Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2009

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2009 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on separation techniques of pomegranate seeds and their effect on quality of Anardana

Amit Parashar^{1, 2}*, S. K. Gupta³ and Ashok Kumar⁴

¹Department of Chemistry, Eshan College of Engineering, Agra-Mathura Highway Agra-282001, India.

²Department of Chemistry, Institute of Engineering and Management, Mathura, India, 281406 India.

³Department of Chemistry, Bipin Bihari College, Jhansi, India.

⁴Department of Chemistry, St. John’s College, Agra, India.

Accepted 7 May, 2009

Abstract

The dehydrated seeds of wild pomegranate fruits (Anardana) are used as acidulent in culinary preparations and in making various medicines. For easy separation of seeds, fruits were subjected to sand roasting, hot water dipping and soaking in cold water. Hot water dip for 2 min saved time required for separation of seeds from fruits (80% excluding treatment time and 74% including treatment time). Due to the high temperature during sand roasting, quality of seeds and Anardana was inferior when compared to other treatments. The desirable color and chemical composition of the product Anardana was retained in the treatment hot water dipping for 2 min.

Key words: Wild pomegranate, seeds, treatments, separation, quality.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2009

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2009 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Haematology, plasma enzymes and organ indices of Clarias gariepinus after intramuscular injection with aqueous leaves extracts of Lepidagathis alopecuroides

¹Gabriel, U. U., Obomanu, F. G². and Edori, O. S.³

¹Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Environment, Rivers State University of Science of Science and Technology,

P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

²Department of Chemistry, Rivers State University of Science of Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

³School of Remedial and General Studies, Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology, P.M.B. 5039, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Accepted 5 April, 2009

Abstract

Tank-raised Clarias gariepinus (mean total length, 30.05 ± 4.05cm,SD; mean weights, 250.04 ± 50.22 gSD) were injected intra-muscularly with two millilitres per kilogram of each of five concentrations (2.00, 2.00, 6.00, 8.00 and 10.00 ppm) of aqueous extracts of leaves of Lepidagathis alopecuroides above the lateral line. The fish in the control group were injected with same dose of distilled water. There were four fish per treatment level. On the 14^th day the fish was assessed for organ indices (hepatosomatic index, HIS; cardiosomatic index, CSI; renatosomatic index, RSI and spleenosomatic index, SSI) and Fulton’s condition, K . Blood samples were analysed for packed cell volume, PCV; haemoglobin, Hb; red blood cell, RBC white blood cell, WBC and platelets. The plasma was analysed for the transaminases (aspartate transaminase, AST; alanine transaminase, AST), alkaline phosphostase, ALP and lactate dehydrogenase, LDH. The values of PCV (p < 0.05), HB and RBC (p > 0.05) in the control were higher than those in the treated group. However, the decline was not concentration-dependent. The increase in the number of WBC in the exposed fish was twofold and above (p < 0.05) that in the control, 66.67 ± 23.09x10⁶cells/l with highest value (360.00 ± 33.24x10⁶cells/l) recorded at 10.00 ppm. The response pattern of platelets to the extracts varied very widely among the treated group (p < 0.05) with fish injected with 2.00 ppm having the highest value (100.00 ± 33.20x10⁹cells/l), which was about twofold that at other concentrations. Generally, the activities of AST, ALT, ALP and LDH were inhibited below the control value without any direct relationship to toxicant concentration. Never-theless, AST generally showed a decline in activity from that of the control except at 4.00 ppm (117.75 ± 9.80 IU/L); ALP declined with a slight increase at 10.00 ppm above the control. There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the organ indices in control and treated group except in the SSI. K and HSI showed variable responses relative to extracts concentration, while the heart showed a very slight decline in size. RSI and SSI had a reverse pattern. Exposure of C. gariepinus to L. alopercuroides in the open waters during fishing activity may impact negatively on the physiology of the fish as manifested in changes in some of the blood parameters, plasma enzymes and organ indices of the fish.

Key words: Clarias gariepinus, Leidagagthis.alopercuroides, plasma enzymes, blood parameters, organ indices, condition.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gangliosides as potential inhibitors of Naja naja venom PLA₂ (NV-PLA₂) induced human erythrocyte membrane damage

Mukunda Chethankumar and Leela Srinivas*

Adichunchanagiri Biotechnology and Cancer Research Institute, Balagangadharanatha Nagara – 571 448, Karnataka, India.

Accepted 29 October, 2007

Abstract

We determined the ability of mixed gangliosides (16% GD1b, 19% GT1b, 21% GM1, and 40% GD1a) and individual gangliosides GM1 and GD1b to modulate the NV-PLA₂ induced human erythrocyte ghost membrane damage. CM-Sephadex purification of crude Naja naja venom yielded eight peaks of which peak VII, a major phospholipase A₂ (NV-PLA₂) accounted for 22% of the total protein recovered and 8% of the total PLA₂ activity recovered. The membrane damage induced by NV-PLA₂ was assessed by measuring the decrease in the relative intensity of fluorescence using cis–parinaric acid (PnA) as a monitor molecule. The RBC membranes isolated from healthy human blood showed 72% damage on treatment with NV-PLA₂ (2 mg) when compared to untreated membranes. Mixed gangliosides (18 nM) and GM1 (15 nM) offered 81 and 86% protection respectively, whereas GD1b (20 nM) did not show significant protection. Analysis of membrane bound Na⁺K⁺ and Ca²⁺Mg²⁺ ATPase indicated a 3 fold and 2 folds decrease in their activities on NV-PLA₂ treatment when compared to untreated membranes. Mixed gangliosides restored the Na⁺K⁺ ATPase activity by 78%, whereas GM1 and GD1b offered 74 and 52% restoration respectively. The Ca²⁺Mg ²⁺ ATPase activity was restored by 80 and 81% with mixed gangliosides and GM1 respectively. GD1b showed only 50% restoration. Mixed gangliosides and GM1 exhibited a significant dose dependent inhibition of NV-PLA₂ activity when compared to GD1b. The data show that mixed gangliosides and GM1 were effective in modulating NV-PLA₂ induced erythrocyte membrane damage than GD1b.

