O. P. Verma

Antibiotic Susceptibility and Heavy Metal Tolerance Pattern of Serratia Marcescens Isolated From Soil and Water

The antibiotic and metal tolerance patterns of Serratia marcescens strains isolated from soil and water around the Sangam region of Allahabad were obtained. Using the standard minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each antibiotic respectively, the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method was used to obtain antibiotic resistance patterns of the Serratia strains and the MIC of the metals - chromium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and nickel for each of the strains were also obtained. Plasmid curing was carried out for specific antibiotic and metal resistances to ascertain plasmid-borne transfer of resistance genes. Results obtained showed that Multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of Serratia were resistant to certain metals as well suggesting specific metal-antibiotic resistant gene patterns in the different strains.

Isolation, Purification and Characterization of β-Glucosidase from Rauvolfia serpentina.

β-Glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21) was extracted from different parts of Rauvolfia serpentina and was purified using ammonium sulphate fractional precipitation and Sephadex G-25 chromatography. The molecular weight of different bands in Rauvolfia serpentina was found in the range of 19.4KDa to 92.257KDa .The enzyme β-glucosidase has optimum pH 5.0 and the optimum temperature was found at 60oC while the thermal stability of enzyme β-glucosidase was found to be 30oC. The activation with FeSO4 is due to Fe++ ions because FeCl3 do not activate the enzyme.

Phototoxic Assesment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Using NIH-3T3 and L-929 Cell Lines

The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most widespread organic environmental pollutants. PAHs are found in motor vehicle exhaust. Some PAHs are found in medicines, dyes, plastics, pesticide, naphthalene balls and wood preservatives. The compounds under the presences of Sun light generally activated and inhibited the cell growth. Hence the present investigation was focused on the maintenances and culturing of NIH-3T3 and L-929 cell lines derived from mouse fibroblast as well as the phototoxicity assessment of PAHs compounds (Benzo(a) pyrene, Pyrene) in these cell lines. Monolayer culture of cell lines was grown in DMEM culture medium. Live cells were attached in cryovial check surface and dead cell was mixed in the medium and rise up on the upper layer on the medium. The result showed that the singlet oxygen (1O2) generation by benzo(a)pyrene and pyrene showed the phototoxicity at various concentration from 5-50 ppm under the exposure of UV-A (5.76 J/cm2), UV-B (2.16 J/cm2) and sunlight 60 min. Rose Bengal (50 ppm) was used as the positive control. Pyrene generated the more amount of singlet oxygen as compared to Benzo(a)pyrene while Benzo(a)pyrene generated more superoxide as compared to Pyrene.

Isolation,Partial Purification and Characterization of Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase(Phgpx Enzyme from Oryza Sativa Seedlings

The recombinant Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase isolated from Oryza sativa is a type of antioxidant enzyme. It is stable at pH 7-8 and temperature 27 and 62°C. The molecular weight of enzyme was found to be around 21-26 kDa by SDS PAGE. The peroxidation activity of PHGPx was inhibited by HgCl2, EDTA, Potassium ferrocynate and was activated by FeCl2 and MnSO4 .These properties indicate that the possibilities for use of the PHGPx in the medical, clinical and cosmatic industry. This enzyme can be exploited commercially with some modification.

Phototoxic Assesment of Benzanthrone and Anthracene by Using NIH-3t3 and L-929 Cell Lines

The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are the most widespread organic environmental pollutants. PAHs are found in motor vehicle exhaust. Some PAHs are found in medicines, dyes, plastics, pesticide, naphthalene balls and wood preservatives. The compounds under the presences of Sun light generally activated and inhibited the cell growth. Hence the present investigation was focused on the maintenances and culturing of NIH-3T3 and L-929 cell lines derived from mouse fibroblast as well as the phototoxicity assessment of PAHs compounds (Anthracene and Benzanthrone) in these cell lines. Monolayer culture of cell lines was grown in DMEM culture medium. Live cells were attached in cryovial check surface and dead cell was mixed in the medium and rise up on the upper layer on the medium. The result showed that the singlet oxygen (1O2) generation by benzanthrone (5-50 ppm) and Anthracene (20-50 ppm) showed the phototoxicity under the exposure of UV-A (5.76 J/cm2), UV-B (2.16 J/cm2) and sunlight 60 min. Rose Bengal (50 ppm) was used as the positive control. Benzanthrone generated the more amount of singlet oxygen as compared to Anthracene while Benzanthrone generated more superoxide as compared to Anthracene.

