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•Environmentally friendly synthesis of AgNPs is realized using kidney bean seed extract.•AgNPs have a spherical morphology with a face-centered cubic crystal structure.•The ...synthesized AgNPs showed long-term stability due to capping of biomolecules.•AgNPs showed excellent photocatalytic/catalytic and antimicrobial potential.
Increases in biological and non-biological pollutants pose a significant threat to environmental systems. In an effort to develop an effective means to treat such pollutants, the use of Phaseolus vulgaris (kidney beans) as reducing and capping agents is proposed for the green synthesis of highly stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure (size range: 10–20 nm). The potent role of the resulting AgNPs was found as triple platforms (photocatalyst, catalyst, and antimicrobial disinfectant). AgNPs were able to photocatalytically degrade approximately 97% of reactive red-141 (RR-141) dye within 150 min of exposure (quantum efficiency of 3.68 × 10-6 molecule.photon-1 and a removal reaction kinetic rate of 1.13 × 10-2 mmol g−1 h−1). The role of specific reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the photocatalytic process and complete mineralization of dye was also explored through scavenger and chemical oxygen demand (COD) experiments, respectively. As an catalyst, AgNPs were also capable of reducing 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol within 15 min. Overall, AgNPs showed excellent stability as catalyst and photocatalyst even after five test cycles. As an antimicrobial agent, the AgNPs are effective against both gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis) and -negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), with the zones of clearance as 15 and 18 mm, respectively. Thus, the results of this study validate the triple role of AgNPs derived via green synthesis as a photocatalyst, catalyst, and antimicrobial agent for effective environmental remediation.
The genus Moringa Adans. comprises 13 species, of which Moringa oleifera Lam. native to India and cultivated across the world owing to its drought and frost resistance habit is widely used in ...traditional phytomedicine and as rich source of essential nutrients. Wide spectrum of phytochemical ingredients among leaf, flower, fruit, seed, seed oil, bark, and root depend on cultivar, season, and locality. The scientific studies provide insights on the use of M. oleifera with different aqueous, hydroalcoholic, alcoholic, and other organic solvent preparations of different parts for therapeutic activities, that is, antibiocidal, antitumor, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, cardio‐protective, hepato‐protective, neuro‐protective, tissue‐protective, and other biological activities with a high degree of safety. A wide variety of alkaloid and sterol, polyphenols and phenolic acids, fatty acids, flavanoids and flavanol glycosides, glucosinolate and isothiocyanate, terpene, anthocyanins etc. are believed to be responsible for the pragmatic effects. Seeds are used with a view of low‐cost biosorbent and coagulant agent for the removal of metals and microbial contamination from waste water. Thus, the present review explores the use of M. oleifera across disciplines for its prominent bioactive ingredients, nutraceutical, therapeutic uses and deals with agricultural, veterinarian, biosorbent, coagulation, biodiesel, and other industrial properties of this “Miracle Tree.”
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor and uncoupler of nitric oxide synthase, has gained attention as a risk factor for cardiac disease, metabolic syndrome, and cerebrovascular ...disease. In this study, we investigated the role of systemic ADMA overburden in cerebromicrovascular pathology associated with cognitive dysfunction using APPSwDI transgenic mice expressing human β‐amyloid precursor protein Swedish (Tg‐SwDI), a model of cerebrovascular β‐amyloidosis. To induce systemic overburden of ADMA, Tg‐SwDI mice were treated with a daily dose of exogenous ADMA. ADMA treatment resulted in elevated ADMA levels in the blood and brain of Tg‐SwDI mice. ADMA treatment induced the brain nitrosative stress and inflammation as well as enhanced the brain Aβ deposition and cognitive impairment in Tg‐SwDI mice. However, ADMA treatment had no such effects on wild type mice. ADMA treatment also exacerbated brain microvascular pathology in Tg‐SwDI mice as observed by increased blood‐brain barrier dysfunction, loss of tight junction proteins, increased endothelial stress fibers, and decreased microvessel density in the brain. In addition, similar observations were made in cultured human brain microvessel endothelial cells, where ADMA in the presence of VEGF‐induced endothelial cell signaling for F‐actin stress fiber inducing endothelial barrier dysfunction. Overall, these data document the potential role of ADMA in the cognitive pathology under conditions of cerebrovascular β‐amyloidosis.
