Gauri Dutt Sharma

Value addition to bamboo shoots: a review

Bamboo shoot forms a traditional delicacy in many countries. Being low in fat content and high in potassium, carbohydrate, dietary fibres, Vitamins and active materials, bamboo shoots are consumed in raw, canned, boiled, marinated, fermented, frozen, liquid and medicinal forms. Although the fresh bamboo shoots of species like Dendraocalamus giganteus are healthier and nutritionally rich, the young shoots, after fortification, can be consumed by processing into a wide range of food products with longer shelf-life and better organoleptic qualities. However, the consumption pattern of bamboo shoots in most of the countries is traditional, non-standardized, seasonal and region-specific with little value addition. Therefore, there exists a great opportunity, especially for the organized food processing sectors to take up the processing of bamboo shoot-based food products in an organized manner. The present article gives an insight into the global scenario of bamboo shoot-based food products and their consumption pattern, the quality attributes, and the opportunities for value addition along with future prospects in view of international food safety, security and nutrition.

Effect of aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia on functions of peritoneal macrophages isolated from CCl4 intoxicated male albino mice

BackgroundThe current practice of ingesting phytochemicals for supporting the immune system or fighting infections is based on centuries-old tradition. Macrophages are involved at all the stages of an immune response. The present study focuses on the immunostimulant properties of Tinospora cordifolia extract that are exerted on circulating macrophages isolated from CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg body weight) intoxicated male albino mice.MethodsApart from damaging the liver system, carbon tetrachloride also inhibits macrophage functions thus, creating an immunocompromised state, as is evident from the present study. Such cell functions include cell morphology, adhesion property, phagocytosis, enzyme release (myeloperoxidase or MPO), nitric oxide (NO) release, intracellular survival of ingested bacteria and DNA fragmentation in peritoneal macrophages isolated from these immunocompromised mice. T. cordifolia extract was tested for acute toxicity at the given dose (150 mg/kg body weight) by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay.ResultsThe number of morphologically altered macrophages was increased in mice exposed to CCl4. Administration of CCl4 (i.p.) also reduced the phagocytosis, cell adhesion, MPO release, NO release properties of circulating macrophages of mice. The DNA fragmentation of peritoneal macrophages was observed to be higher in CCl4 intoxicated mice. The bacterial killing capacity of peritoneal macrophages was also adversely affected by CCl4. However oral administration of aqueous fraction of Tinospora cordifolia stem parts at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight (in vivo) in CCl4 exposed mice ameliorated the effect of CCl4, as the percentage of morphologically altered macrophages, phagocytosis activity, cell adhesion, MPO release, NO release, DNA fragmentation and intracellular killing capacity of CCl4 intoxicated peritoneal macrophages came closer to those of the control group. No acute toxicity was identified in oral administration of the aqueous extract of Tinospora cordifolia at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight.ConclusionFrom our findings it can be suggested that, polar fractions of Tinospora cordifolia stem parts contain major bioactive compounds, which directly act on peritoneal macrophages and have been found to boost the non-specific host defenses of the immune system. However, the molecular mechanism of this activity of Tinospora cordifolia on immune functions needs to be elucidated.

Bioenergy research: An overview on technological developments and bioresources

Bioenergy is renewable energy, made through biochemical and chemical approaches, from raw materials that can be used for heat, electricity, or as liquid biofuels for transport. Bioenergy (including biofuels) and related by-/coproducts can be produced entirely from wastes such as lignocellulosic residues from forestry, agricultural, food and municipal solid wastes. In addition, bioenergy raw materials can include purpose-grown crops, virgin lignocellulosic biomass and oleaginous biomass, including algae. Renewable energy technologies, based on biological and/or chemical approaches, represent an important and rapidly growing technology sector and offer the promise for cleaner technology to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and to produce energy, commodity products and biochemicals from biomass in a sustainable manner. Biomass resources are abundant and relatively inexpensive. However, the process of growing crops and processing plants into bioenergy consumes a lot of energy and real barriers and pitfalls exist. Therefore, the factors that require consideration for sustainable and economic production are significant. For this reason much research is currently under way to develop and screen the most suitable and economically viable technological platforms as well as efficient and sustainable feedstocks to produce biofuels. This review documents current strategies and technological developments in recent biofuel research, focuses on the suitability of potential feedstocks for production of bioenergy, and outlines the main technical and socioeconomic challenges to success.

