Mohd Adil

Efficacy of E. officinalis on the Cariogenic Properties of Streptococcus mutans: A Novel and Alternative Approach to Suppress Quorum-Sensing Mechanism

The present study was focused on evaluating the potential of Emblica officinalis against cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans, a causative microorganism for caries. The effect of crude extract and ethanolic fraction from Emblica officinalis fruit was analysed against S. mutans. The sub-MIC concentrations of crude and ethanolic fraction of E. officinalis were evaluated for its cariogenic properties such as acid production, biofilm formation, cell-surface hydrophobicity, glucan production, sucrose-dependent and independent adherence. Its effect on biofilm architecture was also investigated with the help of confocal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, expression of genes involved in biofilm formation was also studied by quantitative RT- PCR. This study showed 50% reduction in adherence at concentrations 156 µg/ and 312.5 µg/ml of crude extract and ethanolic fraction respectively. However, the biofilm was reduced to 50% in the presence of crude extract (39.04 µg/ml) and ethanolic fraction (78.08 µg/ml). Furthermore, effective reduction was observed in the glucan synthesis and cell surface hydrophobicity. The qRT-PCR revealed significant suppression of the genes involved in its virulence. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy clearly depicted the obliteration of biofilm structure with reference to control. Hence, this study reveals the potential of E. officinalis fruit extracts as an alternative and complementary medicine for dental caries by inhibiting the virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans.

Computer Aided Drug Design: Success and Limitations.

Over the last few decades, computer-aided drug design has emerged as a powerful technique playing a crucial role in the development of new drug molecules. Structure-based drug design and ligand-based drug design are two methods commonly used in computer-aided drug design. In this article, we discuss the theory behind both methods, as well as their successful applications and limitations. To accomplish this, we reviewed structure based and ligand based virtual screening processes. Molecular dynamics simulation, which has become one of the most influential tool for prediction of the conformation of small molecules and changes in their conformation within the biological target, has also been taken into account. Finally, we discuss the principles and concepts of molecular docking, pharmacophores and other methods used in computer-aided drug design.

In vitro and in vivo inhibition of Streptococcus mutans biofilm by Trachyspermum ammi seeds: an approach of alternative medicine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the crude and active solvent fraction of Trachyspermum ammi on S. mutans cariogenicity, effect on expression of genes involved in biofilm formation and caries development in rats. GC-MS was carried out to identify the major components present in the crude and the active fraction of T. ammi. The crude extract and the solvent fraction exhibiting least MIC were selected for further experiments. Scanning electron microscopy was carried out to observe the effect of the extracts on S. mutans biofilm. Comparative gene expression analysis was carried out for nine selected genes. 2-Isopropyl-5-methyl-phenol was found as major compound in crude and the active fraction. Binding site of this compound within the proteins involved in biofilm formation, was mapped with the help of docking studies. Real-time RT-PCR analyses revealed significant suppression of the genes involved in biofilm formation. All the test groups showed reduction in caries (smooth surface as well as sulcal surface caries) in rats. Moreover, it also provides new insight to understand the mechanism influencing biofilm formation in S. mutans. Furthermore, the data suggest the putative cariostatic properties of T. Ammi and hence can be used as an alternative medicine to prevent caries infection.

Eugenol-induced suppression of biofilm-forming genes in Streptococcus mutans: An approach to inhibit biofilms

Streptococcus mutans is well documented as a major aetiological agent of dental caries. The ability to form a biofilm on tooth surfaces is the major virulence factor of this bacterium. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of eugenol on suppression of biofilm- and quorum sensing (QS)-related genes of S. mutans and to determine its putative mode of action. Eugenol was evaluated for its inhibitory activity against virulence properties such as adherence and biofilm formation. Morphological changes in the architecture of S. mutans and in the biofilm were analysed and observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of eugenol on expression of biofilm- and QS-related genes (gtfB, gtfC, comDE, smu630, vicR, brpA, ftf, relA, gbpB and spaP) were checked by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The present data revealed that eugenol at a sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) significantly downregulated the expression of tested genes but did not affect bacterial growth. These results suggest that a sub-MIC of eugenol can effectively suppress virulence genes. Thus, the results indicated that eugenol can inhibit caries-associated biofilm and showed its therapeutic potential against oral biofilm.

