Govindasamy Rajakumar

Production of glucosinolates, phenolic compounds and associated gene expression profiles of hairy root cultures in turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa)

Turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) is an important vegetable crop producing glucosinolates (GSLs) and phenolic compounds. The GSLs, phenolic compound contents and transcript levels in hairy root cultures, as well as their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity were studied in turnip. Transgenic hairy root lines were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR. GSLs levels (glucoallysin, glucobrassicanapin, gluconasturtiin, glucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin and 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin) and their gene expression levels (BrMYB28, BrMYB29, BrMYB34, BrMYB51, BrMYB122, CYP79 and CYP83) significantly increased in hairy roots compared with that in non-transformed roots. Furthermore, hairy roots efficiently produced several important individual phenolic compounds (flavonols, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids). Colorimetric analysis revealed that the highest levels of total phenol, flavonoid contents, and their gene expression levels (PAL, CHI and FLS) in hairy roots than non-transformed roots. Our study provides beneficial information on the molecular and physiological active processes that are associated with the phytochemical content and biosynthetic gene expression in turnip. Moreover, antioxidant activity, as measured by DPPH scavenging activity, reducing potential, phosphomolybdenum and ferrous ion chelating ability assays was significantly higher in hairy roots. Hairy root extracts exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal species. The extract of hairy roots showed inhibition of human breast and colon cancer cell lines.

Novel and environmental friendly approach; Impact of Neem (Azadirachta indica) gum nano formulation (NGNF) on Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) and Spodoptera litura (Fab.)

The future of this study was to prepare a natural pesticide which will not harm the environment and yet control pests. Neem gum nano formulation (NGNF), a novel biopesticide prepared from the Neem gum extract (Azadirachta indica) (NGE) was evaluated for its antifeedant, larvicidal and pupicidal activities against Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) and Spodoptera litura (Fab.) at 100ppm. The NGNF showed significant (100%) antifeedant, larvicidal and pupicidal activities against H. armigera and S. litura. The LC50 values of 10.20, 12.49 and LC90 values of 32.68, 36.68ppm on H. armigera and S. litura, respectively at 100ppm. The NGNF treatments showed differences in the activities of detoxifying enzymes, carboxylesterases, glucosidases and glutathione S-transferases in the larval gut. Earthworm toxicity illustrated that 6.25ppm of chemical insecticides (cypermethrin) varied widely in their contact toxicities compared to 100ppm of NGNF and control in both contact filter paper and artificial soil test. The NGNF were characterized and confirmed by FTIR, XRD, SEM and EDX analysis. Ten compounds were identified from the Neem gum extract (NGE) by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The major compounds were fatty acids like Hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, and ricinoleic acid. NGNF could be used as an agent to prepare novel bio-pesticides formulations.

Green synthesis of copper nanoparticles using Eclipta prostrata leaves extract and their antioxidant and cytotoxic activities

The present study outlines the development of a method to synthesize copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) by mixing copper acetate solution with leaf extract of Eclipta prostrata without using any surfactant or external energy. E. prostrata leaf extract function as an excellent reducing agent of copper ions, and the biosynthesized CuNPs are safer for the environment. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern provided evidence for the formation of face-centered cubic structure ranging from 23 to 57 nm, with an average size of 31±1.2 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the biomolecules and capping reagents in the E. prostrata leaf extract that may be responsible for the reduction of copper ions and the stability of the bioreduced nanoparticles. The biosynthesized CuNPs displayed considerable antioxidant capacity. Similarly, in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated the cytotoxicity value of synthesized CuNPs against tested HepG2 cells. The findings of the present study suggested that biosynthesized CuNPs that utilize extracts of E. prostrata may be used for therapeutic application, and thus are a promising nanomaterial.

Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata

Eclipta prostrata belongs to a family of medicinal plants (Asteraceae) and plays a role in the treatment of several diseases, including infectious hepatitis, snake venom poisoning, gastritis, and respiratory diseases such as a cough and asthma. A number of compounds, including thiophene derivatives, steroids, triterpenes, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, polypeptides, and coumestans, have been isolated from E. prostrata. The plant functional compounds can act as reducing agent in the field of nanoparticle synthesis. The extracts of E. prostrata are widely used for green biosynthesis of various metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, nanoparticles, which showed a potential for pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and biomedical applications. Establishment of a efficient in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation method of E. prostrata is a vital prerequisite for application of biotechnology in order to improve secondary metabolite yields. The present mini-review discusses its pharmacological profile, chemical constituents, biotechnological, and ethnomedical uses, mainly focusing on antimyotoxic, antihemorrhagic, antiproliferative, antioxidant, antitumor, antihyperglycemic, antidementia, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, antivenom, anti-HIV, and larvicidal activities, so that the pharmaceutical potential of the plant can be better evaluated. The mini review, providing up-to-date phytochemical and other information on E. prostrata, will serve a reference for further studies.

Exploiting Phenylpropanoid Derivatives to Enhance the Nutraceutical Values of Cereals and Legumes

Phenylpropanoids are a diverse chemical class with immense health benefits that are biosynthesized from the aromatic amino acid L-phenylalanine. This article reviews the progress for accessing variation in phenylpropanoids in germplasm collections, the genetic and molecular basis of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and the development of cultivars dense in seed-phenylpropanoids. Progress is also reviewed on high-throughput assays, factors that influence phenylpropanoids, the site of phenylpropanoids accumulation in seed, Genotype × Environment interactions, and on consumer attitudes for the acceptance of staple foods rich in phenylpropanoids. A paradigm shift was noted in barley, maize, rice, sorghum, soybean, and wheat, wherein cultivars rich in phenylpropanoids are grown in Europe and North and Central America. Studies have highlighted some biological constraints that need to be addressed for development of high-yielding cultivars that are rich in phenylpropanoids. Genomics-assisted breeding is expected to facilitate rapid introgression into improved genetic backgrounds by minimizing linkage drag. More research is needed to systematically characterize germplasm pools for assessing variation to support crop genetic enhancement, and assess consumer attitudes to foods rich in phenylpropanoids.

Nanotechnology: current uses and future applications in the food industry

Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology intend new and innovative applications in the food industry. Nanotechnology exposed to be an efficient method in many fields, particularly the food industry and the area of functional foods. Though as is the circumstance with the growth of any novel food processing technology, food packaging material, or food ingredient, additional studies are needed to demonstrate the potential benefits of nanotechnologies and engineered nanomaterials designed for use in foods without adverse health effects. Nanoemulsions display numerous advantages over conventional emulsions due to the small droplets size they contain: high optical clarity, excellent physical constancy against gravitational partition and droplet accumulation, and improved bioavailability of encapsulated materials, which make them suitable for food applications. Nano-encapsulation is the most significant favorable technologies having the possibility to ensnare bioactive chemicals. This review highlights the applications of current nanotechnology research in food technology and agriculture, including nanoemulsion, nanocomposites, nanosensors, nano-encapsulation, food packaging, and propose future developments in the developing field of agrifood nanotechnology. Also, an overview of nanostructured materials, and their current applications and future perspectives in food science are also presented.

Elicitation Enhanced the Production of Phenolic Compounds and Biological Activities in Hairy Root Cultures of Bitter melon ( Momordica charantia L.)

Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) is an important vegetable and also medicinal crop which produces the bioactive compounds for various biological activities with potential uses in human health. The present investigation relates to elicitors of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) to enhance biomass accumulation and phenolic compound production in hairy root cultures of M. charantia. Hairy root cultures were elicited with JA and SA at 0, 25, 50 and 100 μM concentrations respectively. The adding of elicitation to the hairy root cultures on the 15th day of culture and the roots were harvested on day 25. Cultures supplemented with 100 μM JA and SA enhanced the phenolic compounds significantly compared to that of non-elicited hairy root cultures. The biomass of hairy root culture significantly increased by SA whereas decreased in JA elicitation at 100 μM. JA and SA-elicited hairy root cultures significantly produced a higher amount of phenolic compounds (12811.23 and 11939.37µg/g), total phenolic (4.1 and 3.7 mg/g) and flavonoid (3.5 and 3.2 mg/g) contents than non-elicited hairy root cultures (10964.25 µg/g, 2.8 and 2.5 mg/g). JA and SA-elicited hairy root cultures were significantly higher antioxidant activity of DPPH (84 and 78%), reducing potential (0.53 and 0.48), phosphomolybdenum (3.6 and 3.2 mg/g) and ferrous ion chelating assays (80 and 74%) than non-elicited hairy root cultures. The higher antimicrobial and anticancer activity were exhibited in JA and SA-elicited than non-elicited hairy root cultures. This protocol can be developed for the production of phenolic compounds from JA and SA-elicited hairy root cultures.