Artificial recharge to groundwater is an important process for the management of surface and subsurface water resources. In the present study suitable sites for artificial recharge to groundwater ...were delineated using geospatial techniques and groundwater modelling in Jammu Himalaya, India. Different thematic layers were prepared from remote sensing data (IRS-P6 and LISS-IV), and SRTM-DEM and aquifer parameters thematic layers were prepared from pumping test data and well inventory data collected during the field observations were integrated using the weighted index overlay method in the GIS environment to prepare the artificial recharge zone map. Further, suitable sites for artificial recharge map were determined by superimposing a drainage network map over the artificial recharge zones map, considering the terrain and local conditions for artificial recharge. The groundwater modelling for artificial recharge to groundwater was also carried out using Visual Modflow Flex software to determine the modeling zones for artificial recharge to groundwater. The lithologs data, aquifer thickness, hydraulic conductivity, specific yield and water level data were used to generate simulations of groundwater modelling zones. Finally, GIS based artificial recharge zones map and groundwater modelling zones were compared to validate artificial recharge zones. Simultaneously, a case study was also carried out to determine the impact of discharge and artificial recharge to surrounding aquifers. The results achieved from the current research proved the efficiency of geospatial technology and groundwater modelling techniques for delineating suitable zones and sites for artificial recharge to groundwater and their implementation in the field.
Mild traumatic brain injury（TBI）, also called concussion, initiates sequelae leading to motor deficits, cognitive impairments and subtly compromised neurobehaviors. While the acute phase of TBI is ...associated with neuroinflammation and nitroxidative burst, the chronic phase shows a lack of stimulation of the neurorepair process and regeneration. The deficiency of nitric oxide（NO）, the consequent disturbed NO metabolome, and imbalanced mechanisms of S-nitrosylation are implicated in blocking the mechanisms of neurorepair processes and functional recovery in the both phases. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha（HIF-1α）, a master regulator of hypoxia/ischemia, stimulates the process of neurorepair and thus aids in functional recovery after brain trauma. The activity of HIF-1α is regulated by NO via the mechanism of S-nitrosylation of HIF-1α. S-nitrosylation is dynamically regulated by NO metabolites such as S-nitrosoglutathione（GSNO） and peroxynitrite. GSNO stabilizes, and peroxynitrite destabilizes HIF-1α. Exogenously administered GSNO was found not only to stabilize HIF-1α and to induce HIF-1α-dependent genes but also to stimulate the regeneration process and to aid in functional recovery in TBI animals.
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•Fish myofibrillar protein (FMP) was ultrasonicated at 40% amplitude for 15 min.•Ultrasonication (US) induced degradation of myosin heavy chain but not actin.•Ultrasonication altered ...the β-sheet and the random coil of FMP.•Ultrasonicated FMP (UFMP) was more adsorbed at the interface than FMP.•UFMP improved emulsifying properties and storage stability of emulsion.
Effects of ultrasonication at different amplitudes (40% and 60%) and time (5, 10, and 15 min) on the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of the fish myofibrillar protein (FMP) were investigated. Solubility, surface hydrophobicity, and emulsifying properties were augmented when FMP was subjected to ultrasonication at 40% amplitude for 15 min (p < 0.05). Protein pattern study revealed that augmenting amplitude and duration of ultrasound treatment reduced band intensity of myosin heavy chain. Ultrasound treatment facilitated the adsorption of FMP on oil droplets as indicated by the increases in both adsorbed and interfacial protein contents (p < 0.05). Ultrasound-treated FMP (UFMP) sample showed the alteration in chemical bonds as depicted by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. Ultrasound treatment altered the β-sheet and random coil of FMP. During storage for 30 days at 30 °C, UFMP stabilized shrimp oil (SO)-in-water emulsion had higher turbidity but lower d32, d43, and polydispersity index than emulsion stabilized by untreated FMP (p < 0.05). Furthermore, emulsion stabilized by UFMP had lower flocculation and coalescence indices (p < 0.05). Microstructure observation revealed smaller droplet sizes and higher stability of droplets in emulsion stabilized by UFMP. Confocal laser scanning microscopic images demonstrated a monodisperse emulsion stabilized by UFMP. This coincided with higher viscosity and modulus values (G' and G″ ). Emulsion stabilized by UFMP exhibited viscous, shear-thinning, and non-Newtonian behavior and no phase separation occurred during storage. Therefore, ultrasonication was proven to be a potential method for enhancing the emulsifying properties of FMP and improving the stability of SO-in-water emulsion during prolonged storage.
