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The potential of plant gum as a bioactive agent and plant growth enhancer has not been exploited well and plant gums are suitable for such purposes as they are non-toxic and biodegradable. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the potential of Mangifera indica (MI) gum as a bioactive agent and plant growth enhancer. Plant gum was collected from the bark of MI and polysaccharides were extracted, purified and characterized with ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopic, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) analyses. Crude and purified polysaccharides were tested for their antibacterial and antioxidant activity. The crude gum was subjected to plant growth stimulation study like germination percentage, shoot length, root length and wet weight of chilli (Capsicum frutescens). The effect of MI gum on soil porosity and water holding capacity (WHC) was also tested. UV-Vis and GC analyses of gum polysaccharide showed the presence of several types of monosaccharides in MI gum. The plant gum did not show any antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Staphylococcus aureus, but was found to exhibit low antioxidant activity. The gum was found to enhance the seed germination and seedling growth in-vitro and in-vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus has become the most predominant disease in most of the developing and developed countries. Diabetes could occur at any stage of life for which a change in sedentary life style is the possible solution. Despite the introduction of several medications, to curtail the side effects associated with diabetes mellitus, there is no medication or treatment for complete cure. Existing medications and treatments are targeted to mitigate the intensity of the disease which abruptly could result in organ failure. Rather than the available types of treatments, natural medication is reported to produce commendable results. Extracts of many medicinal plants and seaweeds have been documented to possess anti-diabetic properties. A brown alga, S. tenerrimum, found on the west coast of India, is chosen in this study to analyse the anti-diabetic property of its methanolic extract. This extract was used to treat streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. An experimental design was framed based on acute toxicity studies to determine the change in blood glucose level, body weight, lipid profile, liver enzymes (SGPT and SGOT) and the renal function markers (urea and creatinine). After 15 days of treatment, an increase in body weight and HDL cholesterol was observed while the total cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, serum triglyceride, SGOT, SGPT, creatinine and urea decreased with 250 mg/Kg.bw of S. tenerrimum methanolic extract in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice group. This difference is significant (p<0.05) when compared with a healthy non-diabetic mice group and a treated diabetic mice group. This proves that the methanolic extract of S. tenerrimum possess anti-diabetic property. Further research could explore the active compounds that can be used in the formulation of herbal medicine for diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, shells of sea crab and fungus Aspergillus niger were subjected for chitosan extraction which has been done following demineralization, deproteination and deacetylation. Chitosan yield from crab shell and fungi was 37.5% and 39.3% respectively and water binding capacity was 58.44% and 60.21% respectively. The extracted chitosan was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and subjected for antibacterial activity against Urinary tract infection (UTI) pathogens - Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis and E. coli. Chitosan of crab shell showed better antibacterial activity than fungal derived chitosan. Chitosan gel was prepared using the extracted chitosan where it was also showing good antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil samples were collected from the feather dumped area where Bacillus pumilus was isolated and used for keratinase production and keratinolytic activity. In the optimization study, optimal condition for enzyme production was observed at 144 h, pH 7, temperature 37°C. The organism was utilized for feather degradation study. The maximum degradation of 57% was obtained at 37°C, pH 7 and 6 days incubation. The size of keratinase was determined by SDS- PAGE and was observed as 52 KDa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aqueous extracts of Euphorbia hirta was used to synthesise silver nanoparticles using bioreduction method. The nanoparticles were characterised by UV Vis spectroscopic analysis, SEM, EDX, AFM, XRD analysis. The silver nanoparticles were also tested for antibacterial activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. The minimum inhibitory concentration for the synthesised nano particles were also tested against the two bacterial species for the least concentration of 0.5μg/mL. The swarming motility assay and protein leakage assay was also tested for the nanoparticle. The silver nanoparticles were found to be much effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five plant species namely, Phyllanthus acidus, Piper aduncum, Pandanus amaryllifolius, Macaranga peltata and Acacia mangium were analysed for their effective in-vitro bioactivity. The chloroform and aqueous extracted of the selected plants were subjected to TLC bioautography for antioxidant activity later all the extracted were subjected for DPPH assay where the chloroform extracts were found to express maximum antioxidant property. Amongst all the plants, Macaranga peltata accounted to 95% DPPH scavenging activity. The antimicrobial studies of the plant