Chemically characterized nanoencapsulated Homalomena aromatica Schott. essential oil as green preservative against fungal and aflatoxin B1 contamination of stored spices based on in vitro and in situ efficacy and favorable safety profile on mice

Present study deals with the efficacy of nanoencapsulated Homalomena aromatica essential oil (HAEO) as a potent green preservative against toxigenic Aspergillus flavus strain (AF-LHP-NS 7), storage fungi, AFB₁, and free radical-mediated deterioration of stored spices. GC-MS analysis revealed linalool (68.51%) as the major component of HAEO. HAEO was encapsulated into chitosan nanomatrix (CS-HAEO-Ne) and characterized through SEM, FTIR, and XRD. CS-HAEO-Ne completely inhibited A. flavus growth and AFB₁ biosynthesis at 1.25 μL/mL and 1.0 μL/mL, respectively in comparison to unencapsulated HAEO (1.75 μL/mL and 1.25 μL/mL, respectively). CS-HAEO-Ne caused significant reduction in ergosterol content in treated A. flavus and provoked leakage of cellular ions (Ca⁺², Mg⁺², and K⁺) as well as 260 nm and 280 nm absorbing materials. Depletion of methylglyoxal level in treated A. flavus cells illustrated the novel antiaflatoxigenic efficacy of CS-HAEO-Ne. CS-HAEO-Ne exhibited superior antioxidant efficacy (IC_{50 (DPPH)} = 4.5 μL/mL) over unencapsulated HAEO (IC_{50 (DPPH)} = 15.9 μL/mL) and phenolic content. CS-HAEO-Ne depicted excellent in situ efficacy by inhibiting fungal infestation, AFB₁ contamination, lipid peroxidation, and mineral loss with acceptable sensorial profile. Moreover, broad safety paradigm (LD₅₀ value = 7150.11 mg/kg) of CS-HAEO-Ne also suggests its application as novel green preservative to enhance shelf life of stored spices.

Essential Oil Nanoemulsion as Eco-Friendly and Safe Preservative: Bioefficacy Against Microbial Food Deterioration and Toxin Secretion, Mode of Action, and Future Opportunities

Microbes are the biggest shareholder for the quantitative and qualitative deterioration of food commodities at different stages of production, transportation, and storage, along with the secretion of toxic secondary metabolites. Indiscriminate application of synthetic preservatives may develop resistance in microbial strains and associated complications in human health with broad-spectrum environmental non-sustainability. The application of essential oils (EOs) as a natural antimicrobial and their efficacy for the preservation of foods has been of present interest and growing consumer demand in the current generation. However, the loss in bioactivity of EOs from fluctuating environmental conditions is a major limitation during their practical application, which could be overcome by encapsulating them in a suitable biodegradable and biocompatible polymer matrix with enhancement to their efficacy and stability. Among different nanoencapsulated systems, nanoemulsions effectively contribute to the practical applications of EOs by expanding their dispersibility and foster their controlled delivery in food systems. In line with the above background, this review aims to present the practical application of nanoemulsions (a) by addressing their direct and indirect (EO nanoemulsion coating leading to active packaging) consistent support in a real food system, (b) biochemical actions related to antimicrobial mechanisms, (c) effectiveness of nanoemulsion as bio-nanosensor with large scale practical applicability, (d) critical evaluation of toxicity, safety, and regulatory issues, and (e) market demand of nanoemulsion in pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals along with the current challenges and future opportunities.

Can training in diagnostic radiology be moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic? UK trainee perceptions of the Radiology-Integrated Training Initiative (R-ITI) e-learning platform

AIM

To assess trainee perceptions of the Radiology-Integrated Training Initiative (R-ITI)) e-learning modules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mixed methodology approach was used, with triangulation between a thematic analysis of eight semi-structured interviews from radiology trainees and trainers, and a contextual analysis of 60 free-text feedback comments and module ratings from trainees after completion of R-ITI modules.

RESULTS

Three broad themes emerged: "learning the subject matter", "learning the role," and "e-learning preferences". Superficial learning techniques were prevalent when "learning the subject matter" during early training, with e-learning resources providing a good pedagogical fit for this learning. Much of what was considered "learning the role" of the radiologist was learned at the workplace. This included topics with inherent subjectivity, which were difficult to convey with e-learning. Trainees' "e-learning preferences" favoured modules that incorporated many imaging cases with layer annotation, clinical relevance, and self-assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The ease of reproducing imaging studies using the R-ITI platform represents a huge potential for e-learning. Content tailored to the learning needs of the trainee, the appropriateness of the subject matter for an online platform, and the design of the e-learning modules are important considerations. Radiology training also involves important tacit learning and discussions around subjective topics, which are difficult to capture on this platform.

