Biogenic of silver nanoparticles using ayurveda tooth powder and its antibacterial activity of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases producing E.coli

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes produced by E. coli like some gram negative bacteria. The patients who are affected by ESBL producing bacteria facing a major problem and they may need different β- lactam antibiotics to treat the infection. But this extensive use of β- lactam antibiotics against ESPLs creating major public health threat. As an alternative currently many eco- friendly, non-toxic, low cost nanoparticles are synthesizing by biogenic way used as an alternative for the β- lactam antibiotics. In the present study silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Ayurveda Toothpowder. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using ultraviolet (UV)-visible (vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis and finally the antibacterial activity was performed against ESBL producing bacteria by well diffusion method. Antibacterial tests against ESPL producing E.coli cells using biogenic synthesized AgNPs showed significant antibacterial effect at low concentration of AgNPs. The results proved that the biogenic synthesised nanoparticles using Toothpowder extract would help to arrest ESBL producing bacteria a

Antibacterial efficacy of Penicillium chermesinum TTMF3 isolated from marine soils of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern. The clinical efficacy of many existing antibiotics is being threatened by the emergence of multidrug resistant pathogens. In a systematic screening effort, extracts of Penicillium chermesinum TTMF3 isolated from Red Skin Island were investigated for antibacterial activity. In preliminary experiments, the agar well assay method was employed to screen for antibacterial activity. Ethyl acetate extract exhibited promising antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial pathogens followed by distilled water extract and diethyl ether extract. The antibacterial potentials of P. chermesinum TTMF3 were compared with standard antibiotic tetracycline.

Preliminary study in improving the malting properties of Dawa, local Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) variety.

Improving the malting properties of local sorghum [Dawa] (sorghum vulgare) was investigated. Malting is the germination of cereal gain in moist air under controlled conditions, the primary objective being to promote the development of enzymes which are not present in the ingeminated grain. Steeping, germination and kilning temperatures and conditions were altered to affect the improvement of the malt to be produced. Aseptic conditions were employed to avoid contamination of the process. A steeping regime of 52 hours was adopted. The steeping cycle involves 22 hours water steep and 8 hours air rest. Germination was done for 5 days during which enzymes development took place. Kilning was done in an oven for 24 hours at 500C so as to arrest germination. After these, grain and malt analyses were carried out. During the analyses, the following results were obtained: Moisture content (5.4%), thousand corn weight (28.5g), Germinative energy (95.5%), Germinative capacity (90%), cold water extract (44.8%), hot water extract (23%) and malting loss (13%). The result obtained shows that the sorghum variety had high malting loss which was attributed to the high germination temperature used. Also from the result, a Germinative capacity of 90% was gotten. This makes the sorghum (Dawa) variety a good grain raw material for brewing.

Antagonistic activity of marine bacterial isolates on common human pathogenic bacteria

Antagonistic activity of marine bacteria against common human pathogens was studied in this project. Marine animal surface bacterial flora was isolated from selected animal collected from local fishermen. The sample bacteria were isolated by serial dilution followed by spread plate method using marine agar (ZMA). About 11 bacterial isolates were selected and screened for antimicrobial activity through agar well diffusion assay. Among 11 isolates, 7 isolates exerted an inhibitory effect against human pathogenic organisms (E.coli, S.aureus, Klebsiella and Candida sp.). The isolates were then investigated for antibiotic production by cross species signal transfer mediated induction, 2 isolates (Sh-2 and PJR-3) exhibited enhanced activity against human pathogenic organisms (E.coli, S.aureus and Candida sp.). These 2 isolates were characterized phenotypically by morphological techniques (which revealed the strains as gram-positive and gram negative respectively) and physiologically by conventional tests.

Breast Cancer Associated Mutations Reported Among Malaysian Malay, Chinese and Indian Patients

Breast cancer among women has reached an alarming stage compared to 20 years ago. It was found that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) play an important role in the development of breast cancer. SNPs may suppress or activate the functional genes, which then leads to an increased survival of cells due to the suppression of tumour suppressor genes or increased activity in detrimental proteins, resulting in cancers. Recently, breast cancer research is given significant attention due to the increasing number of breast cancer patients in Malaysia each year. However, breast cancer researches in Malaysia are mainly focused on well known breast cancer genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. There is less emphasis on the other breast cancer contributing genes. This paper was aimed to review the research findings on mutations associated with breast cancer in Malaysian Malay, Malaysian Chinese and Malaysian Indian as it has never been cumulatively reported and to ascertain the common mutations found in these three major Malaysia ethnicity.

Effect of Coscinium Fenestratum stem extracts on hypertension in animal model

This study was done to evaluate the anti-hypertensive effects of stem extract of Coscinium fenestratum (CF). The stems were air dried for 2 days, grounded and then soaked in organic solvent for 2 days. Thereafter the filtered extract was concentrated using rotary evaporator at 450C to obtain the crude extract. Partial purification was done using silica gel column chromatography to separate the crude extract into five fractions A-E. The effect on hypertension was tested by intravenous injection of each extractinto a normotensive anaesthetized rat andperfused frog heart. The effect Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MABP), Heart rate (beats per minute) (HR) and force of contraction (FOC) was recorded via the BIOPAC LAB PRO SOFTWARE. The phytochemical compound present in the extract was identified using a simple colorimetric biochemical method. The extract showed a reduction of theMABP, HR and FOC in the presence of norepinephrine and without norepinephrine. The effect of the extract was more than that of commercial drug atenolol. Colorimetric phytochemistry testing revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, tanins, cardiac glycoside and alkaloids. The effect maybe because of the type of bioactive compounds present in the extract which has previously shown antioxidant property.

Clinacanthus nutans Aqueous Extract But Not Ethanolic Extract Inhibits the Release of Preformed Mediators in In Vitro Model of IgE-Mediated Mast Cell Degranulation

C. nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau is a shrub that is commonly found in South East Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. This plant has diverse and potential medicinal uses in traditional herbal medicine for treating many diseases which include skin rashes. Skin rash is one of the symptoms that primarily occur in people with allergies. Till date, there has been no scientific evidence to support this traditional use of C. nutans as well as its potential of possessing anti-allergic properties. IgE and mast cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergy. Upon cross-linking of allergen to IgE antibodies bound to FcεRI on mast cells, pro-inflammatory mediators will be released as a result of degranulation. The release of pro-inflammatory mediators by mast cells activated by allergen in the skin causes large, itchy, red swellings of the skin. This study aimed to identify the most active C. nutans extract in inhibiting in vitro IgE-mast cell degranulation. Rat basophilic leukaemic cells (RBL-2H3) were pre-sensitised with IgE, pre-treated with C. nutans ethanolic (100%, 70% and 50%) or aqueous extracts and challenged with dinitrophenyl-bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) accordingly to analyse the release of β-hexosaminidase, histamine, interleukin (IL)-4 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. It was found that C. nutans aqueous extract was the most active extract compared to the ethanolic extracts as it was able to inhibit the release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine at concentrations of 5 mg/ml and above.

A preface from Editor-in-Chief

An introduction from our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Akon Higuchi launching Progress in Bioscience and Bioengineering

A preface from Editor-in-Chief

An introduction from our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Akon Higuchi launching Progress in Bioscience and Bioengineering