S. M. Paul Khurana

Potato Diversity and Its Genetic Enhancement

Potato is the world’s third largest food crop after rice and wheat widely grown across all continents. It belongs to the genus Solanum and section Petota that contain approximately 2000 species that are distributed from the South-western United States (38°N) to Chile (41°S) between 2000 to 4000 m altitudes. Potato has 6 cultivated species, 225 wild relatives and 110 wild tuber-bearing species. The main cultivated potato species Solanum tuberosum L., a tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48) originated from Andes of Peru and Bolivia in South America over 10,000 years ago. The ploidy of potatoes varies from diploid (2n = 24) to hexaploid (2n = 72) with majority being diploids. Potatoes were introduced to Europe in 1570s and by beginning of seventeenth century they spread to the other parts of the world. Systematic potato breeding started in 1807 in England followed by other parts of Europe, North America, India, International Potato Centre, Peru and China. There are two basic approaches to conserve potato genetic resources, viz. in situ and ex situ. Currently, cryo-conservation is being tapped for long-term conservation. Seven major potato gene banks are present worldwide to conserve existing diversity. Although more germplasm are being evaluated, the use of genetic resources has been much poorer to their evaluations mainly due to undesirable tuber traits of the wild species and crossability barriers. This has led to narrow genetic base of the cultivated potatoes. The ‘Irish famine’ of 1840s depicts the devastating effect of growing large areas under a single variety. Cultivated potato exhibits complex tetrasomic inheritance and high heterozygosity. Dihaploids of tuberosum cross readily with many diploid species thus providing opportunity for introgression of useful traits from alien sources to cultivated background. The other well-exploited techniques in potato breeding, viz. somaclonal variations, somatic hybridization, molecular markers, genetic transformation and RNAi approaches. Potato is one of the rare crops where maximum tissue culture and genetic engineering interventions have been connoted. Today, potato genome is sequenced and it opens up new vistas for developing tailor-made varieties in future.

Ahimsa, the Way of Living in Peace and Harmony: Indian Perspective

Ahimsa—founded on the bedrock of amity, forgiveness, tolerance to foster global non-violence, peace and harmony—can be the way forward for humanity. Stern disciplinary actions and coercive approaches may help maintain law and order, but yet individuals may resort to violence and force to achieve their narrow aims more often than not, disrupting peace.

Biomedical Engineering: The Recent Trends

Abstract Since ages human beings are tempted to live long and making efforts to discover effective medicines, devices, and therapies which contribute to make their life comfortable. However, escalating costs, the inconsistent provision of care, an aging population, and high load of chronic disease related to health behaviors are emerging as challenges. These crises call for complete transformation of healthcare to be proactive, preventive, patient-centered, and evidence-based with a focus on improving quality-of-life. Science and technology together has played a pivotal role to improve medical science technologies in the fields of biology and healthcare to develop a number of life-improving, life-enhancing, and life-saving technologies.

Genetic Engineering for Plant Transgenesis

Abstract Genetic engineering of plants to make a production system for recombinant proteins to produce medicinal and industrial compounds of human value is called Plant Molecular Farming. Using plants as bioreactor for recombinant protein production has several advantages, including the low cost of establishment, and the scalability of plants and products generally regarded as safe. Plant-made pharmaceuticals (PMPs) are already being produced commercially for some diseases like Gaucher’s disease, and many plant-made vaccines are under clinical trials. Two major classes of pharmaceuticals are in development using genetic engineering of plants—Plantibodies and Edible vaccines. This chapter highlights the procedure of using plants as bioreactor for recombinant protein production through plants, increasing recombinant protein accumulation, commercial status of PMPs and chloroplast genome engineering.

