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Growing awareness about the role of diet and quest for human wellness has fuelled interest in ‘Functional foods’ and functional attributes of many traditional foods are being reinvented. Flax continues to surge forward in its recognition as a functional food and has recently gained attention in the area of cardiovascular disease primarily because it is the richest known source of alpha-linolenic acid, the phytoestrogen, lignans, as well as being a good source of soluble fiber. Lignans have diverse range of biological activities and flax seeds contain a lignin derivative, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside which get metabolized into the mammalian lignans. The flax lignans influence the early risk markers of mammary and colonic carcinogenesis in animal models. Regular consumption of flaxseed products can affect serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, reduce postprandial glucose absorption, decrease some markers of inflammation and raise serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, ALA and eicosapentaenoic acid. The flax seed has been shown to possess significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions in experimental as well as human studies. The flax seed supplementation in diet revealed potential health benefits in situations like cardiovascular risk, certain types of cancers and other metabolic disorders. There are number of studies indicating the role of raw flaxseed and its baked products in health promotion and disease prevention. This review highlights the potential of ‘flax seed’ as a ‘neutraceutical’ and its role as a protective and therapeutic medicinal food.

Whenever we focus our attention towards malignancies caused by cancer, usually our mind gets preoccupied with many conflicting thoughts. When we look at cancer statistics, our heart starts sinking more and more as we drill down to details about incidence rate, mortality rate, trends etc. In spite of tremendous technological advancements over several decades, cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of death. When we see so many people dying from cancer, sometimes we wonder if this is a nature’s answer to keep population under control. But when we bring together data from different sources like epidemiological studies, cancer molecular biology, molecular epidemiological studies; we are more than convinced that cancer is a man-made malignancy akin global warming. In fact when we review source of drugs available for cancer treatment, it’s inevitable to miss fact that majority of anticancer drugs are sourced either directly from natural bioactive compounds or after structural optimization of natural compound. We can say that nature holds bounty of medicinal compounds, and onus is on us to discover and explore their possible medicinal applications. Usage of compounds from natural sources especially plant based can be dated back to possibly even before dawn of civilization. Most of the chemotherapeutic drugs are also derived from natural bioactive compounds. Research effort during past several decades has been dedicated on screening of bioactives from natural sources, with more focus on easily available resources like terrestrial fauna and flora. However, big pharmaceutical companies have diverted their focus from natural compound based discovery most probably to avoid possible patent conflicts. ‘

Ellagic acid is an antioxidant and an anti-proliferative compound present in fruits, nuts and vegetables. In spite of evidences for anticancer activity in various cancer cell-lines, human cancer cells, the mechanistic role of ellagic acid is not conclusive enough to be recommended for a clinical use. The present review provides information about the chemopreventive role of ellagic acid in oral cancer and proposes molecular basis for ellagic acid’s inhibitory activity against oral cancer. We show that ellagic acid modulates growth of tumor cells through regulation of multiple cell signaling pathways including cell proliferation pathway (cyclin dependent kinase 2, cyclin A2, cyclin B1, cyclin D1, c-myc, PKCα), cell survival/apoptosis pathway (Bcl-XL, Bax, Caspase 9/3, Akt), tumor suppressor pathway (p53, p21), inflaming Metastasis pathways (IL-1 beta, TNF-α, matrix metalloproteinases 9/3, COX-2), angiogenesis pathways (VEGF), cell immortalization (TERT), NF-κβ.

Nostoc sp. strain Mac is capable of microaerobic, but not aerobic, nitrogen fixation (Fox-). Nostoc Mac grows as long, relatively straight, filaments that are well dispersed in the culture medium. However, spontaneously-arising revertant strains selected for aerobic nitrogen fixation (Fox+) all grow as coiled filaments that associate in macroscopic clumps or balls of varying dimensions. DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism, using nitrogenase (nif) structural genes as probes, established identity between revertants and the parental culture. Mapping of the fragments and lack of hybridization to specific probes indicated the absence of a DNA sequence interrupting the nifD gene in one Fox+ revertant. Such a nifD element is assumed to be present in essentially all heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. Only one clone out of 223 Fox- and Fox+ Nostoc Mac clones surveyed lacked the nifD element, indicating that loss of the element is a rare event. The nifD element is present in the same location in the genome of Nostoc Mac as it is in all other heterocystforming cyanobacteria analysed. No phenotypic differences could be detected between two Fox+ clones containing or lacking the nifD element, including repression and derepression of nitrogen fixation in response to the presence or absence of combined nitrogen. We suspect that retention of the nifD element in vegetative cells of heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria is a consequence of selective pressure, although such selective conditions in laboratory cultures have not been identified.