Multi-target weapons: diaryl-pyrazoline thiazolidinediones simultaneously targeting VEGFR-2 and HDAC cancer hallmarks

In anticancer drug discovery, multi-targeting compounds have been beneficial due to their advantages over single-targeting compounds. For instance, VEGFR-2 has a crucial role in angiogenesis and cancer management, whereas HDACs are well-known regulators of epigenetics and have been known to contribute significantly to angiogenesis and carcinogenesis. Herein, we have reported nineteen novel VEGFR-2 and HDAC dual-targeting analogs containing diaryl-pyrazoline thiazolidinediones and their in vitro and in vivo biological evaluation. In particular, the most promising compound 14c has emerged as a dual inhibitor of VEGFR-2 and HDAC. It demonstrated anti-angiogenic activity by inhibiting in vitro HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation. Moreover, an in vivo CAM assay showed that 14c repressed new capillary formation in CAMs. In particular, 14c exhibited cytotoxicity potential on different cancer cell lines such as MCF-7, K562, A549, and HT-29. Additionally, 14c demonstrated significant potency and selectivity against HDAC4 in the sub-micromolar range. To materialize the hypothesis, we also performed molecular docking on the crystal structures of both VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 1YWN) and HDAC4 (PDB-ID: 4CBY), which corroborated the designing and biological activity. The results indicated that compound 14c could be a potential lead to develop more optimized multi-target analogs with enhanced potency and selectivity.

Double-edged Swords: Diaryl pyrazoline thiazolidinediones synchronously targeting cancer epigenetics and angiogenesis

In the present study, two novel series of compounds incorporating naphthyl and pyridyl linker were synthesized and biological assays revealed 5-((6-(2-(5-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-oxoethoxy) naphthalene-2-yl)methylene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (14b) as the most potent dual inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factors receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4). Compounds 13b, 14b, 17f, and 21f were found to stabilize HDAC4; where, pyridyl linker swords were endowed with higher stabilization effects than naphthyl linker. Also, 13b and 14b showed best inhibitory activity on VEGFR-2 as compared to others. Compound 14b was most potent as evident by in-vitro and in-vivo biological assessments. It displayed anti-angiogenic potential by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation, migration, tube formation and also suppressed new capillary formation in the growing chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). It showed selectivity and potency towards HDAC4 as compared to other HDAC isoforms. Compound 14b (25 mg/kg, i.p.) also indicated exceptional antitumor efficacy on in-vivo animal xenograft model of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29). The mechanism of action of 14b was also confirmed by western blot.

Thiazolidinedione "Magic Bullets" Simultaneously Targeting PPARγ and HDACs: Design, Synthesis, and Investigations of their In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Effects

Monotargeting anticancer agents suffer from resistance and target nonspecificity concerns, which can be tackled with a multitargeting approach. The combined treatment with HDAC inhibitors and PPARγ agonists has displayed potential antitumor effects. Based on these observations, this work involves design and synthesis of molecules that can simultaneously target PPARγ and HDAC. Several out of 25 compounds inhibited HDAC4, and six compounds acted as dual-targeting agents. Compound 7i was the most potent, with activity toward PPARγ EC50 = 0.245 μM and HDAC4 IC50 = 1.1 μM. Additionally, compounds 7c and 7i were cytotoxic to CCRF-CEM cells (CC50 = 2.8 and 9.6 μM, respectively), induced apoptosis, and caused DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, compound 7c modulated the expression of c-Myc, cleaved caspase-3, and caused in vivo tumor regression in CCRF-CEM tumor xenografts. Thus, this study provides a basis for the rational design of dual/multitargeting agents that could be developed further as anticancer therapeutics.

Pharmacophore hybridization approach to discover novel pyrazoline-based hydantoin analogs with anti-tumor efficacy

In search for new and safer anti-cancer agents, a structurally guided pharmacophore hybridization strategy of two privileged scaffolds, namely diaryl pyrazolines and imidazolidine-2,4-dione (hydantoin), was adopted resulting in a newfangled series of compounds (H1-H22). Herein, a bio-isosteric replacement of "pyrrolidine-2,5-dione" moiety of our recently reported antitumor hybrid incorporating diaryl pyrazoline and pyrrolidine-2,5-dione scaffolds with "imidazoline-2,4-dione" moiety has been incorporated. Complete biological studies revealed the most potent analog among all i.e. compound H13, which was at-least 10-fold more potent compared to the corresponding pyrrolidine-2,5-dione, in colon and breast cancer cells. In-vitro studies showed activation of caspases, arrest of G0/G1 phase of cell cycle, decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) and increased DNA damage. In-vivo assay on HT-29 (human colorectal adenocarcinoma) animal xenograft model unveiled the significant anti-tumor efficacy along with oral bioavailability with maximum TGI 36% (i.p.) and 44% (per os) at 50 mg/kg dose. These findings confirm the suitability of hybridized pyrazoline and imidazolidine-2,4-dione analog H13 for its anti-cancer potential and starting-point for the development of more efficacious analogs.

Assessment of nanoencapsulated Cananga odorata essential oil in chitosan nanopolymer as a green approach to boost the antifungal, antioxidant and in situ efficacy

In this study, a comparative efficacy of Cananga odorata EO (CoEO) and its nanoencapsulated formulation into chitosan nanoemulsion (CoEO-CsNe) against a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (AF-M-K5) were investigated for the first time in order to determine its efficacy in preservation of stored food from fungal, aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) contamination and lipid peroxidation. GC and GC-MS analysis of CoEO revealed the presence of linalool (24.56%) and benzyl acetate (22.43%) as the major components. CoEO was encapsulated into chitosan nanoemulsion (CsNe) through ionic-gelation technique and characterized by High Resolution-Scanning Electron Microscopy (HR-SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The CoEO-CsNe during in vitro investigation against A. flavus completely inhibited the growth and AFB₁ production at 1.0 μL/mL and 0.75 μL/mL, respectively. Additionally, CoEO-CsNe showed improved antioxidant activity against DPPH^• and ABTS^•+ with IC₅₀ value 0.93 and 0.72 μL/mL, respectively. Further, CoEO-CsNe suppressed fungal growth, AFB₁ secretion and lipid peroxidation in Arachis hypogea L. during in situ investigation without causing any adverse effect on seed germination. Overall results demonstrated that the CoEO-CsNe has potential of being utilized as a suitable plant based antifungal agent to improve the shelf-life of stored food against AFB₁ and lipid peroxidation mediated biodeterioration.

