Geographical Survey and Genetic Variation Studies of Few Chilly Varieties Collected from Different Regions of Karnataka, India

Chillies are widely used throughout the world in the form of spice and are also used in making beverages and medicines. They are rich in vitamins, especially in vitamin A and C. Chillies contain lots of minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron. They have been employed for pain relief as they are known to inhibit pain messengers and hence their extracts are used to alleviate the pain of arthritis, headaches, burns, and neuralgia. It is also claimed that they have the power to boost the immune system and lower cholesterol. They are also helpful in getting rid of gut parasites. In this regard we attempted to do a geographical survey about the chilly varieties and chilly growing states in India. We collected the local varieties of chillies available in Karnataka and performed genetic variation studies to understand their relationship at the genetic level. PCR analysis was done using the selected random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker to identify the polymorphic loci between the genotypes taken. DNA Barcoding was done to validate the species using basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) and Clustal Omega, further dendrogram was constructed which guide the joining linkage rule of unweighted pair group average (UPGMA) and the genetic distance to compute from matrix table. The results obtained highlight the relationship between species of Capsicum annum, Capsicum frutescens which are closely related followed by Capsicum pubescens and Capsicum baccatum providing knowledge about its application in genetics and plant breeding in developing efficient hybrid variety.

Sensor Applications in Analysis of Drugs and Formulations

Biosensors are currently widely used in biomedical diagnostics, as well as point-of-care assessment of therapy and disease advancement, environmental sensing, food safety, drug development, forensics, and biomedical research. Biosensors may be developed using several different approaches. Due to the growing requirement for efficient and low-cost analytical methods, biosensors have gained increasing attention for application in the quality analysis of pharmaceuticals and other pharmaceutically relevant analytes. Biosensors enable the analysis of active ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations as well as the determination of degraded products and intermediates in biological matrices. The current study discusses several types of biosensors and their applications in drug analysis and formulations.

Study of Potential Application of Cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya Valderiana in Skin Cosmeceuticals

Skin is the outermost cover and first line of defense of the human body. Skin cosmeceuticals are therapeutic agents used to maintain flawless skin and prevent skin disorders. Considering the ill effects of synthetic active agents, natural metabolites are preferred for skincare. Cyanobacterium was known to produce various secondary metabolites with therapeutic potential. This study focuses on screening whole-cell extract of Leptolyngbya valderiana for skincare. Isolation and identification of cyanobacteria were made. The whole-cell extract of Leptolyngbya valderiana was studied for its metabolite profile, mainly for proteins, carbohydrate, and lipid content. Screening of whole-cell extract was carried out for its (2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability and UV absorption potential. The antimicrobial effect of extracts was determined by agar cup and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method using salicylic acid as a standard. Skin whitening potential was determined using tyrosinase inhibition assay. Leptolyngbya valderiana was isolated from the tree bark and selected for further study. The extract of Leptolyngbya valderiana was found to have 25.22% proteins, 36.65 % carbohydrates and 35.97% lipids. The extract was found to have antioxidant potential with 96.55% ABTS radical scavenging potential. Antimicrobial potency of the extract against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Propionibacterium acne MTCC 1351, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was equivalent to salicylic acid. The test extract was found to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme by 43.46%. The test extract is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The extract has significant antioxidant potential, antimicrobial efficiency, ability to absorb ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A region, tyrosinase inhibition potential indicative photoprotective, and skin whitening potential. The isolate Leptolyngbya valderiana has a promising potential for skin cosmeceuticals.

