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Textile effluent carries a range of dyes that may be recalcitrant and resistant to biodegradation. A unique consortium of the Fimbristylis dichotoma and Saccharomyces cerevisiae is exploited for the biodegradation of an azo dye Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent. This consortium enhances the rate of biodegradation of Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent with an excellent rate of biodegradation of 92% for Rubine GFL and 68% for actual textile effluent when compared to the individual one within 96 h. Speedy decolorization of Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent was observed due to the induction of oxido-reductive enzymes of the FD-SC consortium. Along with the significant reduction in the values of COD, BOD, ADMI, TSS, and TDS with 70, 64, 65, 41, and 52%, respectively, in experimental sets treated with FD-SC consortium. The biodegradation of Rubine GFL was confirmed with UV-Vis spectroscopy at the preliminary level, and then, metabolites formed after degradation were detected and identified by FTIR, HPLC, and GC-MS techniques. Also, decolorization of the dye was observed in the sections of the root cortex of Fimbristylis dichotoma. The toxicity of dye and metabolites formed after degradation was assessed by seed germination and bacterial count assay, where increased germination % and bacterial count from 31×10 7 CFUs to 92 × 10 7 CFUs reflect the nontoxic nature of metabolites. Furthermore, the nontoxic nature of metabolites was confirmed by fish toxicity on Cirrhinus mrigala showed normal structures of fish gills and liver in the groups treated with FD-SC consortium proving the better tactic for biodegradation of dyes and textile effluent., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Emerging contaminants removals like dyes and heavy metals from the textile effluent have an immense challenge. The present study focuses on the biotransformation and detoxification of dyes and in situ textile effluent treatment by plants and microbes efficiently. A mixed consortium of perennial herbaceous plant Canna indica and fungi Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed decolorization of di-azo dye Congo red (CR, 100 mg/L) up to 97% within 72 h. Root tissues and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells revealed induction of various dye-degrading oxidoreductase enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, laccase, veratryl alcohol oxidase and azo reductase during CR decolorization. Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b and carotenoid pigments were notably elevated in the leaves of a plant during the treatment. Phytotransformation of CR into its metabolic constituents was detected by using several analytical techniques, including FTIR, HPLC, and GC-MS and its non-toxic nature was confirmed by cyto-toxicological evaluation on Allium cepa and on freshwater bivalves. Mix consortium of plant Canna indica and fungi Saccharomyces cerevisiae efficiently treated textile wastewater (500 L) and reduced ADMI, COD, BOD, TSS and TDS (74, 68, 68, 78, and 66%) within 96 h. In situ textile wastewater treatment for in furrows constructed and planted with Canna indica, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and consortium-CS within 4 days reveals reduced ADMI, COD, BOD, TDS and TSS (74, 73, 75, 78, and 77%). Comprehensive observations recommend this is an intelligent tactic to exploit this consortium in the furrows for textile wastewater treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, a novel synthetic method for cobalt oxide (Co 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles using Bos taurus (A-2) urine as a reducing agent was developed. In addition to this ZnO nanorods were produced hydrothermally and a nanocomposite is formed through a solid-state reaction. The synthesized materials were characterized through modern characterization techniques such as XRD, FE-SEM with EDS, DLS, zeta potential, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopic analysis, and TGA with DSC. The free radical destructive activity was determined using two different methods viz. ABTS and DPPH. The potential for BSA denaturation in vitro, which is measured in comparison to heat-induced denaturation of egg albumin and results in anti-inflammatory effects of nanomaterial was studied. All synthesized nanomaterials have excellent antibacterial properties, particularly against Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. The composite exhibits excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in comparison to pure nanomaterials. This reveals that these nanomaterials are advantageous in medicine and drug administration., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The widespread distribution of organic and inorganic pollutants in water resources have increased due to rapid industrialization. Rhizospheric zone-associated bacteria along with endophytic bacteria show a significant role in remediation of various pollutants. Metaomics technologies are gaining an advantage over traditional methods because of their capability to obtain detailed information on exclusive microbial communities in rhizosphere of the plant including the unculturable microorganisms. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are functional methodologies that help to reveal the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions and their synergistic roles in remediation of pollutants. Intensive analysis of metaomics data can be useful to understand the interrelationships of various metabolic activities between plants and microbes. This review comprehensively discusses recent advances in omics applications made hitherto to understand the mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions during phytoremediation. It extends the delivery of the insightful information on plant-microbiomes communications with an emphasis on their genetic, biochemical, physical, metabolic, and environmental interactions., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study diterpene lactones were quantified in leaves and stem of different species of Andrographis collected from Western Ghats of India using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method. Different populations of AA ( Andrographis alata ), AE ( Andrographis echioides ), ALn ( Andrographis lineata var. lineata ), ALw ( Andrographis lineata var. lawii ), AM ( Andrographis macrobotrys ), AO ( Andrographis ovata ), AP ( Andrographis paniculata ), APr ( Andrographis producta ) and AS ( Andrographis serphyllifolia ) were assessed for the amount of AG (andrographolide), NAG (neoandrographolide) and DDAG (14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide) in leaves and stem. The most abundant diterpenoid was AG and highest amount of 68.35 mg/g DW was recorded in a population of AP. AG was also present in leaves of ALw at considerable level (40.85 mg/g DW). NAG was optimum in the leaves of AM (98.43 to 102.03 mg/g DW). DDAG was higher in the leaves of AP (16.01 mg/g DW).

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 IC 50 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.

