S. Ravikumar

Dietary supplementation with Cynodon dactylon (L.) enhances innate immunity and disease resistance of Indian major carp, Catla catla (Ham.)

Indian major carp (Catla catla) was subjected to study the immunostimulatory effects when the grass Cynodon dactylon(L) ethanolic extract administrated as feed supplement. C. catla was fed with 0% (Control), 0.05% (group I), 0.5% (group II) and 5% (group III) extract provided for 60 days. Blood samples were collected at every 10 days of interval up to 60 days for analyzing the non-specific humoral (lysozyme activity, antiprotease activity and haemolytic complement) and cellular (production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, myeloperoxidase activity) immune response study. The results indicate that C. dactylon ethanolic extract administered as feed supplement significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced most of the non-specific immune parameters tested. Among the experimental diet groups, significantly increased response of non-specific immunity was seen in group III (5%). Disease resistant analysis against Aeromonas hydrophila was performed in control group and plant extract treated fish for 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Relative percent survival rate (RPS) was observed in treated samples, which is directly proportional to concentration of the extract. Additionally, electron microscopic studies and gelatin zymography for Matrix Metalo Proteinase (MMPs) were examined in spleen at 7th and 28th days of feeding. Administration of C. dactylon mixed diet delayed the lymphocyte destruction with positive ultrastructural changes. An induced stress (A. hydrophila infection) was observed by using MMPs expression, which was reduced in the experimental diet groups than the control. All these experimental results prove that C. dactylon ethanolic extract enhances the immunity of Catla fish.

Protective effects of lycorine against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is a well‐known model for inducing chemical hepatic injury in Swiss albino mice. The present study was designed to examine the ability of lycorine a natural alkaloid compound to prevent CCl4‐induced hepatotoxicity in the Swiss albino mice. After the experimental period of 8 weeks, CCl4 significantly increased the generation of lipid peroxidation products, it reflected by high levels of malondialdehyde, hepatic marker enzymes like aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase, Lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and lipids profiles. These increases were accompanied by significant decreases of glutathione (GSH); vitamin C content and significant reduction in activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and GSH reductase were observed in the mice liver, which were normalized by the lycorine treatment as compared with CCl4‐induced group of mice. Moreover, the histological and ultrastructural observations evidenced that lycorine effectively rescues the hepatocyte from CCl4‐induced oxidative damage without disturbing its cellular metabolic function and structural integrity. Therefore, lycorine may be considered a potent antioxidant against free radical‐related diseases.

Assessment of probiotic, antifungal and cholesterol lowering properties of Pediococcus pentosaceus KCC-23 isolated from Italian ryegrass

BACKGROUND Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are important for the processing of various food products. Although genetically modified organisms have contributed to improvements in various food products, there are some limitations. Thus, the discovery of wild strains from natural sources must be considered as the most suitable approach for identifying new LAB. Therefore, we planned to isolate and characterise the LAB from Italian ryegrass forage and evaluate their biological potential. RESULTS A total of 28 strains were isolated and screened for their anti-fungal and probiotic properties. A single strain was selected due to its antifungal and probiotic efficiency. The strain was identified as Pediococcus pentosaceus KCC-23. The strain KCC-23 showed effective inhibition against Aspergillus fumigatus, Pencillium chrysogenum, Pencillium roqueforti, Botrytis elliptica and Fusarium oxysporum. Further, it survived low pH, and the presence of bile salts and gastric juice. It exhibited significant aggregation and hydrophobicity properties. The KCC-23 effectively assimilated cholesterol and had the ability to utilise pre-biotics such as raffinose and inulin. Finally, KCC-23 exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity. CONCLUSION P. pentosaceus KCC-23 showed effective anti-fungal, probiotic and anti-oxidant properties and would be a promising isolate for exploitation in the formulation of food for ruminants and humans.

Probiotic Potential of Lactobacillus Strains with Antifungal Activity Isolated from Animal Manure

The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from animal manure. Among the thirty LAB strains, four strains, namely, KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28, showed good cell growth and antifungal activity and were selected for further characterization. Biochemical and physiology properties of strains confirmed that the strains are related to the Lactobacillus sp.; further, the 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed 99.99% sequence similarity towards Lactobacillus plantarum. The strains exhibited susceptibility against commonly used antibiotics with negative hemolytic property. Strains KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 showed strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium roqueforti, Botrytis elliptica, and Fusarium oxysporum, respectively. Fermentation studies noted that the strains were able to produce significant amount of lactic, acetic, and succinic acids. Further, the production of extracellular proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes, survival under low pH, bile salts, and gastric juice together with positive bile salt hydrolase (Bsh) activity, cholesterol lowering, cell surface hydrophobicity, and aggregation properties were the strains advantages. Thus, KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 could have the survival ability in the harsh condition of the digestive system in the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, novel L. plantarum KCC-25, KCC-26, KCC-27, and KCC-28 could be considered as potential antimicrobial probiotic strains.

Protection of human erythrocyte using Crinum asiaticum extract and lycorine from oxidative damage induced by 2-amidinopropane.

Abstract The intention of this investigation was to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity and erythrocyte protective activity of ethanolic extract of Crinum asiaticum (L) and lycorine. The ethanolic extract of C. asiaticum (L) and lycorine were found to have different levels of antioxidant properties in the test models. Both ethanolic extract of C. asiaticum (L) (0.5–2.5mg/ml) and lycorine (0.010mg–0.050mg/ml) increases the percentage of lipid peroxidation inhibition (26.25±0.23% and 19.25±0.23%) and enhances the free radical scavenging activity (20.92±0.22% and 20.52±0.22%), scavenging of hydrogen peroxide (25.67±0.17% and 23.07±0.3%) superoxide anion scavenging activity (27.69±0.16% and 16.09±0.7%) at concentration of 2.5 and 0.050mg of C. asiaticum (L) and lycorine, respectively. But compared with tocopherol (P <0.05) less activity was observed by C. asiaticum (L) and lycorine. The ethanolic extract of C. asiaticum (L) and lycorine were normalized to reduce the level of glutathione and also to sustain the status of protein in erythrocytes during the peroxyl radical [2,2-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)] induced oxidative damage in ex vivo model. The present results of the investigations demonstrated that protective nature of the C. asiaticum (L) and lycorine will be considered as a significant natural antioxidant source.

Hepatoprotective mechanism of lycorine against carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in swiss albino mice - A proteomic approach

Objective To investigate the differential of protein expression in CCl4 induced mice treated with lycorine.