NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: IJEB Vol.50(07) [July 2012]

Biodiesel production from seed oil of Cleome viscosa L.

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Biodiesel production from seed oil of Cleome viscosa L.

Authors: Kumari, Rashmi; Jain, Vinod Kumar; Kumar, Sushil

Abstract: Edible oil seed crops, such as rapeseed, sunflower, soyabean and safflower and non-edible seed oil plantation crops Jatropha and Pongamia have proved to be internationally viable commercial sources of vegetable oils for biodiesel production. Considering the paucity of edible oils and unsustainability of arable land under perennial plantation of Jatropha and Pongamia in countries such as India, the prospects of seed oil producing Cleome viscosa, an annual wild short duration plant species of the Indogangetic plains, were evaluated for it to serve as a resource for biodiesel. The seeds of C. viscosa resourced from its natural populations growing in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi areas of Aravali range were solvent extracted to obtain the seed oil. The oil was observed to be similar in fatty acid composition to the non-edible oils of rubber, Jatropha and Pongamia plantation crops and soybean, sunflower, safflower, linseed and rapeseed edible oil plants in richness of unsaturated fatty acids. The Cleome oil shared the properties of viscosity, density, saponification and calorific values with the Jatropha and Pongamia oils, except that it was comparatively acidic. The C. viscosa biodiesel had the properties of standard biodiesel specified by ASTM and Indian Standard Bureau, except that it had low oxidation stability. It proved to be similar to Jatropha biodiesel except in cloud point, pour point, cold filter plugging point and oxidation stability. In view of the annual habit of species and biodiesel quality, it can be concluded that C. viscosa has prospects to be developed into a short-duration biodiesel crop.

Page(s): 502-510

Synergistic effect of calcium stearate and photo treatment on the rate of biodegradation of low density polyethylene spent saline vials

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Synergistic effect of calcium stearate and photo treatment on the rate of biodegradation of low density polyethylene spent saline vials

Authors: Carol, D; Karpagam, S; Kingsley, S J; Vincent, S

Abstract: The biodegradation of spent saline bottles, a low density polyethylene product (LDPE) by two selected Arthrobacter sp. under in vitro conditions is reported. Chemical and UV pretreatment play a vital role in enhancing the rate of biodegradation. Treated LDPE film exhibits a higher weight loss and density when compared to untreated films. Arthrobacter oxydans and Arthrobacter globiformis grew better in medium containing pretreated film than in medium containing untreated film. The decrease in density and weight loss of LDPE was also more for pretreated film when compared to untreated film indicating the affect of abiotic treatment on mechanical properties of LDPE. The decrease in the absorbance corresponding to carbonyl groups and double bonds that were generated during pretreatment suggest that some of the double bonds were cut by Arthrobacter species. Since Arthrobacter sp. are capable of degrading urea, splitting of urea group were also seen in FTIR spectrum indicating the evidence of biodegradation after microbial incubation. The results indicated that biodegradation rate could be enhanced by exposing LDPE to calcium stearate (a pro-oxidant) which acts as an initiator for the oxidation of the polymers leading to a decrease of molecular weight and formation of hydrophilic group. Therefore, the initial step for biodegradation of many inert polymers depends on a photo-oxidation of those polymers. The application in sufficient details with improved procedures utilizing recombinant microorganism with polymer degradation capacity can lead to a better plastic waste management in biomedical field. The present plastic disposal trend of waste accumulation can be minimized with this promising eco-friendly technique.

Page(s): 497-501

Degradation of bacterial DNA by a natural antimicrobial agent with the help of biomimetic membrane system

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Degradation of bacterial DNA by a natural antimicrobial agent with the help of biomimetic membrane system

Authors: Bhandary, Suman; Chaki, Shaswati; Mukherjee, Sayanti; Das, Sukhen; Mukherjee, Sanjit; Chaudhuri, Keya; Dastidar, Sujata G

Abstract: The antimicrobial efficacy of methylglyoxal (MG) against several gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli has been reported. To determine the mechanism of action of MG, molecular interactions between lipid and MG within the liposomal membrane were also investigated. Multilamellar and unilamellar vesicles were prepared from 1, 2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC). The effect of MG on DPPC liposomal membrane was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that MG interacts mainly with the DPPC head group that produces a significant increase in the fluidity of liposomal vesicles, which could be the cause of a fusion/aggregation effect in microbial cells. The agarose gel electrophoresis study with the genomic DNA extracted from E. coli ATCC 25922 revealed that addition of MG could completely degrade this DNA within 1 h, pointing out to their distinctly high degree of sensitivity towards MG. Further, the drug was able to cross the cell membranes, penetrating into the interior of the cell and interacting with DNA for demonstrating antibacterial activity of MG.

Page(s): 491-496

Carbohydrate and elicitor enhanced withanolide (withaferin A and withanolide A) accumulation in hairy root cultures of Withania somnifera (L.)

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Carbohydrate and elicitor enhanced withanolide (withaferin A and withanolide A) accumulation in hairy root cultures of Withania somnifera (L.)

Authors: Doma, Madhavi; Abhayankar, Gauri; Reddy, V D; Kishor, P B Kavi

Abstract: Leaves of Withania somnifera contained more withaferin A and withanolide A than roots indicating that these compounds mainly accumulate in leaves. With an increase in age of the plant, withaferin A was enhanced with a corresponding decrease in withanolide A. Hairy root cultures were induced from leaf explants using Agrobacterium rhizogenes and the transgenic nature of hairy roots was confirmed by partial isolation and sequencing of rolB gene, which could not be amplified in untransformed plant parts. In hairy roots, withaferin A accumulated at 2, 3 and 4% but not at 6% sucrose, the highest amount being 1733 mg/g dry weight at 4% level. High and equal amounts of withaferin A and withanolide A accumulated (890 and 886 mg/g dry tissue respectively) only at 3% sucrose. Increasing concentrations of glucose enhanced withaferin A and it peaked at 5% level (3866 mg/g dry tissue). This amount is 2842 and 34% higher compared to untransformed roots and leaves (collected from 210-day-old plants) respectively. Withanolide A was detected at 5% glucose but not at other concentrations. While chitosan and nitric oxide increased withaferin A, jasmonic acid decreased it. Acetyl salicylic acid stimulated accumulation of both withaferin A and withanolide A at higher concentrations. Triadimefon, a fungicide, enhanced withaferin A by 1626 and 3061% (not detected earlier) compared to hairy and intact roots respectively.

Page(s): 484-490