Intensive use of atrazine in agriculture to increase crop productivity has resulted in pollution and consequently deteriorated the environment. Three isolated bacteria, Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 (RB), Bacillus sp. PDK1 (BP1) and Bacillus sp. PDK2 (BP2) possessing capability to degrade atrazine were used in different combinations (RB + BP1, RB + BP2, BP1 + BP2, RB + BP1 + BP2) to prepare a highly effective bacterial consortium which can significantly reduce the toxicity of atrazine. Cytotoxicity tests evaluated by MTT assay on HepG2 indicated significant decrease in the toxicity of atrazine by the consortium RB + BP1 + BP2 due to its effective degradation and formation of simpler and less/nontoxic metabolites compared to other combinations of consortia. A microcosm study was conducted to check the survivability of this consortium (RB + BP1 + BP2) in the presence of atrazine and indigenous soil microflora for four weeks. LC-Q-TOF/MS analysis revealed that RB + BP1 + BP2 could degrade atrazine to various simple metabolites in the microcosm. The cluster analysis of the DGGE patterns of the microcosm of control-soil, soil exposed to atrazine and soil augmented with consortium in the presence of atrazine (1000 mg kg -1 ) revealed a shift in microbial community of soil. The microbial dynamics studies suggested that the augmented bacteria were well-thrived with natural microflora during four weeks of exposure to atrazine., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Among neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most grievous disease. The oldest cholinergic hypothesis is used to elevate the level of cognitive impairment and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) comprises the major targeted enzyme in AD. Thus, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) constitutes the essential remedy for the treatment of AD. The study aims to evaluate the interactions between natural molecules and AChE by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). The molecules like alkaloids, polyphenols and substrates of AChE have been considered for the study with a major emphasis on affinity and kinetics. To better understand the activity of small molecules, the investigation is supported by both experimental and theoretical approach such as fluorescence, Circular Dichroism (CD) and molecular docking studies. Amongst the screened ones tannic acid showed promising results compared with others. The methodology followed here have highlighted many molecules with a higher affinity towards AChE and these findings may take lead molecules generated in preclinical studies to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, we suggest a unique signature for the heterogeneous analyte model using competitive experiments for analyzing simultanous interactions of both the analytes., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: This investigation was undertaken to optimize the effective extraction of total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and antioxidant activity from the Mucuna macrocarpa (MM) beans. An ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) technique with water as an effective solvent was proposed for the response surface methodology (RSM) optimization., Methods: A three-level, two-factor central composite design (CCD) was employed to reveal the optimal points of variables. Different extraction times (5, 10, 15 minutes) and ultrasonic power levels (10, 20, 30 W) were used for the optimization. The experimental runs given by the RSM were evaluated for TPC, TFC, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA), and N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD) RSA and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)., Results: The predicted times for maximum extraction of TPC (186.61 mg GAE g -1 ), TFC (148.87 mg QUE g -1 ), and DPPH RSA (99.37%), and DMPD RSA (50.58%) and FRAP (2.38 O.D. at 593 nm) were 12.57, 12.84, 12.43, 12.97, and 13.24 min, and ultrasonic power levels were found to be 27.30, 26.76, 26.22, 27.03, and 27.84 W, respectively. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis of phenolics compounds from the RSM optimized sample showed tannic acid (48.09 ± 1.92 mg/g), gallic acid (1.17 ± 0.19 mg/g), p-coumaric acid (0.56 ± 0.03 mg/g), and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (0.049 ± 0.01 mg/g) content., Conclusion: Water and ultrasonication were found to be an effective extraction solvent and technique. RSM was effectively employed to investigate the optimal process conditions for the maximum extraction of TPC, TFC, and antioxidant compounds from the MM beans. Further, MM beans can be explored as a prominent antioxidant source for the treatment of several disorders.

The present study is the first report of utilizing Tithonia rotundifolia weed as a substrate for inulinase production from Fusarium solani JALPK. It also deals with the statistical optimization of culture conditions to enhance the enzyme yield. Amongst the 11 variables screened by Plackett- Burman design, Inulin in combination with Agave sisalana extract, Tithonia rotundifolia extract and NaNO 3 had a significant influence on inulinase production and their concentrations were further optimized employing Box Behnken design. An enhancement of inulinase production from 970 EU/mL to 3261.011 EU/mL was gained after media optimization. Amongst the screened carbon sources Tithonia rotundifolia was found to be very effective in stimulating elevated inulinase synthesis. The Tithonia rotundifolia weed extract was treated with inulinase from Fusarium solani JALPK to form fructose which was estimated spectrophotometrically. This liberated fructose was also confirmed by osazone formation test and FTIR. HPTLC analysis of product revealed the exoinulinase nature of the enzyme produced by Fusarium solani JALPK since fructose was the only end product after hydrolysis of inulin rich weed in fermented broth. Thus the elevated extracellular inulinase yielding novel property of Fusarium solani JALPK (KY914560) contributes in considering it as a potential candidate with food, pharmaceutical and bioremediation applications., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In situ phytoremediation of dyes from textile wastewater was carried out in a high rate transpiration system ridges (91.4 m × 1.0 m) cultivated independently with Tagetes patula, Aster amellus, Portulaca grandiflora and Gaillardia grandiflora which reduced American Dye Manufacturers Institute color value by 59, 50, 46 and 73%, respectively within 30 d compared to dye accumulated in unplanted ridges. Significant increase in microbial count and electric conductivity of soil was observed during phytoremediation. Reduction in the contents of macro (N, P, K and C), micro (B, Cu, Fe and Mn) elements and heavy metals (Cd, As, Pb and Cr) was observed in the soil from planted ridges due to phyto-treatment. Root tissues of these plants showed significant increase in the specific activities of oxido-reductive enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, laccase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, tyrosinase and azo reductase during decolorization of textile dyes from soil. Anatomical studies of plants roots revealed the occurrence of textile dyes in tissues and subsequent degradation. A minor decrease in plant growth was also observed. Overall surveillance suggests that the use of garden ornamental plants on the ridges of constructed wetland for the treatment of dyes from wastewater along with the consortia of soil microbial flora is a wise and aesthetically pleasant strategy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study explores the potential of Asparagus densiflorus to treat disperse Rubin GFL (RGFL) dye and a real textile effluent in constructed vertical subsurface flow (VSbF) phytoreactor; its field cultivation for soil remediation offers a real green and economic way of environmental management. A. densiflorus decolorized RGFL (40 gm L -1 ) up to 91% within 48 h. VSbF phytoreactor successfully reduced American dye manufacture institute (ADMI), BOD, COD, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) of real textile effluent by 65%, 61%, 66%, 48% and 66%, respectively within 6 d. Oxidoreductive enzymes such as laccase (138%), lignin peroxidase (129%), riboflavin reductase (111%) were significantly expressed during RGFL degradation in A. densiflorus roots, while effluent transformation caused noteworthy induction of enzymes like, tyrosinase (205%), laccase (178%), veratryl oxidase (52%). Based on enzyme activities, UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR and GC-MS results; RGFL was proposed to be transformed to 4-amino-3- methylphenyl (hydroxy) oxoammonium and N, N-diethyl aniline. Anatomical study of the advanced root tissue of A. densiflorus exhibited the progressive dye accumulation and removal during phytoremediation. HepG2 cell line and phytotoxicity study demonstrated reduced toxicity of biotransformed RGFL and treated effluent by A. densiflorus, respectively. On field remediation study revealed a noteworthy removal (67%) from polluted soil within 30 d., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tithonia rotundifolia is an easily available and abundant inulin rich weed reported to be competitive and allelopathic. This weed inulin is hydrolyzed by inulinase into fructose. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize culture conditions for the inulinase production from Arthrobacter mysorens strain no.1 isolated from rhizospheric area of Tithonia weed. Initially, Plackett- Burman design was used for screening 11 nutritional parameters for inulinase production including inulin containing weeds as cost effective substrate. The experiment shows that amongst the 11 parameters studied, K 2 HPO 4 , Inulin, Agave sisalana extract and Tithonia rotundifolia were the most significant variables for inulinase production. Quantitative effects of these 4 factors were further investigated using Box Behnken design. The medium having 0.27% K 2 HPO 4 , 2.54% Inulin, 6.57% Agave sisalana extract and 7.27% Tithonia rotundifolia extract were found to be optimum for maximum inulinase production. The optimization strategies used showed 2.12 fold increase in inulinase yield (1669.45 EU/ml) compared to non-optimized medium (787 EU/ml). Fructose produced by the action of inulinase was further confirmed by spectrophotometer, osazone, HPTLC and FTIR methods. Thus Tithonia rotundifolia can be used as an eco-friendly, economically feasible and promising alternative substrate for commercial inulinase production yielding fructose from Arthrobacter mysorens strain no.1., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, sorption and detoxification of malachite green (MG) dye was executed using biochar resulting after pyrolysis of agro-industrial waste at 400, 600 and 800 °C. Maximum sorption of MG dye (3000 mg/L) was observed on the sugarcane bagasse biochar (SCB) prepared at 800 °C. The interactive effects of different factors like dye concentration, time, pH and temperature on sorption of MG dye were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Optimum MG dye concentration, contact time, temperature and pH predicted through Box-Behnken based RSM model were 3000 mg/L MG dye, 51.89 min, 60 °C and 7.5, respectively. ANOVA analysis displayed the non-significant lack of fit value (0.4566), whereas, the predicted correlation coefficient values (R 2 0.8494) were reasonably in agreement with the adjusted value (R 2 0.9363) demonstrating highly significant model for MG dye sorption. The applicability of this model was also checked through F- test (30.39) with lower probability (0.0001) value. Furthermore, the characterization of SCB was performed using fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surfaces (BET), total organic carbon (TOC) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Phyto-toxicity and cytogenotoxicity studies showed successful removal of MG dye using SCB. In addition, the batch sorption studies for reutilization of SCB revealed that the SCB was effective in removal of MG for five repeated cycles. This technology would be effective for treating the toxic textile effluent released from the textile industries., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Till date, drugs that have been used to manage Parkinson's disease (PD) have only shown symptomatic relief with several adverse effects besides their inability to prevent neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the advancement of PD and can be targeted for its effective treatment. Researchers have suggested that herbal plants exhibiting the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties are therefore beneficial to human health. Conventionally, Mucuna pruriens (Mp) seeds are used for maintaining male virility in India. Reportedly, Mp is used as a rejuvenator drug having neuroprotective property. Our study aimed to investigate effects of aqueous extract of Mp (100 mg/kgbwt) on neuroinflammation, orally administered to mice intoxicated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) as well as the molecular mechanism involved in the progression of PD. In this study, we have observed significant behavioral abnormalities beside decreased antioxidant defense in MPTP intoxicated mice. We have also observed significant increase in inflammatory parameters like Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule, and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of parkinsonian mice, while Mp treatment has notably reduced these inflammatory parameters. Mp also inhibited the MPTP induced activation of NF-κB and promoted pAkt1 activity which further prevented the apoptosis of the dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, Mp exhibited significant antioxidant defense by inhibiting the lipid peroxidation and nitrite level, and by improving catalase activity and enhancing GSH level in nigrostriatal region of mouse brain. Mp also recovered the behavioral abnormalities in MPTP treated mice. Additionally, Mp treatment considerably increased the immunoreactivity of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Dopamine Transporter in SNpc of parkinsonian mice. Our high performance liquid chromatography analysis of the Mp seed extract have shown L-DOPA, gallic acid, phytic acid, quercetin, and catechin equivalents as the major components which might cause neuroprotection in PD mice. Our result suggested that Mp extract treatment containing L-DOPA and a mixture of rich novel phytochemicals significantly alleviates the MPTP induced neurotoxicity by NF-κB and pAkt pathway. The findings observed thereby indicate that Mp extract have suggestively ameliorated MPTP induced neuroinflammation, restored the biochemical and behavioral abnormalities in PD mouse and thus provided a scientific basis for its traditional claim.