Production of bioactive compounds and gene expression alterations in hairy root cultures of chinese cabbage elicited by copper oxide nanoparticles

Chinese cabbage is an important vegetable and rich source of phytochemicals such as glucosinolates (GSLs) and phenolic compounds (PCs) that used for pharmaceutical industries. The use of hairy root cultures (HRCs) has focused significant attention on production of essential bioactive compounds. The present investigation described the influence of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) to enhance the phytochemicals (GSLs and PCs) and gene expression levels as well as their biological (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative) activities in the HRCs of Chinese cabbage. The contents of copper were highly elevated in CuO NPs-elicited hairy roots (HRs). Glucosinolates (gluconasturtiin, glucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucoallysin, glucobrassicanapin, sinigrin, progoitrin, and gluconapin) and transcript (MYB34, MYB122, MYB28, and MYB29) levels were considerably escalated in CuO NPs-elicited HRs compared to non-elicited HRs. Moreover, phenolic compounds (flavonols, hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids) were significantly enriched in CuO NPs-elicited HRs. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents and their gene expression (PAL, CHI, and FLS) levels were highly elevated in CuO NPs-elicited HRs. Furthermore, biological (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative) activities were significantly greater in CuO NPs-elicited HRs than non-elicited HRs. CuO NPs-elicited HRCs offered an efficient and promising in vitro technique to induce secondary metabolites (GSLs and PCs) for possible nutraceutical and pharmaceutical uses.

Nanotechnology for human food: Advances and perspective

ABSTRACT Nanotechnology is an exciting and rapidly emerging field in agriculture and food science. The usage of nanoscale materials in sensing and detection applications is growing quickly, providing alternative methods to conventional techniques for detecting chemical and biological contaminants in foods, beverages, and other products. Nanotechnology has the potential to innovate the agricultural, feed, and food sectors (further stated as agri/feed/food). Applications that are marketed already feature original product packaging with antimicrobial nanoparticles, and agrochemicals and nutrients that have been nano-encapsulated. Many nano-enabled products are presently under research and development, and may be introduced into the industry in the future. As with any other structured product, for market sanctions, applications need to prove the safe use of such new products without posing unwarranted safety risks to the consumer or the environment. In this review, we summarize the uses of nanotechnology related to food and nutraceuticals, while also identifying the outstanding challenges.

Influence of silver nanoparticles on the enhancement and transcriptional changes of glucosinolates and phenolic compounds in genetically transformed root cultures of Brassica rapa ssp. rapa

Glucosinolates (GSLs) and phenolic compounds (PCs) are biologically active and involved in the defense reaction of plants; these compounds have a beneficial effect on human health. In this study, we described the influence of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to enhance the phytochemicals (GSLs and PCs), their transcription levels, and their biological activities in genetically transformed root cultures (hairy root cultures) of Brassica rapa. The concentrations of silver and reactive oxygen species (malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide) were highly elevated in the Ag NP-elicited hairy roots (HRs). Glucosinolates (glucoallysin, glucobrassicanapin, sinigrin, progoitrin, gluconapin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, glucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, and gluconasturtiin) and their transcripts (MYB34, MYB51, MYB28, and MYB29) were significantly enhanced in the Ag NP-elicited HRs. Moreover, the phenolic compounds (flavonols, hydroxybenzoic, and hydroxycinnamic acids) were significantly enriched in the Ag NP-elicited HRs. Total phenolic and flavonoid concentrations and their transcripts (PAL, CHI, and FLS) were higher in the Ag NP-elicited HRs than in the non-elicited HRs. Additionally, biological (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer) activities were significantly higher in the Ag NP-elicited HRs than in the non-elicited HRs. The Ag NP-elicited HR cultures offered an efficient and promising in vitro method to increase the production of health-promoting bioactive compounds, which may be useful in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.