An in-vitro study to compare and evaluate the anti-diabetic effect of mixed fruit juice nanoemulsion with acarbose

Diabetes has become a global health concern, its management lies hugely on expensive medical care and monitoring; thus the need to investigate possible alternatives to reduce treatment cost and also to reduce the side effects of commonly used anti diabetic drugs. This study aims to assess the anti-diabetic effect of mixed fruit juice nanoemulsion of Coccinia grandis, Punica granatum and Phyllanthus emblica. Mixed fruit juice nanoemulsion were prepared in the ratio of VCO oil:water:surfactant- 32:36:32 (%w/w). characterization parameters of mixed fruit juice nanoemulsion including PH, zeta potential, size, morphology were within the standard limits and was used for the study. The anti diabetic effect of nano emulsified mixed fruit juice was compared with that of acarbose by measuring their inhibitory effect on the enzyme alpha glucosidase. Maximum Inhibitory effect of formulated Nano emulsion on enzyme alpha glucosidase was 83% at concentration 81μg/ml whereas that for the standard anti-diabetic drug Acarbose was 93% at concentration 540μg/ml. For acarbose, the maximum Inhibition was 92% at the concentration of 540μg/ml. The relative inhibition Percentage of Nano emulsion versus Control has been analyzed and the results found to be statistically significant (P<0.003).

Apoferritin and Apoferritin-Capped Metal Nanoparticles Inhibit Arginine Kinase of Trypanosoma brucei

The aim of this study was to explore the inhibitory potential of apoferritin or apoferritin-capped metal nanoparticles (silver, gold and platinum) against Trypanosomabrucei arginine kinase. The arginine kinase activity was determined in the presence and absence of apoferritin or apoferritin-capped metal nanoparticles. In addition, kinetic parameters and relative inhibition of enzyme activity were estimated. Apoferritin or apoferritin-capped metal nanoparticles’ interaction with arginine kinase of T. brucei led to a >70% reduction in the enzyme activity. Further analysis to determine kinetic parameters suggests a mixed inhibition by apoferritin or apoferritin-nanoparticles, with a decrease in Vmax. Furthermore, the Km of the enzyme increased for both ATP and L-arginine substrates. Meantime, the inhibition constant (Ki) values for the apoferritin and apoferritin-nanoparticle interaction were in the submicromolar concentration ranging between 0.062 to 0.168 nM and 0.001 to 0.057 nM, respectively, for both substrates (i.e., L-arginine and ATP). Further kinetic analyses are warranted to aid the development of these nanoparticles as selective therapeutics. Also, more studies are required to elucidate the binding properties of these nanoparticles to arginine kinase of T. brucei.

Inhibitory Effects of Cu2O/SiO2 on the Growth of Microcystis aeruginosa and Its Mechanism

In this study, a novel nanomaterial Cu2O/SiO2 was synthesized based on nano-SiO2, and the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of Cu2O/SiO2 on the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) were studied. At the same time, the mechanism of Cu2O/SiO2 inhibiting the growth of M. aeruginosa was discussed from the aspects of Cu2+ release, chlorophyll a destruction, oxidative damage, total protein, and the phycobiliprotein of algae cells. The results showed that low doses of Cu2O/SiO2 could promote the growth of M. aeruginosa. When the concentration of Cu2O/SiO2 reached 10 mg/L, it exhibited the best inhibitory effect on M. aeruginosa, and the relative inhibition rate reached 294% at 120 h. In terms of the algae inhibition mechanism, Cu2O/SiO2 will release Cu2+ in the solution and induce metal toxicity to algae cells. At the same time, M. aeruginosa might suffer oxidative damage by the free radicals, such as hydroxyl radicals released from Cu2O/SiO2, affecting the physiological characteristics of algae cells. Moreover, after the addition of Cu2O/SiO2, a decrease in the content of chlorophyll a, total soluble protein, and phycobiliprotein was found, which eventually led to the death of M. aeruginosa. Therefore, Cu2O/SiO2 can be used as an algaecide inhibitor for controlling harmful cyanobacteria blooms.