It took several millennia to fully understand the scientific intricacies of the process through which grape juice is turned into wine. This yeast-driven fermentation process is still being perfected and advanced today. Motivated by ever-changing consumer preferences and the belief that the 'best' wine is yet to be made, numerous approaches are being pursued to improve the process of yeast fermentation and the quality of wine. Central to recent enhancements in winemaking processes and wine quality is the development of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains with improved robustness, fermentation efficiencies and sensory properties. The emerging science of Synthetic Biology - including genome engineering and DNA editing technologies - is taking yeast strain development into a totally new realm of possibility. The first example of how future wine strain development might be impacted by these new 'history-making' Synthetic Biology technologies, is the de novo production of the raspberry ketone aroma compound, 4-[4-hydroxyphenyl]butan-2-one, in a wine yeast containing a synthetic DNA cassette. This article explores how this breakthrough and the imminent outcome of the international Yeast 2.0 (or Sc2.0) project, aimed at the synthesis of the entire genome of a laboratory strain of S. cerevisiae, might accelerate the design of improved wine yeasts., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plastid DNA markers sequencing and DNA fingerprinting approaches were used and compared for resolving molecular phylogeny of closely related, previously unexplored Amorphophallus species of India. The utility of individual plastid markers namely rbcL , matK , trnH - psbA , trnLC - trnLD , their combined dataset and two fingerprinting techniques viz. RAPD and ISSR were tested for their efficacy to resolves Amorphophallus species into three sections specific clades namely Rhaphiophallus , Conophallus and Amorphophallus . In the present study, sequences of these four plastid DNA regions as well as RAPD and ISSR profiles of 16 Amorphophallus species together with six varieties of two species were generated and analyzed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Inference based construction of phylogenetic trees indicated that among the four plastid DNA regions tested individually and their combined dataset, rbcL was found best suited for resolving closely related Amorphophallus species into section specific clades. When analyzed individually, rbcL exhibited better discrimination ability than matK , trnH - psbA , trnLC - trnLD and combination of all four tested plastid markers. Among two fingerprinting techniques used, the resolution of Amorphophallus species using RAPD was better than ISSR and combination of RAPD +ISSR and in congruence with resolution based on rbcL .

In black feathers, melanin is embedded in keratin matrix that makes feather more resistance to the microbial degradation. Chryseobacterium sp. RBT previously isolated from the poultry waste disposable site revealed strong sulfitolytic and keratinolytic activities. Maximum keratinase activity was observed at 48 h (89.12 U ml -1 ) showed 83 % of native black feather degradation. The concentration of free sulfhydryl groups released during degradation was 0.648 × 10 -4  M (12 h), 2.144 × 10 -4  M (96 h), and however, declined on prolong incubation to 1.752 × 10 -4  M (120 h). Melanin was released in the degradation medium after microbial exploitation of black feather. After purification, melanin was dark brown colored powder insoluble in water, 5 M HCL, ethanol, methanol, benzene, chloroform, and acetone; whereas, soluble in KOH and NaOH. On exposure to oxidizing and reducing reagents feather melanin showed decolorization, while formed a brown precipitate when reacted with FeCl 3 . The spectroscopic characterization of isolated melanin demonstrated absorption at infra-red region. Similarly, UV-visible scan confirmed that increase in the wavelength progressively declined the absorbance of pigment. The crude keratinase enzyme (2 % v/v) produced during degradation showed complete dehairing of goat skin within 20 h.