Abiotic stress can lead to changes in development, productivity, and severe stress and may even threaten survival of plants. Several environmental stresses cause drastic changes in the growth, physiology, and metabolism of plants leading to the increased accumulation of secondary metabolites. As medicinal plants are important sources of drugs, steps are taken to understand the effect of stress on the physiology, biochemistry, genomic, proteomic, and metabolic levels. The molecular responses of plants to abiotic stress are often considered as a complex process. They are mainly based on the modulation of transcriptional activity of stress-related genes. Many genes have been induced under stress conditions. The products of stress-inducible genes protecting against these stresses includes the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of various osmoprotectants. Genetic engineering of tolerance to abiotic stresses help in molecular understanding of pathways induced in response to one or more of the abiotic stresses. Systems biology and virtual experiments allow visualizing and understanding how plants work to overcome abiotic stress. This review discusses the omic approach to understand the plant response to abiotic stress with special emphasis on medicinal plant.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is an inducible enzyme involved in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin and other eicosanoids. Molecular pathology studies have revealed that Cox-2 is over-expressed in cancer and stroma cells during tumor progression, and anti-cancer chemo-radiotherapies induce expression of Cox-2 in cancer cells. Elevated tumor Cox-2 is associated with increased angiogenesis, tumor invasion and promotion of tumor cell resistance to apoptosis. Several experimental and clinical studies have established potent anti-cancer activity of NSAID (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and other Cox-2 inhibitors such as celecoxib. Much attention is being focused on Cox-2 inhibitors as beneficial target for cancer chemotherapy. The mode of action of Cox-2 and its inhibitors remains unclear. Further clinical application needs to be investigated for comprehending Cox-2 biological functions and establishing it as an effective target in cancer therapy.

Background Oxaliplatin is integrated in treatment strategies against a variety of cancers including radiation protocols. Herein, as a new strategy we tested feasibility and rationale of oxaliplatin in combination with radiation to control proliferation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells and discussed survivin-related signaling and apoptosis induction. Methods Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by radiation and/or oxaliplatin were examined in relation to survivin status using two HNSCC cell lines viz., Cal27 and NT8e, and one normal 293-cell line. Survivin gene knockdown by siRNA was also tested in relevance to oxaliplatin-mediated radiosensitization effects. Results Survivin plays a critical role in mediating radiation-resistance in part through suppression of apoptosis via a caspase-dependent mechanism. Oxaliplatin treatment significantly decreased expression of survivin in cancer cells within 24–72 h. Apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity were increased parallely with decrease in cell viability, if irradiated during this sensitive period. The cytotoxicity of oxaliplatin and radiation combination was greater than additive. Survivin gene knockdown experiments have demonstrated the role of survivin in radiosensitization of cancer cells mediated by oxaliplatin. Conclusions Higher expression of survivin is a critical factor for radioresistance in HNSCC cell lines. Pre-treatment of cancer cells with oxaliplatin significantly increased the radiosensitivity through induction of apoptosis by potently inhibiting survivin.

The production of biodiesel by transesterification employing acid or base catalyst has been industrially accepted for its high conversion and reaction rates. Downstream processing costs and environmental problems associated with biodiesel production and byproducts recovery have led to the search for alternative production methods. Recently, enzymatic transesterification involving lipases has attracted attention for biodiesel production as it produces high purity product and enables easy separation from the byproduct, glycerol. The use of immobilized lipases and immobilized whole cells may lower the overall cost, while presenting less downstream processing problems, to biodiesel production. The present review gives an overview on biodiesel production technology and analyzes the factors/methods of enzymatic approach reported in the literature and also suggests suitable method on the basis of evidence for industrial production of biodiesel.