Plant Secretomics: Unique Initiatives

Plant secretomics is an emerging subfield of proteomics studying proteins globally secreted into the extracellular space (apoplast) by plant cells at defined time under constitutive or induced conditions. Plant secretome has important biological functions in cell wall structure formation, cell-to-cell interaction, extracellular/intracellular signal relay and appropriate cellular response to environmental stimuli. It also regulates the ability or inability of the host to trigger the defence system against the invading pathogen. Defence proteins are secreted via a classical pathway involving N-terminal signal peptide which directs the protein to the ER for routing, modification and subsequent secretion involving the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi–trans-Golgi network (TGN)–plasma membrane system. Plant secretome has an increasing number of proteins following unconventional, ER–Golgi-independent or ‘leaderless’ apoplastic protein secretion mechanisms. Nonconventional mechanisms would be necessary if the presence of a protein in the ER/Golgi disrupts ER functioning or has multiple functions, each occurring in different cellular compartment. A large number of apoplastic leaderless secretome proteins have been identified that play an important role under salinity, low temperature, ion homeostasis and pathogen invasion. Characterisation of secretome is a formidable task, and success can be obliged to the advancement in biochemical, proteomic techniques, mass spectroscopy and bioinformatics. Advanced proteomic technologies established detailed secretome profiles from normal and stressed cell types at a faster pace. Discrimination of the true secretome from those released under environmental stresses is a big challenge. It warrants improved strategies to investigate the secretomes with high sensitivity and reproducibility. The comprehensive mechanisms regulating constitutive and induced secretome of diverse plants and their habitat are future perspective.

Plant Glycomics: Advances and Applications

Glycomics, the study of entire complement of sugars in an organism, helps to analyze the interaction of sugar with other macromolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acid. Greater structural complexity, nonlinear relationship of glycans with genome, and difficulty in isolation, characterization, and synthesis of complex oligosaccharides pose a significant challenge to glycomics. The isolation of plant glycoconjugates from natural sources is a complex process due to the lack of high-throughput user-friendly tools. Recent chemical advances have opened new and exciting possibilities in obtaining pure and chemically defined glycan moieties. Chromatographic techniques, tandem mass spectrometry, MALDI-mass spectrometry, ESI-mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and carbohydrate/lectin microarray are important tools for glycomics. Glycogene microarrays are useful to identify differentially expressed glycosylation-related genes and to study glycan biosynthesis, structure, and function. Efficient glycoinformatics have considerably enhanced the glycomic research by improving the data quality and reducing experimental costs. Glycans including lectins provide both structural and functional diversity to plants and are useful in transgenic technologies to increase resistance to pathogens and pests. Plant glycomics find their applications in biopharming and biopharmaceutics and provides a novel area of advanced glycome research to understand structure–function relationships of glycans. Unraveling the mysteries of glycomics would indeed be very beneficial as sugars play key role in many biological processes such as signaling, stress responses, and immunity.