Synergetic Potential of Combination Probiotic Complex with Phytopharmaceuticals in Valproic Acid Induced Autism: Prenatal Model

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developing neuronal disorder with hindered social correspondence and repetitive behaviors. Hereditary and ecological factors have been related to this problem, including the introduction of valproic acid during pregnancy. Dysbiosis is the most common comorbid condition in autism, numerous probiotic strains have been known to forestall social impairments in autism. Method: Prenatal autism model was done on 12th embryonic day of pregnancy in Wistar rats with the valproic acid dose 400 mg/kg, i.p. Those offspring exhibiting autistic symptoms were selected for study and were treated with polyphenols, probiotics and their combination for the study period of postnatal day (PND) 08-50. Results: Prenatal model showed significant autistic and dysbiotic symptoms in the animals. With the probiotic and polyphenols treatment combination it was understood that bio-activation of polyphenols are crucial in the correction of neurochemical abnormality, oxidative stress, behavioral deficits and neuroprotection. Probiotic complex with acetyl-l-carnitine combination was also essential for the growth of gut bacteria, functionality of brain. Through this combination study behavioral and biochemical alterations were recovered. Conclusion: Establishing a good ecosystem in the gut with good probiotics and polyphenols-like compounds is essential, gut targeted brain functionality is a remarkable way to challenge autistic disorder, advice on this combination may be helpful in the right way of accessing the gut-brain-axis and useful in amending of autism.

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles – Characterization and Antimicrobial Studies

Nanotechnology is one of the most promising technologies that give us better outcomes from biological and industrial issues. This work ismainly based on the green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles, assisted by the flower extract. The nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using UV Visible spectroscopy with characteristic absorbance peaks at 300 nm and 310 nm. Prominent Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) peaks were obtained corresponding to phenols, amide group, aromatic ring, hydroxyl group, and carbonate ions involved in the stabilization of iron oxide nanoparticles formation. Dynamic light scattering analysis of nanoparticles showed the average sizes as 80.7 nm. Scanning electron microscope images revealed that the size of iron nanoparticles in the range of 160-300 nm. The green synthesized iron nanoparticles have promising potential to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Iron oxide nanoparticles inhibit E. coli, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa was also enumerated as antimicrobial study. The phytochemicals alkaloid, flavonoid, glycoside, terpenoid, and saponin present in theSenna auriculata may be attributed to reducing iron oxidenanoparticles.

Method Development Technologies for Clopidogrel Bisulphate by Improving Solubility and Bioavailability

Clopidogrel bisulphate (CB) is a crystalline, poorly water-soluble drug of bioavailability less than 50%. The drug is an irreversible inhibitor of the P2Y12 adenosine diphosphate receptor found on the membranes of platelet cells. The present work was performed using different polymers such as Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K-30 and polyvinyl alcohol with varied surfactants such as Tween 80 in comparison by using superdisintegrants like Sodium Starch Glycolate (SSG) and Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC). By performing the particle size distribution, the size ranges from 232.6 nm to 995.6 nm and the polydispersity index ranges from 0.11 to 0.96, these ranges indicating the good physical nature of nanoparticles. The drug entrapment efficiency (DEE) of clopidogrel bisulphate nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 30.10% to 94.4%. From the study, it was found that F2 formulation containing PVP K-30 and L-arginine has given the best release in 80mins and the maximum cumulative drug release was 96.8% in comparison with other formulation, and the dissolution studies were performed for the seven formulations of prepared clopidogrel bisulphate granules among which F5 formulation containing crospovidone has given maximum drug release of 91.6% within 80mins. Here we state that the method development technologies improve the solubility and bioavailability studies by producing the nanoparticles.

Challenges and Future Prospects of Nanotechnology for Antiviral Drugs

The emergence and re-emergence of pathogenic viruses during the last few decades are causing several pandemics. This has become a serious public health concern. The major causes could be resistance, latency, and toxicity of the virus. Also, there are other factors like improper diagnosis and immunosuppression caused by antivirals. Hence, the rapid development of antivirals following a conventional protocol of drug development is challenging. However, there is a ray of hope reflected from some alternative approaches such as gene inhibition by RNA interference (RNAi), regulation of gene expression by aptamers, ribozymes, novel drug delivery systems, in silico resources recent advances in nanomedicines. Nanotechnology-based strategies show pinkiepromise to the therapeutic management (diagnosis, treatment, and prevention) of life-threatening viral infections. The basis for the potential pharmaceutical use of nanoparticles includes their interactions with biological interfaces, their particle size, good electrical conductivity, and the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance effect. This review discusses the strategies, challenges, drawbacks, and prospects of nanotechnology for making effective and safe antiviral drugs.