Ipomoea aquatica, a macrophyte was found to degrade a highly sulfonated and diazo textile dye Brown 5R up to 94% within 72 h at a concentration of 200 mg L(-1). Induction in the activities of enzymes such as azoreductase, lignin peroxidase, laccase, DCIP reductase, tyrosinase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase was observed in leaf and root tissue in response to Brown 5R exposure. There was significant reduction in contents of chlorophyll a (25%), chlorophyll b (17%) and carotenoids (30%) in the leaves of plants. HPLC, FTIR, UV-vis spectrophotometric and HPTLC analyses confirmed the biotransformation and removal of parent dye from solution. Enzymes activities and GC-MS analysis of degradation products lead to the proposal of a possible pathway of phytotransformation of dye. The proposed pathway of dye metabolism revealed the formation of Napthalene-1,2-diamine and methylbenzene. Toxicity study on HepG2 cell lines showed a 3 fold decrease in toxicity of Brown 5R after phytoremediation by I. aquatica. Hydrophytic nature of I. aquatica leads to its exploration in a combinatorial phytoreactor with Ipomoea hederifolia soil bed system. Rhizofiltration with I. aquatica and soil bed treatment by I. hederifolia treated 510 L of effluent effectively within 72 h. I. aquatica along with I. hederifolia could decolorize textile industry effluent within 72 h of treatment as evident from the significant reductions in the values of COD, BOD, solids and ADMI. Further on field trials of treatment of textile wastewater was successfully carried out in a constructed lagoon., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Genus Mucuna which is native to China and Eastern India comprises of perennial climbing legume with long slender branches, trifoliate leaves and bear green or brown pod covered with soft or rigid hairs that cause intense irritation. The plants of this genus are agronomically and economically important and commercially cultivated in India, China and other regions of the world. The high degrees of taxonomical confusions exist in Mucuna species that make authentic identification and classification difficult. In the present study, the genetic diversity among the 59 accessions of six species and three varieties of M. pruriens has been assessed using DNA fingerprinting based molecular markers techniques namely randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and combined dataset of RAPD and ISSR. Also, genetic relationship among two endemic species of Mucuna namely M. imbricata and M. macrocarpa and two varieties namely IIHR hybrid (MHR) and Dhanwantari (MD) with other species under study was investigated by using cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis. The cluster analysis of RAPD, ISSR and combined dataset of RAPD and ISSR clearly demonstrated the existence of high interspecific variation than intra-specific variation in genus Mucuna. The utility and efficacy of RAPD and ISSR for the study of intra species and interspecies genetic diversity was evident from AMOVA and PCoA analysis. This study demonstrates the genetic diversity in Mucuna species and indicates that these markers could be successfully used to assess genetic variation among the accessions of Mucuna species.

Laccases have a great potential for use in industrial and biotechnological applications. It has affinity towards phenolics and finds major applications in the field of bioremediation. Here, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) as a biosensor with immobilized laccase on chip surface has been studied. Laccase was immobilized by thiol coupling method and compounds containing increasing number of hydroxyl groups were analyzed for their binding affinity at various concentrations in millimolar range. The small molecules like phloroglucinol (1.532×10(-8) M), crocin (3.204×10(-3) M), ascorbic acid (8.331×10(-8) M), kojic acid (6.411×10(-7) M) and saffron (3.466×10(-7) M) were studied and respective KD values are obtained. The results were also confirmed by inhibition assay and IC50 values were calculated. All these molecules showed different affinity towards laccase in terms of KD values. This method may be useful for preliminary screening and characterization of small molecules as laccase substrates, inhibitors or modulators of activity. This method will be useful for rapid screening of phenolics in waste water because of high sensitivity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Penicillium ochrochloron chitinase purified by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography was evaluated for its antifeedant and growth inhibitory activities against Helicoverpa armigera at different concentrations of 2000, 1000, 500, 250 and 100 U mL(-1). It reduced the successful pupation and increased larval and pupal mortality, adult emergence in a dosage-dependent manner when applied topically. The highest mortalities were recorded for groups treated with 2000 U mL(-1) chitinase activity. The studies showed P.ochrochloron chitinase can affect the growth of H.armigera larvae. Since this insect pest species has developed resistance and resurgence to chemical insecticides, only alternate is the usage of enzyme-based pesticide formulations as an environmentally friendly pest management tool., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Penicillium ochrochloron MTCC 517 is a potent producer of chitinolytic enzymes. Novozyme 234, traditional enzyme cocktail for protoplast generation is not available in the market. So, new enzyme cocktail is prepared for protoplast formation from various filamentous fungi which consists of 5 mg ml(-1) lysing enzymes from Trichoderma harzianum, 0.06 mg ml(-1) β-glucuronidase from Helix pomatia and 1 mg ml(-1) P. ochrochloron chitinase. The greatest number of protoplasts could be produced from most of the fungi in 0.8 M sorbitol and by incubation for about 2 h at 37 °C, but the number was decreased by incubation for more than 3 h. About twice as many protoplasts were produced from different species of fungi by involvement of P. ochrochloron chitinase than with combined commercial enzymes.

Aims: Protoplast fusion between Aspergillus oryzae and Trichoderma harzianum and application of fusant in degradation of shellfish waste., Methods and Results: The filamentous chitinolytic fungal strains A. oryzae NCIM 1272 and T. harzianum NCIM 1185 were selected as parents for protoplast fusion. Viable protoplasts were released from fungal mycelium using enzyme cocktail containing 5 mg ml(-1) lysing enzymes from T. harzianum, 0.06 mg ml(-1) β-glucuronidase from Helix pomatia and 1 mg ml(-1) purified Penicillium ochrochloron chitinase in 0.8 mol l(-1) sorbitol as an osmotic stabilizer. Intergeneric protoplast fusion was carried out using 60% polyethylene glycol as a fusogen. At optimum conditions, the regeneration frequency of the fused protoplasts on colloidal chitin medium and fusion frequency were calculated. Fusant showed higher rate of growth pattern, chitinase activity and protein content than parents. Fusant formation was confirmed by morphological markers, viz. colony morphology and spore size and denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)., Conclusions: This study revealed protoplast fusion between A. oryzae and T. harzianum significantly enhanced chitinase activity which ultimately provides potential strain for degradation of shellfish waste. Consistency in the molecular characterization results using DGGE is the major outcome of this study which can be emerged as a fundamental step in fusant identification., Significance and Impact of the Study: Now it is need to provide attention over effective chitin degradation to manage shrimp processing issues. In this aspect, ability of fusant to degrade shellfish waste efficiently in short incubation time revealed discovery of potential strain in the reclamation of seafood processing crustacean bio-waste., (© 2014 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

