NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Community: IJEB Vol.49 [2011]

Membrane-active metabolites produced by soil actinomycetes using chromatic phospholipid/polydiacetylene vesicles

Title: Membrane-active metabolites produced by soil actinomycetes using chromatic phospholipid/polydiacetylene vesicles

Authors: Mehravar, Maryam; Sardari, Soroush; Owlia, Parviz

Abstract: Increased resistance of pathogens toward existing antibiotics has compelled the research efforts to introduce new antimicrobial substances. Drugs with new and less resistant-prone targets to antimicrobial activity have a high priority for drug development activities. Cell membrane seems to be a potential target for new antibiotic agent development to overcome resistance. In this study, A total number of 67 actinomycetes were isolated from the soil samples collected from desert, farming and mineral parts of Iran. We used a chromatic sensor as a membrane model that was set up for the target of antimicrobial metabolites of actinomycetes isolated from the soil. The sensors particles were composed of phospholipid and polymerized polydiacetylene (PDA) lipids. These polymers exhibited color change following interaction with membrane-active metabolites. The color change was due to structural disorder in the lipids following their interaction with membrane-active metabolites. The resultant color change was recorded by fluorescent microscope and easily recognizable by naked eye as well. Sixteen strains were isolated which produced antimicrobial metabolites and were effective against test microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ). A total number of 3 out of 16 strains produced membrane-active metabolites. These 3 strains were identified using 16s rRNA as Streptomyces sp and submitted to GenBank (accession no. JN180853; JN180854; JN180855).

Page(s): 946-952

In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of Cissampelos pareira against carbon-tetrachloride induced hepatic damage

Title: In vitro and in vivo hepatoprotective activity of Cissampelos pareira against carbon-tetrachloride induced hepatic damage

Authors: Surendran, S; Eswaran, M Bavani; Vijayakumar, M; Rao, Ch V

Abstract: Administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Cissampelos pareira roots (CPRE) and standard drug silymarin in rats showed significant hepatoprotective action against CCl₄induced hepatotoxicity. Elevated serum marker enzymes of AST, ALT, ALP and serum bilirubin were significantly reduced to near normal level in CPRE treated rats. Lipid peroxidation level was decreased significantly in CPRE 100, 200, 400 mg/kg doses treatment groups. In case of antioxidant enzymes SOD, catalase levels were increased significantly after CPRE 200, 400 mg/kg doses, similarly it increased the enzyme levels of GST, GPx, and GSH. CPRE 200, 400 mg/kg decreased cholesterol level, and increased triglyceride level. In vitro hepatoprotective activity of the extract was evaluated at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg/ml concentration against CCl₄ (1%) induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. HepG2 cells showed significant dose dependent increase in percentage viability at the doses 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg/ml of CPRE compared to CCl₄ exposed HepG2 cells. Results of this study strongly demonstrate Cissampelos pariera having good hepatoprotective potential.

Page(s): 939-945

Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil

Title: Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed/linseed) fixed oil

Authors: Kaithwas, Gaurav; Mukherjee, Alok; Chaurasia, A K; Majumdar, Dipak K

Abstract: The fixed oil of L. usitatissimum (flaxseed/linseed) inhibited PGE₂-, leukotriene-, histamine- and bradykinin-induced inflammation. The oil also inhibited arachidonic acid-induced inflammation, suggesting its capacity to inhibit both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonate metabolism. In tail immersion model, the oil raised the pain threshold to a lesser extent than morphine but showed excellent peripherally acting, analgesic activity comparable to aspirin, against acetic acid-induced writhing in mouse. In typhoid paratyphoid A/B vaccine-induced pyrexia, the oil showed antipyretic activity comparable to aspirin. The oil contains 57.38% -linolenic acid. Dual inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism, antihistaminic and antibradykinin activities of the oil could account for the biological activity and the active principle could be -linolenic acid an omega-3 (18:3, n-3) fatty acid.

Page(s): 932-938

In situ Carica papaya stem matrix and Fusarium oxysporum (NCBT-156) mediated bioremediation of chromium

Title: In situ Carica papaya stem matrix and Fusarium oxysporum (NCBT-156) mediated bioremediation of chromium

Authors: Amatussalam, A; Abubacker, M N; Rajendran, R Babu

Abstract: Removal of heavy metal chromium was carried out using the fungus Fusarium oxysporum NCBT-156 strain isolated from soil of leather tanning effluent in in situ condition using potassium dichromate solution with 10 per cent Czapek-dox liquid medium. Biosorbent matrix was developed using Carica papaya plant dry stem to colonize the fungal strain to facilitate bioabsorption process. Bioabsorption of chromium was by metabolically mediated intracellular accumulation process. Maximum efficiency of chromium removal by biosorption upto 90 per cent was achieved at the end of 5th day of incubation (120 h of contact time) for 100 and 200 ppm concentration, upto 80 per cent for 300 and 400 ppm, and upto 65 per cent for 500 ppm to 1000 ppm concentrations with pH ranging from 5.8, 5.6, 5.5, 5.4 and 5.2, respectively for 100, 200, 300, 400, 500-1000 ppm concentration. SDS-PAGE protein profile showed significant difference in 34 kDa protein band after chromium absorption by the fungus. ftir spectroscopic analysis revealed that the main functional groups involved in the uptake of chromium by F. oxysporium strain were carbonyl, carboxyl, amino and hydroxyl groups.

Page(s): 925-931