extracts were performed via agar well diffusion method, MIC determination, Biofilm inhibition assay in microtitre plate against clinical isolates like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was found that Piper aduncum (chloroform and aqueous extract) and Macaranga peltata (only aqueous) expressed antibacterial activity, of which only chloroform extract of Piper aduncum could show negative influence against the biofilm development of P.aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) has become a great attraction amongst most researchers, where degradation of waste takes place simultaneously produces electricity. Using an efficient organism and a better proton exchange membrane gives out good electricity. In this study, Exiguobacterium sp SU-5 was isolated from soil and used for producing electricity against carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in Nafion membrane and Salt bridge fitted MFC, where both act as proton exchange membrane. The organism was found to produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC. Later the organism was subjected to produce electricity against kitchen waste and the kitchen waste was also checked for BOD, COD and other water analysis before and after the treatment. The organism could produce more electricity in Nafion membrane fitted MFC and found to reduce chloride, fluoride and hardness of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides being an essential source of nutrients, the bioactive components of some fruits also help in enhancing the physiological functions by expressing its therapeutic action, acting as radical scavenger, improving digestion and healing. Here, seven edible fruits juices of Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Anana scomosus, Ficus carica, Vitis vinifera, Vitis amurensis and Carica papaya were utilized against biofilm forming Gram negative bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evaluate its effect on Quorum sensing. On proving its antibacterial activity and anti-swarming motility in our earlier report, this work is extended to determine the biofilm inhibitory action of these fruit juices due to the impact on AHL (Acyl Homoserine lactone), the signaling molecule responsible for developing cell-cell communication and also on AHL mediated metabolites production. The fruit juices were evaluated for their Antioxidant activity on subjecting to TLC bioautography, DPPH and FRAP assay. AHL, Pyocyanin and Rhamnolipid were extracted from fruit juices treated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the influence of fruit juice was identified by FT-IR and LC-MS analysis. However, AHL production was not stopped by fruit juice molecules but showed least production level in Punica granatum treated P.aeruginosa. Whereas the production of pyocyanin pigment was disturbed in Punica granatum, Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis and Vitis vinifera treated culture. The production of a biosurfactant called Rhamnolipid (Rha 10) was a failure in Citrus reticulata, Vitis amurensis, Vitis vinifera and Ficus carica treated P.aeruginosa. Thus the organism was restrained by the fruit juice molecules from expressing its virulence factors in spite of having no impact on AHL synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AHL (acyl homoserine lactone) is a signaling molecule responsible for communication in gram negative bacteria, which is liable for bacterial virulence as well as biofilm formation. This study aims in targeting the AHL formation and AHL mediated virulence factor using plant extracts / plant metabolites. AHL plays a major role in pigment production, motility and rhamnolipid production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inhibition of these mechanism by any mean implies that it is having impact in biofilm formation too. Plant derived metabolites/extracts were subjected for swarming motility assay, the metabolite which inhibited the swarming motility was subjected for further study, where P. aeruginosa SU-3 was allowed to grow in the presence of the metabolite and its impact over the AHL production, pigment production and rhamnolipid production was evaluated. Curcumin was found to be effective against all the metabolites used. Thus curcumin subjected for molecular docking against ENR (enoyl carrier protein reductase), the enzyme involves in fatty acid synthesis and production of AHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, various plants like Datura metel, Aegle marmelos, Annona reticulata and Saraca indica were collected and subjected for extraction using various solvents, namely Water, Chloroform and Ethanol. The extracts were done with TLC bioautography for Antioxidant activity and Antibacterial activity, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, Antibacterial activity, Antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP) and Phytochemical analysis. Plants used in this study showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity. These extracts were further utilized for Silver nanoparticle production and were characterized. Silver nanoparticles were utilized for In vitro antibacterial activity, where they did not show any antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azadirachta indica, generally called as neem, margosa or Indian lilac is an Indian subcontinent native species, it ie well known for its various bioactivity In this study, neem leaves were collected and extracted. The extract was subjected for TLC and antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The extract was subjected for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and it was able to reduce silver to silver nanoparticle of size around 65nm. The silver nanoparticle was also exhibiting antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]