Treatment with Corticosteroids may Link to Higher Risk of COVID-19 Disease?

Corticosteroids are one of the important natural hormones released in the body that play a vital role in metabolism due to their intense anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and immune suppressive activity. These are most prescribed medications available in various dosage forms like topical formulations, inhalers and injectables. The current outbreak of corona virus disease COVID-19 became a global threat and primary concern worldwide. In respiratory patients, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids exacerbate the disease symptoms of COVID-19 patients, as they are often regarded as immunosuppressive drugs. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are considered as first line treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COVID-19 disease led the upper respiratory tract illness. ICS are used in the treatment of early symptoms of COVID-19 disease in low doses. Asthmatic patients or patients with chronic obstructive lung disease, who are on regular use of ICS were found to have a low risk of early symptoms of severely ill COVID-19 disease. Although there appeared to be some evidence that corticosteroid therapy may be beneficial in treatment of corona virus disease, but it is also reported to be applicable only at the early acute phase. The literature records revealed that injectable formulations of corticosteroids are known to suppress the immunity in patients infected with SARS-CoV2. The present review is to study the different formulations of corticosteroids and their possible use in COVID-19 progression.

Antifungal Finishing of Fabrics with Natural Dyes from Aerial Biomass of Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton

Increased environmental consciousness coupled with detrimental impacts of synthetic dyes and consumers’ concern over hygiene, cleanliness and protection, the demand for functional textiles has increased in recent years. Antimicrobial finishing imparts protective properties to textiles besides attractive shades. The study was aimed to determine the antifungal activity of colourants from aerial biomass of Perilla frutescens and dyed fabrics against pathogenic fungi infesting textiles materials. Antifungal activity of natural dye extracted from aerial biomass of Perilla frutescens against the selected pathogenic fungi viz., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium solani, and Penicillium decumbens was evaluated by agar-well diffusion method. The MIC of the natural dye against each of the test fungi was determined by broth dilution method. Dyed silk, wool and cotton fabrics were also evaluated for antifungal activity by standard method. The natural dye showed antifungal activity against all the five test fungi in a concentration dependent manner. The treatment dose of 1000μg/ml recorded the highest growth reduction in all the test fungi, nearly at par with the positive control. The MICs of natural dye against the test fungi ranged from 32.39 to 36.50μg/ml. All kinds of dyed fabrics also showed remarkable antifungal efficacy against the test fungi. Dyed wool fabric exhibited the maximum growth reduction followed by silk and cotton. The result of the study demonstrated the remarkable antifungal activity of natural dye from Perilla frutescens aerial biomass and dyed fabrics. Therefore, Perilla frutescens can be considered as a potential source of natural dye with functional properties and can be used in protective finishing of different kinds of textile fabrics.

Formulation, Development, and Optimization of Anti- Hypertensive Nisoldipine Extended-Release Tablet Formulation

A drug molecule has to be water-soluble to be readily delivered to the cellular membrane. Many drugs are waterinsoluble, which creates numerous problems in the development of dosage forms. Controlled drug delivery formulation releases the drug with controlled kinetics for days and months, reducing the frequency of dosing, minimizing side effects, and improving patient compliance. Nisoldipine is a calcium channel antagonist that is indicated for the treatment of hypertension with very poor aqueous solubility. Thus, there is a need to improve the rate of drug release. Hence, the study was carried out to design, formulate and evaluate sustained-release tablet formulation of nisoldipine. Nisoldipine controlled release matrix tablets were prepared by roll compaction method. Preformulation studies have confirmed the purity and compatibility of drug with excipients used in the formulation. Pre-compression studies have confirmed the stability of formulation blends for compression. All the prepared formulations were evaluated for various physical and compression parameters such as bulk and tapped density, hardness, friability, and in vitro drug release studies. The results of drug release from prepared compressed nisoldipine extended-release tablets were found to be within the desired range.