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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.

Diabetes is a disorder in which blood glucose levels rise as a result of the body's cell's inability to adequately utilize glucose. Several drugs are used to lower the blood glucose level. Annona squamosa is an important plant that is used as an antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent. In the present study, acetone and isopropyl alcohol extract of Annona squamosa have been used to find out its biological property and found that it has potential antimicrobial property which was identified by using Agar well diffusion assay and confirmed by using Minimal inhibitory concentration. Effect of extract on swarming motility of the test pathogens were also tested. The extract of the leaves was tested for amylase inhibition activity using plate assay method with crude amylase enzyme isolated from Bacillus sp. From the findings, it was clear that Annona squamosa L. is an effective bioactive agent which has antimicrobial and antiamylolytic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, parts consisting of spines, rind, seed coat and seed were sundried. The rind, seed coat and seed were powdered and subjected to ethanol extraction and subjected for characterization using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal activity tests by well diffusion method in agar plates were performed. The powdered samples and spines were subjected to fiber extraction and subjected for FTIR analysis, and lignocellulosic content. Fibers from spines and powdered samples were used for removal of crystal violet and chromium in adsorption study. Rind has antimicrobial properties against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. Seed has antibacterial property against E. coli. Fibers of spine, rind, seed coating and seed all showed highest content of lignin and showed some adsorbent property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, aqueous extract of endosperm of Borassus flabellifer L. (Palmyra palm) seed was subjected for antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative activity. It was found to be more effective in suppressing UTI bacterial growth at the concentration of 25µl/well. Similar to how Aspergillus niger shown greatest zone of inhibition at concentration of 300 µl/ml, Aspergillus brasiliensis and A. flavus displayed highest zone of inhibition at 400 µl/ml. The extract was found to have good antiproliferative activity against Blood Cancer (MOLT – 4) cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation is to determine whether the methanolic extracts of Sargassum wightii can protect rats against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Four different groups of rats (6 rats in each group) were taken; where group 1 comprised of normal untreated rats, group 2 was injected with Isoproterenol (synthetic catecholamine), group 3 was considered as standard and hence, was injected with Isoproterenol + Simvastatin and group 4 was treated with Isoproterenol + Sargassum wightii's extract. Cardioprotective effects of Sargassum wightii was observed via the changes in the lipid profile, cardio marker enzymes and through histopathological studies. Rats treated with the extract of S. wightii showed a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, serum triglycerides and increase in HDL- cholesterol level indicating an undamaged myocardial membrane. Likewise, low enzyme activity in Sargassum wightii treated rats clearly indicated the cardioprotective effects of Sargassum wightii. Histopathological studies were also done to observe the changes on the rats at the tissue level and no pathological changes were observed in Sargassum wightii treated rats. Hence, methanolic extract of Sargassum wightii is evidenced to possess cardioprotective activity against myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological macromolecules like polysaccharides/proteins/glycoproteins have been widely used in the field of tissue engineering due to their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix of tissue. In addition to this, these macromolecules are found to have higher biocompatibility and no/lesser toxicity when compared to synthetic polymers. In recent years, scaffolds made up of proteins, polysaccharides, or glycoproteins have been highly used due to their tensile strength, biodegradability, and flexibility. This review is about the fabrication methods and applications of scaffolds made using various biological macromolecules, including polysaccharides like chitosan, agarose, cellulose, and dextran and proteins like soy proteins, zein proteins, etc. Biopolymer-based nanocomposite production and its application and limitations are also discussed in this review. This review also emphasizes the importance of using natural polymers rather than synthetic ones for developing scaffolds, as natural polymers have unique properties, like high biocompatibility, biodegradability, accessibility, stability, absence of toxicity, and low cost.

Metal nanoparticles, such as gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, etc., have many benefits and have been in use for a very long time. Nevertheless, a number of concerns have been raised about the environmental impact and the possibility of exposure to various living systems at the moment. Thus, in this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by using plant gum from Bauhinia purpurea and characterization was done using UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, etc. To determine the accumulation and toxic effects caused by the nanoparticles, Eudrilus eugeniae , Danio rerio , and their embryos were exposed to the synthesized silver nanoparticles and evaluated using microscopic observation, histology, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES).