Differently substituted flavanones were isolated from Leguminosae and their antibacterial activity was comparatively studied against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of phytochemical flavanones to clinical isolates of MRSA were determined by a serial agar dilution method. The structure-activity relationship has indicated that 2',4'- or 2',6'-dihydroxylation of the B ring and 5,7-dihydroxylation of the A ring in the flavanone structure are important for significant anti-MRSA activity and that substitution with a certain aliphatic group at the 6- or 8-position also enhances the activity. Among the thirteen flavanones tested, tetrahydroxyflavanones with these structural characteristics isolated from Sophora exigua and Echinosophora koreensis showed intensive activity to inhibit the growth of all MRSA strains at 3.13-6.25 micrograms/ml. The present hydroxyflavanones would be useful in the phytotherapeutic strategy against MRSA infections.

Comparative Study on the Antibacterial Activity of Phytochemical Flavanones against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Chitin and chitosan are natural amino polysaccharides that have exceptional biocompatibility in a wide range of applications such as drug delivery carriers, antibacterial agents and food stabilizers. However, conventional chemical extraction methods of chitin from marine waste are costly and hazardous to the environment. Here we report a study where shrimp waste was co-fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum ATCC 14917 and Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis ATCC 6051 and chitin was successfully extracted after deproteinization and demineralization of the prawn shells. The glucose supplementation for fermentation was replaced by waste substrates to reduce cost and maximize waste utilization. A total of 10 carbon sources were explored, namely sugarcane molasses, light corn syrup, red grape pomace, white grape pomace, apple peel, pineapple peel and core, potato peel, mango peel, banana peel and sweet potato peel. The extracted chitin was chemically characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to measure the degree of acetylation, elemental analysis (EA) to measure the carbon/nitrogen ratio and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to measure the degree of crystallinity. A comparison of the quality of the crude extracted chitin was made between the different waste substrates used for fermentation and the experimental results showed that the waste substrates generally make a suitable replacement for glucose in the fermentation process. Red grape pomace resulted in recovery of chitin with a degree of deacetylation of 72.90%, a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 6.85 and a degree of crystallinity of 95.54%. These achieved values were found to be comparable with and even surpassed commercial chitin.

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Microbial extraction of chitin from seafood waste using sugars derived from fruit waste-stream

Amylase is amongst the most indispensable enzymes that have a large number of applications in laboratories and industries. Mostly, α-amylase is synthesized from microbes such as bacteria, fungi and yeast. Due to the high demand for α-amylase, its synthesis can be enhanced using recombinant DNA technology, different fermentation methods, less expensive and good carbon and nitrogen sources, and optimizing the various parameters during fermentation, e.g., temperature, pH and fermentation duration. Various methods are used to measure the production and activity of synthesized α-amylase like iodine, DNS, NS and dextrinizing methods. The activity of crude α-amylase can be elevated to the maximum level by optimizing the temperature and pH. Some metals also interact with α-amylase and increase its activity like K+, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+. Some industries such as starch conversion, food, detergent, paper, textile industries and fuel alcohol production extensively utilize α-amylase for their various purposes.

Biosynthesis and industrial applications of α-amylase: a review

A novel role of probiotics in improving host defence of elite rugby union athlete: A double blind randomised controlled trial.

Objective(s): Our present study sought to evaluate hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of methanol extract of Azolla microphylla phytochemically synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNaP) in acetaminophen (APAP) - induced hepatotoxicity of fresh water common carp fish. Materials and Methods: GNaP were prepared by green synthesis method using methanol extract of Azolla microphylla. Twenty four fishes weighing 146 ± 2.5 g were used in this experiment and these were divided into four experimental groups, each comprising 6 fishes. Group 1 served as control. Group 2 fishes were exposed to APAP (500 mg/kg) for 24 h. Groups 3 and 4 fishes were exposed to APAP (500 mg/kg) + GNaP (2.5 mg/kg) and GNaP (2.5 mg/kg) for 24 h, respectively. The hepatoprotective and antioxidant potentials were assessed by measuring liver damage, biochemical parameters, ions status, and histological alterations. Results: APAP exposed fish showed significant elevated levels of metabolic enzymes (LDH, G6PDH and MDH), hepatotoxic markers (GPT, GOT and ALP), reduced hepatic glycogen, lipids, protein, albumin, globulin, increased levels of bilirubin, creatinine, and oxidative stress markers (TBRAS, LHP and protein carbonyl), altered the tissue enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px and GST) non-enzyme (GSH), cellular sulfhydryl (T-SH, P-SH and NP-SH) levels, reduced hepatic ions (Ca 2+ , Na + and K + ), and abnormal liver histology. It was observe that GNaP has reversal effects on the levels of above mentioned parameters in APAP hepatotoxicity. Conclusion: Azolla microphylla phytochemically synthesized GNaP protects liver against oxidative damage and tissue damaging enzyme activities and could be used as an effective protector against acetaminophen-induced hepatic damage in fresh water common carp fish.

