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The use of phytochemicals in control of human diseases have been considerable public and scientific interest in current days. Syringic acid (SA), a phenolic compound often found in fruits and vegetables and which is synthesized via shikimic acid pathway in plants. It shows a wide range of therapeutic applications in prevention of diabetes, CVDs, cancer, cerebral ischemia; as well as it possess anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiendotoxic, neuro and hepatoprotective activities. It has an effective free radical scavenger and alleviates the oxidative stress markers. The therapeutic property of SA is attributed by the presence of methoxy groups onto the aromatic ring at positions 3 and 5. The strong antioxidant activity of SA may confer its beneficial effects for human health. SA has the potential to modulate enzyme activity, protein dynamics and diverse transcription factors involved in diabetes, inflammation, cancer and angiogenesis. In vivo experimental data and histopathological studies on SA activity has delineated its possible therapeutic mechanisms. Besides usage in biomedical field, SA has greater industrial applications in bioremediation, photocatalytic ozonation, and laccase based catalysis. The present review deals about SA natural sources, biosynthesis, bioavailability, biomedical applications (in vivo and in vito. The review addresses basic information about molecular mechanisms, therapeutic and industrial potential of SA.

We screened soil samples collected from underneath shrubs and/or large trees at different locations in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh for xylanase-producing microorganisms. Xylose-utilizing bacteria were numerically dominant in soils of most locations whereas xylose- and xylan-utilizing actinobacteria were minor components. Xylan-utilizing fungi constituted a major share of total microbial populations in soil samples collected at half of the sites, whereas xylan-utilizing bacteria were predominant at other sampling locations. Some of the isolates of fungi exhibited xylanase activity with a range of 400–4000 U/ml, indicating great potential for their uses in paper, pulping and bioethanol industries for producing value-added products.

Due to fast depletion of fossil fuels and steady increase in fuel price along with an increase in population, finding an alternate, sustainable, and renewable energy is essential. Biofuels such as bioethanol, butanol, fatty acid ethyl ester/biodiesel, fatty alcohol, and methane produced from different sustainable and renewable sources by microbes have emerged as an ideal alternative to fossil oils with significant advantages over plant, animal, and algae oils. Many microorganisms produce biofuels naturally at low levels, and lately, few organisms have been engineered to produce desired products at higher rates by the use of. In this chapter, we address issues and current trends in the production of biofuels by microorganisms.

Aspergillus niger, an isolate of soil contaminated with effluents from cotton ginning mill was grown in Czapek-Dox medium containing sawdust, Triton-X 100 and urea for production of an extracellular β-glucosidase. β-Glucosidase enzyme was purified (86-fold) from culture filtrate of A. niger by employing ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration on sephadex G-75. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be 95 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had an optimal activity on p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside at 50°C and pH 5.0. The Km and Vmax of the enzyme on p-nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside at 50°C and pH 5 were 8.0 mM and 166 µmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. The enzyme could hydrolyze cellobiose and lactose but not sucrose. Heavy metals like Hg2+, Al3+, and Ag+ inhibited the activity, whereas Zn2+ and detergents such as Triton-X 100 and Tween-80 increased the activity at 0.01%. The enzyme activity increased in the presence of methano...

Growth of Fusarium sp. BVKT R2, a potential isolate of forest soils of Eastern Ghats on birchwood xylan in mineral salts medium (MSM) under un-optimized conditions of 30 °C, pH of 5.0, 150 rpm and inoculum size of 5 agar plugs for 7 days, yielded titer of 1290 U/mL of xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8). The effect of various operating parameters such as different substrates and their concentration, additional carbon and nitrogen sources, incubation temperature, initial pH, agitation and inoculum size on the production of xylanase by Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 was studied in shake flask culture by one factor at a time approach. The same culture exhibited higher production of xylanase (4200 U/mL) when grown on birch wood xylan in MSM under optimized conditions with an additional carbon source—sorbitol (1.5%) nitrogen source—yeast extract (1.5%) temperature of 30 °C, pH of 5.0, agitation of 200 rpm and inoculum of 6 agar plugs for only 5 days. There was enhancement in xylanase production under optimized conditions by 3.2 folds over yields under un-optimized conditions. Growth of BVKT R2 culture on locally available lignocelluloses—sawdust, rice straw and cotton stalk—in MSM for 5 days released soluble sugars to the maximum extent of 52.76% with respect to sawdust indicating its greater importance in saccharification essential for biotechnological applications.

