Ajay G. Namdeo

Bio: Ajay G. Namdeo is an academic researcher from Bharati Vidyapeeth University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Catharanthus roseus & Withania somnifera. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 36 publications receiving 1046 citations.

Plant cell elicitation for production of secondary metabolites: A review

Abstract: Pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites or phytopharmaceuticals include alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins etc. Currently, most of these secondary metabolites are isolated from wild or cultivated plants because their chemical synthesis is either extremely difficult or economically infeasible. Biotechnological production in plant cell cultures is an attractive alternative, but to date this has had only limited commercial success because of a lack of understanding of how these metabolites are synthesized. Plants and/or plant cells in vitro, show physiological and morphological responses to microbial, physical or chemical factors which are known as ‘elicitors’. Elicitation is a process of induced or enhanced synthesis of secondary metabolites by the plants to ensure their survival, persistence and competitiveness. Here, we discuss the classification of elicitors, their mechanism of action, and applications for the production of phyto-pharmaceuticals from medicinal plants.

Influence of Fungal Elicitors on Production of Ajmalicine by Cell Cultures of Catharanthus roseus

Abstract: Suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) were elicited with fungal cell wall fragments of Aspergillus niger (A. niger), Fusarium moniliforme (F. moniliforme), and Trichoderma viride (T. viride). The effects of elicitor dosage, exposures time, and age of subculture on ajmalicine accumulation were studied. A higher concentration of elicitor extract responded positively to C. roseus suspension cultures. Ajmalicine accumulation increased by about 3-fold when cells were treated with A. niger, F.moniliforme, and T. viride. The maximum ajmalicine production (75 microg g(-1) dry weight (DW)) was observed in cells treated with T. viride. Cell cultures were elicited with 5% preparation of A. niger, F. moniliforme, and T. viride and exposed for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. for elicitation. Suspension cultures elicited with T. viride for 48 h showed a 3-fold increase (87 microg g(-1) DW) in ajmalicine contents, whereas A. niger and F. moniliforme synthesized a 2-fold increase in alkaloid and yielded 52 and 56 microg g(-1) DW ajmalicine, respectively. C. roseus cells of different age (5,10, 15, 20, and 25 days old) were treated with a 5% elicitor of A. niger, F. moniliforme, and T. viride and investigated elicitors activity at different age of cell cultures. Maximum yield 166 microg g(-1) DW of ajmalicine was synthesized in 20 day old suspension cultures treated with T. viride. A longer period of incubation of cell cultures with elicitors adversely affected the ajmalicine synthesis.

Molecular Markers: New Prospects in Plant Genome Analysis

Abstract: Accurate authentication is constantly necessary to prevent the adulteration of target plant with other plant species. For the standardization of botanical preparations chromatographic techniques (HPLC, TLC, HPTLC, UV spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, gas chromatography, infrared and NMR spectroscopy) have limitations because the compositions and relative amount of chemicals in a species varies with growing conditions, harvesting periods, post-harvest processes and storage conditions. This can be misleading if the samples are deliberately adulterated with a marker compound. Also, it is difficult to distinguish closely related species due to similar chemical compounds. Ordinary chemical authentication was not reliable enough to produce easyto-interpret results. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more effective, accurate, reliable and sensitive technology for the authentication of herbs. In recent years DNA manipulation techniques have been adapted for the authentication of herbs which comprise of the molecular markers, sequencing of specific genes, and sophisticated hybridization setups such as DNA microarrays. DNA-based molecular markers have acted as resourceful tools in various fields like taxonomy, physiology, embryology, plant breeding, ecology, genetic engineering etc. The innovation of polymerase chain reaction was a milestone in the development of DNA markers. This facilitated the development of marker based gene tags, cloning of agronomically important genes, variability studies, phylogenetic analysis, selection of wanted genotypes, etc. Thus DNA markers offer several advantages over conventional phenotypic markers, as they provide data that can be analyzed objectively. KEY WORDS Molecular authentification, DNA markers, Polymerase chain reaction, RAPD. ABBREVIATIONS PCR- polymerase chain reaction; AFLP- amplified fragment length polymorphism; HPLC- high performance liquid chromatography; TLC- thin layer chromatography; HPTLC- high performance thin layer chromatography; UV- ultraviolet spectroscopy; NMRnuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy; DNA- deoxy ribonucleic acid; RFLP- restriction fragment length polymorphism; STSsequence tagged sites; ASAP- allele specific associated primers; EST- expressed sequence tag markers; SSCP- single strand conformation polymorphism; RLGS- restriction landmark genomic scanning ; VNTRs- variable number of tandem repeats; HVRshypervariable regions; RAPD- randomly amplified polymorphic DNA; SCAR- sequence characterized amplified regions for amplification of specific band; RAMPO- randomly amplified microsatellite polymorphisms; CAPs- cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of different fractions of Boswellia serrata