Hypoglycemic and Hypolipidemic Swords: Synthesis and In-vivo Biological Assessment of 5-benzylidene-2,4-thiazolidinediones

Thiazolidinedione (TZD), being a privileged scaffold, has been known as a significant structural moiety of antidiabetic drugs. TZD has been known to improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by increasing insulin sensitivity in the body. A novel series of 5-benzylidene 2,4-thiazolidinedione derivatives were designed, synthesized (V1-V28), and structurally confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and Mass spectrometry. Upon the safety assessment of the synthesized molecules in non-transformed hepatocytes by MTT reduction assay, these were found non-toxic. These derivatives were then further evaluated for their antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipidemic properties in a high-fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Altogether, seven biochemical parameters were analyzed, namely blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, HDL-cholesterol, and glycosylated hemoglobin in serum by standard methods. Four synthetic molecules (V2, V4, V5, and V20) possessed significant hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic activity as compared to the positive control pioglitazone. Moreover, the histopathological studies of the heart and liver revealed no significant toxicity. Two representative compounds V2 and V4, were evaluated for their PPARγ activation potential, demonstrating that they were partial PPARγ agonists, thus confirming our designing hypothesis. Based on the results obtained, we assume that these compounds have the potential to be developed as future antidiabetic agents.

Power of two: combination of therapeutic approaches involving glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitors to combat cancer

Cancer research of the Warburg effect, a hallmark metabolic alteration in tumors, focused attention on glucose metabolism whose targeting uncovered several agents with promising anticancer effects at the preclinical level. These agents' monotherapy points to their potential as adjuvant combination therapy to existing standard chemotherapy in human trials. Accordingly, several studies on combining glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitors with chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and cytarabine, showed synergistic or additive anticancer effects, reduced chemo-, radio-, and immuno-resistance, and reduced toxicity due to lowering the therapeutic doses required for desired chemotherapeutic effects, as compared with monotherapy. The combinations have been specifically effective in treating cancer glycolytic phenotypes, such as pancreatic and breast cancers. Even combining GLUT inhibitors with other glycolytic inhibitors and energy restriction mimetics seems worthwhile. Though combination clinical trials are in the early phase, initial results are intriguing. The various types of GLUTs, their role in cancer progression, GLUT inhibitors, and their anticancer mechanism of action have been reviewed several times. However, utilizing GLUT inhibitors as combination therapeutics has received little attention. We consider GLUT inhibitors agents that directly affect glucose transporters by binding to them or indirectly alter glucose transport by changing the transporters' expression level. This review mainly focuses on summarizing the effects of various combinations of GLUT inhibitors with other anticancer agents and providing a perspective on the current status.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Pyrazoline and Pyrrolidine-2,5-dione Hybrids as Potential Antitumor Agents

In search of novel and effective antitumor agents, pyrazoline-substituted pyrrolidine-2,5-dione hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated in silico, in vitro and in vivo for anticancer efficacy. All the compounds exhibited remarkable cytotoxic effects in MCF7 and HT29 cells. The excellent antiproliferative activity toward MCF7 (IC₅₀ =0.78±0.01 μM), HT29 (IC₅₀ =0.92±0.15 μM) and K562 (IC₅₀ =47.25±1.24 μM) cell lines, prompted us to further investigate the antitumor effects of the best compound S2 (1-(2-(3-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-(p-tolyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)pyrrolidine-2,5-dione). In cell-cycle analysis, S2 was found to disrupt the growth phases with increased cell population in G₁ /G₀ phase and decreased cell population in G₂ /M phase. The excellent in vitro effects were also supported by inhibition of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In vivo tumor regression studies of S2 in HT29 xenograft nude mice, exhibited equivalent and promising tumor regression with maximum TGI, 66 % (i. p. route) and 60 % (oral route) at 50 mg kg^-1 dose by both the routes, indicating oral bioavailability and antitumor efficacy. These findings advocate that hybridization of pyrazoline and pyrrolidine-2,5-dioes holds promise for the development of more potent and less toxic anticancer agents.

CSNet: A new DeepNet framework for ischemic stroke lesion segmentation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Acute stroke lesion segmentation is of paramount importance as it can aid medical personnel to render a quicker diagnosis and administer consequent treatment. Automation of this task is technically exacting due to the variegated appearance of lesions and their dynamic development, medical discrepancies, unavailability of datasets, and the requirement of several MRI modalities for imaging. In this paper, we propose a composite deep learning model primarily based on the self-similar fractal networks and the U-Net model for performing acute stroke diagnosis tasks automatically to assist as well as expedite the decision-making process of medical practitioners.