A static hydroponic bioreactor using nursery grown plants of Pogonatherum crinitum along with immobilized Bacillus pumilus cells was developed for the treatment of textile wastewater. Independent reactors with plants and immobilized cells were also kept for performance and efficacy evaluation. The effluent samples characterized before and after their treatment showed that the plant-bacterial consortium reactor was more efficient than those of individual plant and bacterium reactors. COD, BOD, ADMI, conductivity, turbidity, TDS and TSS of the textile effluent was found to be reduced by 78, 70, 93, 4, 90, 13 and 70% respectively within 12 d by the consortial set. HPTLC analysis revealed the transformation of the textile effluent to new products. The phytotoxicity study on Phaeseolus mungo and Sorghum vulgare seeds showed reduced toxicity of treated effluents. The animal toxicity study performed on Etheostoma olmstedi fishes showed the toxic nature of untreated effluent giving extreme stress to fishes leading to death. Histology of fish gills exposed to treated effluent was found to be less affected. The oxidative stress related enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase were found to show decreased activities and less lipid peroxidation in fishes exposed to treated effluent., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: 3,4-Dihydroxy l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA) is considered a potent drug for the treatment of Parkinson disease. Physical and nutritional parameters where optimized by using Yarrowia lipolytica-NCIM 3450 to accomplished the highest production of l-DOPA. Screenings of critical components were completed by using a Plackett-Burman design, while further optimization was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized factor levels predicted by the model were pH 6.1, 1.659 g L(-1) yeast extract, 1.491 g L(-1)l-tyrosine and 0.0290 g L(-1) CuSO4. The predicted yield of l-DOPA with these levels was 1.319 g L(-1), while actual yield obtained was 1.273 g L(-1). The statistical analysis revealed that model is significant with F value 19.55 and R(2) value 0.9514. This process resulted in a 3.594-fold increase in the yield of l-DOPA. l-DOPA was confirmed by HPTLC and HPLC analysis. Thus, Yarrowia lipolytica-NCIM 3450 has potential to be a new source for the production of l-DOPA.

In vitro grown Petunia grandiflora and Gaillardia grandiflora plantlets showed 76 percent and 62 percent American Dye Manufacturers Institute value (color) removal from a simulated dyes mixture within 36h respectively whereas their consortium gave 94 percent decolorization. P. grandiflora, G. grandiflora and their consortium could reduce BOD by 44 percent, 31 percent and, 69 percent and COD by 58 percent, 37 percent and 73 percent respectively. Individually, root cells of P. grandiflora showed 74 and 24 percent induction in the activities of veratryl alcohol oxidase and laccase respectively; whereas G. grandiflora root cells showed 379 percent, 142 percent and 77 percent induction in the activities of tyrosinase, riboflavin reductase and lignin peroxidase respectively. In the consortium set, entirely a different enzymatic pattern was observed, where P. grandiflora root cells showed 231 percent, 12 percent and 65 percent induction in the activities of veratryl alcohol oxidase, laccase and 2, 6-dichlorophenol-indophenol reductase respectively, while G. grandiflora root cells gave 300 percent, 160 percent, 79 percent and 55 percent inductions in the activities of lignin peroxidase, riboflavin reductase, tyrosinase and laccase respectively. Because of the synergistic effect of the enzymes from both the plants, the consortium was found to be more effective for the degradation of dyes from the mixture. Preferential dye removal was confirmed by analyzing metabolites of treated dye mixture using UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR and biotransformation was visualized using HPTLC. Metabolites formed after the degradation of dyes revealed the reduced cytogenotoxicity on Allium cepa roots cells when compared with untreated dye mixture solution. Phytotoxicity study exhibited the less toxic nature of the metabolites., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atrazine is a persistent organic pollutant in the environment which affects not only terrestrial and aquatic biota but also human health. Since its removal from the environment is needed, atrazine biodegradation is achieved in the present study using the bacterium Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 isolated from soil, long-term treated with atrazine. The bacterium was capable of degrading about 75 % atrazine in liquid medium having pH 7 under aerobic and dark condition within 7 days. The degradation ability of the bacterium at various temperatures (20-60 °C), pH (range 3-11), carbon (glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, lactose, and maltose), and nitrogen (ammonium molybdate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and urea) sources were studied for triumph optimum atrazine degradation. The results indicate that atrazine degradation at higher concentrations (100 ppm) was pH and temperature dependent. However, glucose and potassium nitrate were optimum carbon and nitrogen source, respectively. Atrazine biodegradation analysis was carried out by using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight (LC/Q-TOF-MS) techniques. LC/Q-TOF-MS analysis revealed formation of various intermediate metabolites including hydroxyatrazine, N-isopropylammelide, deisopropylhydroxyatrazine, deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, and deisopropyldeethylatrazine which was helpful to propose biochemical degradation pathway of atrazine. Furthermore, the toxicological studies of atrazine and its biodegraded metabolites were executed on earthworm Eisenia foetida as a model organism with respect to enzymatic (SOD and Catalase) antioxidant defense mechanism and lipid peroxidation studies. These results suggest innocuous degradation of atrazine by Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 in nontoxic form. Therefore the Rhodococcus sp.BCH2 could prove a valuable source for the eco-friendly biodegradation of atrazine pesticide.

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine), a modified amino acid, is an expansively used drug for the Parkinson's disease treatment. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing L-DOPA production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Mucuna monosperma callus. Optimization of the four factors was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized levels of factors predicted by the model include tyrosine 0.894 g l(-1), pH 4.99, ascorbic acid 31.62 mg l(-1)and copper sulphate 23.92 mg l(-1), which resulted in highest L-DOPA yield of 0.309 g l(-1). The optimization of medium using RSM resulted in a 3.45-fold increase in the yield of L-DOPA. The ANOVA analysis showed a significant R (2) value (0.9912), model F-value (112.465) and probability (0.0001), with insignificant lack of fit. Optimized medium was used in the laboratory scale column reactor for continuous production of L-DOPA. Uninterrupted flow column exhibited maximum L-DOPA production rate of 200 mg L(-1) h(-1) which is one of the highest values ever reported using plant as a biotransformation source. L-DOPA production was confirmed by HPTLC and HPLC analysis. This study demonstrates the synthesis of L- DOPA using Mucuna monosperma callus using a laboratory scale column reactor.

This study reveals the beneficial synergistic phytoremediation potential of Petunia grandiflora Juss. with its rhizospheric bacterial isolate Bacillus pumilus strain PgJ to decolorize reactive Navy Blue RX (NBRX) dye by their active enzymatic machinery. In vitro cultures of P. grandiflora and B. pumilus gave 80.01% and 76.80% while their consortium decolorized NBRX up to 96.86% within 36 h. Significant induction in the enzyme activities of lignin peroxidase (207%), tyrosinase (133%), laccase (161%), riboflavin reductase (78%) were seen in the roots of tissue cultured plants while enzymes tyrosinase (660%), laccase (689%), riboflavin reductase (528%) were induced significantly in the B. pumilus cells. Metabolites of treated NBRX were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy, gas chromatography and biotransformation was visualized using high performance thin layer chromatography profile. Metabolites of the dye exhibited reduced phytotoxicity Sorghum vulgare and Phaeseolus mungo and significant reduction in cytogenotoxicity on Allium cepa roots when compared to NBRX., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, biotransformation of Remazol Orange 3R (RO3R) was studied using well-known bacterial isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BCH. The dye was decolorized up to 98 % within 15 min. The induction in the level of various oxidoreductive enzymes viz. laccase, tyrosinase, veratryl alcohol oxidase and DCIP reductase were observed in the cells obtained after decolorization of RO3R, which supports their role in decolorization. The metabolites of RO3R obtained after biodegradation were identified and characterized by various analytical techniques viz, HPLC, FTIR, and GC-MS. The RO3R was transformed to the N-(7 amino 8 hydroxy-napthalen-2yl) actamide (m/z, 198), Acetamide (m/z, 59) and Napthalen-1-ol (m/z, 144).

