat status of Dioscorea spp. to get availed with extant stature and design strategies for its effective conservation. Dioscorea nested under family Dioscoreceae is a pantropical genus comprising about 682 species. In India, the genus is known to possess 42 taxa (41 species and one variety). Dioscorea L. is highly regarded for its nutritional and medicinal values having a significant role in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Several species of Dioscorea contain various biologically active molecules that show anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fertility effects and thereby known for alleviating medicinal curses

ORAL CONTROL RELEASE MICROPARTICULATE DRUG DELIVERY STUDY OF ACECLOFENAC USING NATURAL POLYMER

Objective: The present study was to prepare controlled release microsphere of aceclofenac using sodium alginate as a natural polymer.Methods: Microspheres of the Aceclofenac sodium by ionotropic gelation technique using sodium alginate as hydrophilic carrier and three differentcross-linking agent in various proportions and different condition drying, and examines the influences of various process such as drugs polymer ratio,different concentration of cross linkage agents, drying condition, and cross-linking time on physicochemical properties of drug loaded microbeads.Results: Formulated drug loaded microbeads were investigated for physicochemical properties and drug release potential. All investigated propertiesshowed satisfactory results. While increasing in the concentration of sodium alginate, and barium chloride cross-linking time increased sphericity, sizedistribution, flow properties, mean particle size, swelling ratio, and drug entrapment efficiency. No significant effect of drug polymer interactions wasobserved in Fourier transform infrared studies. The drug entrapment efficiency obtained in the range of 97.59-99.88. The particle size of drug loadedformulations was measured by an optical microscope. The mean particle size of drug-loaded microbeads was found to be in the range 948.555±1.673to 998.41±0.428. The shape and surface characteristics were determined by scanning electron microscopy using gold sputter technique. In-vitro drugrelease profile of aceclofenac sodium from microbeads was examined in simulated gastric fluid pH 1.2 for initial 2 hrs mixed phosphate buffer pH 6.8up to 6 hrs and simulated intestinal pH 7.4 at the end of 24 hrs studies. The release of drug from the microbeads was pH dependent, showed negligibledrug release in pH 1.2. Under pH 7.4 conditions the beads will swell, and the drug release depends on the swelling and erosion process resulting theoptimum level of drug released in a sustained manner and exhibited zero-order kinetics.Conclusion: Result of studies this system was able to prolong the drug release, minimizing the drug-related adverse effects and improve bioavailabilityin different GI-tract conditions.Keywords: Controlled drug delivery, Aceclofenac sodium, Sodium alginate, Ionotropic gelation

Taxonomic studies on species belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea Thomson of the genus Megachile (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)

Solitary bees belonging to genus Megachile are important pollinators very crucial for the wellbeing of the ecosystem. Large scale surveying will return a wealth of spatio-temporal species data which is critical for systematics, taxonomy and conservation of biodiversity. Detailed taxonomic characterization of solitary bee species belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea collected from the Sutlej basin of Indian northern plains is being described. A total of four species viz. Megachile hera Bingham, M. femorata Smith, M. vera Cameron and M. argentata Cameron belonging to subgenus Eutricharaea with 18 examples were studied. Detailed morphological descriptions, zoogeographic records, specimen examined, floral associations with illustrations and morphological measurements have been provided. Various areas finalised from different parts of Sutlej basin of northern plains were surveyed for the first time for the documentation of Megachile fauna. Hence, all these four species are first records for the studied area

Identifying feasible metabolic routes in Mycobacterium smegmatis and possible alterations under diverse nutrient conditions

Background: Many studies on M. tuberculosis have emerged from using M. smegmatis MC2 155 (Msm), since they share significant similarities and yet Msm is non-pathogenic and faster growing. Although several individual molecules have been studied from Msm, many questions remain open about its metabolism as a whole and its capability to be versatile. Adaptability and versatility are emergent properties of a system, warranting a molecular systems perspective to understand them. Results: We identify feasible metabolic pathways in Msm in reference condition with transcriptome, phenotypic microarray, along with functional annotation of the genome. Together with transcriptome data, specific genes from a set of alternatives have been mapped onto different pathways. About 257 metabolic pathways can be considered to be feasible in Msm. Next, we probe cellular metabolism with an array of alternative carbon and nitrogen sources and identify those that are utilized and favour growth as well as those that do not support growth. In all, about 135 points in the entire metabolic map are probed. Analyzing growth patterns under these conditions, lead us to hypothesize different pathways that can become active in various conditions and possible alternate routes that may be induced, thus explaining the observed physiological adaptations. Conclusions: The study provides the first detailed analysis of feasible pathways towards adaptability. We obtain mechanistic insights that explain observed phenotypic behaviour by studying gene-expression profiles and pathways inferred from the genome sequence. Comparison of transcriptome and phenome analysis of Msm and Mtb provides a rationale for understanding commonalities in metabolic adaptability

Statistical optimalization of α-Amylase production from Penicillium notatum NCIM 923 and kinetics study of the purified enzyme

In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the production of α-amylase by Penicillium notatum NCIM 923 through solid-state fermentation. The individual and combinational effects of the factors, i.e. substrate amount, initial moisture, fermentation time, temperature and size of inoculum were found to have significant effects on α-amylase production: the optimum values of the tested variables were 5 g, 70%, 94 h, 28 °C and 20%, respectively. The predicted amylase production (2819.24 U/g) was in good agreement with the value measured under optimized surrounding (2810.33 U/g). The molecular mass of purified α-amylase was about 52 kDa. The enzyme activity exhibited its pH optimum between pH 4.6 and 6.6, and it had maximal activity at 50 °C. The apparent Km and Vmax of α-amylase for starch were 4.1 mg/ml and 247.6 μmol/min, respectively. The activation energy (Ea) for starch hydrolysis was found to be 14.133 kJ/mol. The enzyme was thermostable with half-life (t1/2) of 110 min at 80 °C and temperature coefficient (Q10) value of 1.0. Purified enzyme was activated by Ca2+ and inhibited by Hg2+ ions. EDTA also inhibited the enzyme activity, indicating that the purified enzyme is a metalloenzyme

A Study on Evaluation of Various Tongue Patterns in North Indian Population and a Working Classification System for These Tongue Print Patterns

INTRODUCTION: Tongue is a vital internal organ enclosed within the oral cavity and is well protected from the external environment. The color, shape, and surface features are characteristic of every individual, and this serves as a tool for identification. The search for a new personal identification method secure has led to the use of the tongue print as a method of biometric verification.AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To analyze the shape, margins, texture of tongue prints and compare these between males and females. Also, formulate a working classification system for these tongue prints.MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were asked to protrude tongue in relaxed position. After this tongue images were captured using Nikon digital camera to evaluate the shape, texture, margins, and papillations of tongue patterns.RESULT: The most common pattern seen in males and females was Patternless, with majority of subjects showing scalloped lateral margins, prominent papillations with short and broad tongue. Mostly female patients had pointed tip of tongue. Also, we in this paper have formulated a working classification system for easily categorizing the tongue print patterns in individuals.CONCLUSION: The human tongue is unique and delivers relevant information about shape, size, color, texture, margins and is suitable for forensic case identification