Baseline of Susceptibility to the Cry1F Protein in Mexican Populations of Fall Armyworm

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is currently the most important maize pest in Mexico. Its control is mainly based on the use of conventional insecticides. Additionally, Bt-maize expressing Cry1F protein represents an alternative to control this pest. We estimated the baseline susceptibility in Mexican populations of S. frugiperda to Cry1F protein. Twenty-eight geographical populations were field collected from Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Tamaulipas states. The F1 neonate larvae of each population were subjected to diet-overlay bioassay. After 7 d of Cry1F exposure, the percent mortality and the percent growth inhibition with respect to the untreated control were recorded (S-LAB). The LC50 ranged from 14.4 (6.3−24.0) (Cajeme 1, Sonora) to 161.8 ng/cm2 (92.0–320) (Ahumada 2, Chihuahua), while the LC95 was between 207.1 (145–363) (Obregón, Sonora) and 1,217 ng/cm2 (510.8–7,390.0) (Río Bravo 2, Tamaulipas). The sensitivity ratios at 50% mortality, (LC50 field/LC50 S-Lab) and 95% mortality were ≤6.45 and ≤5.05-fold, respectively. The 50% growth inhibition (GI50) ranged from 2.8 (0.008–9.3) (Obregón, Sonora) to 42.4 ng/cm2 (3.6–147.0) (Cajeme 1, Sonora). The GI95 was between 75.4 (San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora) to 1,198 ng/cm2 (Cajeme 1, Sonora). The relative inhibition at 50% of the growth, (RI50 = GI50 field /GI50 S-LAB) was ≤3.5 and at 95% (RI95) was ≤1.91-fold. These results indicated susceptibility to Cry1F protein in the evaluated populations of S. frugiperda.

Electrocorticographic dissociation of alpha and beta rhythmic activity in the human sensorimotor system

This study uses electrocorticography in humans to assess how alpha- and beta-band rhythms modulate excitability of the sensorimotor cortex during psychophysically-controlled movement imagery. Both rhythms displayed effector-specific modulations, tracked spectral markers of action potentials in the local neuronal population, and showed spatially systematic phase relationships (traveling waves). Yet, alpha- and beta-band rhythms differed in their anatomical and functional properties, were weakly correlated, and traveled along opposite directions across the sensorimotor cortex. Increased alpha-band power in the somatosensory cortex ipsilateral to the selected arm was associated with spatially-unspecific inhibition. Decreased beta-band power over contralateral motor cortex was associated with a focal shift from relative inhibition to excitation. These observations indicate the relevance of both inhibition and disinhibition mechanisms for precise spatiotemporal coordination of movement-related neuronal populations, and illustrate how those mechanisms are implemented through the substantially different neurophysiological properties of sensorimotor alpha- and beta-band rhythms.

Antagonism Mechanism of Epiphytic Yeast against Anthracnose Pathogen (Colletotrichum acutatum) on Chilli

Epiphytic yeasts have the potency as antagonistic agents against various pathogens of post-harvest products. Anthracnose is a major disease of chilli that causes high economic loss. This research was objected to study the antagonism mechanism of epiphytic yeast isolates that have the antagonistic potency against anthracnose pathogen on chilli (Colletotrichum acutatum). Twenty-two isolates of epiphytic yeasts, isolated from chilli leaves and fruit, were tested. The characterization of the antagonism was carried out by antibiosis, anti-fungus volatile production, and chitinolytic activity tests. The results showed that all tested isolates did not have antibiosis mechanism against C. acutatum. All isolates produced volatile compounds which inhibited the colony growth of C. acutatum. Four isolates showed high relative inhibition rate, i.e. isolates B32DEP (35.68%), B30DEP (37.52%), B23DEP (38.52%), and B29DEP (45.42%). Fourteen isolates showed chitinolytic activities. Three of them had high chitinolytic activities, i.e. B12DEP, B2DEP, and G237DEP.

Evaluating the potential of indigenous Rhizobacteria as biofertilizer and biopesticide against Rhizoctonia solani

Nontji M, Muis A, Nonci N, Nonci N, Amran FD. 2019. Evaluating the potential of indigenous Rhizobacteria as biofertilizer and biopesticide against Rhizoctonia solani. Nusantara Bioscience 11: 79-83. Rhizobacteria are living in area of plant roots, some of them are potential as biofertilizers and biopesticides agents. This study aims to evaluate the potential of 10 isolates indigenous rhizobacteria as biofertilizer and biopesticide against banded leaf and sheath blight disease on corn. The potential of biofertilizer was evaluated by ability fixing nitrogen in Burk’s N free medium, dissolving phosphate and producing Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) hormone with spectrophotometry method. The potential of biopesticide was evaluated by synergistic of analysis with double culture method. The result of study showed that the best indigenous rhizobacteria was isolated code 10. It has potential as a biofertilizer agent (0.22% for fixing nitrogen, 18.875 ppm for dissolving phosphate and producing IAA hormone 1.524 ppm). It is also having potential as biopesticide agent against Rhizoctonia solani with relative inhibition level (RIL) of 31.3%. Isolate code 10 and code 6 are able to live in synergy so that it can be recommended as biofertilizer and biopesticide agent to form the consortium as a biological fertilizer.

Phytochemical content and the potential of Punica granatum peel extracts as radical scavengers and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors

Background: Natural products of herbal medicines and their secondary metabolites have been suggested to treat T2DM and they may have the potential as DPP-4 inhibitors. Objective: This study was conducted to estimate the phytochemical content , radical scavenging activity (RSA) and DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) relative inhibition activity (RIA) of different extracts of Punica granatum peel. Material and Methods: Fruit peel of pomegranate plant Punica granatum were subjected to extraction with four solvents (distilled water(AQ), 80% methanol(ME), 80% acetone(AC) and a mixed solvent(MX) that included methanol, ethanol, acetone and n-butanol at proportions (7:1:1:1), respectively. Yielded extracts were phytochemically analyzed for total polyphenols (TP) , flavonoids (TF) and HPLC analysis. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) relative inhibition activity (RIA) were also assessed for each extract. Results: The results showed that acetone solvent (AC) extract of fruit peel of Punica granatum recorded the highest content of TP and TF (159.9 ± 1.0 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g dry mass) and (7.6 ± 0.2 mg catechin equivalent/g dry mass, respectively) . Mixture extract (MX) was showed the highest antioxidant activity of (54.7 ± 0.9% RSA). While methanol extract (ME) recorded the highest DPP-4 RIA (47.1 ± 1.5%). HPLC analysis showed the presence of Gallic acid, Tannic acid, Ellagic acid and B carboxylic acid at concentrations of (94.61, 130.14, 528.46 and 159.64 ug/ml, respectively). Conclusion: The importance of natural products as radical scavengers and DPP-4 inhibitors is encouraged, and such biological effects were dependent on the plant species and the solvent of extraction. Punica granatum mixture extract was suggested to have a prominent RSA, while methanol extraction of Punica granatum peels are recommended to be a target for investigations involved in the development of anti-T2DM and anti-cancer therapies.

Penambahan Gula untuk Meningkatkan Pertumbuhan dan Antagonisme Khamir Rhodotorula minuta terhadap Colletotrichum acutatum Penyebab Antraknosa Cabai secara In-vitro