METHODS

We put forth a new deep learning architecture, the Classifier-Segmenter network (CSNet), involving a hybrid training strategy with a self-similar (fractal) U-Net model, explicitly designed to perform the task of segmentation. In fractal networks, the underlying design strategy is based on the repetitive generation of self-similar fractals in place of residual connections. The U-Net model exploits both spatial as well as semantic information along with parameter sharing for a faster and efficient training process. In this new architecture, we exploit the benefits of both by combining them into one hybrid training scheme and developing the concept of a cascaded architecture, which further enhances the model's accuracy by removing redundant parts from the Segmenter's input. Lastly, a voting mechanism has been employed to further enhance the overall segmentation accuracy.

RESULTS

The performance of the proposed architecture has been scrutinized against the existing state-of-the-art deep learning architectures applied to various biomedical image processing tasks by submission on the publicly accessible web platform provided by the MICCAI Ischemic Stroke Lesion Segmentation (ISLES) challenge. The experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method when compared to similar submitted strategies, both qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of some of the well known evaluation metrics, such as Accuracy, Dice-Coefficient, Recall, and Precision.

CONCLUSIONS

We believe that our method may find use as a handy tool for doctors to identify the location and extent of irreversibly damaged brain tissue, which is said to be a critical part of the decision-making process in case of an acute stroke.

Structure guided design and synthesis of furyl thiazolidinedione derivatives as inhibitors of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4, and evaluation of their anti-leukemic potential

Cancer cells increase their glucose uptake and glycolytic activity to meet the high energy requirements of proliferation. Glucose transporters (GLUTs), which facilitate the transport of glucose and related hexoses across the cell membrane, play a vital role in tumor cell survival and are overexpressed in various cancers. GLUT1, the most overexpressed GLUT in many cancers, is emerging as a promising anti-cancer target. To develop GLUT1 inhibitors, we rationally designed, synthesized, structurally characterized, and biologically evaluated in-vitro and in-vivo a novel series of furyl-2-methylene thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Among 25 TZDs tested, F18 and F19 inhibited GLUT1 most potently (IC₅₀ 11.4 and 14.7 μM, respectively). F18 was equally selective for GLUT4 (IC₅₀ 6.8 μM), while F19 was specific for GLUT1 (IC₅₀ 152 μM in GLUT4). In-silico ligand docking studies showed that F18 interacted with conserved residues in GLUT1 and GLUT4, while F19 had slightly different interactions with the transporters. In in-vitro antiproliferative screening of leukemic/lymphoid cells, F18 was most lethal to CEM cells (CC₅₀ of 1.7 μM). Flow cytometry analysis indicated that F18 arrested cell cycle growth in the subG0-G1 phase and lead to cell death due to necrosis and apoptosis. Western blot analysis exhibited alterations in cell signaling proteins, consistent with cell growth arrest and death. In-vivo xenograft study in a CEM model showed that F18 impaired tumor growth significantly.

Discovery of novel N-substituted thiazolidinediones (TZDs) as HDAC8 inhibitors: in-silico studies, synthesis, and biological evaluation

Epigenetics plays a fundamental role in cancer progression, and developing agents that regulate epigenetics is crucial for cancer management. Among Class I and Class II HDACs, HDAC8 is one of the essential epigenetic players in cancer progression. Therefore, we designed, synthesized, purified, and structurally characterized novel compounds containing N-substituted TZD (P1-P25). Cell viability assay of all compounds on leukemic cell lines (CEM, K562, and KCL22) showed the cytotoxic potential of P8, P9, P10, P12, P19, and P25. In-vitro screening of different HDACs isoforms revealed that P19 was the most potent and selective inhibitor for HDAC8 (IC50 - 9.3 μM). Thermal shift analysis (TSA) confirmed the binding of P19 to HDAC8. In-vitro screening of all compounds on the transport activity of GLUT1, GLUT4, and GLUT5 indicated that P19 inhibited GLUT1 (IC50 - 28.2 μM). P10 and P19 induced apoptotic cell death in CEM cells (55.19% and 60.97% respectively) and P19 was less cytotoxic on normal WBCs (CC50 - 104.2 μM) and human fibroblasts (HS27) (CC50 - 105.0 μM). Thus, among this novel series of TZD derivatives, compound P19 was most promising HDAC8 inhibitor and cytotoxic on leukemic cells. Thus, P19 could serve as a lead for further development of optimized molecules with enhanced selectivity and potency.

A multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporter modulates auxin levels in root to regulate root development and promotes aluminium tolerance

MATE (multidrug and toxic compound extrusion) transporters play multiple roles in plants including detoxification, secondary metabolite transport, aluminium (Al) tolerance, and disease resistance. Here we identify and characterize the role of the Arabidopsis MATE transporter DETOXIFICATION30. AtDTX30 regulates auxin homeostasis in Arabidopsis roots to modulate root development and Al-tolerance. DTX30 is primarily expressed in roots and localizes to the plasma membrane of root epidermal cells including root hairs. dtx30 mutants exhibit reduced elongation of the primary root, root hairs, and lateral roots. The mutant seedlings accumulate more auxin in their root tips indicating role of DTX30 in maintaining auxin homeostasis in the root. Al induces DTX30 expression and promotes its localization to the distal transition zone. dtx30 seedlings accumulate more Al in their roots but are hyposensitive to Al-mediated rhizotoxicity perhaps due to saturation in root growth inhibition. Increase in expression of ethylene and auxin biosynthesis genes in presence of Al is absent in dtx30. The mutants exude less citrate under Al conditions, which might be due to misregulation of AtSTOP1 and the citrate transporter AtMATE. In conclusion, DTX30 modulates auxin levels in root to regulate root development and in the presence of Al indirectly modulates citrate exudation to promote Al tolerance.