Key words: Gangliosides, NV-PLA₂, PnA, gangliosides, erythrocyte membrane, Na⁺ K⁺ ATPase, Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺ ATPase.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats: possible chemoprevention by blueberries

*Nermin A.H. Sadik, Shohda A. EL-Maraghy, Manal F. Ismail

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 14 March, 2008

Abstract

Nitrosamine compounds are known hepatic carcinogens. This study was designed to study the efficacy of dietary supplementation with blueberries (BB) on diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis in male wistar rats. Rats were divided into three groups. The first group served as normal control group, the second group received DEN at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight five times a week for 15 weeks. The third one received DEN as in DEN-treated group simultaneously with 4% BB-supplemented diet. The results showed that BB caused significant decrease in the elevated serum levels of -fetoprotein (AFP), homocysteine (Hcy) along with levels of glutathione(GSH), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA)and activity of glutathione reductase (GR) in liver. Normalization of elevated 2-macroglobulin ( 2M) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in serum, hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and liver weight was achieved whereas body weight was significantly decreased. Moreover, no significant change was observed in elevated relative liver weight, hepatic glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase (G6PD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) along with serum aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and - glutamyltransferase ( -GT) activities. Significant increase in reduced hepatic activity of xanthine oxidase (XO) was achieved and histopathological damage was minimized in BB-treated group. It is suggested that BB suppress DEN- induced hepatocarcinogenesis and could be developed as a promising chemopreventive natural supplement for liver cancer.

Key words: Blueberries, diethylnitrosamine, hepatocarcinogenesis, 2-macroglobulin, -fetoprotein, homocysteine, glutathione, rats.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase inhibition by lichen symbionts grown in vitro

Neeraj Verma, Bhaskar C. Behera*, Anjali Sonone and Urmila Makhija

Plant Science Division, Agharkar Research Institute, G.G. Agarkar Road, Pune- 411 004, India

Accepted 25 January 2008

Abstract

The symbionts of lichen species Arthothelium awasthii, Heterodermia podocarpa, and Parmotrema tinctorum were isolated and cultured on various nutrient media incubated in a growth chamber. Methanolic extracts of one year old symbiont cultures were taken for evaluating their potential to inhibit lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase enzyme activity. The extracts of all cultured lichen-symbionts have shown a concentration-time dependent inhibition of lipid peroxidation and tyrosinase activities. IC₅₀ values for inhibition of lipid peroxidation by culture-extracts were 15.7 µg for A. awasthii, 12.68 µg for H. podocarpa and 11.47 µg for P. tinctorum. Testing the impact of the extracts on tyrosinase activity, we found IC₅₀ of 8.71 µg (A. awasthii), 14.55 µg (H. podocarpa) and 12.44 µg (P. tinctorum). According to their IC₅₀ the tested extracts turned out to be more effective for the tested parameters than the standard antioxidant Trolox (IC₅₀ for lipid peroxidation 16.13 µg) and Kojic acid tyrosinase inhibitor (IC₅₀ for tyrosinase inhibition 17.63 µg). The results suggest possible applications of lichen substances in the extracts of A. awasthii, H. podocarpa, and P. tinctorum symbionts as natural tyrosinase inhibitors.

Keyword: Lichen culture, Tyrosinase inhibition

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Study of the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of evening primrose oil in adjuvant arthritis

*Manal F. Ismail, Shohda A. EL-Maraghy, Nermin A.H. Sadik

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Accepted 18 March, 2008

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-arthritic nature of evening primrose oil (EPO) rich in -linolenic acid (GLA), on adjuvant -induced arthritic rats. Results were compared to those of diclofenac sodium, a reference standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Arthritis was induced by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in the right hind paw of male Wistar rats. EPO (5 g/kg b.w.) was orally administered from day 0 till day 28, while diclofenac sodium (5 mg/kg b.w.) was orally given from day 10 to day 28 after adjuvant injection. In the arthritic group, the results revealed significant decrease in body weight together with increased spleen weight, increase in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF- ) levels whereas serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) level was decreased. Serum N-acetyl- -D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and - glucuronidase enzyme activities were also elevated. Splenic antioxidant status was suppressed as manifested by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level, decreased glutathione (GSH) content along with decreased enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Moreover, the splenic activity of the pathophysiological enzymes, - glutamyltransferase ( -GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was enhanced. Oral administration of EPO exerted a significant elevation in serum IgG and IgM levels. In addition, normalization of body weight, serum IL -4 and TNF- levels together with serum NAG, -glucuronidase and splenic LDH enzyme activities were observed. It could be suggested that administration of plant oils rich in GLA may provide a way to modulate the inflammatory response through alteration of certain inflammatory indices.

Key words: Adjuvant-induced arthritis, evening primrose oil, immunoglobulins, IL- 4, TNF- , rat.