Molecular pharming: The new frontier for biopharmaceutical production

Diabetes mellitus and its related complications is becoming a serious threat to public health in all parts of the world. The treatment and control of diabetes mainly depend on the synthetic agents, but the fact is that it has never reported total recovery from diabetes. Natural medicines mainly originated in herbs, the traditional Lebanese medicine performed a good experimental practice and is showing a bright future in the therapy of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Based on a large number of Ethnopharmacological research work, numerous bioactive compounds have been found in Lebanese medicinal plants for diabetes. This work presents three natural medicines with regards to their anti-diabetic active principles and/or pharmacological test results, which are commonly used in the traditional Lebanese medical system and have demonstrated experimental anti-diabetic effectiveness. It is highly significant to pay attention to traditional Lebanese natural medicines for treatment and control of diabetes mellitus and its complications.Many plants that belong to the genus Bulbine have compounds in their roots and leaves which are considered important for traditional treatments. The stems and roots of Bulbine species are believed to contain anticancer compounds such as anthraquinones, including chrysophanol and knipholone. However, in general, people utilise plants of the Bulbine genus for the treatment of rashes, itches, wounds, burns, cracked lips and cracked skin. This study assessed the effect of aqueous and organic fractions of Bulbine natalensis and Bulbine frutescens on the human laryngeal carcinoma cell line (HEp-2) for apoptosis. The MTT assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the fractions administered and to select fractions for analysis of bax and caspase-3 gene expression, which are induced during programmed cell death type 1, known as apoptosis. All of the B. natalensis fractions induced expression of caspase-3, while the tested B. frutescens aqueous root fractions failed to induce expression of caspase-3. The variation in bax gene expression indicated that HEp-2 cell death was due to apoptosis and other unknown forms of cell death that may or may not activate caspase-3 gene expression..C of isolated compounds has always been crucial in natural drug discovery. Spectroscopy is highly useful in exploring the exact structure of phytochemicals. Majority of the bioactive secondary metabolites of plants exist as isomers whose structure determination is a most challenging task. The scope of this presentation is primarily to demonstrate the usefulness of various spectroscopic techniques like UV, IR, MS and NMR, to elucidate the structure of cloemiscosins, which generally exist as regioisomeric pairs. Cleomiscosin A D are the major biologically active compounds of coumarinolignans. Cleomiscosins are formed by fusion between a coumarin moiety and a phenyl propanoid unit. Cliv 92, a preparation of cleomiscosins is used for hepatoprotective properties. In UV spectra, coumarin and substituted benzene chromophore exhibit λmax at 315-325 nm with shoulders around 288 and 230 nm. The presence of lactone carbonyl and phenolic hydroxyl groups can be verified by IR spectroscopy. The important fragmentation of cleomiscosins is retro-Diels-Alder cleavage of dioxane bridge under EIMS. The coumarinolignan skeleton can be identified through detailed analysis of 1H and 13C NMR spectra. However, these conventional techniques will not differentiate the two possible regioisomers. The determination of exact mode of linkage of the phenyl propanoid unit to the coumarin nucleus can be successful by heteronuclear decoupling NMR experiment and SINEPT NMR technique. Observation of enhancements induced in the spectra through the irradiation of particular proton provides the clear structure determination of the two isomers. Structural ambiguity between the positional isomers may be settled by HMBC technique as well. A. Sajeli Begum, Biochem & Pharmacol 2013, 2:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0501.S1.002The leaf surfaces and pollen grains of the Nigerian Bignoniaceae were studied using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The species in this study were: Crescentia cujete Linn. Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don. Kigelia africana (Lam) Benth. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth) K. Schum. , Newbuldia laevis (P. Beauv.) Seemann ex Bureau. Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. Stereospermum acuminatissimum K. Schum. Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. Tabebuia rosea (Berthol) D. C. Tecoma stans (Linn) H, B &K. and Tecomeria capensis (Thunb.) Spach. Stomata were present on the abaxial surfaces of all the species studied. Sunken stomata were found in K. africana and J. mimosifolia while the others have raised stomata. Peltate trichomes were found on some species e.g. on the abaxial surfaces of C. cujete, J. mimosifolia, M. tomentosa, N. laevis T. stans and T. rosea;on the adaxial surfaces of C. cujete, M. tomentosa, N. laevis, S.acuminatissimum and T. rosea. M. tomentosa has both glandular and non-glandular trichomes on the abaxial surface while T. capensis has only non-glandular trichome on the adaxial surface. While the non-glandular trichomes of M. tomentosa were long and blunt those of T. capensis were short and pointed. Striae were found on the adaxial surface of T. stans and on both the abaxial and adaxial surface of T. capensis. The pollen grains of species studied were of the tricolporate type being mostly circular except those of J. mimosifolia and T. stans which were elliptic. Ornamentation of the all the pollen were reticulate. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the taxonomy of the family.C with human civilization, plants have been their true companions as source of medicine. These plants have contributed significantly in discovery, design and development of several modern medicines. Recent move of society towards nature for the treatment of various diseases where there is no satisfactory cure in modern medicine has diverted the attention of natural/medicinal chemists and biologists to unravel their chemical characteristics and biological activities together in order to define their therapeutic potential in the light of modern pathobiological understandings. This move has led collectively to rediscover, design and refine the therapeutic application of medicinal plants. During last five years, we have studied several medicinal plants guided by in vitro based bioassays to delineate the chemistry of medicinal plants responsible for biological activities. This effort has led to identify several potent multiple active medicinal plants, their active fractions and synergistic molecular compositions. We have identified particularly, several free radical scavengers, cytotoxic and α-glucosidase inhibitory principles present in substantial yield in Indian Medicinal Plants. Presence of multiple active phytochemicals in rich concentrations in some of the medicinal plants therefore offers exciting opportunity for development of novel therapeutics and also provides scientific justification for their use in traditional medicines. In addition, some of the compounds isolated from these plants also displayed potent insecticidal activities.Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Elaeagnaceae, a unique and valuable plant has recently gained worldwide attention, mainly for its medicinal and nutritional potential. Three species of Sea buckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides, Hippophae salicifolia and Hippophae tibetana are being cultivated in India, of which Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. Turkestanica is the main variety used commonly. Leaves of seabuckthorn are known to possesss medicinal properties such as anti-oxidant, adaptogenic, wound-healing and anti-inflammatory activities. Very few studies have focused on identification and characterization of the bioactive components from Hippophae extracts, which is an important area for the development of Sea buckthorn based pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The present study was undertaken to compare the total phenolic and flavonoid composition along with antioxidative properties of the alcoholic and aqueous extracts obtained from selected species of Sea buckthorn leaves including Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. turkestanica) and willow-leaved sea buckthorn or sawthorn (Hippophae salicifolia L.) The characterization of the extract was carried out using marker compound Gallic acid by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography and phytochemical analysis in terms of total phenol and total flavonoids. The total phenolic content was found to be higher in alcoholic extracts as compared to aqueous extracts. For both aqueous and alcoholic extract the gallic acid was found to be higher in Hippophae salicifolia L. than Hippophae rhamnoides L.Background: The antioxidant components have been identified in some pine species. Antioxidant properties of proantocyanidins reduce free radicals induced by DNA fragmentation and lipid proxidation and also proanthocyanidines could curb lipid peroxidation. Objective: In this study, we analyzed different parts of Pinus eldarica (bark, seed and needle) and assessed their antioxidant contents. Methods: Pine specimens were collected from four different geographic locations in Tehran. The HPLC method (UV detector, C18 reverse phase column, 4.6 mm (25 cm, and water/ H3PO4/ methanol/ acetonitril as eluant) were employed for evaluating total polyphenols. The wavelength for detection of polyphenolic compounds was 280 nm in this study. Results: The highest range of total polyphenols was detected in the bark of this pine, specially reported a considerable amount of tyrosol in Pinus eldarica. Tyrosol stimulated resistance to oxidative stress and also has anti aging effect. Conclusion: The high amount of total phenolic compounds in P. eldarica bark might be attractive for future research considering its health benefits. Keyword: Pinus, Phenolic compound, HPLC, Catechin, Poly phenolsT medicinal plant products have since been used in the supportive oncology both off label and with proper prescription in Indian subcontinent, due to wide availability of alternative form of medicines predominantly ayurveda and other naturopathy. The recent interest of the modern medicine in the field of supportive oncology can be reflected by few examples of ongoing trails like 1. “NCT01337089” in cancer pain [cannabis] 2. “NCT00046709” in cancer pain [marijuana] 3. “NCT01733212”, “NCT00040742” ginger in caner induced nausea 4. “NCT01344538” for colorectal cancer prevention Which mainly deal with reversing/normalizing the altered balance represented as clinical toxicity like nausea, pain etc. and also in prevention of few common malignancies like colorectal cancers. The talk will be in detail about the scientific approaches needed to be adopted by the potential confounders as well as measures to abridge the alternative with modern medicine including the art of designing appropriate clinical projects. Suresh Attili, Biochem & Pharmacol 2013, 2:4 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2167-0501.S1.002Plan: Shila sindur, an ayurvedic preparation containing mercury as chief ingredient was investigated for toxicokinetics and tissue distribution studies in laboratory animals. Methodology: Shila Sindur at three doses i.e., 50 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg was studied. Single and repeated dose administration was used for toxicokinetics and tissue distribution studies, respectively and evaluated by using toxicokinetic and tissue distribution parameters. Outcome: Toxicokinetics studies revealed low plasma clearance with high half life, this correlates with higher affinity of mercury to plasma proteins. Higher doses showed wide distribution by increased area under curve and volume of distribution. A dose dependent elevation in mercury concentrations and organ damage was found in kidneys followed by liver, lungs, spleen and brain. At higher doses, shila sindur found toxic, at moderate doses stringent monitoring was recommended for use. Present study concludes that low dose Shila sindur was found safe in terms of toxicological and tissue distribution patterns.