ABSTRACTThe addition of sugar to increase the growth and antagonism of Rhodotorula minuta against Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal agent of anthracnose on chilli in-vitroBiocontrol can be used as an alternative in controlling anthracnose disease on chilli caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. One of the antagonistic agents that reported to be able to control anthracnose on chilli is Rhodotorula minuta. Some sugars can be utilized by R. minuta for its growth and antagonism. This research was objected to study the effect of addition of some sugars to increase the growth and antagonism of R. minuta. The experiment was arranged in the completely randomized design with 16 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments were addition of glucose, sucrose, trehalose, D-mannitol, and D-xylose at 1%, 2.5% and 5% each. The results showed that the addition of glucose, sucrose, trehalose, D-mannitol, and D-xylose were able to increase the growth of R. minuta. The addition of glucose, sucrose, trehalose, and D-mannitol increased antagonism of R. minuta. The addition of 1% sucrose was able to stimulate the highest growth rate of R. minuta at the cell density of 3.87 x 107 cells/ml. The addition of trehalosa 2.5% increased the colony growth at 3 and 6 days after treatment. Sucrose 2.5%, D-manitol 5%, and glukosa 2,5% caused the highest relative inhibition of R. minuta against C. acutatum.Key words: antagonistic yeast, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, D-mannitol, D-xyloseABSTRAKPengendalian hayati dapat digunakan sebagai alternatif dalam mengendalikan penyakit antraknosa pada cabai. Salah satu agens antagonis yang telah dilaporkan mampu mengendalikan penyakit antraknosa pada cabai yang disebabkan oleh Colletotrichum acutatum adalah khamir Rhodotorula minuta. Beberapa gula dapat dimanfaatkan oleh R. minuta untuk pertumbuhan dan antagonismenya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penambahan beberapa gula untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan antagonisme R. minuta. Percobaan dilakukan dengan menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap yang terdiri dari 16 perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Perlakuan terdiri dari penambahan gula glukosa, sukroa, trehalosa, D-mannitol dan D-xylose dengan konsentrasi masing-masing gula 1%, 2,5% dan 5%. Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa penambahan gula glukosa, sukrosa, trehalosa, D-mannitol, dan D-xylose dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan R. minuta. Penambahan gula glukosa, sukrosa, trehalosa, dan D-mannitol dapat meningkatkan antagonisme R. minuta. Perlakuan penambahan gula sukrosa 1% merupakan perlakuan yang dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan R. minuta dengan kerapatan sel tertinggi yaitu sebesar 3,87 x 107 sel/ml. Penambahan trehalosa 2,5% dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan koloni pada 3 HSP dan 6 HSP. Sukrosa 2,5%, D-manitol 5% dan glukosa 2,5% menyebabkan tingkat hambatan relatif R. minuta tertinggi terhadap C. acutatum.Kata kunci : Khamir antagonis, glukosa, sukrosa, trehalosa, D-mannitol, D-xylosa

Enhanced degradation of micropollutants by zero-valent aluminum activated persulfate: assessment of toxicity and genotoxic activity

Advanced oxidation of the aqueous Triton™ X-45 (TX-45), iopamidol (IOPA), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and bisphenol A (BPA) solutions via activation of persulfate (PS) with zero-valent aluminum (ZVA) was investigated. The study aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the PS/ZVA process in terms of target micropollutants (MPs) and toxicity abatements in raw surface water (RSW) and distilled water (DW). TX-45, CIP and BPA were completely degraded after 90-minute, 120-minute and 40-minute treatment, respectively, with PS/ZVA in DW, whereas 95% IOPA removal was achieved after 120-minute (MPs = 2 mg/L; ZVA = 1 g/L; PS = 0.25 mM for CIP and BPA; PS = 0.50 mM for TX-45 and IOPA; pH = 3). TX-45 (59%), IOPA (29%), CIP (73%) and BPA (46%) removal efficiencies decreased after 120-minute PS/ZVA treatment in RSW. In DW, Vibrio fischeri toxicities of original (untreated) MPs were found as: CIP (51%) &gt; BPA (40%) &gt; TX-45 (15%) &gt; IOPA (1%), and as BPA (100%) &gt; CIP (66%) &gt; IOPA (62%) &gt; TX-45 (35%) in RSW. Acute toxicities of MPs and their degradation products fluctuated during PS/ZVA treatment both in DW and RSW samples and resulted in different relative inhibition values after 120-minute. The original and PS/ZVA-treated TX-45, IOPA and BPA in DW exhibited neither cytotoxic nor genotoxic effects, whereas CIP oxidation ended up in degradation products with genotoxic effects.