Feather waste is a promising protein biomass available as by-product from poultry processing was found to be rich in peptides, amino acids, and minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. Soil and foliar application of these products, besides representing a sustainable solution to the problem of feather disposal, may also represent an effective strategy to tackle the environmental effluence. As a consequence, they were also found to be very attractive in elevating the protein, amino acids, reducing sugar, total chlorophyll, and proline content of plants. On the other side, fertilizing effect enhanced the antioxidant potential of banana fruit which was assessed using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing/antioxidant power, and N, N-dimethyl-p-phenylendiamine. This was associated with considerably higher antioxidant contents like total phenolics and flavonoids. Therefore, the application of this organic amendment could promote and improve the agro-ecosystem, human health; soil biological activities, and at the same time enhance the production of plant or products rich in bioactive substances.

l-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine) is the most widely used drug for treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this study Yarrowia lipolytica-NCIM 3472 biomass was used for transformation of l-tyrosine to l-DOPA. The process parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum values of the tested variables for the production of l-DOPA were: pH 7.31, temperature 42.9 °C, 2.31 g l(-1) cell mass and 1.488 g l(-1)l-tyrosine. The highest yield obtained with these optimum parameters along with recycling of the cells was 4.091 g l(-1). This optimization of process parameters using RSM resulted in 4.609-fold increase in the l-DOPA production. The statistical analysis showed that the model was significant. Also coefficient of determination (R(2)) was 0.9758, indicating a good agreement between the experimental and predicted values of l-DOPA production. The highest tyrosinase activity observed was 7,028 U mg(-1) tyrosine. l-DOPA production was confirmed by HPTLC and HPLC analysis. Thus, RSM approach effectively enhanced the potential of Y. lipolytica-NCIM 3472 as an alternative source to produce l-DOPA.

Melanins are predominantly indolic polymers which are extensively synthesized in animals, plants and microorganisms. It has wide applications in cosmetics, agriculture and medicine. In the present study, optimization of process parameters influencing melanin production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Brevundimonas sp. SGJ. A Plackett-Burman design was used for screening of critical components, while further optimization was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimum conditions observed were pH 5.31, tryptone 1.440 g l -1 , L-tyrosine 1.872 g l -1 and CuSO 4 0.0366 g l -1 . Statistical analysis revealed that the model is significant with model F value 29.03 and R 2 value 0.9667. The optimization of process parameters using RSM resulted in a 3.05-fold increase in the yield of melanin. The intermittent addition of L-tyrosine enhanced the melanin yield to 6.811 g l -1 . The highest tyrosinase activity observed was 2,471 U mg -1 at the 18th hour of the incubation period with dry cell weight of 0.711 g l -1 . The melanin production was confirmed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR and EPR analysis. Thus, Brevundimonas sp. SGJ has the potential to be a new source for the production of melanin.

Tagetes patula is an annual flowering plant belonging to family Asteraceae. The present study deals with in vitro decolorization and remediation of a textile dye Reactive Blue 160 by T. patula. There was considerable (∼90%) decolorization of the dye within 4d of incubation, as confirmed by UV-vis, HPLC and FTIR analysis. The enzymes responsible for the remediation were lignin peroxidase, tyrosinase, laccase and NADH-DCIP reductase which were found in root tissues of the plantlets. GC-MS analysis of the products revealed formation of six metabolites such as sodium benzenesulfonate, 6-chloro 1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, disodium benzene-1,4-disulfonate, sodium 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate, 1-phenylmethanediamine and sodium 4-amino-3-carboxybenzenesulfonate after phytoremediation of Reactive Blue 160. Based on the FTIR and GC-MS results, the possible pathway for the biodegradation of Reactive Blue 160 has been traced. The non-toxic nature of the degraded products was confirmed by performing cytogenotoxicity tests on root tip cells of growing Allium cepa., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa BCH was able to degrade naphthylaminesulfonic azo dye Amaranth in plain distilled water within 6 h at 50 mg l(-1) dye concentration. Studies were carried out to find the optimum physical conditions and which came out to be pH 7 and temperature 30 °C. Amaranth could also be decolorized at concentration 500 mg l(-1). Presence of Zn and Hg ions could strongly slow down the decolorization process, whereas decolorization progressed rapidly in presence of Mn. Decolorization rate was increased with increasing cell mass. Induction in intracellular and extracellular activities of tyrosinase and NADH-DCIP reductase along with intracellular laccase and veratryl alcohol oxidase indicated their co-ordinate action during dye biodegradation. Up-flow bioreactor studies with alginate immobilized cells proved the capability of strain to degrade Amaranth in continuous process at 20 ml h(-1) flow rate. Various analytical studies viz.--HPLC, HPTLC, and FTIR gave the confirmation that decolorization was due to biodegradation. From GC-MS analysis, various metabolites were detected, and possible degradation pathway was predicted. Toxicity studies carried out with Allium cepa L. through the assessment of various antioxidant enzymes viz. sulphur oxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, and catalase along with estimation of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation levels conclusively demonstrated that oxidative stress was generated by Amaranth.

The objective of the study was to execute mutant bacteria for efficient biodegradation of sulfonated azo dye, Green HE4B (GHE4B). UV irradiation was used to introduce random mutations in Pseudomonas sp. LBC1. Genetic alterations induced by UV irradiation in selected mutant bacteria were confirmed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA technique. The mutant bacteria named as Pseudomonas sp. 1 F reduced the time required for complete degradation of recalcitrant dye GHE4B by 25 % when compared with the wild one. The biodegradation was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometric analysis. Activities of enzymes like laccase, lignin peroxidase, veratryl alcohol oxidase, and NADH dichlorophenol indophenol reductase were found to be boosted in mutant bacteria as a consequence of UV-induced mutation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight analysis of differentially expressed proteins of mutant bacteria suggested active role of antioxidant enzymes in the degradation of the dye. The degradation product was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results revealed few variations in the degradation end products of wild-type and mutant bacteria. Phytotoxicity study underlined the safer biodegradation of GHE4B by mutant Pseudomonas sp. 1 F.