Co-Carriage of blaKPC-2 and blaNDM-1 in Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Hospital Infections from India

Global spread of KPC poses to be a serious threat complicating treatment options in hospital settings. The present study investigates the genetic environment of bla KPC-2 among clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a tertiary referral hospital of India. The study isolates were collected from different wards and clinics of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, India, from 2012–2013. The presence of bla KPC was confirmed by genotypic characterization followed by sequencing. Cloning of the bla KPC-2 gene was performed and the genetic environment of this gene was characterized as well. Transferability of the resistance gene was determined by transformation assay and Southern hybridization. Additionally, restriction mapping was also carried out. Two isolates of P. aeruginosa were found to harbor bla KPC-2, were resistant towards aminoglycosides, quinolone and β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combination. In both the isolates, the resistance determinant was associated with class 1 integron and horizontally transferable. Both the isolates were co-harboring bla NDM-1. The first detection of this integron mediated bla KPC-2 coexisting with bla NDM-1 in P. aeruginosa from India is worrisome, and further investigation is required to track the gene cassette mediated bla KPC-2 in terms of infection control and to prevent the spread of this gene in hospitals as well as in the community.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by Chorei tribes of Southern Assam, North Eastern India

Article history: Objective: To explore and enumerate the medicinal plants used by the Chorei tribe residing in Sourthern Assam part of North Eastern India in the treatment of various ailments. Methods: Systematic and intensive field surveys were conducted in Chorei inhabited parts of Southern Assam part of North East India to collect information on medicinal plants used by them in treatment of various ailments. Data was collected through structured questionnaires and personal observations made during the field visit. Results: A total of 53 different medicinal plants were recorded along with their vernacular names, parts used and mode of utilization by the Chorei tribes. Each of the plants was categorized according to their use in treatment of particular disease. Conclusions: The present study revealed that the Chorei tribe is primarily dependent of medicinal plant for treatment of various ailments.

Carriage of blaNDM-1 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa through multiple Inc type plasmids in a tertiary referral hospital of northeast India.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be a predominant opportunistic pathogen and also a frequent cause of nosocomial infection in patients with compromised immune system. Treatment option becomes complicated when this type of organism harbour resistance determinants such as New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1). The genetic vehicles carrying this gene are often responsible for their horizontal spread, dissemination and maintenance within a broad host range1. Knowledge about transmission dynamics of blaNDM-1 is a key to succeed in the effort of infection control and slowing down the spread of multidrug resistance. This study was undertaken to characterize blaNDM-1 in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, their transmission dynamics and plasmid Inc types responsible for their horizontal transfer in a tertiary referral hospital of northeast India.

Trichoderma in Bioenergy Research: An Overview

Abstract Development of sustainable energy systems and biomaterials based on renewable biomass feedstocks (biomass to biorefinery) is a global effort nowadays. Currently biomass is considered as the best material for bioethanol production. It is a renewable resource unlike the fossil fuels in use today. Fungi are one of the main producers of a variety of enzymes with the ability to degrade biomass, including cellulases and hemicellulases. These enzymes degrade lignocellulosic biomass to convert complex carbohydrates into simple sugars and important value added co-/by products. Trichoderma is one of the most efficient biomass-degrading fungi, and its enzymatic system is also one of the most studied. This filamentous fungus is an ideal model organism for producing a number of biomolecules along with production of many beneficial enzymes widely used in biofuels and biorefinery industries. Biotechnological applications of Trichoderma species are vast in several industries where enzymatic expression systems and production of secretary proteins are widely exploited. Thus there exists a strong demand for research on Trichoderma especially on conversion technology in bioenergy research. This chapter will present an overview on applications of Trichoderma in the bioenergy sector.Development of sustainable energy systems and biomaterials based on renewable biomass feedstocks (biomass to biorefinery) is a global effort nowadays. Currently biomass is considered as the best material for bioethanol production. It is a renewable resource unlike the fossil fuels in use today. Fungi are one of the main producers of a variety of enzymes with the ability to degrade biomass, including cellulases and hemicellulases. These enzymes degrade lignocellulosic biomass to convert complex carbohydrates into simple sugars and important value added co-/by products. Trichoderma is one of the most efficient biomass-degrading fungi, and its enzymatic system is also one of the most studied. This filamentous fungus is an ideal model organism for producing a number of biomolecules along with production of many beneficial enzymes widely used in biofuels and biorefinery industries. Biotechnological applications of Trichoderma species are vast in several industries where enzymatic expression systems and production of secretary proteins are widely exploited. Thus there exists a strong demand for research on Trichoderma especially on conversion technology in bioenergy research. This chapter will present an overview on applications of Trichoderma in the bioenergy sector.