Abstract: The study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of different fractions of Boswellia serrata The effect of different fractions of Boswellia serrata were studied using carrageenan induced paw edema, acetic acid induced writhing response, formalin induced pain, hot plate and tail flick method for studying anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, respectively The different fractions of B serrata, essential oil (10 ml/kg), gum (100 mg/kg, resin (100 mg/kg) oleo-resin (100 mg/kg) and oleo-gum-resin (100 mg/kg) significantly reduces carrageenan induced inflammation in rats and shows analgesic activity, as determined by acetic acid induced writhing response, formalin induced pain, hot plate and tail flick method The different fractions of B serrata showed prompt anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity due to the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase enzyme Keywords: Analgesic; Boswellia serrata; Inflammation; 5- lipoxygenase; Burseraceae

Broad-spectrum sun-protective action of Porphyra-334 derived from Porphyra vietnamensis

Abstract: There are enormous UV-protective compounds present in the current world market, out of which 98% give protection against UV-B range and the remaining 2% are potent against far UV-A range only. Furthermore, these synthetic compounds have various problems related to photo-stability and cross-stability. There is a vital need of sunscreen agents that will remain stable for prolonged periods and provide broad-spectrum protection against harmful UV range. The Indian Ocean contains large amounts of macro-algae which synthesize varied amount of mycosporine amino acids, "sun-protective compounds" by shikmic acid pathway. In the present study, we have evaluated the sunscreen protection provided by Porphyra-334, a mycosporine amino acid isolated from Indian sp. of Porphyra. Furthermore, the isolated compound was detected by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet (UV), whereas nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and infrared spectrometry were used for its structural characterization. Stability studies were performed under different storage and pH conditions. Ultimately a sunscreen formulation was developed and its potential against marketed Aloe vera gel was evaluated by in vitro sunscreen protection method. It was observed that sunscreen potential of Porphyra-334 was 5.11-fold greater than that of the marketed Aloe vera gel preparation.

Plant cell elicitation for production of secondary metabolites: A review

Abstract: Pharmaceutically significant secondary metabolites or phytopharmaceuticals include alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins, resins etc. Currently, most of these secondary metabolites are isolated from wild or cultivated plants because their chemical synthesis is either extremely difficult or economically infeasible. Biotechnological production in plant cell cultures is an attractive alternative, but to date this has had only limited commercial success because of a lack of understanding of how these metabolites are synthesized. Plants and/or plant cells in vitro, show physiological and morphological responses to microbial, physical or chemical factors which are known as ‘elicitors’. Elicitation is a process of induced or enhanced synthesis of secondary metabolites by the plants to ensure their survival, persistence and competitiveness. Here, we discuss the classification of elicitors, their mechanism of action, and applications for the production of phyto-pharmaceuticals from medicinal plants.

Current approaches toward production of secondary plant metabolites.

Abstract: Plants are the tremendous source for the discovery of new products with medicinal importance in drug development. Today several distinct chemicals derived from plants are important drugs, which are currently used in one or more countries in the world. Secondary metabolites are economically important as drugs, flavor and fragrances, dye and pigments, pesticides, and food additives. Many of the drugs sold today are simple synthetic modifications or copies of the naturally obtained substances. The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites has in recent years resulted in a great interest in secondary metabolism, particularly in the possibility of altering the production of bioactive plant metabolites by means of tissue culture technology. Plant cell and tissue culture technologies can be established routinely under sterile conditions from explants, such as plant leaves, stems, roots, and meristems for both the ways for multiplication and extraction of secondary metabolites. In vitro production of secondary metabolite in plant cell suspension cultures has been reported from various medicinal plants, and bioreactors are the key step for their commercial production. Based on this lime light, the present review is aimed to cover phytotherapeutic application and recent advancement for the production of some important plant pharmaceuticals.

In vitro models for antioxidant activity evaluation and some medicinal plants possessing antioxidant properties: An overview

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a class of highly reactive molecules derived from the metabolism of oxygen. ROS, including superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide molecules are often generated as by products of biological reactions or from exogenous factors. There is extensive evidence to involve ROS in the development of degenerative diseases. Evidence suggests that compounds especially from natural sources are capable of providing protection against free radicals. This has attracted a great deal of research interest in natural antioxidants. It is necessary to Screen out medicinal plants for their antioxidant potential. Therefore an attempt has been made to review different in vitro models for estimating antioxidant properties of natural products from medicinal plants. All the models are described along with the different standards that can be used for estimation. In the end, a large number of plants showing in vitro antioxidant activity are listed but in vivostudies are lacking. Key words: Antioxidant assay, in vitro models, antioxidant medicinal plants.

Seaweeds: A sustainable functional food for complementary and alternative therapy

Abstract: Edible seaweeds are rich in bioactive antioxidants, soluble dietary fibers, proteins, minerals, vitamins, phytochemicals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids Although previously the seaweeds were only used as gelling and thickening agents in the food or pharmaceutical industries, recent researches have revealed their potential as complementary medicine The red, brown and green seaweeds have been shown to have therapeutic properties for health and disease management, such as anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiestrogenic, thyroid stimulating, neuroprotective, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial and tissue healing properties in vivo Active compounds include sulphated polysaccharides, phlorotannins, carotenoids (eg fucoxanthin), minerals, peptides and sulfolipids, with proven benefits against degenerative metabolic diseases Their therapeutic modes of action and bioactive components have been meticulously studied by scientists and their reports are summarized in this review