Phytochemical screening of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Phyllanthus emblica (Amla).

The use of plant based drugs and chemicals for curing various ailments and personal adornment is as old as human civilization. Plants and plant-based medicaments are the basis of many of the modern pharmaceuticals we use today for our various ailments. Methanolic extracts of dried leaves of Ocimum sanctum, Azadirachta indica and Phyllanthus emblica were used for the comparative study of phytochemical constituents. A qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the detection of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, flavonoids, tannins and reducing sugar. The highest yield of methanolic extract was found in Azadirachta indica (29.08%). Ocimum sanctum contained all the chemicals except flavonoids and reducing sugar, however, the Colquhounia coccinea lacked alkaloids and reducing sugar.

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Cadmium Resistant Strains RAN 1 Using Agronomical Parameter of Chaulai ( Amaranthus tricolor )

Resistance and tolerance are arbitrarily defined terms frequently interchangeable and after based on weather a given isolate can grow in the presence of selected heavy metal concentration in laboratory media. Total bacterial strains were isolated and screened on the basis of their heavy metal tolerance ability for cadmium and their PGPR activity. It was estimated that they have good tolerance power for cadmium the heavy metals and are plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. If we study morphological aspects we can say that Gram negative rods are more efficient in tolerating heavy metals. In case of treatment I, fresh weight was increased 27.5 per cent and dry weight was increased 25 per cent compared to positive control. In case of treatment II, fresh weight was increased 28 per cent and dry weight was increased 14.81 per cent compared to negative control. In case of negative control, fresh weight was decreased 50 per cent and dry weight was decreased 48.07 per cent compared to positive control. By performing experiment it was proved that the cadmium concentration reduced significant percentage of Chaulai fresh weight and dry weight but increased when treated with strain RAN 1.

Antibacterial activity of Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Phyllanthus emblica (Amla).

Plant extracts continues the numerous searches for more effective drugs of plant origin which are less toxic and available for low socio-economic population in the treatment of diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria. The potential for developing antibacterial from higher plants appears rewarding as it will result to the development of a phytomedicine to act against microbes. The Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum and Phyllanthus emblica extracts were tested for antibacterial activity by spread plate method against four pathogens Escherichia. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Nessieria flavescenes,. It was found that gram negative bacteria were largely inhibited by the extract of amlathan that of neem and tulsi. The zone of inhibition was measured which showed that extract of amla was of high antibacterial activity as compared to meem and tulsi. Methanol extracts were more active than the aqueous extract against all the bacteria. The zones of inhibition were ranging from 13.5 cm in diameter. The highest zone of inhibitions (3.5cm) was noted in methanol extract of P. emblica against S. aureus. The highest yield of methanolic extract was found in Azadiracta indica (29.08%). The extract of Ocimum sanctum and Phyllanthus emblica were most effective against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Incidence of resistance plasmid in thermotolerant bacterial indicators isolated from various sites of Ganges and Yamuna rivers, Allahabad, U.P.

In this study the thermotolerant bacterial indicators E.coli and Klebsiella were isolated from the water samples of rivers Ganges and Yamuna from various sampling stations. Antibiotic susceptibility revealed the MDR among most of the thermotolerant bacterial species. In case of metal tolerance the thermotolerant species were found to be highly tolerant towards most of the metals tested. The curing pattern for the resistance traits were tested and found that the curing effect was observed in thermotolerant species. The resistant traits were found to be plasmid borne and were able to transfer their resistance to the sensitive ones. Presence of plasmid DNA was also observed in resistant strains of thermotolerant species which were found to be cured. The plasmids were of small to medium size. All the strains possess only one plasmid. The study demonstrates that the resistance to antibiotic and metal ions were found to be generally associated with transmissible R-plasmid.

Antibacterial effect of green tea on oral bacterial species.

In the present study the samples were collected from mouth for isolation of bacterial species using spreading and streaking techniques. The isolated bacterial species were identified by performing various biochemical tests. Different extracts of green tea were prepared in different solvents like ethanol, methanol, propanol of different concentrations to check the antibacterial activity of green tea on bacteria isolated from mouth. The maximum zone of inhibition was observed in green tea (Tetley) extract in methanol 90 per cent (3.5cm) and minimum was observed in propanol 30 per cent (1.4 cm) in Tetley green tea. Thus, from present study it was found that the green tea extracts exhibited remarkable antibacterial properties. The green tea extract helped in destroying the pathogenic bacteria present in mouth, thus preventing diseases.