Search

Recently, the eco-friendly production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has become a focal point for researchers. In India, the quest for cost-effective, non-hazardous compounds suitable for reducing and stabilizing AgNPs has been limited. This study explores the synthesis of AgNPs using Elettaria cardamomom seed extract. We evaluated the efficiency of silver ion (Ag+) reduction and AgNP formation from an aqueous AgNO3 solution combined with the cardamom seed extract. Characterization of the AgNPs was carried out through UV-vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, EDAX, and FTIR. This research presents a practical and efficient strategy for AgNP production. A formulation using readily available 1 mm aqueous AgNO3, known for its accessibility and therapeutic properties, was created with cardamom seed extract serving as both a capping and reducing agent. Within 30 minutes, the silver ions were reduced to AgNPs, resulting in a change from golden to dark brown-reddish tint. Various analytical techniques, including UV-vis spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, were employed for characterization. This study introduces an affordable, robust, and renewable method using E. cardamomum seeds for AgNP synthesis, which is entirely eco-friendly and devoid of toxic chemicals. AgNPs hold promise for applications in cancer treatment and diagnosis, setting them apart from other noble metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are the most critical group of insects in the context of public health, since they transmit key parasites and pathogens, causing millions of deaths annually. Aedes albopictus is an important invasive mosquito vector of dengue fever across urban and semiurban areas of India. In this study, we biofabricated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the Fimbristylis miliacea aqueous leaf extract (Fm-ALE) as reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis of Fm-AgNPs was confirmed by the excitation of surface plasmon resonance and orange-brown color using ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry. High-resolution scanning electron microscopic (HR-SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) showed the clustered (size 0.5 μm) and quasi-spherical structures of Fm-AgNPs. The formation of AgNPs has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy investigated the identity of secondary metabolites, which may act as Fm-AgNP capping agents. These results propose that AgNPs synthesized provided from those Fm-ALE have the high sources to be improved into the most suitable materials useful for protecting and killing the invasive mosquito vector, Ae. albopictus populations. The acute toxicity of Fm-ALE synthesized Ag NPs, and a combined treatment testing blends of mosquito vector was evaluated against I, II, III, and IV instar larva's (ILs) of Ae. albopictus. The LC50 values of Fm-ALE (174.39 ppm I-ILs, 214.40 ppm II-ILs, 232.38 ppm III-ILs, and 251.62 ppm IV-ILs) and Fm-AgNPs synthesized were 23.78 ppm I-ILs; 27.88 ppm II-ILs; 31.47 ppm III-ILs; 36.68 ppm IV-ILs, respectively. Likewise, Fm-AgNP synthesis was more toxic than ALE in the invasive mosquito vector and recorded from UV-vis spectrum, FTIR, TEM, and XRD analysis. These results propose that AgNPs synthesized provided from those Fm-ALE have the high sources to be improved into the most suitable materials useful for protecting and killing the invasive mosquito vector, Ae. albopictus populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the plethora of evidence indicates that neurodegenerative conditions are a significant public health issue wherein over 4 million Indian peoples have been affected. For the past two decades, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing rapidly in India that may due to the significant lack of health-care services and poor knowledge of AD and another form of dementia. Therefore, this in turn to develop ultramodern techniques for the efficient detection of AD biomarkers that helps to the prognosis and diagnosis of AD. Recently, significant progress has been observed in the area of AD that includes prognosis, and diagnosis of AD. This review article discussed different risk factors associated with AD, data on the dissemination of AD in India according to different virtues and socio-economic categories. The different standard diagnostic techniques commonly used for the identification of AD biomarkers are mentioned. This review also focuses on the new techniques established by Indian researchers such as surface plasmon resonance centered biosensors, and fluorescence-based probes that offer the enormous potential of highly sensitive and selective detection AD biomarkers. In conclusion, the present review article is providing a short overview of AD prevalence and AD-centered research in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aging trajectory from a state of robustness and good health proceeds from sarcopenia to frailty followed by disability and death due to decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. Sarcopenia is now formally recognized as a muscle disease with an ICD-10-MC diagnosis code. The autophagic response seems to be affected in the skeletal muscle during aging contributing to sarcopenia. Sestrins (Sesns) proteins play a critical role in autophagy induction under cellular stress conditions. Aims: The study aims to identify sarcopenia in older adults using Asian Working group guidelines (AWGS) to determine clinically relevant cut-off levels for diagnosis and their association with antioxidant protein Sesns. Methods: The study recruited 102 older adults attending Geriatric medicine OPD AIIMS, New Delhi, India. The