This study is aimed at assessing the biobleaching activity of fungal xylanase on paper pulp isolated from Tirumala forest, Eastern Ghats of India. Of the 98 fungal isolates obtained after initial screening, eight isolates were selected and one potential strain was further cultivated under submerged fermentation for production of xylanase. The biobleaching efficiency on waste paper pulp and paper industry effluent was tested with crude enzyme. Xylanolytic activity by the chosen organism in submerged fermentation reached the maximum (981.1 U ml−1) on the 5th day of incubation. Molecular characterisation of the isolate led to its identification as Trichoderma asperellum which exhibited the production of enzyme even at alkaline pH of the culture medium. Xylanase pretreatment of paper pulp had shown reduction in the Kappa number by 4.2 points and increased brightness by 4.0 points. FTIR and SEM studies revealed loosening of pulp fibres after enzyme treatment. In conclusion, xylanase of Trichoderma asperellum was effective as a pulp biobleaching agent and the process is economical as well as eco-friendly.

A series of biodegradable, semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were synthesized from a combination of carbohydrate polymer and sodium alginate (NaAlg) with acrylamide and dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate, and crosslinked with N,N-methylenebisacryla- mide via radical redox polymerization. The cytocompatibility of the hydrogels with respect to their monomers and semi- IPN hydrogels was evaluated in vitro using cultures of mouse fibroblast cell lines. This study allowed the entrapment of sil- ver nanoparticles (NPs) into semi-IPN hydrogel networks by the in situ reduction of Ag 1 ions using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. UV-visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of silver NPs in the semi-IPN hydrogel matrix. The formation of silver NPs was also confirmed from a themogravimetric anal- ysis weight loss difference between hydrogel and silver nanocomposite as 32%. The morphology and structure of the AgNPs present in the hydrogel networks were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron micros- copy revealed silver NPs with a size of � 5 nm. The silver nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited good antibacterial activity against both gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. These results sug- gest that the hydrogel can be applied as wound dressings and for water purification purposes. V C 2013 Wiley Periodicals

Growth of Fusarium sp. BVKT R2, a potential isolate of forest soils of Eastern Ghats on birchwood xylan in mineral salts medium (MSM) under un-optimized conditions of 30 °C, pH of 5.0, 150 rpm and inoculum size of 5 agar plugs for 7 days, yielded titer of 1290 U/mL of xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8). The effect of various operating parameters such as different substrates and their concentration, additional carbon and nitrogen sources, incubation temperature, initial pH, agitation and inoculum size on the production of xylanase by Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 was studied in shake flask culture by one factor at a time approach. The same culture exhibited higher production of xylanase (4200 U/mL) when grown on birch wood xylan in MSM under optimized conditions with an additional carbon source—sorbitol (1.5%) nitrogen source—yeast extract (1.5%) temperature of 30 °C, pH of 5.0, agitation of 200 rpm and inoculum of 6 agar plugs for only 5 days. There was enhancement in xylanase production under optimized conditions by 3.2 folds over yields under un-optimized conditions. Growth of BVKT R2 culture on locally available lignocelluloses—sawdust, rice straw and cotton stalk—in MSM for 5 days released soluble sugars to the maximum extent of 52.76% with respect to sawdust indicating its greater importance in saccharification essential for biotechnological applications.

Objectives: In this study stir processing method is used to increase the strength of polymer with the addition of reinforcements such as micro and nano silica, ZnO and chitin powder. Methods/Statistical Analysis: produced with this process are the production of parts having good resistance to solvents like HCl and H 2 SO 4 being environmental friendly. Silica (micro and nano), chitin and ZnO were added into polyester resin in different fractions as 2%,4%,6% and 10% through mechanical stirrer at 1000 rpm for 1 h. Accelerator and catalyst were added and stirred using a glass rod. The influence of ZnO nano particles with the addition of silica and chitin powder on the mechanical properties like tensile strength and hardness were investigated. The comparison of different weight fractions is also studied. Findings: By adding ZnO nano particles with micro silica and chitin the tensile property of polyester composite was increased. The hardness increased with the addition of Silica (micro and nano) and ZnO whereas, it decreased with the addition of chitin powder. Application/Improvements: Investigating the effect of Silica (micro and nano) and chitin in addition to the ZnO nano particles on the mechanical and micro structure of polyester composites.

