Biotechnology Journal International
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Evaluation of the Effects of Drying Methods on Phytochemicals in Thevetia neriifolia Parts as a Potential Rodenticide
No full textSynthetic rodenticides are effective and rapid in controlling rats; however, they are toxic to non-target species including humans, as well as the environment. Thevetia neriifolia (Pers.) K. Schum different parts however, reportedly have toxic effects on rodents. Effects of fresh, air and sun-drying methods on phyto-constituents of flowers, leaves, root, seed and stem bark and its potentiality in the control of rodents were therefore, investigated in this study. Analyses showed the presence of free agyclones: Thevetin A (1.88 mg/g) and B (1.64 mg/g), cardiac glycosides (1.49 mg/g), alkaloid (1.36%) and digitoxin (1.32 mg/g) in highest concentrations. Phenols (6.90x10-2 mg/g), (2.21x 10-2 mg/g) from flavonoids, Tannins (1.13x10-2 mg/g) and steroids (6.70x10-3 mg/g) were in moderate concentrations while antraquinone (0.70x10-3 mg/g) was the lowest. Antraquinone was also not detected in flower parts. Sun-dried parts had highest concentrations of Thevetin A (1.47 mg/g), cardiac glycosides (1.39 mg/g) and Thevetin B (1.27 mg/g), followed by air–drying for cardiac glycoside (1.33 mg/g) and Thevetin A. fresh for Thevetins A (1.25 mg/g), and B (1.10 mg/g), and cardiac glycoside (0.93 mg/g) and tannins, respectively while antraquinone and terpenes were undetected. Higher phytochemicals content were in leaf followed by stem bark, then air-drying due to interaction of sun-drying methods and parts of plant. Free aglycones, Thevetins A and B, cardiac glycosides, digitoxin, oleadrin, tannins, phenols and steroids in Thevetia neriifolia plant parts were not affected by different drying methods. Therefore, the relatively high cardiac glycosides and free aglycone in different parts of Thevetia neriifolia may be exploited for natural rodenticidal purpose
Antibacterial Potential of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesized by Aspergillus niger
No full textA total of 280 urinary tract infection samples were collected in this investigation. Out of them 212(75.7%) samples showed a positive response.to bacterial isolates. Morphological, cultural and biochemical testes were confirmed using VITEK 2 System. Its revealed that 54 (30.2%) of the bacterial isolates were gram positive and 158 (69.8%) gram negative. The bacterial isolates were distributed as Escherichia coli 96 (45.2%), followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 48 (22.6%), Staphylococcus aureus 43(20.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (6.6%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis 11 (5.2%). The synthesis of magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) was performed using Aspergillus niger Method. Agar Wells Diffusion Method was applied for the evaluation of antibacterial activity against gram positive S. aureus, and gram negative P. aeruginosa bacteria isolated from Urine tracts infection (UTI). The results showed that the biosynthesized MgO NPs appeared to be an extracellular with a size range of 43-91 nm as confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV-Visible spectroscopy for the absorbance band at 256.5 nm. Besides, MgO NPs were found to be an effective antibacterial agent against Gram positive S. aureus, and the zone inhibition diameter at 27 mm. Howover, the zone inhibition diameter against gram negative P. aeruginosa bacteria was at 24 mm, compared with inhibition effects of ciprofloxacin antibiotics at 24 and 20 mm, respectively
Effect of BAP and IBA on in vitro Regeneration of Local Banana Variety of Sabri
No full textThe experiment was carried out to study the effect of benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 mg/L) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/L) for in vitro regeneration of sabri variety of Banana using shoot tip explants. Highest response of explants (84%) and maximum number of shoots per explant (3.4) were observed with 5.0 mg/L BAP in sabri. In contrast, due to combined effect, 5.0 mg/L BAP+2.5 mg/L IBA showed best response (90%). The highest shoot number per explant (3.4) was found with 5.0 mg/L BAP+2.0 mg/L IBA. The maximum number of roots (3.4 and 5.2) was observed in 1.5 mg/L and 3.0 mg/L BAP+1.0 mg/L of IBA. In controlled environment, the regenerated healthy rooted plantlets were transferred from culture media to soil in plastic pots where 90% plantlets were survived and in open atmosphere, the survival rate was 88.89%. This protocol has the applicability in vitro rapid propagation of Banana
Extraction and Characterization of Chitosan Obtained from Scales of Clarias gariepinus (Catfish)
