Mubarak Ali Khan

Biological role of Piper nigrum L. (Black pepper): A review

Abstract Piper nigrum L. is considered the king of spices throughout the world due to its pungent principle piperine. Peppercorn of Piper nigrum as a whole or its active components are used in most of the food items. Different parts of Piper nigrum including secondary metabolites are also used as drug, preservative, insecticidal and larvicidal control agents. Biologically Piper nigrum is very important specie. The biological role of this specie is explained in different experiments that peppercorn and secondary metabolites of Piper nigrum can be used as Antiapoptotic, Antibacterial, Anti-Colon toxin, Antidepressant, Antifungal, Antidiarrhoeal, Anti-inflammatory, Antimutagenic, Anti-metastatic activity, Antioxidative, Antiriyretic, Antispasmodic, Antispermatogenic, Antitumor, Antithyroid, Ciprofloxacin potentiator, Cold extremities, Gastric ailments, Hepatoprotective, Insecticidal activity, Intermittent fever and Larvisidal activity. Other roles of this specie includes protection against diabetes induced oxidative stress; Piperine protect oxidation of various chemicals, decreased mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, inhibition of aryl hydroxylation, increased bioavailability of vaccine and sparteine, increase the bioavailability of active compounds, delayed elimination of antiepileptic drug, increased orocecal transit time, piperine influenced and activate the biomembrane to absorb variety of active agents, increased serum concentration, reducing mutational events, tumour inhibitory activity, Piperine inhibite mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, growth stimulatory activity and chemopreventive effect. This review based on the biological role of Piper nigrum can provide that the peppercorn or other parts can be used as crude drug for various diseases while the secondary metabolites such as piperine can be used for specific diseases.

Shoot regeneration and free-radical scavenging activity in Silybum marianum L.

The morphogenic potential and free-radical scavenging activity of the medicinal plant, Silybum marianum L. (milk thistle) were investigated. Callus development and shoot organogenesis were induced from leaf explants of wild-grown plants incubated on media supplemented with different plant growth regulators (PGRs). The highest frequency of callus induction was observed on explants incubated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0xa0mgxa0l−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) after 20xa0days of culture. Subsequent transfer of callogenic explants onto MS medium supplemented with 2.0xa0mgxa0l−1 gibberellic acid (GA3) and 1.0xa0mgxa0l−1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) resulted in 25.5xa0±xa02.0 shoots per culture flask after 30xa0days following culture. Moreover, when shoots were transferred to an elongation medium, the longest shoots were observed on MS medium supplemented with 0.5xa0mgxa0l−1 BA and 1.0xa0mgxa0l−1 NAA, and these shoots were rooted on a PGR-free MS basal medium. Assay of antioxidant activity of in vitro and in vivo grown tissues revealed that significantly higher antioxidant activity was observed in callus than all other regenerated tissues and wild-grown plants.

Synthesis in plants and plant extracts of silver nanoparticles with potent antimicrobial properties: current status and future prospects.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles by plants and plant extracts (green synthesis) has been developed into an important innovative biotechnology, especially in the application of such particles in the control of pathogenic bacteria. This is a safer technology, biologically and environmentally, than synthesis of silver nanoparticles by chemical or physical methods. Plants are preferable to microbes as agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles because plants do not need to be maintained in cell culture. The antibacterial activity of bionanoparticles has been extensively explored during the past decade. This review examines studies published in the last decade that deal with the synthesis of silver nanoparticles in plants and their antibacterial activity.

Antioxidant Potential, DNA Protection, and HPLC-DAD Analysis of Neglected Medicinal Jurinea dolomiaea Roots