http://nmj.mums.ac.ir/article_4089_c58ba2520d7d63afa6d22901b0a6ed21.pdf

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of azolla microphylla based gold nanoparticles against acetaminophen induced toxicity in a fresh water common carp fish (cyprinus carpio l.)

Plant pathogens resistant to the commercially available fungicides and bactericides even at higher concentrations are the biggest challenge for the farmers to control the losses due to plant diseases. The antibacterial and antifungal potential of nanomaterials makes them a suitable candidate for the control of plant diseases. Thus, the present study reports the phytofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO Np’s) using aqueous plant leaf extract of Terminalia bellerica (Baheda). Characterization of ZnO nanoparticles was done by ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infra-red (FT–IR) analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The presence of pure hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD analysis. The TEM images revealed the spherical to hexagonal shaped ZnO nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 20 to 30 nm. The stabilization of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles through the interactions of terpenoids, steroids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and enzymes present in the leaf extract was suggested by FTIR analysis. The mechanism of the formation of ZnO nanoparticles using Terminalia bellerica (Baheda) (Tb-ZnO Np’s) as a bioactive compound is proposed. These phytofabricated ZnO nanoparticles (Tb-ZnO Np’s) have shown significant antifungal potential against Alternaria brassicae the causal agent of Alternaria blight disease/leaf spot disease in Brassica species. The microscopic results confirm the changes in mycelium morphology and reduction in the number of spore germination at 0.2 mg/mL concentration Tb-ZnO Np’s.

Phytofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles as a nanofungicide for management of Alternaria blight of Brassica.

The microbial enzymes particularly the bacterial enzymes have gained more popularity in the industrial sector as they are more stable than the enzymes prepared from plants and animal resources. Modern molecular techniques, such as metagenomics modified by different strategies are used for analysis of microbial enzymes. Bacteria and fungi produce the majority of industrial microbial enzymes. Production of enzyme is carries out using submerged fementation and also solid state fermentation in some cases. α-Amylase (1,4- α -D-glucanohydrolase; EC3.2.1.1) is responsible for hydrolysis of the α1,4-glucosidic linkage in starch and other similar molecules. It is one of the many enzymes involved in starch degradation. The production of α-amylase is essential for the coversion of starch to oligiosaccharide. Enzymes like amylases- starch converting enzymes, are important in production of glucose and fructose syrups, modified starches. For isolation and optimization of a-amylase from bacillus species, an α-amylase producing bacillus species is isolated from a soil sample and the soluble starch amylase was characterized. Then, the optimum pH activity,temperature activity and substrated conectration for bacterial growth is observed. The purification of the enzyme is then carried out and the enzyme growth is then recorded.

MICROBIAL ENZYMES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO α-AMYLASE

