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The main cause of hepatitis C is hepatitis C virus or HCV and for the cure of hepatitis C, NS3/4A protease has been found an important and emerging target. A number of HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors have been discovered which have shown subsequent reduction in reducing the viral load leading to this infection however they are still undergoing clinical trials for improvement. Bacterial proteases are of great pharmaceutical importance and have a key role in various biological processes and in life cycle of several pathogens. The current study was planned to explore hexapeptides derived from conserved regions of bacterial proteases for their potential in blocking the NS3 protease activity of HCV which would finally inhibit HCV multiplication. For this, a novel protease gene nprB was isolated from a thermophilic bacterium Streptomyces thermovulgaris and bioinformatics analyses were performed. PCR amplification and sequencing of nprB gene indicated an open reading frame of 178 aa (20191.18 Dalton). The peptide GGVHIN was the top ranked with minimum S-score of -17.21) followed by hexapeptides VDAHAN, GVGREA, GALNES and VHINSS with their S-scores of -14.73, -13.78, -10.72 and -10.70, respectively. A phylogram was also reconstructed to reveal evolutionary relationships of nprB with its various homologs. The provided data will serve as a background to further reveal pharmaceutical and biotechnological importance of this novel protease gene from S. thermovulgaris in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial proteases are of great pharmaceutical importance and have a key role in various biological processes and in life cycle of several pathogens. New technology used for rational protein engineering as well improved delivery options will expand the potential pharmaceutical applications of proteases. The catalytic proteases belong to metalloproteases (EC.3.4.24) that comprise thermo lysine. The metalloproteases and their homologs have many important biotechnological and therapeutic applications. In the present study, a novel protease gene nprB was isolated from a thermophilic bacterium Streptomyces thermovulgaris and bioinformatics analyses were performed. PCR amplification and sequencing of nprB gene indicated an open reading frame of 178 aa (20191.18 Dalton). Based on protein sequence homology as well as conserved motifs and PTF domain the protein is characterized as a thermo lysinelike protease and is a member of M4 family of metalloproteases. Different bioinformatics tools such as ProtParam, SOPMA, signalP4.1 and ProDom from the ExPAsy server were used for structural and functional analyses. A phylogram was also reconstructed to reveal evolutionary relationships of nprB with its various homologs. The provided data will serve as a background to further reveal pharmaceutical and biotechnological importance of this novel protease gene from S. thermovulgaris in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of solvent polarity and extraction time on antioxidant properties of Brassica oleracea seeds was optimized by response surface methodology using central composite design. A significant linear negative effect of solvent polarity on total extractable components (TEC), total phenolic acids (TPA), linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC) and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (HRSC) and significant positive effect on iron chelating activity (ICA), reducing power (RP) and (DPPH RSC). Linear effect of solvent polarity on total antioxidant activity (TAOA) was also found to be positive but not significant. Significant linear negative effect of extraction time was observed on ICA and HRSC. Only RP was found to be significantly increased with increase in extraction time. Quadratic effect of solvent polarity was found to be negative on TAOA, DPPH RSC and HRSC. However, quadratic effects of both variables were found to be positive on TEC, TPA, ICA and LARC. The polarity dependent increase in TAOA indicates the extraction of phytochemicals with comparatively stronger antioxidant properties in polar solvents. The decrease in antioxidant properties in response to increase in extraction time may be attributed to the time dependent loss of antioxidant activity of extracted compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of occupational exposure to industrial air pollution on myocardial enzymes of workers of textile, sugar and fertilizer industry and oil refinery was studied. A total of 500 male volunteers of industrial workers and non-industrial individuals with and without the history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were included in the study. The pollutants released in working areas of selected industries and the levels of myocardial enzymes of the study groups were analyzed. The levels of particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide were found to be higher than National Environmental Quality Standards. A significant increase (2-10 folds; P<0.05) was observed in the levels of creatine phosphokinase, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase of workers with and without CVD and non-industrial individuals with CVD. The observed variation in studied parameters of industrial groups without CVD may be attributed to the elevated levels of industrial air pollutants in the industrial area. However, the variation in levels of studied parameters of industrial groups with CVD may be the cumulative effect of cardiovascular abnormalities and industrial pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect of microwave treatment on phytochemical composition and free radical scavenging capacity of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome was determined. Paste of fresh rhizome and powder were treated with microwave (MW) radiation for different time periods 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 minutes at medium low intensity. Total phenolic content (TPA), Linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC), β-carotene bleaching assay (BCBA), DPPH radical scavenging capacity and Superoxide radicals scavenging activity (SORSA) was found to be decreased and total antioxidant activity by Phosphomolybdenum assay (TAOA), reducing power (RP) and iron chelation activity (ICA) is increased in response of increased microwave treatment. TPA content of fresh and dry samples ranged from 4.38±0.13 to 4.67±0.14 and 4.35±0.11 to 4.72±0.14 g/100g extract respectively. TAOA and RP (absorbance at 700 nm) content of fresh and dry samples ranged from 1.91±0.33 to 9.08±0.34 and 2.83±0.22 to 8.58±0.34 g/100 extract and from 0.72±0.04 to 1.29±0.02 and 0.73±0.05 to 1.29±0.02 respectively. ICA of fresh and dry samples ranged from 6.51±0.13 to 8.90±0.17 and 6.31±0.11 to 8.99±0.13 g/100 g extract respectively. BCBA values ranged from 4.69±1.02 to 16.19±1.16 and 2.60±1.08 to 15.56±1.41 %. DPPH and SORSA content of fresh and dry samples has significant values. It is therefore concluded that the microwave treatment has a significant effect on the antioxidant properties of N.nucifera rhizome. The data would be useful for the researches concerning with the analysis of effect of microwave treatment on the antioxidant activity of N. nucifera rhizome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nelumbo nucifera seeds are medicinally important due to the presence of phytochemicals with strong antioxidant potential. Extraction of these phytochemicals has been a major problem faced by the researchers. Objective: The purpose of the study was to optimize the process conditions for extraction of phenolic antioxidants from N. nucifera seed. Methods: Process variables for microwave assisted extraction of phenolic antioxidants from N. nucifera seed flour were optimized by response surface methodology using a multi-factorial central composite design based on five levels of each of four input variables including X1: particle size (in terms of mesh No.), X2: microwave treatment period (MTP), X3: solvent concentration (SC) and X4: extraction period (EP). Total extract yield was calculated as Total extractable components (TEC) and the extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAOA). Results: Data analysis showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in TEC, TPC and TAOA in response to increase in the levels of selected factors. Optimum levels of extraction variables to achieve maximum level of response parameters were found to be: 125.96, 2.45 min, 55.21% and 3.87 h for TEC, 61.73, 1.66 min, 80.08% and 4.98 h for TPC and 60.89, 2.37 min, 44.98% and 1.123 h for TAOA. Conclusion: The extraction of phenolic antioxidants from N. nucifera seed flour is significantly increased in response to an increase in mesh No. (decrease in particle size), MTP, SC and EP but up to a certain limit. The decrease in extraction yield and antioxidant activity at higher levels of studied factors may be attributed to the possible decomposition of phenolic compounds due to prolonged duration of microwave heating and prolonged extraction time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical and antioxidant composition of crude extracts, obtained from various parts of desert cotton (Aerva javanica) using three solvents of varying polarity such as hexane, methanol and water, was determined. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins and ascorbic acid in each part. Total extractable components, total phenolic compounds, total tannins and total flavonoids of different extracts ranged from 3.1±0.60 to 31.89±1.76, 0.11±0.01 to 3.54±0.36, 0.041±0.001 to 2.02±0.150 and 0.016±0.001 to 0.93±0.08 g/100g dry weight respectively. Trolox equivalent total antioxidant content, Iron reducing capacity and lenoleic acid reduction capacity ranged from 0.14±0.007 to 3.43±0.44 g/100g dry weight, 0.11±0.004 to 0.61±0.16 (Absorbance at λ=700nm) and 25.5±3.1 to 52.45±3.87% respectively. DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl), ABTS [2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethylebenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities ranged from 22.89±0.66 to 78.16±0.43, 37.48±0.32 to 91.5±0.18 and 13.45±0.64 to 52.6±2.1% respectively. Statistically significant difference in phytochemicals and antioxidant properties was observed among the extracts of varying polarity. Water extract of leaves and stem was found to be comparatively rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants which suggest the preferable use of polar solvents for extraction of such substances from plant material. The results would be a significant contribution regarding phytochemical and antioxidant importance of desert cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grains of six varieties of maize (Zea mays L.) including Sahiwal-2002, Sadaf, EV-1098, EV-6098, FH-793 and Pak-Afgoyee, being cultivated in Pakistan, were analysed for their biochemical, phytochemical and antioxidant composition. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in these contents were observed among the varieties. FH-793 was found to be high in salt soluble proteins, tannins and saponins. Sahi-wal-2000 and EV-1098 exhibited comparatively higher levels of sugars, crude oil, flavonoids, phenolic acids, antioxidants, 2, 2-Diphenyl 1-picryl hydrazyl radical scavenging activity and reducing power; therefore these two varieties should attract the attention of the nutritionists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]