Jurinea dolomiaea Boiss., family Compositae, is a medicinally important plant of alpine region. Its tuberous roots are used in various ailments in folk medicine. This study was undertaken to estimate total phenolic (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) and to determine anti-free radical potential by diverse in vitro antioxidant assays. Crude methanol extract (JDME) was fractionated into n-hexane (JDHE), chloroform (JDCE), ethyl acetate (JDEE), n-butanol (JDBE), and aqueous (JDAE) fractions. The results indicated that JDEE and JDCE constituted the highest amount of TFC (807 ± 7.2u2009mg rutin equivalent/g sample) and TPC (757 ± 9.4u2009mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample), respectively. Significant correlation of TFC with IC50 values was recorded for •OH (R 2 = 0.91), H2O2 (R 2 = 0.82), and ABTS (R 2 = 0.82) assay. It could be made clear that JDEE was the most potent in antioxidant activity as compared to others, with generally lower IC50 values for DPPH (41.1 ± 1.0u2009μg/mL), ABTS (46.7 ± 0.6u2009μg/mL), H2O2 (42.2 ± 0.9u2009μg/mL), •OH (61.1 ± 1.1u2009μg/mL), O2 − (152 ± 1.1u2009μg/mL), and antilipid peroxidation (54.3 ± 1.6u2009μg/mL). HPLC chromatogram of JDEE revealed the presence of catechin, caffeic acid, and rutin. The results indicated the antioxidant activities of J. dolomiaea roots and merit further investigations for their use in oxidative stress related disorders.

Physicochemical Analysis of Hemp Oil Biodiesel: A Promising Non Edible New Source for Bioenergy

Abstract In recent times, the world has been confronted with an energy crises due to the depletion of fossil fuel resources, increased petroleum prices, and great environmental concerns. The situation has led to the search for an alternative, sustainable and clean fuel from vegetable oils and their derivatives. This article reports an optimized protocol for the production of biodiesel from a new source of non edible hemp oil (Cannabis sativa L.) through base catalyzed transesterification. The hemp oil is investigated for the first time in this study as a potential source of biodiesel based on detailed physico-chemical analysis. The quantity and quality of hemp oil biodiesel (HOB) is evaluated through fuel properties analysis and GC-MS, FT-IR and NMR techniques. The free fatty acid number of crude hemp oil was 0.98 mg/g and 2.11 mg/g against NaOH and KOH catalysts. The percentage of conversion of crude oil to fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was 90% at 6:1 molar ratio (Methanol:Oil) by using 20% NaOH catalyst at 60°C. The most important variables affecting the FAME yield during transesterification are reaction time, catalyst concentration, molar ratio and reaction temperature. The HOB was found to be clean, environmentally friendly, and exhibit fuel properties within the range of American Standard for Testing Material.

Temporal variations in metabolite profiles at different growth phases during somatic embryogenesis of Silybum marianum L.

Silybum marianum, commonly known as Milk thistle, is a popular herbal supplement used for the treatment of jaundice and liver cirrhosis worldwide. Here we established methods for somatic embryogenesis and comparative metabolite profiling of the different growth phases during embryogenesis in S. marianum. Highest embryogenic potential was observed for calli previously derived from petiole explants on Schenk and Hildebrandt medium containing 2.5xa0mgxa0l−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1.5xa0mgxa0l−1 N6-benzyladenine (BA). Somatic embryos (SE) were induced when embryogenic calli with pre-embryoid masses (PEMs) were subcultured on same media as used for induction of embryogenic callus. Highest number of somatic embryos (46 somatic embryo per callus) was observed at 1.5xa0mgxa0l−1 2,4-D and 1.5xa0mgxa0l−1 BA, however ½ strength MS medium showed optimal response for maturation followed by germination of somatic embryos at 1.5xa0mgxa0l−1 GA3. Metabolite profiles from developmental stages of non-embryogenic callus (NEC), PEMs, SE and embryos germinating into intact plantlets (GSE) were obtained using Electro spray ionization mass spectrometry ESI/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to identify key metabolites in different growth phases during somatic embryogenesis. The loading scatter plots enabled the detection of several bin masses responsible for separating samples from different growth stages. Based on the values ofxa0% total ions count and average intensity of selected bins in all biological samples, putatively known metabolites were obtained from in-house bin program. Amino acids associated with various biosynthetic pathways like arginine, asparagine and serine were abundantly detected in GSE, while they were detected at decreased intensities in NEC. However, tryptophan was measured with increased signals in SE when compared to other growth phases. Glucose, fructose and fructose-6-phosphate were mostly accumulated in NEC; however they were detected with lowest intensities in GSE. Moreover, sucrose and significant secondary metabolites like cinnamic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, linolenic acid, and 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate were found at higher amount in SE when compared to other embryogenic phases.

Effect of reverse photoperiod on in vitro regeneration and piperine production in Piper nigrum L.