Fabrication, characterization and practical efficacy of Myristica fragrans essential oil nanoemulsion delivery system against postharvest biodeterioration

The present study deals with encapsulation of Myristica fragrans essential oil (MFEO) into chitosan nano-matrix, their characterization and assessment of antimicrobial activity, aflatoxin inhibitory potential, safety profiling and in situ efficacy in stored rice as environment friendly effective preservative to control the postharvest losses of food commodities under storage. Surface morphology of MFEO-chitosan nanoemulsion as well as encapsulation of MFEO was confirmed through SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis. In vitro release characteristics with biphasic burst explained controlled volatilization from nanoencapsulated MFEO. Unencapsulated MFEO exhibited fungitoxicity against 15 food borne molds and inhibited aflatoxin B₁ secretion by toxigenic Aspergillus flavus LHP R14 strain. In contrast, nanoencapsulated MFEO showed better fungitoxicity and inhibitory effect on aflatoxin biosynthesis at lower doses. In situ efficacy of unencapsulated and nanoencapsulated MFEO on stored rice seeds exhibited effective protection against fungal infestation, aflatoxin B₁ contamination, and lipid peroxidation. Both the unencapsulated and nanoencapsulated MFEO did not affect the germination of stored rice seeds confirming non-phytotoxic nature. In addition, negligible mammalian toxicity of unencapsulated MFEO (LD₅₀ = 14,289.32 μL/kg body weight) and MFEO loaded chitosan nanoemulsion (LD₅₀ = 9231.89 μL/kg body weight) as revealed through favorable safety profile recommend the industrial significance of nanoencapsulated MFEO as an effective green alternative to environmentally hazardous synthetic pesticides for protection of food commodities during storage.

Enhanced oral bioavailability and hepatoprotective activity of thymoquinone in the form of phospholipidic nano-constructs

Background: The poor biopharmaceutical properties of thymoquinone (TQ) obstruct its development as a hepatoprotective agent. To surmount the delivery challenges of TQ, phospholipid nanoconstructs (PNCs) were constructed.Method: PNCs were constructed employing microemulsification technique and systematic optimization by three-factor three level Box-Behnken design.Result: Optimized PNC composition exhibited nano size (<100 nm), spherical morphology, within acceptable range of polydispersity index (0.55), high drug entrapment efficiency (>90%), controlled drug release pattern, and neutral surface charge (zeta potential of -0.65 mV). After oral administration of a single dose of PNC, it showed a relative bioavailability of 386.03% vis-à-vis plain TQ suspension. Further, TQ-loaded PNC demonstrated significant enhanced hepato-protective effect vis-à-vis pure TQ suspension and silymarin, as evidenced by reduction in the ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubin, and albumin level and ratified by histopathological analysis.Conclusion: TQ-loaded PNCs can be efficient nano-platforms for the management of hepatic disorders and promising drug delivery systems to enhance oral bioavailability of this hydrophobic molecule.

Antimicrobial activity, antiaflatoxigenic potential and in situ efficacy of novel formulation comprising of Apium graveolens essential oil and its major component

The present study reports the formulation of Apium graveolens essential oil (AGEO) with its major components linalyl acetate (LA) and geranyl acetate (GA) (1:1:1) as a novel green preservative for protection of postharvest food commodities from fungal infestations, aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) secretion, free radical generation and lipid peroxidation. The essential oil based novel formulation displayed considerable inhibitory action against fourteen food borne molds responsible for deterioration of stored food commodities, in addition to the most toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (AFLHPR14) isolated from fungal and aflatoxin contaminated rice seeds. The observed higher efficacy of designed formulation was due to the synergistic action of essential oil and its major components. Fungal plasma membrane was recorded as the possible target site of antifungal action of the formulation as revealed through reduction in membrane ergosterol content, increased intracellular propidium iodide (PI) fluorescence and enhanced leakage of cellular ions (sodium, potassium, calcium) and 260, 280 nm absorbing materials. Further, inhibition of methylglyoxal (an aflatoxin inducer) confirmed the aflatoxin inhibitory potential of novel formulation based on essential oil and its major components. High antioxidant potential as observed through DPPH and ABTS^·+ radical scavenging assay, improved phenolic content, considerable inhibition of lipid peroxidation in stored rice seeds, in situ efficacy on AFB₁ inhibition in food system under storage container system, acceptable sensorial characteristics and favorable safety profile during animal trials suggest the recommendation of the designed formulation for large scale application as green preservative by food and agriculture based industries against fungal and aflatoxin contamination of stored commodities.