Microbial preparation of herbicide is defined as bioherbicide that can control the weed. In this approach, indigenous plant pathogens isolated from weeds are cultured to produce the large numbers of infective propagules which are applied at a rate that will cause high levels of infection leading to suppression of the target weed. During the present investigation, cell free culture filtrate (CFCF) of Alternaria alternata was evaluated for its phytotoxicity against a noxious weed Lantana camara. The results of cut shoot, seed- ling and detached leaf bioassays revealed the presence of a toxic metabolite in the CFCF and a significant reduction in chlorophyll and protein content were also noticed. Phytotoxic moiety was further purified and characterized by using solvent partition, thin layer chromatography (TLC), FTIR and 1 H NMR analysis. The acetone extract induced maximum phytotoxic damage at a concentration of 100 µg/ml and TLC purified fraction also exhibited herbicidal potential. The toxic compound was identified as tenuazonic acid upon comparison with FTIR and 1 H NMR spectra. This is the first evidence that confirmed the herbicidal potential of a biorational, tenu- azonic acid was produced by submerged fermentation of A. alternata.

The ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) program was created by the HGP to address issues that arise as a result of the program but that are not directly related to sequencing of the genome. Clinicians, scientists, patient advocacy groups, and government agencies worldwide are debating the optimal legal protections to prevent abuse. Massive amounts of data flowing from the Human Genome Project and other genomics projects have stimulated an avalanche of applications for patents on genes and gene fragments.

All diseases have a genetic component. However, the extent to which genes contribute to disease varies and much remains to be learned. Mutations may be inherited or developed in response to environmental stresses such as viruses or toxins. The ultimate goal is to use this information to treat, cure, or if possible, prevent the development of disease. Advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind these diseases enable the development of early diagnostic tests, new treatments, or interventions to prevent disease onset or minimize disease severity.

Modern molecular medicine encompasses the utilization of many molecular biological techniques in the analysis of disease, disease genes and disease gene function. The study of disease genes and their function in an unaffected individual has been possible by the development of recombinant DNA and cloning techniques. The term gene cloning covers a range of techniques that makes it possible to manipulate DNA in a test tube and also to return it to living organism where it function normally. The tools of gene cloning includes vectors, genes and the enzymes. Overcoming the biological and methodological obstacles posed by cell factories to the production or rDNA pharmaceuticals is a main challenge in the further development of protein-based molecular medicine. Recombinant DNA technologies might have exhausted conventional cell factories and new production systems need to be deeply explored and incorporated into the production pipeline. On the other hand, a more profound comprehension of host cell physiology and stress responses to protein production would necessary offer improved tools (either at genetic, metabolic or system levels) to favour high yield and high quality protein production. Apart from the expected incorporation of unusual mammalian hosts such as transgenic animals or plants, microbial cells appear as extremely robust and convenient hosts, and gaining knowledge about the biological aspects of protein production would hopefully enhance the performance of such hosts beyond the current apparent limitations. In this regard, not only commonly used bacteria and yeasts but unconventional strains or species are observed as promising cell factories for forthcoming recombinant drugs. Their incorporation into productive processes for human pharmaceuticals would hopefully push the trend of marketed products and fulfil the increasing demands of the pharmacological industry.

Molecular diagnostics has become a growing part of the clinical laboratory. It includes all tests and methods to identify a disease and understand the predisposition for a disease analyzing DNA or RNA of an organism. Rapid advances in molecular diagnostics enable basic research and results in practical diagnostic tests. The basic application is to determine changes in sequence or expression levels in crucial genes involved in disease. The use of molecular diagnostics, such as pre-implantation diagnostics or predictive genetic testing, still has technical problems as well as novel, and to date unclear, social, ethical and legal implications. The scope of molecular diagnostics in molecular medicine could be expanded well beyond current nucleic acid testing. It plays an important role in practice of medicine, public health, pharmaceutical industry, forensics and biological warfare and drug discovery. The molecular diagnostic marketplace offers a growth opportunity given the interest in utilizing molecular tools to precisely target therapeutics.

