Anand Mohan

Ameliorating effect of chicory (Chichorium intybus L.) fruit extract against 4-tert-octylphenol induced liver injury and oxidative stress in male rats

The current study was carried out to elucidate the modulating effect of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) fruit extract (CFR) against 4-tert-OP induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in male rats. Rats were divided into four groups and treated for 8 weeks as follow: group 1: normal control-treated (saline); group 2: chicory fruit extract-treated (100 mg/kg); group 3: 4-tert-OP treated; group 4: 4-tert-OP plus chicory fruit extract. The obtained results revealed that rats which received 4-tert-OP showed a significant increase in liver TBARS and bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activities. While a significant decrease in the levels of GSH, SOD, catalase recorded. On the other hand, CFR extract succeeded to modulate these observed abnormalities resulting from 4-tert-OP as indicated by the reduction of TBARS and the pronounced improvement of the investigated biochemical and antioxidant parameters. Histopathological evidence, together with observed PCNA and DNA fragmentation, supported the detrimental effect of 4-tert-OP and the ameliorating effect of CFR extract on liver toxicity. So, it could be concluded that chicory has a promising role and it worth to be considered as a natural substance for ameliorating the oxidative stress and hepatic injury induced by 4-tert-OP compound.

Comparative assessment for hyperaccumulatory and phytoremediation capability of three wild weeds

Abstract The composition and the organization of soil are changing rapidly by the diverged mankind activities, leading to the contamination of environment. Several methods are employed to clean up the environment from these kinds of contaminants, but most of them are costly and ineffective to yield optimum results. Phytoremediation is a natural green technology, which is eco-friendly for the removal of toxic metals from the polluted environment. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective technique through which the cleanup of contaminated soil laced with heavy metals is performed by wild weeds and small herbal plants. The phytoremediation technique provides a promising tool for hyperaccumulation of heavy metals; arsenic, lead, mercury, copper, chromium, and nickel, etc., by the wild weeds and that has been discussed here in detail in case of Cannabissativa, Solanum nigrum and Rorippa globosa. In general, weeds that have the intrinsic capacity to accumulate metals into their shoots and roots, have the ability to form phytochelates and formation of stable compound with ions. This behavior of accumulation along with chelate and stable compound formation is utilized as a tool for phytoremediation activity.

Analysis of the glyphosate herbicide in water, soil and food using derivatising agents

Glyphosate is used widely to control weeds. Glyphosate is a broad spectrum, non-selective, systemic and post-emergent herbicide. Glyphosate excessive use and impact on the environment is promoting the analysis of glyphosate in water, soil and food materials. Methods to analyse glyphosate at low levels are needed because glyphosate has a short half-life due to easy microbial degradation. Glyphosate has a high polarity and solubility in water, has high binding affinity with soil and is non-volatile. The absence of chromophoric groups in the molecular structure makes the detection difficult. Therefore, detection can be achieved by derivatisation, which makes glyphosate more volatile and stable for spectroscopic analysis. Derivatisation is commonly done by alkyl chloroformates, acylating agents, 9-fluoroenylmethylchloroformate, 4-methoxybenzenesulfonylfluoride and o-phthalaldehyde. Immunosensors allow detection at microlevels. Nanocrystals and nanotechnology allow detection at nanolevels. Here, we review methods to derivatise and analyse glyphosate.

Dendritic platforms for biomimicry and biotechnological applications

Abstract Dendrimers, commonly referred to as polymeric trees, offer endless opportunities for biotechnological and biomedical applications. By controlling the type, length, and molecular weight of the core, branches and end groups, respectively, the chemical functionality and topology of dendrimeric archetypes can be customized which further can be applied to achieve required solubility, biodegradability, diagnosis and other applications. Given the physicochemical variability of the dendrimers and their hybrids, this review attempts to discuss a full spectrum of recent advances and strides made by these “perfectly designed structures”. An extensive biotech/biomimicry application profiling of dendrimers is provided with focus on complex archetypical designs such as protein biomimicry (angiogenic inhibitors, regenerative hydroxyapatite and collagen) and biotechnology applications. In terms of biotechnological advances, dendrimers have provided distinctive advantages in the fields of biocatalysis, microbicides, artificial lights, mitochondrial function modulation, vaccines, tissue regeneration and repair, antigen carriers and even biosensors. In addition, this review provides overview of the extensive chemo-functionalization opportunities available with dendrimers which makes them a perfect candidate for forming drug conjugates, protein hybrids, bio mimics, lipidic derivatives, metal deposits and nanoconjugates thereby making them the most multifunctional platforms for diverse biotechnological applications.

Metal Accumulation Capability of Weeds and Their Utilization in Phytoremediation Technology

A wide range of anthropogenic activities cause physiochemical changes in the nature of soil. This leads to the contamination of environment. There are many methods employed to clean up environment from these contaminants, but most of them are costly and ineffective to provide proper results. Chemical methods employed act with complicated mechanism and lots of cost input. Phytoremediation is a technology that acts with deployment of green plants, for removal of toxic metals from the polluted environment. Phytoremediation is a cost-effective technique through which clean-up of contaminated soil loaded with high heavy metals is performed by weeds and small herbal plants. Phytoremediation has become a successful technology for hyperaccumulation of heavy metals; arsenic, lead, mercury, copper, chromium, nickel etc., by weeds. Weeds have intrinsic capacity to accumulate metals into their shoots and root and further to form phytochelates and stabilize ions. This accumulation activity of these weeds along with stable compound formation acts as a boon for phytoremediation technology.