No full textFish waste is considered to be one of the major bio-pollutants which are generally discarded in coastal regions through local markets and fish processing industries. Nowadays, it is being eyed as a newer bioresource. Fish scales are good source of chitin and chitosan. Very little information is available related to extraction of chitosan from fish scales. In this study fish scale waste from markets around Chennai was used for extraction of chitosan. Chitosan is extracted from the fish scales and the physicochemical properties of the extracted chitosan were characterized by FTIR, UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. The antibacterial activity of chitosan against different sea food pathogens pathogens like Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhii, Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteriae was evaluated by calculation of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Antioxidant activity for chitosan was performed with various concentration of 20 µm-100 µm and the scavenging activity of the sample is calculated as 15%. The physiochemical properties and FTIR and XRD studies confirm the production of chitosan, because of its high antibacterial activity against pathogens, hence chitosan can be widely used in food preservation, manufacture of wound dressing and in antimicrobial finished textiles
Optimization and Lipase Production of Lysinibacillus sphaericus in Domestic Oil Rich Waste Water
No full textThe present study investigated the growth and lipase production by Lysinibacillus sphaericus in a minimal medium. The growth conditions (i.e oil concentration, nitrogen source, carbon source, metals and non metals) were optimized for maximum production of enzyme. Influence of different culture conditions including varied environmental and nutritional conditions were tested. Lipase activity was determined by colorimetric method based on the activity in cleavage of p-nitrophenylpalmitate (p-NPP). Maximum lipase production (5.1 mM/min) was found on the fifth day of the cultured filtrate at pH 8 and temperature of 30°C. Two point five percent (2.5%) oil concentration supported highest lipase enzyme production with (6.67 mM/min). Ammonium phosphate and glucose encouraged the maximum activity/production. Optimum production of lipase (6.46 mM/mins) was exhibited by medium supplemented when cell growth is 0.286 mg/l. Also, sulphate produced lipase maximally among the non metals used. From this work, optimizing the culturing conditions and modifying the composition of the medium dramatically improved the lipase production by Lysinibacillus sphaericus. Lipase production by Lysinibacillus sphaericus is very promising and could be used for industrial purposes and biotechnology
Potentialities of Yeast Strains to be Used as Freeze-Drying Starters for the Production of Traditional Sorghum Beer in Côte d’Ivoire
No full textFreeze-drying is a well-known dehydration method widely used to preserve microorganisms. In order to produce freeze-dried yeast starter culture for the brewing purpose of African traditional sorghum beer, we tested tolerance to ethanol stress and evaluated the relative expression level of genes TIF 11 and YJL144W encoding the hydrophilins. Among the strains tested, the best viability rate to ethanol stress (7.5% ethanol (v/v)) was found with Saccharomyces cerevisiae F12–7 and Candida tropicalis C0–7 respectively with 95% and 80%. For Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, the strain F12-7, which had distinguished itself from other strains in previous tests, the TIF11 and YJL144W genes were the least expressed. For C. tropicalis strains, the statistical analyzes of the relative expression levels from the Tukey test revealed no difference between the strains for the 2 genes (P> 0.05)
Plant Regeneration Studies in Euphorbia fusiformis through Somatic Embryo Genesis
No full textEuphorbia fusiformis is a rare medicinal plant. The genus Euphorbia belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. E. fusiformis is commercially useful for production of latex and has many medicinal values. Based on the importance of the plant, it is selected for plant tissue culture work. The present research work is to establish somatic embryogenesis from explants of leaf. It is first attempt of the regeneration studies in E. fusiformis through somatic embryogenesis. For plantlet regeneration studies MS medium supplemented with α- Naphthlene Acetic Acid (NAA) 2.0 mg/L and 2, 4- Dichloro Phenoxy acetic acid ( 2,4- D ) 2.0 mg/L. were used
In vitro Mass Propagation of an Epiphytic Orchid, Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw., through Protocorm Culture
No full textAim: To develop a protocol for in vitro propagation of Cymbidium aloifolium, a threatened orchid highly used for medicinal purpose through protocorm culture.