level of serum Sesns were evaluated by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and validated by immunoblotting. Fifty older adults were diagnosed as sarcopenics according to AWGS. Results: Sesn 1 (p = 0.0448) and Sesn 2 (p < 0.0001) levels were significantly reduced in sarcopenic compared to non-sarcopenic. ROC analysis showed a better cut-off of Sesn 2; 10.104 ng/µL with 92% sensitivity and 84% specificity. Even after adjusting the values with respect to confounding factors, Sesn levels remained significantly reduced in sarcopenics (p < 0.030). Discussion: The level of Sesn 2 showed positive co-relation with the characteristics of sarcopenia. This study first time reported the concentration of serum sestrin in sarcopenic older adults. Conclusion: It can be concluded that sarcopenia can be diagnosed at the early stage by using the serum sestrin scale as one of the potential biomarker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) seeded plasmonic nanofluids (PNFs) have shown promising results in overall performance enhancement of direct absorption solar collector (DASC) due to localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect. For the work presented here, Au-NPs were synthesized by the wet chemical method and were utilized to prepare plasmonic nanofluid. The surface plasmon resonance peak of Au-NPs was observed at 531 nm using UV–Visible spectrophotometer study. The testing for performance enhancement of gold plasmonic nanofluid (GPNF) laden DASC so far is limited to laboratory scale setups or simulation studies. Considering the dearth of outdoor experimental studies, an attempt has been made in the present study to evaluate the thermal performance of Au-NPs (∼40 nm) based nanofluid (∼0.0002 wt%) in full scale DASC. The experiments have been performed at different flow rates under clear sky outdoor conditions in winter season at Jalandhar, India. The maximum collector outlet temperature was measured to be 55 °C with GPNF which is about 7 °C higher than the maximum outlet temperature obtained with de-ionized water as working fluid. Thermal efficiency with GPNF is about 33% higher than de-ionized water at the optimal flow rate of 0.030 kg/s. • Au nanoparticles of average sizes ∼40 nm synthesized by a facile chemical route. • Au plasmonic nanofluid showed better absorption properties due to surface plasmon enhancement. • Performance analysis of Au nanofluid laden DASC carried out during winter season in India. • Study results showed maximum efficiency improvement of ∼33% over DI water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Pancratium L. (Amaryllidaceae J.St. Hil.) is a monocot genus with bulbous habitat and about 20 species worldwide have significant medicinal properties. The present envision aims to investigate the potential ability of Pancratium species for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition as a remedy for Alzheimer disease (AD). Different Pancratium species were screened for the inhibition of AChE enzyme from various localities across India. Prominent species was further studied for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metal chelating and UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis.Methods: Nine different species collected across India were examined for AChE inhibition and for binding affinity studies using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Highest inhibition species was subjected to Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to accomplish the effective conditions for maximum extraction of phytomolecules in accordance with the inhibition of the AChE. Further, extract under optimized conditions were used to study anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, metal chelating and UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis for tentative identification of phytomolecules.Results: Amongst different species collected, P. parvum Dalzell exhibited maximum inhibition 93.30 ± 1.71% with promising IC50 20 ± 0.22 µg/ml value. In addition, binding affinity toward AChE and β plaques using SPR technique showed a higher binding response toward the enzyme. RSM study resulted that water extracts at 50 °C and 5.46 hours heating executed maximum inhibition. Other studies showed prominent anti-inflammatory and metal chelating ability with low antioxidant property.Conclusion: By using UHPLC-QTOF-MS compounds were tentatively identified for the concerned activities mentioned above. This work reports for accounting the detailed study of P. parvum and which can be further entailed for the treatment of various neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclotides are plant-derived peptides characterized by an ~30-amino acid-long cyclic backbone and a cystine knot motif. Cyclotides have diverse bioactivities, and their cytotoxicity has attracted significant attention for its potential anticancer applications. Hybanthus enneaspermus (Linn) F. Muell is a medicinal herb widely used in India as a libido enhancer, and a previous study has reported that it may contain cyclotides. In the current study, we isolated 11 novel cyclotides and 1 known cyclotide (cycloviolacin O2) from H. enneaspermus and used tandem MS to determine their amino acid sequences. We found that among these cyclotides, hyen C comprises a unique sequence in loops 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 compared with known cyclotides. The most abundant cyclotide in this plant, hyen D, had anticancer activity comparable to that of cycloviolacin O2, one of the most cyto-toxic known cyclotides. We also provide mechanistic insights into how these novel cyclotides interact with and permeabilize cell membranes. Results from surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that