The multitasking abilities of MATE transporters in plants

As sessile organisms, plants constantly monitor environmental cues and respond appropriately to modulate their growth and development. Membrane transporters act as gatekeepers of the cell regulating both the inflow of useful materials as well as exudation of harmful substances. Members of the multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) family of transporters are ubiquitously present in almost all forms of life including prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In bacteria, MATE proteins were originally characterized as efflux transporters conferring drug resistance. There are 58 MATE transporters in Arabidopsis thaliana, which are also known as DETOXIFICATION (DTX) proteins. In plants, these integral membrane proteins are involved in a diverse array of functions, encompassing secondary metabolite transport, xenobiotic detoxification, aluminium tolerance, and disease resistance. MATE proteins also regulate overall plant development by controlling phytohormone transport, tip growth processes, and senescence. While most of the functional characterizations of MATE proteins have been reported in Arabidopsis, recent reports suggest that their diverse roles extend to numerous other plant species. The wide array of functions exhibited by MATE proteins highlight their multitasking ability. In this review, we integrate information related to structure and functions of MATE transporters in plants. Since these transporters are central to mechanisms that allow plants to adapt to abiotic and biotic stresses, their study can potentially contribute to improving stress tolerance under changing climatic conditions.

Assessment of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil as an eco-friendly approach against biodeterioration of wheat flour caused by Tribolium castaneum Herbst

The study reports efficacy of Melissa officinalis L. essential oil (MOEO) as a safe plant-based insecticide against Tribolium castaneum Herbst (TC) by induction of oxidative stress. MOEO nanoencapsulation in chitosan matrix was performed to enhance its bioefficacy. GC-MS analysis of MOEO depicted geranial (31.54%), neral (31.08%), and β-caryophyllene (12.42%) as the major components. MOEO showed excellent insecticidal potential in contact (100% mortality at 0.157 μL/cm²) and fumigant bioassays (LC₅₀ = 0.071 μL/mL air) and 100% repellency at concentration ≤ 0.028 μL/cm². Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and decreased ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) at the LC₅₀ dose suggested significant oxidative stress on TC in MOEO treatment sets. The encapsulated MOEO exhibited enhanced activity as fumigant (LC₅₀ = 0.048 μL/mL air) and showed significant antifeedant activity in situ (EC₅₀ = 0.043 μL/mL). High LD₅₀ value (13,956.87 μL/kg body weight of mice) confirmed favorable toxicological profile for non-target mammals. The findings depict potential of nanoencapsulated MOEO as an eco-friendly green pesticide against infestation of stored food by TC.

Rediscovery of an endemic Indian moth Gurna indica (Moore, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) after 125 years

The present communication is on a rediscovery of an endemic moth Gurna indica (Moore, 1879) from India. This species is rediscovered from India after more than 125 years. Till this study, the literature published on this species is based on the type species housed in museum or based on the catalogues. The genus Gurna is a monotypic and endemic to India.

Assessment of chemically characterized Salvia sclarea L. essential oil and its combination with linalyl acetate as novel plant based antifungal, antiaflatoxigenic and antioxidant agent against herbal drugs contamination and probable mode of action

The present investigation reports antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic efficacy of Salvia sclarea essential oil (SSEO) and its combination with Linalyl acetate (LA) (1:1) against herbal drug deteriorating molds and aflatoxin B₁ contamination. GC-MS analysis of SSEO showed Linalyl Acetate (LA) (61.33%) and Linalool (LL) (17.59%) as major components. The SSEO and LA combination displayed better antifungal and antiaflatoxigenic activity as compared to SSEO and LA used individually. SSEO and LA combination was effective in reduction of ergosterol and enhanced leakage of vital ions and UV-absorbing materials in a dose dependent manner. The combination caused significant reduction in cellular methylglyoxal content, an aflatoxin inducer suggesting its future application for development of aflatoxin resistant herbal drug varieties through green transgenics. The combination also showed pronounced antioxidant activity as compared to SSEO and LA used separately. Interestingly, the combination showed significant in situ protection of Picrorhiza kurroa rhizomes against mould infestation.

Corticobasal syndrome: neuroimaging and neurophysiological advances

Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by 4R tau protein deposition in several brain regions that clinically manifests itself as a heterogeneous atypical parkinsonism typically expressed in adulthood. The prototypical clinical phenotype of CBD is corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Important insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying motor and higher cortical symptoms in CBS have been gained by using advanced neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies often show asymmetric cortical and subcortical abnormalities, mainly involving perirolandic and parietal regions and basal ganglia structures. Neurophysiological investigations including electroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials provide useful information on the origin of myoclonus and on cortical sensory loss. Transcranial magnetic stimulation demonstrates heterogeneous and asymmetric changes in the excitability and plasticity of primary motor cortex and abnormal hemispheric connectivity. Neuroimaging and neurophysiological abnormalities in multiple brain areas reflect asymmetric neurodegeneration, leading to asymmetric motor and higher cortical symptoms in CBS.

Visible light-triggered NO generation from Naphthalimide-based probe for photoreceptor-mediated plant root growth regulation.. [DOI: 10.1101/550004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

An efficient visible light-triggered nitric oxide (NO) releasing fluorescent molecule is designed and synthesized by coupling 2,6-dimethyl nitrobenzene moiety at the peri-position of 1, 8-naphthalimide through an alkene bond. The NO-releasing ability is investigated in details using various spectroscopic techniques, and the photoproduct was also characterized. Further, the photo-generated NO has been employed to examine the effect of photoreceptor-mediated NO uptake on plant root growth regulation.

Novel Anthraquinone Derivatives as Dual Inhibitors of Topoisomerase 2 and Casein Kinase 2: In Silico Studies, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation on Leukemic Cell Lines

Background:

Cancer being a complex disease, single targeting agents remain unsuccessful. This calls for “multiple targeting”, wherein a single drug is so designed that it will modulate the activity of multiple protein targets. Topoisomerase 2 (Top2) helps in removing DNA tangles and super-coiling during cellular replication, Casein Kinase 2 (CK2) is involved in the phosphorylation of a multitude of protein targets. Thus, in the present work, we have tried to develop dual inhibitors of Top2 and CK2.

Objective:

With this view, in the present work, 2 human proteins, Top2 and CK2 have been targeted to achieve the anti-proliferative effects.

Methods:

Novel 1-acetylamidoanthraquinone (3a-3y) derivatives were designed, synthesized and their structures were elucidated by analytical and spectral characterization techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass Spectroscopy). The synthesized compounds were then subjected to evaluation of cytotoxic potential by the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) protein assay, using HL60 and K562 cell lines. Ten compounds were analyzed for Top2, CK2 enzyme inhibitory potential. Further, top three compounds were subjected to cell cycle analysis.

Results:

The compounds 3a to 3c, 3e, 3f, 3i to 3p, 3t and 3x showed excellent cytotoxic activity to HL-60 cell line indicating their high anti-proliferative potential in AML. The compounds 3a to 3c, 3e, 3f, 3i to 3p and 3y have shown good to moderate activity on K-562 cell line. Compounds 3e, 3f, 3i, 3x and 3y were found more cytotoxic than standard doxorubicin. In cell cycle analysis, the cells (79-85%) were found to arrest in the G0/G1 phase.

Conclusion:

We have successfully designed, synthesized, purified and structurally characterized 1- acetylamidoanthraquinone derivatives. Even though our compounds need design optimization to further increase enzyme inhibition, their overall anti-proliferative effects were found to be encouraging.

Multi-lumen capillary based trypsin micro-reactor for the rapid digestion of proteins

In this work we evaluated a novel microreactor prepared using a surface modified, high surface-to-volume ratio multi-lumen fused silica capillary (MLC). The MLC investigated contained 126 parallel channels, each of 4 μm internal diameter. The MLC, along with conventional fused silica capillaries of 25 μm and 50 μm internal diameter, were treated by (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and then modified with gold nanoparticles, of ∼20 nm in diameter, to ultimately provide immobilisation sites for the proteolytic enzyme, trypsin. The modified capillaries and MLCs were characterised and profiled using non-invasive scanning capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (sC4D). The sC4D profiles confirmed a significantly higher amount of enzyme was immobilised to the MLC when compared to the fused silica capillaries, attributable to the increased surface to volume ratio. The MLC was used for dynamic protein digestion, where peptide fragments were collected and subjected to off-line chromatographic evaluation. The digestion was achieved with the MLC reactor, using a residence time of just 1.26 min, following which the HPLC peak associated with the intact protein decreased by >70%. The MLC reactors behaved similarly to the classical in vitro or in-solution approach, but provided a reduction in digestion time, and fewer peaks associated with trypsin auto-digestion, which is common using in-solution digestion. The digestion of cytochrome C using both the MLC-IMER and the in-solution approach, resulted in a sequence coverage of ∼80%. The preparation of the MLC microreactor was reproducible with <2.5% RSD between reactors (n = 3) as determined by sC4D.

Chemically characterised Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. essential oil as a novel plant based antimicrobial against fungal and aflatoxin B1 contamination of stored maize and its possible mode of action

The chemical characterisation of Pimenta dioica essential oil (PDEO) revealed the presence of 50 components, amongst which α-Terpineol (30.31%) was the major component followed by β-Linalool (6.75%) and γ-Terpinene (4.64%). The oil completely inhibited the growth of aflatoxin B₁ secreting strain Aspergillus flavus LHP-VS-8 and aflatoxin B₁ production at 2.5 µL/mL and 1.5 µL/mL, respectively. The oil caused dose dependent reduction of methylglyoxal (an AFB₁ inducer), enhanced leakage of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ ions and significantly reduced ergosterol content of fungal plasma membrane. During in situ experiments, PDEO exhibited complete protection of fumigated maize cob slices from fungal infestation without affecting seed germination. The chemically characterised PDEO is recommended as a plant based preservative and shelf life enhancer of food commodities by preventing fungal growth, AFB₁ production and lipid peroxidation. This is the first report on PDEO as inhibitor of AFB₁ secretion and methylglyoxal biosynthesis.

Differential Phytotoxic Impact of Plant Mediated Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) on Brassica sp

Continuous formation and utilization of nanoparticles (NPs) have resulted into significant discharge of nanosized particles into the environment. NPs find applications in numerous products and agriculture sector, and gaining importance in recent years. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized from silver nitrate (AgNO3) by green synthesis approach using Aloe vera extract. Mustard (Brassica sp.) seedlings were grown hydroponically and toxicity of both AgNP and AgNO3 (as ionic Ag+) was assessed at various concentrations (1 and 3 mM) by analyzing shoot and root length, fresh mass, protein content, photosynthetic pigments and performance, cell viability, oxidative damage, DNA degradation and enzyme activities. The results revealed that both AgNPs and AgNO3 declined growth of Brassica seedlings due to enhanced accumulation of AgNPs and AgNO3 that subsequently caused severe inhibition in photosynthesis. Further, the results showed that both AgNPs and AgNO3 induced oxidative stress as indicated by histochemical staining of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide that was manifested in terms of DNA degradation and cell death. Activities of antioxidants, i.e., ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) were inhibited by AgNPs and AgNO3. Interestingly, damaging impact of AgNPs was lesser than AgNO3 on Brassica seedlings which was due to lesser accumulation of AgNPs and better activities of APX and CAT, which resulted in lesser oxidative stress, DNA degradation and cell death. The results of the present study showed differential impact of AgNPs and AgNO3 on Brassica seedlings, their mode of action, and reasons for their differential impact. The results of the present study could be implied in toxicological research for designing strategies to reduce adverse impact of AgNPs and AgNO3 on crop plants.

