University of Madras

About: University of Madras is a education organization based out in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Ring (chemistry) & Lipid peroxidation. The organization has 8496 authors who have published 11369 publications receiving 211152 citations. The organization is also known as: Madras University & University of Chennai.

Conformational studies of β-glucans

Abstract: Steric and energy contour diagrams have been plotted for disaccharide-like and for helical structures of linear β-D-glucans having (1 → 2), (1 → 3) and (1 → 4) linkages. The allowed conformations constitute only about. 4% of the total conformations, indicating that the freedom of rotation of glucose residues is highly restricted in all the three polysaccharides. The additional restrictions of the monomer unit, as one passes from disaccharide to polysaccaride structures, are severe in the case of (1 → 2) and (1 → 3) linked polysaccharides but not in (1 → 4) linked polysaccharide. The difference in the nature of linkages also has shown to affect the energetically preferred conformations: (1 → 2) linkages lead only to left handed helical conformations; (1 → 3) linkages lead to both right and left handed wide and extended helical conformations, (1 → 4) linkages lead to both right and left handed extended helical conformations. The possible hydrogen bonds between adjacent residues are also dependent on the nature of linkage.

Antioxidant activity of Terminalia arjuna bark extract on N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant nature of ethanolic extract of Terminalia arjuna bark (EETA) on N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in male Wistar albino rats. Liver cancer was induced by single intraperitonial injection of DEN (200 mg/kg). After 2 weeks of DEN administration, Phenobarbital (PB) was given to promote the cancer for up to 14 successive weeks. EETA extract (400 mg/kg) was given post-orally for 28 days to hepatocellular carcinoma-bearing rats. After the experimental period, all the animals were sacrificed and serum, liver and kidney samples were collected for further biochemical analysis. The levels of lipid peroxides (LPO) under basal and also in the presence of inducers (H(2)O(2), ascorbate and FeSO(4)) were estimated in serum, liver and kidney of control and experimental animals. Enzymic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and non-enzymic antioxidants like Vitamin C (Vit-C) and Vitamin E (Vit-E) levels were determined in all the groups of animals. A significant increase in LPO levels were observed while the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased, when subjected to DEN induction. These altered enzyme levels were ameliorated significantly by administration of EETA at the concentration of 400 mg/kg in drug-treated animals. This protective effect of EETA was associated with inhibition of LPO induced by DEN and to maintain the antioxidant enzyme levels. Our results show an antioxidant activity of T. arjuna bark against DEN-induced liver cancer.

On Lie symmetry analysis and invariant subspace methods of coupled time fractional partial differential equations

Abstract: Lie symmetry analysis and invariant subspace methods of differential equations play an important role separately in the study of fractional partial differential equations. The former method helps to derive point symmetries, symmetry algebra and admissible exact solution, while the later one determines admissible invariant subspace as well as to derive exact solution of fractional partial differential equations. In this article, a comparison between Lie symmetry analysis and invariant subspace methods is presented towards deriving exact solution of the following coupled time fractional partial differential equations: (i) system of fractional diffusion equation, (ii) system of fractional KdV type equation, (iii) system of fractional Whitham-Broer-Kaup’s type equation, (iv) system of fractional Boussinesq-Burgers equation and (v) system of fractional generalized Hirota-Satsuma KdV equation.

Transfer and Expression of a Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Plasmid in Marine Bacteria

Abstract: Conjugal transfer of a multiresistance plasmid from Pseudomonas fluorescens to halophilic and halotolerant bacteria was studied under in vitro and in situ conditions. Mating conducted in broth as well as on plates yielded a plasmid transfer frequency of as high as 10(-3). Among these two, plate mating facilitated conjugal transfer of plasmid, because the cell-to-cell contact is more in plate mating. When P. fluorescens was incubated in seawater, the organism progressively lost its colony forming activity within 15 days. Microscopic examination revealed the presence of very short rods, indicating that the cells have become viable but nonculturable (VNC). Mating conducted in natural seawater without any added nutrients revealed that the conjugal transfer is influenced by the physical state of the donor and the recipients as well as the availability of nutrients. But a plasmid transfer frequency of 10(-7) was obtained even after the donor cells have become VNC suggesting that the nonculturable state and nutrient deprived condition may not limit plasmid transfer. The results suggest that the terrestrial bacteria entering into the seawaters with antibiotic resistance plasmids may be responsible for the prevalence of resistance genes in the marine environment.