Refinement of internet banking service quality scale: a confirmatory factor analysis approach

Internet technology has changed the world since it started facilitating activities for both individuals and businesses alike. With phenomenal growth and to sustain competitiveness, service providers, especially banks, are embracing online services. Measure of service quality provided through such means (i.e., internet) is still a relatively new area. Dearth of empirical research and need to develop new scales in the context of emerging economy like India, motivated the researchers to refine an existing scale for service quality of internet banking. A structured questionnaire was administered on 150 internet banking users of public, private and foreign banks. Analytical tools such as SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 16.0 have been used to establish validity and reliability of the scale, and to perform exploratory as also confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to confirm the appropriateness of the proposed model.

Structure based molecular inhibition of Caspase-8 for treatment of multi-neurodegenerative diseases using known natural compounds.

Neurodegenerative disorders are often associated with excessive neuronal apoptosis. It is well known that apoptosis is regulated by some intracellular proteases, such as, Caspases (cysteine-dependent, aspartate-specific proteases). In fact, Caspase-8 which is an initiator caspase, has been identified as a key mediator of neuronal apoptosis. In addition, Caspase-8 is found to be coupled with the regulation of various neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer׳s disease (AD), Parkinson׳s disease (PD), Huntington׳s Diseases (HD) and Dentatorubral Pallidoluysian Atrophy (DRPLA). Caspase-8 inhibition may provide an effective means of treatment for multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the present study describes the molecular interaction of some selected natural compounds with known anti neurodegenerative properties with Caspase-8. Docking between Caspase-8 and each of these compounds (separately) was performed using ‘Autodock4.2’. Out of all the selected compounds, rosmarinic acid and curcumin proved to be the most potent inhibitors of Caspase-8 with binding energy (ΔG) of -7.10 Kcal/mol and -7.08 Kcal/mol, respectively. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to validate the anti-neurodegenerative potential of these compounds.

Exploring the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale in India: Item Analysis, Factor Structure and Refinement

Researchers have raised concerns regarding the applicability of original New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale proposed by Dunlap and Van Liere (1978) and validity of dimensions in the context of cultures other than US where the study was originally carried out. Thus, there is a need to test the applicability of the original NEP scale from the point of view of Indian consumers. In the light of the above, the present study attempts to refine and validate original NEP scale keeping in mind the Indian audience. With this objective, data were collected using self-administered structured questionnaire from 429 office-goers in Delhi and Mumbai. The cities were chosen because of their rank as no. 1 and 3, respectively, among the most polluted metropolitan cities of India. Test of reliability and dimensionality of the original NEP scale was carried out with the help of SPSS 18.0. The data were further subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). It was found that the original scale lacked unidimensionality. As against the three dimensions of the original NEP scale, four dimensions emerged in the case of Indian consumers. The new dimension has been duly identified and named. Due to heavy cross-loadings, three items from the original NEP scale were dropped, reducing it to be a 9-item scale. The scale developed has been named as Indian New Environmental Paradigm (I-NEP) scale or I-NEP in short. The I-NEP fared better in terms of the psychometric properties in comparison to the original NEP scale. It is expected that the proposed I-NEP scale would help in measuring the environmental attitudes of Indians in a more reliable and efficient manner, resulting in savings in terms of time and cost, too.

Drug Discovery and In Silico Techniques: A Mini-Review

Use of Computational (in silico) methods are widely applied in drug discovery. In drug discovery process, identification of the suitable drug target is the first and foremost task. These targets are biomolecules which mainly include DNA, RNA and proteins (such as receptors, transporters, enzymes and ion channels). Validation of such targets is necessary to exhibit a sufficient level of ‘confidence’ and to know their pharmacological relevance to the disease under investigation. The aim of this mini-review is to illustrate some of the in silico methods that are used in drug discovery, and to describe the applications of these computational methods.

Refinement And Validation Of New Environmental Paradigm (Nep) In India: A Cfa Approach

The human race today is facing a plethora of problems regarding the environment. This has lead us to question our future as a race. It has therefore become important to know the human psychology, their attitude towards environment. Dunlap and Van Liere proposed NEP scale to measure environmental attitude of individuals in US. However, researchers raised concerns regarding its applicability in different cultures as also the dimensions framed in the scale are those which are fit for the western audience. Thus, a need was felt to refine the original scale and make it fit for Indian customers. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire from 429 individuals working in offices at Delhi and Mumbai. The cities were chosen because of their rank as no. 1 and 3 among most polluted metropolitan cities of India. Test of reliability and dimensionality of the original NEP scale were carried out through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with the help of SPSS 18.0. It was found that the original scale lacked uni-dimensionality. Against three dimensions of the original NEP scale, four dimensions emerged in case of Indian context. Three items were dropped from original NEP, reducing it to a nine item scale. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was also used to re-check the fitness of measurement model.