R. Venkatesh Kumar

Antibacterial, cytotoxic activities and chemical composition of fruits of two Cameroonian Zanthoxylum species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Zanthoxylum leprieurii (Syn. Fagara leprieurii) is a plant extensively used by traditional healers in Cameroon for the treatment of stomach disorders, gonorrhea, intestinal parasites and sterility. The infusion from the fruit is taken in Cameroon for the treatment of sickle cell anemia, as well. Similarly, the roots of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides (Syn. Fagara zanthoxyloides) are also used for wound dressing, sickle cell anemia and as pain reliever, in addition to the uses mentioned for Zanthoxylum leprieurii. AIM OF THE STUDY To scientifically validate their traditional use, the in vitro antimicrobial and anticancer assays were performed. In addition, chemical compositions of their fruit extracts and essential oils were also studied. MATERIAL AND METHODS The chemical compositions of their essential oils and methanol extracts were studied. GC and GC-MS were used for analyzing the essential oils while various chromatographic methods were used to isolate the pure compounds from methanol extracts. MTT assay was used for the cytotoxic studies of methanol extracts, their fractions and some pure compounds. Antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts, some isolated compounds as well as essential oils was tested against a panel of human pathogenic bacteria by diffusion and dilution methods. RESULTS The principal constituents of the essential oil of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides were identified as citronellol and geraniol whereas Zanthoxylum leprieurii was rich in E-β-ocimene. Furthermore, we report for the first time, the presence of 7,8-dimethoxycoumarin and sinapic acid in the methanol extract of Zanthoxylum leprieurii. In vitro bioassays reveal that the methanol extracts, essential oil and some of the isolated compounds from fruits of both the plants exhibit moderate anticancer and antimicrobial activities. CONCLUSION Altogether, the present findings justify the traditional use of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides and Zanthoxylum leprieurii in the treatment of stomach disorders and cancer disease. The antimicrobial properties in the essential oil of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides are of additional significance.

Role of HCMV miR-UL70-3p and miR-UL148D in overcoming the cellular apoptosis

The studies into the pathophysiology of viral miRNAs are still in infancy; the interspecies regulation at the miRNA level fuels the spark of the investigation into the repertoire of virus–host interactions. Reports pertaining to the viral miRNAs role in modulating/evading the host immune response are surging up; we initiated this in silico study to speculate the role of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded miRNAs on human antiviral mechanisms such as apoptosis and autophagy. The results indicate that both the above mechanisms were targeted by the HCMV miRNAs, located in the unique long region of the HCMV genome. The proapoptotic genes MOAP1, PHAP, and ERN1 are identified to be the potential targets for the miR-UL70-3p and UL148D, respectively. The ERN1 gene plays a role in the initiation of Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis as well as autophagosome formation. This study shows that HCMV employs its miRNA repertoire for countering the cellular apoptosis and autophagy, particularly the mitochondrial-dependent intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. In addition, the homology studies reveal no HCMV miRNA bears sequence homology with human miRNAs.

Antibacterial activity of essential oils of edible spices, Ocimum canum and Xylopia aethiopica.

UNLABELLED The essential oils of 2 Cameroonian spices, namely, Xylopia aethiopica and Ocimum canum, were chemically investigated and screened for their antibacterial activity. The essential oils were analyzed by means of GC, GC/MS, and NMR. X. aethiopica oil contained myrtenol (12%), a monoterpenoid in highest concentration. The essential oil of O. canum belonged to the known linalool (44%) rich chemotype. The results of the antibacterial screening against the food spoiling bacteria revealed a significant and broad spectrum of activity for these essential oils. The present material of X. aethiopica, which is having myrtenol in relatively higher concentration, has shown moderate antibacterial activity. The bioassay-guided fractionation of Ocimum canum oil through flash chromatography showed that minor compounds, namely, α-terpineol, chavicol, chavibetol, and trans-p-mentha-2,8-dien-ol, significantly contributed for the overall activity observed. Hence, these results evidenced the possible potential of the essential oil of O. canum as a suitable antibacterial for controlling food-borne pathogens whereas the X. aethiopica oil has moderate possibility. PRACTICAL APPLICATION There is a strong global demand for the microbe-free, safe, and healthy foods. In this study, we showed that the essential oil of O. canum (wild basil) can be used as antibacterial for food items. Also, we showed that a value addition in the antibacterial potential of O. canum oil can be done by processing the essential oil through flash chromatographic separations.