Recombinant DNA technology can provide novel and powerful methods for forensic science application. Human genomic DNA can be analyzed directly for individual identification and paternity testing on the basis of polymorphism in its sequence. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) testing, STR (microsatellite) and mitochondrial DNA analysis (mtDNA) is suitable for examination of the forensic biological samples (bloodstains, hairs, seminal stains, bones, tooth). Using a combination of single locus probe (SLP) that varies highly among individuals, a DNA fingerprint or profile can be made. Mitochondrial DNA RFLPs may also suggest the characteristics of the human races.

The Human Genome Project has heralded a whole new era in our understanding of the molecular basis of disease. New opportunities now arise to predict disease by genetic testing, and in some cases to prevent disease through surveillance or other specific interventions. Increasingly it will be possible to test for predisposition to disease, to develop new treatments or to tailor available treatments more specifically to an individual’s genetic make-up.

As molecular techniques for identifying and detecting microorganisms in the clinical microbiology laboratory have become routine, questions about the cost of these techniques and their contribution to patient care need to be addressed. Molecular diagnosis is most appropriate for infectious agents that are difficult to detect, identify, or test for susceptibility in a timely fashion with conventional methods. During the last 10 years, the detection of infectious disease agents has begun to include the use of nucleic acid-based technologies. Diagnosis of infection caused by parasitic organisms is the last field of clinical microbiology to incorporate these techniques and molecular techniques (e.g., PCR and hybridization assays) have recently been developed for the detection, species differentiation, and phylogenetic analysis.

Kary Mullis devised a method of replicating genes called "PCR" (polymerase chain reaction). A DNA sequence less than one part in a million of the total sample can be cloned. In fact, a single gene can be amplified into millions of duplicate copies. In order to determine the exact DNA sequence of a gene or section of DNA, it is necessary to have an adequate sample of the particular gene to work with. PCR allows a researcher to replicate a gene into a workable amount. PCR can achieve more sensitive detection and higher levels of amplification of specific sequences in less time than previously used methods. These features make the technique extremely useful, not only in basic research, but also in commercial uses, including genetic identity testing, forensics, industrial quality control and in vitro diagnostics. Basic PCR has become commonplace in many molecular biology labs where it is used to amplify DNA fragments and detect DNA or RNA sequences within a cell or environment. However, PCR has evolved far beyond simple amplification and detection, and many extensions of the original PCR method have been described.

Aptamers are a new class of therapeutic and diagnostic reagents identified as binding molecules to numerous small compounds, proteins and rarely even to complete pathogen particles. Aptamers are typically selected from libraries of random DNA (or RNA) sequences through systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). This method is an in vitro method of selection of DNA or RNA sequences, involving several rounds of alternating steps of partitioning of candidate oligonucleotides and their PCR amplification. These range from inhibition of receptors and enzymes to the identification of small molecules in sensor applications, and from the development of targeted therapeutic to the design of novel diagnostic and imaging agents. Furthermore, aptamers have been designed for targets that cover a wide range of diseases, from HIV to tropical diseases, cancer and inflammation. Their easy development and flexibility of use and manipulation, offers further potential as effective diagnostic tools.

There is a great concern within the scientific and security communities on the ongoing revolution in Genomics research. Genomics revolution may be used to enhance detection, protection and treatment so that biological warfare agents are never used. Biological weapons have the greatest potential for lethality of any weapon. Biological weapons are accessible to all countries; there are few barriers to developing such weapons with a modest level of effort. The current level of sophistication for many biological agents is low, but there is enormous potential based on advances in modern molecular biology, fermentation, and drug delivery technology for making more sophisticated weapons.

Global manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals has increased significantly over the last decade due to a number of reasons. Biopharmaceuticals offer several advantages such as highly effective and potent action, fewer side effects and the potential to actually cure diseases rather than merely treat the symptoms. These advantages, combined with the increasing number of new diseases that can be treated with biopharmaceuticals, are driving enhanced production of these drugs worldwide.