Place and Duration of Study: Tissue culture Laboratory, Plant Biotechnology Unit, Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Nepal, between November 2013 to December 2014.
Methodology: Small, green and globular protocorms with 0.1-0.3 cm diameter were subjected to grow individually on solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium and MS medium supplemented with various concentration of plant growth regulators, 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP, 0.5; 1; 1.5; 2 mg/l) or α-Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA, 0.5; 1 mg/l) or their combination. Six replicates were used for each concentration. The data for development of shoot and root from each protocorm culture were recorded in every two weeks for upto six month.
Results: Almost all conditions favoured multiplication but MS medium fortified with BAP (1 mg/l) and NAA (1 mg/l) resulted in maximum induction of rootless healthy shoots with an average value of 8-9 shoots per culture. On this medium, shoot multiplication was initiated after 9 weeks of culture whereas MS medium fortified with BAP (2 mg/l) and NAA (0.5 mg/l) was found to be most effective condition for the shoot multiplication along with well developed roots.
Conclusion: MS medium supplemented with high concentration of BAP and low concentration of NAA was found to be efficient for maximum multiplication of shoot and root. The in vitro developed healthy rooted plantlets of C. aloifolium were successfully acclimatized in green house on potting mixture containing cocopeat and moss in the ratio of 2:1. On this condition, nearly 70% of the plantlets were successfully survived. Hence, this protocol might be useful for mass propagation and ex situ conservation of this orchid through protocorm culture
Performance of Broad Bean (Vicia faba L.) Genotypes for Pod Yield and Yield Contributing Morpho-physiological Components under Mid Hill Conditions of North Western Himalayas
No full textAims: The present investigation was planned to evaluate thirty five broad bean genotypes along with one check Vikrant-B for yield and some yield contributing morpho-physiological components.
Study Design: Randomized Block Design.
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was undertaken at Experimental farm of the Department of Vegetable and Floriculture CSK HPKV, Palampur situated at 32° 6\u27 N latitude and 76° 3\u27 E longitude at an elevation of 1290.8 m amsl during 2015-16.
Methodology: The experimental material constituted thirty five genotypes along with one check collected from different parts of country. Observations were recorded on ten randomly selected plants in each replication on days to 50% flowering, node at which 1st flower appears , branches per plant, nodes per plant, plant height (cm), days to maturity, pod length (cm), pods per plant, pod yield per plant (g), pods per node, seeds per pod, seed yield per plant (g), seed size (cm), 100-seed weight, harvest index (%), total soluble solids (oBrix), dry matter (%), ascorbic acid (mg/100 g) and protein content (%). The analysis was carried out using OPSTAT Software following the method suggested by Singh and Chaudhary (1977).
Results: The analysis of variance revealed that mean squares due to genotypes were significant for all the traits. On the basis of mean performance, ‘Local-1-C’ was the top ranking genotype for pod yield per plant which significantly outperformed all the genotypes with an increase of 30.83 per cent over check ‘Vikrant-B’. Further, genotypes viz., HB-123-B and HB-123-C showed superiority for both pod yield and seed yield per plant over check and other genotypes.
Conclusion: The best performing genotypes could be used for further evaluation under different environments to be released as a variety (s) or under hybridization programmes for Broad bean improvement.
 
Impact of High Glycine Tyrosine KAP Genes on Cashmere Fibre Trait Characteristics
No full textCashmere goat (Capra hircus) represents a world renowned goat famous for production of superfine downfibre “Cashmere”. The worldwide total production of cashmere fibre is about 10000-15000 tonnes per annum. Among all the fibres cashmere is the finest fibre of animal origin, produced in fairly large quantity in the world derived from goat breed indigenous to Asia. The physical properties of cashmere fibres can be attributed to proteins from Keratin family which are primary constituents of the fibre. Keratin proteins (KP) and keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) constitute about 90% of cashmere fibre, the said proteins are encoded by the keratin family genes. Keratin-associated protein is one of the major structural proteins of the fibre, whose percentage in fibre has significant effect on its quality. Summing up, the evidence presented in past studies indicated that in the formation of cashmere fibre, there is important role of HGTKAPs in fineness of the fibre. This review summarises the information regarding keratin and keratin associated proteins in a national and international research programme designed to identify and utilize KAP genes of importance in the fibre quality