Hexavalant chromium [Cr(VI)] tolerance and accumulation in in vitro grown Nopalea cochenillifera Salm. Dyck. plants was investigated. A micropropagation protocol was establish for a rapid multiplication of N. cochenillifera and [Cr(VI)] tolerance and accumulation was studied in in vitro grown cultures. Cr concentration was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy in roots and shoots to confirm plant's hyperaccumulation capacity. Plants showed tolerance up to 100 μM K(2)Cr(2)O(7) without any significant changes in root growth after 16 days treatment; whereas, chlorophyll content in plants treated with 1 and 10 μM K(2)Cr(2)O(7) were not so different than the control plant. The levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation increased significantly (p < 0.01) with increasing concentration of chromium. Exposures of N. cochenillifera to lower concentrations of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (≤ 10 μM) induced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly (p < 0.001) but higher concentrations of K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (>100 μM) inhibited the activities of CAT and SOD. Roots accumulated a maximum of 25,263.396 ± 1,722.672 mg Cr Kg(-1) dry weight (DW); while the highest concentration of Cr in N. cochenillifera shoots was 705.714 ± 32.324 mg Cr Kg(-1) DW. N. cochenillifera could be a prospective hyperaccumulator plant of Cr(VI) and a promising candidate for phytoremediation purposes.

Phytoremediation provides an ecofriendly alternative for the treatment of pollutants like textile dyes. The purpose of this study was to explore phytoremediation potential of Petunia grandiflora Juss. by using its wild as well as tissue-cultured plantlets to decolorize Brilliant Blue G (BBG) dye, a sample of dye mixture and a real textile effluent. In vitro cultures of P. grandiflora were obtained by seed culture method. The decolorization experiments were carried out using wild as well as tissue-cultured plants independently. The enzymatic analysis of the plant roots was performed before and after decolorization of BBG. Metabolites formed after dye degradation were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Phytotoxicity studies were performed. Characterization of dye mixture and textile effluent was also studied. The wild and tissue-cultured plants of P. grandiflora showed the decolorized BBG up to 86 %. Significant increase in the activities of lignin peroxidase, laccase, NADH-2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol reductase, and tyrosinase was found in the roots of the plants. Three metabolites of BBG were identified as 3-{[ethyl(phenyl)amino]methyl}benzenesulfonic acid, 3-{[methyl (phenyl)amino]methyl}benzenesulfonic amino acid, and sodium-3-[(cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ylideneamino)methyl]benzenesulfonate. Textile effluent sample and a synthetic mixture of dyes were also decolorized by P. grandiflora. Phytotoxicity test revealed the nontoxic nature of metabolites. P. grandiflora showed the potential to decolorize and degrade BBG to nontoxic metabolites. The plant has efficiently treated a sample of dye mixture and textile effluent.

Bioremediation of textile dyestuffs under solid-state fermentation (SSF) using industrial wastes as substrate pose an economically feasible, promising, and eco-friendly alternative. The purpose of this study was to adsorb Red M5B dye, a sample of dyes mixture and a real textile effluent on distillery industry waste-yeast biomass (DIW-YB) and its further bioremediation using Bacillus cereus EBT1 under SSF. Textile dyestuffs were allowed to adsorb on DIW-YB. DIW-YB adsorbed dyestuffs were decolorized under SSF by using B. cereus. Enzyme analysis was carried out to ensure decolorization of Red M5B. Metabolites after dye degradation were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, HPLC, and GC-MS. DIW-YB showed adsorption of Red M5B, dyes mixture and a textile wastewater sample up to 87, 70, and 81 %, respectively. DIW-YB adsorbed Red M5B was decolorized up to 98 % by B. cereus in 36 h. Whereas B. cereus could effectively reduce American Dye Manufacture Institute value from DIW-YB adsorbed mixture of textile dyes and textile wastewater up to 70 and 100 %, respectively. Induction of extracellular enzymes such as laccase and azoreductase suggests their involvement in dye degradation. Repeated utilization of DIW-YB showed consistent adsorption and ADMI removal from textile wastewater up to seven cycles. HPLC and FTIR analysis confirms the biodegradation of Red M5B. GC-MS analysis revealed the formation of new metabolites. B. cereus has potential to bioremediate adsorbed textile dyestuffs on DIW-YB. B. cereus along with DIW-YB showed enhanced decolorization performance in tray bioreactor which suggests its potential for large-scale treatment procedures.

In the present study, a feather degrading bacterial strain was isolated from poultry waste disposal site, Kolhapur, India. The bacterium was identified as Chryseobacterium sp. RBT using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Chryseobacterium sp. RBT showed rapid hydrolysis of native feathers within 30 h and produced the highest level of keratinase activity (98.3 U/ml). Keratin containing wastes viz. silk, human hair, wool and chicken feathers were tested for keratin degrading ability of the bacterium. Amongst the tested substrates, the Chryseobacterium sp. RBT showed more specificity towards chicken feathers (98.6% degradation) with maximum keratinase activity (98.3 U/ml) and solubilized protein concentration (3.84 mg/ml). Effect of various physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources) on keratinase production was monitored. The maximum keratinase activity was observed at pH (8.6) and temperature (50 °C). Molasses (1.0% w/v) acted as an inducer and enhanced the keratinolytic activity by two fold, while starch worked as an inhibitor. The goat skin when treated with crude keratinase enzyme (2% v/v), showed complete dehairing within 12 h. Hence, Chryseobacterium sp. RBT shows potential as a candidate for treating the keratinous waste in an ecofriendly manner., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine) is an extensively used drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In the present study, optimization of nutritional parameters influencing L-DOPA production was attempted using the response surface methodology (RSM) from Brevundimonas sp. SGJ. A Plackett-Burman design was used for screening of critical components, while further optimization was carried out using the Box-Behnken design. The optimized levels of factors predicted by the model were pH 5.02, 1.549 g l(-1) tryptone, 4.207 g l(-1) L-tyrosine and 0.0369 g l(-1) CuSO(4) , which resulted in highest L-DOPA yield of 3.359 g l(-1). The optimization of medium using RSM resulted in a 8.355-fold increase in the yield of L-DOPA. The anova showed a significant R(2) value (0.9667), model F-value (29.068) and probability (0.001), with insignificant lack of fit. The highest tyrosinase activity observed was 2471 U mg(-1) at the 18th hour of the incubation period with dry cell weight of 0.711 g l(-1). L-DOPA production was confirmed by HPTLC, HPLC and GC-MS analysis. Thus, Brevundimonas sp. SGJ has the potential to be a new source for the production of L-DOPA., (© 2012 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology © 2012 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

In this report a textile azo dye Remazol orange was degraded and detoxified by bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa BCH in plain distilled water. This bacterial decolorization performance was found to be pH and temperature dependent with maximum decolorization observed at pH 8 and temperature 30 °C. Bacterium tolerated higher dye concentrations up to 400 mg l(-1). Effect of initial cell mass showed that higher cell mass concentration can accelerate decolorization process with maximum of 92 % decolorization observed at 2.5 g l(-1) cell mass within 6.5 h. Effect of various metal ions showed Mn has inducing effect whereas Zn strongly inhibited the decolorization process at 5 mM concentration. Analysis of biodegradation products carried out with UV-vis spectroscopy, HPTLC and FTIR confirmed the decolorization and degradation of Remazol orange. Possible route for the degradation of dye was proposed based on GC-MS analysis. During toxicological scrutiny in Allium cepa root cells, induction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and inhibition of catalase (CAT) along with raised levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in dye treated samples were detected which conclusively indicated the generation of oxidative stress. Less toxic nature of the dye degraded products was observed after bacterial treatment.

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine), the most widely used drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, was produced in buffer using biomass of Brevundimonas sp. SGJ. The effects of enhancers, such as carrageenan, diatomaceous earth, and activated charcoal, on the L-DOPA production were evaluated to obtain the maximum yield. The optimal process conditions found were pH 8, 2 g l⁻¹ cell mass, 2 g l⁻¹ L-tyrosine, 0.04 g l⁻¹ CuSO₄, 0.02 g l⁻¹ L-ascorbic acid, 0.5 g l⁻¹ carrageenan, and 40 °C temperature. In addition, repeated use of cells resulted in the highest yield of 3.81 g l⁻¹ (95.2%) of L-DOPA with utilization of 4 g l⁻¹ L-tyrosine, and the highest tyrosinase activity (9,201 U mg⁻¹) was observed at 18 h of incubation. Furthermore, the produced L-DOPA was confirmed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Kinetic studies showed significant values of Y (p/s), Q (s), and q (s) after optimization of the process. Thus, Brevundimonas sp. SGJ could be an eventual new source for large-scale production of L-DOPA.

Cactaceae Nopalea cochenillifera cell cultures and intact plants (cladodes) transform various toxic textile dyes, including Red HE7B into less phytotoxic, non-hazardous metabolites. The [tentative] pathway analysis demonstrates that Red HE7B is transformed into 3-amino-5-imino-5,8-dihydronaphthalen-2-ol, 2-amino-6-(carboxycarbonyl)-3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-aminophenol, and phenoL The significant induction of the activities of intracellular laccase (687%), tyrosinase (219%), azoreductase (144%), and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol reductase (167%) indicated the involvement of these enzymes in the transformation pathways of Red HE7B but these enzymes have not been definitively linked to the phytotransformation of this toxic dye. The present foundation work could add another plant candidate for phytoremediation of undesirable products from industry wastes and harmful chemicals.

Sesuvium portulacastrum is a common halophyte growing well in adverse surroundings and is exploited mainly for the environmental protection including phytoremediation, desalination and stabilization of contaminated soil. In the present investigation, attempts have been made on the decolorization of a toxic textile dye Green HE4B (GHE4B) using in vitro grown Sesuvium plantlets. The plantlets exhibited significant (70%) decolorization of GHE4B (50 mg l(-1)) that sustain 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) within 5 days of incubation. The enzymatic analysis performed on the root and shoot tissues of the in vitro plantlets subjected to GHE4B decolorization in the presence of 200 mM NaCl showed a noteworthy induction of tyrosinase, lignin peroxidase and NADH-DCIP reductase activities, indicating the involvement of these enzymes in the metabolism of the dye GHE4B. The UV-visible spectrophotometer, HPLC and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses of the samples before and after decolorization of the dye confirmed the efficient phytotransformation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis of the products revealed the formation of three metabolites such as p -amino benzene, p -amino toluene and 1, 2, 7-amino naphthalene after phytotransformation of GHE4B. Based on the FTIR and GC-MS results, the possible pathway for the biodegradation of GHE4B in the presence of 200 mM NaCl has been proposed. The phytotoxicity experiments confirmed the non-toxicity of the degraded products. The present study demonstrates for the first time the potential of Sesuvium for the efficient degradation of textile dyes and its efficacy on saline soils contaminated with toxic compounds.

The present study evaluates an obligatory interaction between the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3312 and the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain BCH3 for the biodegradation of the dye Rubin 3GP (R3GP). No significant degradation of R3GP was observed either by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3312 or by Pseudomonas sp. strain BCH3, when both the cultures were tested individually under their respective optimum medium conditions. However, when both of them were allowed to intermingle with each other, R3GP was found to be degraded within 72 h, with a steady increase in β -1,3-glucanase, chitinase and protease activity in the culture supernatant; indicating the possible role of Pseudomonas sp. strain BCH3 in cell wall lysis of S. cerevisiae NCIM 3312. The present study elucidates a rare microbial interaction where the bacterium Pseudomonas sp. strain BCH3 utilizes lysed yeast cells as the sole source of nutrients for its own growth and subsequently performs decolorization and degradation of R3GP. Enzymatic status showed involvement of various oxidoreductive enzymes like lignin peroxidase, laccase, DCIP reductase and azo reductase, indicating their role in decolorization and degradation of R3GP. Degradation was confirmed using HPLC, FTIR analysis and the biochemical pathway of degradation was elucidated by using GC-MS analysis., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Phytoremediation is considered as an effective viable alternative to remediate the contaminated sites, industrially hazardous chemicals and other toxic pollutants. This bioremediation option offers a safe, cheap and eco friendly alternative to existing physical and chemical remediation technologies as well as other biological sources. The wall paint preservatives consist of several harmful and carcinogenic compounds causing serious environmental concerns. In the present study, an actively growing Blumea malcolmii Hook cell suspensions were established successfully on MS+CM (20%) +2,4-D (5 mg l(-1))+Gln (100 mg l(-1))+sucrose (3%) and were used to detoxify a paint preservative Troysan S 89 (a mixture of carbendazim, diuron and ochthilinone). FTIR and UV spectral analytical studies revealed the phytotransformation of Troysan S 89 by Blumea cell suspension cultures. The non-toxic nature of the products formed after phytotransformation was confirmed by phytotoxicity, cytogenotoxicity while non-carcinogenic nature by Ames tests. The novelty of the present study is effective communal degradation of a mixture of three toxicants in Troysan S 89 by cell suspension cultures of Blumea. This work suggested that Blumea cell suspensions might be able to contribute to the wider and safer application of phytoremediation., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Present study illustrates the effectual decolorization and degradation of the textile effluent using a developed bacterial consortium SDS, consisted of bacterial species Providencia sp. SDS and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa strain BCH, originally isolated from dye contaminated soil. The intensive metabolic activity of the consortium SDS led to complete decolorization of textile effluent within 20 h at pH 7 and temperature 30°C. Significant induction in the activities of veratryl alcohol oxidase, laccase, azoreductase and DCIP reductase were observed during decolorization, which indicates their involvement in decolorization and degradation process. The decolorization and biodegradation was monitored using UV-vis spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, HPLC and HPTLC analysis. Toxicological analysis of effluent before and after treatment was performed using classical Allium cepa test. Investigations of various toxicological parameters viz, oxidative stress response, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and phytotoxicity, collectively concludes that, the toxicity of effluent reduces significantly after treatment with consortium SDS., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)