The biological synthesis of nanoparticles using fungal cultures is a promising and novel tool in nano-biotechnology. The potential culture of Trichoderma asperellum (T. asperellum) has been used to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) in the current study. The necrotrophic infection in Brassica species is caused due to a foliar pathogen Alternaria brassicae (A. brassicae). Mycogenic copper oxide nanoparticles (M-CuO NPs) were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic techniques such as UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antifungal potential of CuO NPs was studied against A. brassicae. M-CuO NPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 303 nm, and XRD confirmed the crystalline phase of NPs. FTIR spectra confirmed the stretching of amide bonds, and the carbonyl bond indicated the presence of enzymes in T. asperellum filtrate. SEM and TEM confirmed the spherical shape of M-CuO NPs with an average size of 22 nm. Significant antifungal potential of M-CuO NPs was recorded, as it inhibited the growth of A. brassicae up to 92.9% and 80.3% in supplemented media with C-CuO NPs at 200 ppm dose. Mancozeb and propiconazole inhibited the radial growth up to 38.7% and 44.2%. SEM confirmed the morphological changes in hyphae and affected the sporulation pattern. TEM revealed hardly recognizable organelles, abnormal cytoplasmic distribution, and increased vacuolization, and light microscopy confirmed the conidia with reduced diameter and fewer septa after treatment with both types of NPs. Thus, M-CuO NPs served as a promising alternative to fungicides.

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Biocontrol potential of mycogenic copper oxide nanoparticles against Alternaria brassicae

Nanotechnology is a recent emerging area having vast potential in almost every field of science due to their small size and larger surface area as compared to bulk phase materials. Synthesis of nanoparticles can be done from physical and chemical methods, but these days, bio-nanotechnology is in demand that associate principles of biology with physical and chemical methods to synthesize nanomaterials having precise functions. In bio-nanotechnology, the nanoparticles are synthesized from biological means such as plants or microbes also called as plant-microbe-engineered nanoparticles (PM-ENPs). PM-ENPs are more efficient, less toxic and cost effective as compared to physical and chemically synthesized nanoparticles. Plant-microbe-engineered nanoparticles have good anti-microbial activity because of electrostatic interaction with cell membrane of microorganisms and electrostatic interaction build-up inside the cell cytoplasm. The PM-ENPs such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and sliver (Ag) are helpful in increasing the growth of plant by guaranteeing that the nutrients are used in controlled manners by the plants. Plant-microbe-engineered nanoparticles as bio-nanosensors have confirmed their possibility of success in agriculture. Bio-nanosensors can be used for monitoring of crop health, pests attack, environmental stressors and plant diseases. The bio-nanosensors can be used in pathogen detection, sensing food eminence, adulterants, dye, vitamins, fertilizers, taste, smell and pesticides. Therefore, plant-microbe-engineered nanoparticles have significant role in advancement of agriculture. This chapter will pave the path for the possibility of synthesis of nanomaterials by biological means such as by different plant parts and microbes. Also, the role of different metal nanoparticles in making of different types of bio-nanosensors and their substantial role in agriculture advancement have also been emphasized.

Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture

Alternaria brassicae is a necrotrophic fungus causes Alternaria blight disease in oilseed mustard crop. There is a 47% loss of the mustard crop due to the Alternaria blight disease. To control this disease, various chemical fungicides have been used till date which are harmful to our environment. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles synthesized from Terminalia bellerica have been reported to have significant antifungal potential against A. brassicae at 200 ppm concentration. In the present study, the effect of green synthesized zinc oxide (Tb-ZnO) nanoparticles, chemically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles, and chemical fungicides on A. brassicae has been anticipated by analysing changes in cytomorphology characteristics, biochemical constituent, and stress enzymes of A. brassicae. Cytomorphological studies by transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy have shown the complete disintegration of cell wall, cell membrane, and cytoplasmic content at 200 ppm concentration of Tb-ZnO nanoparticles. Decrement in biochemical constituents and changes in activity of stress enzymes in Tb-ZnO nanoparticles treated cell confirm the toxicity of nanoparticles at 200 ppm concentrations. Hence, on the basis of all these results, the mechanism of action of Tb-ZnO nanofungicides on A. brassicae has been hypothesized in the present study. This study confirms how nanoparticles inhibit the growth of A. brassicae and suggested the use of nanofungicides.

/pdf/mechanistic-insight-of-the-antifungal-potential-of-green-1tfvfmq1.pdf

Arti Goel

Papers

Phytofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles as a nanofungicide for management of Alternaria blight of Brassica.

MICROBIAL ENZYMES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO α-AMYLASE

Biocontrol potential of mycogenic copper oxide nanoparticles against Alternaria brassicae

Bio-nanosensors: Synthesis and Their Substantial Role in Agriculture

Mechanistic Insight of the Antifungal Potential of Green Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Alternaria brassicae