Xylanses are hydrolytic enzymes with wide applications in several industries like biofuels, paper and pulp, deinking, food and feed. The present study was aimed at hitting at high yield xylanase producing fungi from natural resources. Two highest xylanase producing fungal isolates - Q12 and L1were picked from collection of 450 fungal cultures for the utilization of xylan. These fungal isolates - Q12 and L1 were identified basing on ITS gene sequencing analysis as Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 (KT119615) and Fusarium strain BRR R6 (KT119619), respectively with construction of phylogenetic trees. Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 was further optimized for maximum xylanase production and the interaction effects between variables on production of xylanase were studied through response surface methodology. The optimal conditions for maximal production of xylanase were sorbitol 1.5%, yeast extract 1.5%, pH of 5.0, Temperature of 32.5oC, and agitation of 175 rpm. Under optimal conditions, the yields of xylanase production by Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 was as high as 4560 U/ml in SmF. Incubation of different lignocellulosic biomasses with crude enzyme of Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 at 37°C for 72 h could achieve about 45% saccharification. The results suggest that Fusarium sp. BVKT R2 has potential applications in saccharification process of biomass. Key words: Fusarium sp., Optimization, Response Surface Methodology, Saccharification, Submerged fermentation, Xylanase

Xylanase is a hemicellulase enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of xylan to xylose which is widely used in processing of feed, pulp and paper. It is produced by many microorganisms especially filamentous fungi like Trichoderma and Aspergillus. A potential xylanolytic fungal isolate Aspergillus niger was isolated from forest soils of Tirumala, AP, India, and its crude enzyme was checked for its potential in paper bleaching. Under submerged fermentation, production of xylanase, cellulase, biomass, total protein and sugar released were analysed after 7 days of incubation at room temperature. Maximum enzyme activity was recorded on the fifth day of incubation, biomass after the seventh day, total protein and sugar released on the sixth day of incubation. Enzyme pretreatment of paper reduced 3.5 points in kappa number, 3.1 points increase in brightness and removal of chromophores and hydrophobic compounds. The FTIR and SEM analysis of enzyme-treated sample had shown modification in surface morphology and functional groups. These results clearly demonstrated that the xylanase produced by A. niger was effective as a pulp biobleaching agent which can be used on an industrial scale.

A rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of Copper (II) in aqueous DMF medium. The metal ion forms a light greenish yellow coloured complex with 5-bromo salicylaldehyde thiosemicar- bazone (5-BSAT) in acidic medium. The complex shows absorption maximum at 390nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.31 - 6.35 � gml -1 of Copper (II). The molar absorptivity (� ) and Sandell's sensitivity are found to be 1.08 X 10 4 l mole -1 cm -1 and 0.062 � gcm -2 respectively. A method for the determination of copper by third derivative spectrophotome- try is also proposed. The methods have been employed successfully for the determination of copper in grape leaves and aluminum based alloy samples.

Interpenetrating polymeric network nanogels (IPN-NGs) composed of natural gelatin biological protein macromolecules and poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid) were produced by simple free radical emulsion polymerization. The developed IPN-NGs were characterized by Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy to confirm the formation of NGs. The hydrophobic curcumin drug was loaded successfully into these NGs using an in-situ method. The curcumin-encapsulated NGs were well dispersed in aqueous solutions and showed good bioavailability. Curcumin was dispersed molecularly in the IPN-NGs, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The NGs exhibited pH sensitive properties according to dynamic light scattering and the zeta size potentials. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the NGs to be spherical, approximately 100 nm in size. The encapsulation efficiency of these IPN-NGs drug formulations ranged from 42 to 48%. In addition, the release of curcumin from the NGs was examined in phosphate buffer medium. The cytotoxicity of the IPN-NGs was studied using in vitro cultures of fibroblasts and a colorectal cancer cell line. The results suggest that the newly developed pH sensitive gelatin-poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid)-curcumin NGs can be applied for colorectal cancer drug delivery applications.

Department of Chemistry, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur-515 003, India Manuscript received 16 June 1999, revised 11 February 2003, accepted 12 March 2003 A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of cobalt in aqueous DMF medium. The metal ion forms a brown coloured complex with 5-bromosalicylaldehydethiosemicarbazone (5-BSAT) in acidic medium. The complex shows absorption maximum at 410 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the range 0.29-5.89µg ml-1 of cobalt(ll). A method for the determination of cobalt by third derivative spectrophotometry is also proposed. The methods have been employed successfully for the determination of cobalt in steel samples.

The efficiency of two methods of pretreatment (NaOH and H2O2) on lignocelluloses—saw dust, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse and rice bran—was compared in the present study. Alkali treatment of lignocelluloses relatively removed more hemicelluloses and lignin leaving behind cellulose content in the residues than peroxide treatment. Crude cellulase of Aspergillus niger, produced on the pretreated sawdust with highest cellulose content, was further tested for the release of soluble and reducing sugars during the saccharification process of same pretreated saw dust. The saccharification process of the pretreated sawdust with enzyme was optimized for pH, temperature, and substrate concentration and proceeded optimally at pH of 5.0, 50 °C and 0.5 % pretreated sawdust. The rate of saccharification with crude enzyme of A. niger on alkali-treated sawdust was found to be maximum (23 %) as against 5.4 % on native sawdust under optimal conditions after 48 h. The present study indicates NaOH-treated sawdust as a potential raw material for both production of cellulase and saccharification in a large scale.