Zantholic acid, a new monoterpenoid from Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides

From the extract of Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides fruits, a new menthane monoterpenoid, (4R,7R)-8-carboxy-7,9-dihydroxy-trans-menthane, tentatively, named as zantholic acid along with several known compounds was isolated. Its structure was determined using spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxic activity of zantholic acid against a panel of cancer cell lines was evaluated using the MTT assay. The results show that zantholic acid possesses a selective cytotoxic activity towards breast cancer cell lines.

Biomedical Applications of Silkworm Pupae Proteins

Silkworm is a biologically important and unique insect which engineer a structure called cocoon. Apart from extraction of silk fiber from cocoons, this complex fibrous protein membranous shell ensures the successful metamorphosis of the silkworm larvae to pupae and finally to silk moth. The pupae of mulberry and non-mulberry silkworms have been in consideration as new available source of high quality protein that contains all the essential amino acids required for human health. In recent years, research has been focused on various biomedical applications of silkworm pupae proteins. Pupae proteins are efficiently worked in wound dressings, hepatoprotective and antiapoptotic activity, antigenotoxicity, regulation of blood glucose and lipids, anticancer agent, etc. Therefore, silkworm pupae could be utilized as food supplement and its enormous proteins open the new dimension for biomedical science.

Evaluation of the antidiabetic properties of S-1708 mulberry variety

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease prevalent worldwide in all age group of people. The source of diabetes is due to an oxidation process that can produce free radicals. An increase in oxidative free radicals in the body is reported to be one of the several causes of diabetes. The best remedy to combat oxidative stress is the use of antioxidants, which inhibit and scavenge free radicals. Aim: This study has been undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant activity and antidiabetic effect of mulberry leaf extract in diabetic mice. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity of mulberry leaves was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Antidiabetic assay of mulberry leaf extract was analyzed by oral administration of leaf extract up to 3 weeks in diabetic mice induced by streptozotocin. Results: In vitro antioxidant activity in both DPPH and FRAP assays showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher inhibition of free radicals than that with ascorbic acid. Diabetic mice fed with mulberry leaf extract showed increment (+25.88%) in body weight and a significant reduction in blood glucose concentration (−71.58%). Further, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity was significantly (P < 0.05) increased, whereas activities of other enzymes particularly catalase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase were decreased in diabetic mice after oral administration of mulberry leaf extracts. Histology of liver revealed regeneration of hepatocytes, central vein, and nucleus. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that S-1708 mulberry variety has a potential therapeutic value in diabetes and related complications. Abbreviations used: S-1708, DPPH, FRAP.

Nutritional composition in leaves of some mulberry varieties:- A comparative study

The silkworm derives nutritional requirement from mulberry leaves for their growth and development, variations on the components of mulberry leaves may have some influence in the growth and development of silkworm. The nutritional parameters of mulberry leaves and silk production are directly proportional to each other. The nutritional composition of mulberry leaves vary depending on the soil and other environmental factors of the locality, moreover the genotypic characteristics. An effort has been made to determine, identify and analyse, the nutritional composition of different varieties of mulberry leaves, namely S-13, S-146, S-1635, S-1, AR-12, AR-14, S-36, S-54, TR-10 and BR-2 mostly found in Lucknow region of Uttar Pradesh, India. The current paper deals with quantification of protein, carbohydrate, total carotenoids, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll contents of different varieties of mulberry grown in this region. The quantitative determination of nutritional composition indicates that BR-2 variety contains significantly higher concentration of protein content (0.308 mg/ml), carotenoids (0.0334 mg/gm), along with S-36 variety containing significantly higher quantity of proteins (0.3029 mg/ml), chlorophyll a (0.0858 mg/gm), chlorophyll b (0.0329 mg/gm), total chlorophyll (0.1034 mg/gm) and total carotenoids (0.0479mg/gm). The carbohydrate content of S-1635 variety (0.4341 mg/ml) was significantly found highest as compared to other varieties. The statistical data analyses showed that all the nutritional parameters are found to have highly significant differences between them (‘p’≪0.01). Finally S-36 and BR-2 varieties hence are regarded as suitable with consistent performance over many characters.

Impact of Novel Bio-Foliar on Natural Cocoons and Silk Quality

Present study was carried out to improve the cocoon and silk quality by nursing with bio-foliar. Five mulberry varieties, namely, S-1, S-146, S-1635, AR-14, and BR-2 were fed to silkworms and cocoons produced by them were used for analysis. Results of the investigation indicated that highest cocoon weight (1.733 g), shell weight (0.349 g), shell ratio (20.144%), effective rate of rearing (97.50), silk filament length (1094.07 m), filament weight (0.315 g), denier (3.071 g/d), renditta (5.505 kg), non-breakable filament length (875.254 m), and silk yield (18.169%) were obtained by enriching BR-2 and S-1635 varieties with 45 ppm of bio-foliar compare to control.