Inulinase: An Important Microbial Enzyme in Food Industry

Inulinases are industrial food enzymes which have earned vast attention recently. Inulin and inulin-containing materials are sustainable, economical polymeric carbohydrates which can be easily hydrolysed by microbial inulinases into fructose, glucose and inulooligosaccharides. The inulinase gene can also be cloned and can be used in the production of bioethanol, single-cell oil, and single-cell protein utilizing inulin as the substrate in many species of yeast. The utilization of inulin is immense for the production of monomeric fructose units, and it has replaced starch in many food industries with multiple applications. Plants like agave, asparagus, coffee, chicory, dahlia, dandelion, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, etc. are richest source of inulin. Inulin showed encouraging biorefinery approach in which inulin-containing waste, produced with the help of microorganisms has been used to yield biofuels including renewable gas, renewable diesel and further for the production of electricity.

Antibacterial, Antioxidant analysis of Phytochemical Extracts derived from seeds of Syzygium cumini L. against Pathogenic Bacteria

Syzygium cumini is a tropical fruit tree of great economic importance. The fruit is commonly known as jamun (Hindi), java plum, black plum, jambul and Indian blackberry. It is a large, evergreen widely distributed forest tree of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Australia which is also cultivated for its edible fruits. The tree was introduced from India and tropical Asia to southern Africa for its edible and attractive fruits. S. cumini tree has proved to have medicinal properties against a number of diseases it has a high economic value for the application in the medicinal field its extract contain compound like flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, saponins, terpenoid, cardiac glycosides and tannins as the chemical class present in the extracts. In current research study, phytochemical extracts derived from seed of S. cumini for antimicrobial analysis and to explore its potential applications to develop green drug and as an alternative to antibiotics available to cure diseases without side effects. Phytochemical extracts were obtained by using water, methanol and acetone and various tests were performed to evaluate the presence of alkaloids and flavnoids with standard protocol; then biochemical characterization of these extracts were analyzed by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to evaluate the phytoconstiutents present in extracts. Then phytochemical extracts derived from seed extracts were examined for antimicrobial effects against various gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) and gram negative bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteric, E.coli) by disc diffusion method. After incubation period of 24 hrs at 370C zone of inhibition was measured and compared with standard antibiotic chloromphenicol and gentamycin. Antioxidant analysis was determined on the basis of the scavenging effect on the stable DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical activity and heavy metal absorption was also analyzed to detect the potential uses of these extracts as antioxidant. Methanolic extracts have shown more potent antimicrobial effects than water and acetone derived extracts. Terpenoids are well known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic activities, triterpenes and terpenoids have already been isolated. Saponins are reported to have antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and haemolytic, hepatoprotective and anti- ulcer activities. Findings in current research studies can be implemented to develop green drug and nanoparticles for antimicrobial, anti-diabetic purposes and various immunomodulation studies to improve immunity of an individual.

Current Technical Perspective and Application of Aquatic Weeds in Phytoremediation

Anthropogenic pollution inputs are a cause of great concern. Continuous inputs of polluting material such as heavy metals, pesticides, fertilizer and other organic, inorganic material are burdening the environment, specially the aquatic bodies. Water bodies when overloaded with polluting material causes high level of stress and becomes depleted with dissolved oxygen, life sustaining factors. These stressful conditions can be resisted by certain aquatic weeds. Some of them even thrive in such conditions and accumulate large amount of heavy metals and other xenobiotic compounds. These stress sustaining and thriving species could prove to be useful for wastewater treatment strategies collectively referred as phytoremediation and bioremediation strategies. The current chapter mainly deals with discussion regarding these technologies in aquatic environments utilizing such aquatic plants. Plants taken in consideration for discussion include water hyacinth and duckweed. It has been reported that these plants are efficient enough to reduce water pollution of textile industries, as they are good bioaccumulator and accumulate contaminants into their tissues. Water hyacinth has high capacity of absorbing various toxic organic substances from the contaminated water. It has been reported that duckweed is very efficient for reducing the biochemical oxygen demand, percentage of heavy metals, chemical oxygen demand, orthophosphate, nitrate, and ammonia during its exposure to wastewater. The current review chapter focuses enough on these specific capabilities of plants.

Evaluating Different Weeds for Phytoremediation Potential Available in Tannery Polluted Area by Conducting Pot and Hydroponic Experiments

The pot experiments were conducted to determine and compare the toxic effects of Chromium, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel and Lead on different parameters like shoot length, number of branches and area of leaf on different wild weedCannabis sativa, Solanumnigrum and Chenopodium album. The investigated amounts of metal were in the range of 7 different concentrations i.e. 5ppm, 10ppm,50ppm,100ppm,200ppm,300ppm and 350ppm.The average toxicity increases with increase in the concentration of metals but in certain cases variations were observed in toxicity parameters. The morphological response in Cannabis sativa showed that most of the changes on the morphological characteristics were observed at 100 ppm. The shoot length, leaf area and number of branches decrease at 100 ppm and above. The maximum variations as compared to other metals were shown in copper stress condition. In Chenopodium album all the metals except lead show morphological variation with increase in metal concentration. The morphological toxicity increases with increase in metal concentration. The overall pollen fertility analysis shows that metal exposure leads to the development of sterile pollens. This shows the relative toxic effect of metals on the pollen fertility. In the hydroponic experiments, the Chromium metal exposure on the weed Cannabis sativa(C) and (P) for 15 days shows decrease in the amount of Chromium in the medium detected throughdiphenylcarbazide method, which shows the hyper accumulation of chromium by these weeds.