The molecular diagnostics market is the fastest growing segment in the in vitro diagnostics and is being driven by multiple growth factors. This include the need for automated and easy-to-handle techniques which combine optimized sample preparation, analysis, data evaluation, and the growing availability of molecular diagnostic tests for monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of expensive drugs. Currently immunoassays account for approximately 25% of the global market while molecular diagnostics accounts for about 6%. However, things are about to change as molecular diagnostics is poised to take a larger share of the in vitro diagnostics in the years to come. Infectious diseases market is the largest segment of molecular diagnostics and the segment is expected to grow at an annual rate between 7 and 8% over the next few years and this is followed by cancer and cardiovascular segments. In terms of technological push, genomics and proteomics are the major drivers of the molecular diagnostics market. Nanobiotechnology and biochips are also expected to drive future growth. Introduction of new diagnostics tests, primarily in the infectious disease application area is likely to keep the momentum going for the molecular diagnostics business in the short-term.

The application of molecular testing methods in the clinical laboratory has dramatically improved our ability to diagnose infectious diseases. Nucleic acid techniques, such as plasmid profiling, various methods for generating restriction fragment length polymorphisms and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are making increasing inroads into clinical laboratories. However, the clinical usefulness of molecular testing will only be maximized to its fullest benefit by appropriate and careful studies correlating clinical findings with assay results.

Nucleic acid hybridization techniques have contributed significantly to the understanding of gene organization, regulation and expression. In situ hybridization is a method for detecting specific nucleotide sequences by using a labeled complementary nucleic acid probe. The power of in situ hybridization can be greatly extended by the simultaneous use of multiple fluorescent colors. Multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in its simplest form, can be used to identify as many labeled features as there are different fluorophores used in the hybridization. Key methodological advances have allowed facile preparation of low-noise hybridization probes, and technological breakthroughs now permit multi-target visualization and quantitative analysis – both factors that have made FISH accessible to all and applicable to any investigation of nucleic acids. In the future, this technique is likely to have significant further impact on live-cell imaging and on medical diagnostics.

Although many types of diagnostic and carrier testing for complex disorders have been available for decades, the use of molecular methods is a relatively recent phenomenon. Such testing has expanded the range of disorders that can be diagnosed and has enhanced the ability of clinicians to provide accurate prognostic information and formulate appropriate health supervision measures. However, the proper application of these tests may be difficult because of their scientific complexity and the potential for negative, sometimes unexpected, consequences for many patients.

The completion of the human genome project is widely regarded as a turning point in biology and medicine. As we usher in the “post-genomic” era, we are faced with an explosion of new information, which is leading to dramatic changes in the way we are able to study and manipulate life. Over the last few years, bimolecular research has progressed to functional genomics and the application of this knowledge to advance our understanding of health and disease. It is clear that genomic information alone is not sufficient to completely explain disease states. Post-genomic approaches attempt to contribute to our understanding of this interaction, with each approach capturing a different angle of the global picture. Intuitively, the next step forward is to integrate these datasets, an approach that, if successful, could be much more informative and predictive than working exclusively on a single platform.

Ganoderma lucidum (Ling Zhi) is a basidiomycete white rot macrofungus which has been used extensively as "the mushroom of immortality" in China, Japan, Korea and other Asian countries for 2000 years. A great deal of work has been carried out on therapeutic potential of Ganoderma lucidum. The basidiocarp, mycelia and spores of Ganoderma lucidum contain approximately 400 different bioactive compounds, which mainly include triterpenoids, polysaccharides, nucleotides, sterols, steroids, fatty acids, proteins/peptides and trace elements which has been reported to have a number of pharmacological effects including immunomodulation, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, chemo-preventive, antitumor, chemo and radio protective, sleep promoting, antibacterial, antiviral (including anti-HIV), hypolipidemic, anti-fibrotic, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-androgenic, anti-angiogenic, anti-herpetic, antioxidative and radical-scavenging, anti-aging, hypoglycemic, estrogenic activity and anti-ulcer properties. Ganoderma lucidum has now become recognized as an alternative adjuvant in the treatment of leukemia, carcinoma, hepatitis and diabetes. The macrofungus is very rare in nature rather not sufficient for commercial exploitation for vital therapeutic emergencies, therefore, the cultivation on solid substrates, stationary liquid medium or by submerged cultivation has become an essential aspect to meet the driving force towards the increasing demands in the international market. Present review focuses on the pharmacological aspects, cultivation methods and bioactive metabolites playing a significant role in various therapeutic applications.