hyen D, E, L, and M and cycloviolacin O2 preferentially interact with model lipid membranes that contain phospholipids with phosphatidyl-ethanolamine head-groups. The results of a lactate dehydrogenase assay indicated that exposure to these cyclotides compromises cell membrane integrity. Using live-cell imaging, we show that hyen D induces rapid membrane blebbing and cell necrosis. Cyclotide-mem-brane interactions correlated with the observed cytotoxicity, suggesting that membrane permeabilization and disintegration underpin cyclotide cytotoxicity. These findings broaden our knowledge on the indigenous Indian herb H. enneaspermus and have uncovered cyclotides with potential anticancer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report intracellular biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by a strain Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (AuRed02) isolated from the soil samples of Singhbhum gold mines, India. An aqueous solution of gold chloride was reduced to metallic gold in a suspension of disrupted cell mass of AuRed02, which progressively turns into cherry red within 8 h of incubation at 25 °C. The optical spectrum showed the plasmon resonance at 530 nm and analysis by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering confirmed the formation of around 40 nm GNPs. Zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared measurements confirmed GNPs are capped by negatively charged phosphate groups of NADP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Diversity characterization of MPER bNAb epitopes from HIV-1 clade C within India. • Identification of primary, uncultured circulating variants through meta-analysis and NGS. • Haplotype based in silico screening of epitope-bNAB interactions for 10E8 and 4E10. • In vitro validation for heretofore untested (for neutralization) epitopes from India. • Need of regular epitope diversity surveillance for development of efficacious bNAb based interventions. Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Clade C (HIV-1C) dominates the AIDS epidemic in India, afflicting 2.1 million individuals within the country and more than 15 million people worldwide. Membrane proximal external region (MPER) is an attractive target for broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) based therapies. However, information on MPER sequence diversity from India is meagre due to limited sampling of primary viral sequences. In the present study, we examined the variation in MPER of HIV-1C from 24 individuals in Mumbai, India by high throughput sequencing of uncultured viral sequences. Deep sequencing of MPER (662-683; HXB2 envelope amino acid numbering) allowed quantification of intra-individual variation up to 65% at positions 662, 665, 668, 674 and 677 within this region. These variable positions included contact sites targeted by bNAbs 2F5, Z13e1, 4E10 as well as 10E8. Both major and minor epitope variants i.e. 'haplotypes' were generated for each sample dataset. A total of 23, 34 and 25 unique epitope haplotypes could be identified for bNAbs 2F5, Z13e1 and 4E10/10E8 respectively. Further analysis of 4E10 and 10E8 epitopes from our dataset and meta-analysis of previously reported HIV-1 sequences from India revealed 26 epitopes (7 India-specific), heretofore untested for neutralization sensitivity. Peptide-Ab docking predicted 13 of these to be non-binding to 10E8. ELISA, Surface Plasmon Resonance and peptide inhibition of HIV-1 neutralization assays were then performed which validated predicted weak/non-binding interactions for peptides corresponding to six of these epitopes. These results highlight the under-representation of 10E8 non-binding HIV-1C MPER sequences from India. Our study thus underscores the need for increased surveillance of primary circulating envelope sequences for development of efficacious bNAb-based interventions in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human C-reactive protein (CRP), as a mediator of innate immunity, removed damaged cells by activating the classical complement pathway. Previous studies have successfully demonstrated that CRPs are differentially induced as glycosylated molecular variants in certain pathological conditions. Affinity-purified CRPs from two most prevalent diseases in India viz. tuberculosis (TB) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have differential glycosylation in their sugar composition and linkages. As anemia is a common manifestation in TB and VL, we assessed the contributory role of glycosylated CRPs to influence hemolysis via CRP-complement-pathway as compared to healthy control subjects. Accordingly, the specific binding of glycosylated CRPs with erythrocytes was established by flow-cytometry and ELISA. Significantly, deglycosylated CRPs showed a 7-8-fold reduced binding with erythrocytes confirming the role of glycosylated moieties. Scatchard analysis revealed striking differences in the apparent binding constants (10(4)-10(5) M(-1)) and number of binding sites (10(6)-10(7)sites/erythrocyte) for CRP on patients' erythrocytes as compared to normal. Western blotting along with immunoprecipitation analysis revealed the presence of distinct molecular determinants on TB and VL erythrocytes specific to disease-associated CRP. Increased fragility, hydrophobicity and decreased rigidity of diseased-erythrocytes upon binding with glycosylated CRP suggested membrane damage. Finally, the erythrocyte-CRP binding was shown to activate the CRP-complement-cascade causing hemolysis, even at physiological concentration of CRP (10 microg/ml). Thus, it may be postulated that CRP have a protective role towards the clearance of damaged-erythrocytes in these two diseases.