We previously reported that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an endogenous nitric oxide carrier, attenuated TH17-mediated immune responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal ...model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Cellular GSNO homeostasis is regulated via its synthesis by reaction between nitric oxide and glutathione and its enzymatic catabolism by GSNO reductase (GSNOR). In this study, we evaluated potential of reversible inhibitor of GSNOR (N6022) in comparison with exogenous GSNO in immunopathogenesis of EAE. Daily treatment of EAE mice with N6022 or exogenous GSNO significantly attenuated the clinical disease of EAE, but N6022 treatment showed greater efficacy than GSNO. Both N6022 and exogenous GSNO treatments increased the spleen levels of GSNO, as documented by increased protein-associated S-nitrosothiols, and inhibited polarization and CNS effector function of proinflammatory TH17 cells while inducing the polarization and CNS effector function of anti-inflammatory CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3- regulatory T (Treg) cells. Moreover, N6022 further attenuated TH1 while inducing TH2 and CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ Treg in their polarization and CNS effector functions. Similar to GSNO, the N6022 treatment protected against the EAE disease induced demyelination. However, neither exogenous GSNO nor N6022 treatment did not cause significant systemic lymphopenic effect as compared to FTY720. Taken together, these data document that optimization of cellular GSNO homeostasis by GSNOR inhibitor (N6022) in NO metabolizing cells attenuates EAE disease via selective inhibition of pro-inflammatory subsets of CD4+ cells (TH1/TH17) while upregulating anti-inflammatory subsets of CD4+ cells (TH2/Treg) without causing lymphopenic effects and thus offers a potential treatment option for MS/EAE.
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•N6022 (a clinical inhibitor of GSNOR) alleviates clinical/neurological disease of EAE.•N6022 inhibits TH1/IFN-γ and TH17/IL-17, but induces TH2/IL-4 and Treg/IL-10, in EAE.•N6022 is a potentially novel immuno-therapeutics for EAE and thus multiple sclerosis.
Iron is an essential metal critical for normal cellular and biochemical function and it is used as a cofactor in many vital biological pathways within the brain. However, accumulation of excess iron ...in brain is commonly associated with several neurodegenerative and neurotoxic adverse effects. Chronic exposure of iron leads to an increased risk for several neurodegenerative diseases. The exact mechanism of iron‐induced neurotoxicity is still unclear. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the mechanism of neurotoxic and neurodegenerative effects through in vitro exposure of ferrous sulphate in rat C6 cell line. The findings of our study have indicated that ferrous sulphate exposure may lead to induction of molecular markers of neuronal inflammation, apoptotic neuronal cell death, amyloid‐beta and hyperphosphorylated tau levels. This study provides a basic mechanistic understanding of signaling pathway and biomarkers involved during iron‐induced neurotoxicity.
Crustaceans are perishable with a short shelf-life. They are prone to deterioration after capture, particularly during handling, processing, and storage due to melanosis caused by polyphenoloxidase ...(PPO). Therefore, inhibitory effects of chitooligosaccharide (CHOS) in comparison with CHOS-catechin (CHOS-CAT), CHOS-epigallocatechin gallate (CHOS-EGCG), and CHOS-gallic acid (CHOS-GAL) conjugates on Pacific white shrimp cephalothorax PPO were studied. IC
of CHOS-CAT (0.32 mg/mL) toward PPO was less than those of all conjugates tested (
< 0.05). CHOS-CAT exhibited the mixed-type inhibition.
(0.58 mg/mL) and
(0.02 mg/mL) of CHOS-CAT were lower than those of other conjugates (
< 0.05). CHOS-CAT showed static fluorescence-quenching, suggesting a change in micro-environment around the active site of PPO. Moreover, CHOS-CAT was linked with various amino acid residues, including Tyr208 or Tyr209 of proPPO via van der Waals, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding as elucidated by the molecular docking of proPPO. Although CHOS-CAT had the highest PPO inhibitory activity, it showed a lower binding energy (-8.5 kcal/mol) than other samples, except for CHOS-EGCG (-10.2 kcal/mol). Therefore, CHOS-CAT could act as an anti-melanosis agent in shrimp and other crustaceans to prevent undesirable discoloration associated with quality losses.
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