In this study, a novel approach for in vitro regeneration of Piper nigrum L. has been applied in order to increase healthy biomass, phytochemicals and piperine production via reverse photoperiod (16hD/8hL). Leaf portions of the seed-derived plants were placed on an MS-medium fortified with different PGRs. Under 16hD/8hL, thidiazuron (TDZ; 4.0 mg L⁻¹) and BA (1.5 mg L⁻¹) was found to be the most effective (<90%) in callus induction. Two concentrations (1.5, 2.0 mg L⁻¹) of the IBA produced>80% shoots from callus cultures. Healthy shoots were transferred to rooting medium and higher percentage of rooting (<90%) was observed on IBA (1.5 mg L⁻¹). These in vitro tissues were subjected to amino acid analysis, spectrophotometry, and HPLC. ARG, SER, THR, and TYR were the most abundant components out of 17 amino acids. Higher amino acid production was observed under normal photoperiod (16hL/8hD) than under reverse photoperiod (16hD/8hL). The highest total phenolic content (TPC; 9.91 mg/g-DW) and flavonoid content (7.38 mg/g-DW) were observed in callus cultures incubated under 16hL/8hD than other tissues incubated under 16hD/8hL photoperiod. Higher DPPH and PoMo activities were observed in tissues incubated under 16hL/8hD photoperiod, while ABTS and Fe²⁺ chelating activities were found higher in tissues incubated under reverse photoperiod. Significant quantities of piperine content were observed in all tissues except callus cultures. These results suggest that reverse photoperiod is a promising approach for callus induction, phytochemicals and piperine production for commercial applications.

Applications of plant terpenoids in the synthesis of colloidal silver nanoparticles.

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances. Since the last few years, natural products especially plant secondary metabolites have been extensively explored for their potency to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The plant-based AgNPs are safer, energy efficient, eco-friendly, and less toxic than chemically synthesized counterparts. The secondary metabolites, ubiquitously found in plants especially the terpenoid-rich essential oils, have a significant role in AgNPs synthesis. Terpenoids belong to the largest family of natural products and are found in all kinds of organisms. Their involvement in the synthesis of plant-based AgNPs has got much attention in the recent years. The current article is not meant to provide an exhaustive overview of green synthesis of nanoparticles, but to present the pertinent role of plant terpenoids in the biosynthesis of AgNPs, as capping and reducing agents for development of uniform size and shape AgNPs. An emphasis on the important role of FTIR in the identification and elucidation of major functional groups in terpenoids for AgNPs synthesis has also been reviewed in this manuscript. It was found that no such article is available that has discussed the role of plant terpenoids in the green synthesis of AgNPs.

Physicochemical Characterization of Eco-friendly Rice Bran Oil Biodiesel

Abstract In this study, rice bran (husk), an abundant and waste product of the rice milling industry, is analyzed for biodiesel production. Rice bran contains 20% oil, which is non-edible. An optimum production (57%) of biodiesel was achieved through base- (NaOH and KOH) catalyzed transesterification reaction. Fuel properties of transesterified rice bran oil, chemically known as methyl ester (biodiesel), was compared with biodiesel standards on American Standard Testing Methods (ASTM). The fuel properties of rice bran biodiesel 100% are specific density @ 15°C, 0.8920; kinematic viscosity @ 40°C, 4.68; flash point, 88°C; sulphur contents, wt% Nil; pour point, −11°C; and cloud point, −10°C. The fuel properties of biodiesel blends B5, B10, B20, and B50 were much closer to high-speed diesel. Analytical techniques, such as GC-MS, NMR, and FT-IR, were used for determination of the chemical composition of biodiesel. This study suggests that rice bran oil is a feasible source for production of biodiesel, and its fuel properties favor it to be used as renewable energy.

Antimicrobial activities of different solvents extracted samples of Linum usitatissimum by disc diffusion method

-1 ) each of ethyl acetate, n-hexane, butanol and distilled water were used. Analysis of the data revealed that the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited equally by butanol and ethyl acetate extracted samples that is, 56% when tested by disc diffusion method. Similarly, ethyl acetate and butanol extracted samples reduced the growth of Bacillus cereus by 44 and 64% respectively. The data further suggest that Erwinia carotovora was inhibited 42% by ethyl acetate and 65% by butanol extracted samples.