Recent advancements in lateral flow immunoassays: A journey for toxin detection in food

Biotechnology embraces various physical and chemical phenomena toward advancement of health diagnostics. Toward such advancement, detection of toxins plays an important role. Toxins produce severe health impacts on consumption with high mortality associated in acute cases. The most prominent route of infection and intoxication is through food matrices. Therefore, rapid detection of toxins at low concentrations is the need of modern diagnostics. Lateral flow immunoassays are one of the emergent and popularly used rapid detection technology developed for detecting various kinds of analytes. This review thus focuses on recent advancements in lateral flow immunoassays for detecting different toxins in agricultural food. Appropriate emphasis was given on how the labels, recognition elements, or detection strategy has laid an impact on improvement in immunochromatographic assays for toxins. The paper also discusses the gradual change in sensitivities and specificities of assays in accordance with the method of food processing used. The review concludes with the major challenges faced by this technology and provides an outlook and insight of ideas to improve it in the future.

Tolerance and Reduction of Chromium(VI) by Bacillus sp. MNU16 Isolated from Contaminated Coal Mining Soil

The bacterium MNU16 was isolated from contaminated soils of coal mine and subsequently screened for different plant growth promoting (PGP) activities. The isolate was further identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as Bacillus subtilis MNU16 with IAA concentration (56.95 ± 0.43 6μg/ml), siderophore unit (9.73 ± 2.05%), phosphate solubilization (285.13 ± 1.05 μg/ml) and ACC deaminase activity (116.79 ± 0.019 μmoles α-ketobutyrate/mg/24 h). Further, to evaluate the metal resistance profile of bacterium, the isolate was screened for multi-metal resistance (viz. 900 mg/L for Cr, 600 mg/L for As, 700 mg/L for Ni and 300 mg/L for Hg). Additionally, the resistance pattern of B. subtilis MNU16 against Cr(VI) (from 50 to 300 mg/L) treatments were evaluated. An enriched population was observed at 0-200 mg/L Cr(VI) concentration while slight reductions were observed at 250 and 300 mg/L Cr(VI). Further, the chromium reduction ability at 50 mg/L of Cr(VI) highlighted that the bacterium B. subtilis MNU16 reduced 75% of Cr(VI) to 13.23 mg/L within 72 h. The localization of electron dense precipitates was observed in the TEM images of B. subtilis MNU16 which is might be due to the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The data of fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry with respect to Cr(VI) treatments (50-300 mg/L) showed a similar pattern and clearly revealed the less toxic effect of hexavalent chromium upto 200 mg/L Cr(VI) concentration. However, toxicity effects were more pronounced at 300 mg/L Cr(VI). Therefore, the present study suggests that the plant growth promoting potential and resistance efficacy of B. subtilis MNU16 will go a long way in developing an effective bioremediation approach for Cr(VI) contaminated soils.

Abscisic Acid Signaling and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants: A Review on Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

Abiotic stress is one of the severe stresses of environment that lowers the growth and yield of any crop even on irrigated land throughout the world. A major phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays an essential part in acting toward varied range of stresses like heavy metal stress, drought, thermal or heat stress, high level of salinity, low temperature, and radiation stress. Its role is also elaborated in various developmental processes including seed germination, seed dormancy, and closure of stomata. ABA acts by modifying the expression level of gene and subsequent analysis of cis- and trans-acting regulatory elements of responsive promoters. It also interacts with the signaling molecules of processes involved in stress response and development of seeds. On the whole, the stress to a plant can be susceptible or tolerant by taking into account the coordinated activities of various stress-responsive genes. Numbers of transcription factor are involved in regulating the expression of ABA responsive genes by acting together with their respective cis-acting elements. Hence, for improvement in stress-tolerance capacity of plants, it is necessary to understand the mechanism behind it. On this ground, this article enlightens the importance and role of ABA signaling with regard to various stresses as well as regulation of ABA biosynthetic pathway along with the transcription factors for stress tolerance.

Diagnosis and Management Pattern of Lateral Epicondylitis in a Tertiary Care Center

INTRODUCTION

Lateral Epicondylitis has been found to be the second most frequently diagnosed musculoskeletal disorder. A wide range of symptomatic treatments are available such as use of anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs, steroids, physiotherapy. This study aims to know about the diagnosis, prescription pattern and current practice on management of tennis elbow in Nepal.

METHODS

This is a hospital based observational study carried out at Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. Patients diagnosed with tennis elbow were purposively selected through prospective sampling technique from Orthopedic Department. Questionnaire and patient medication files were used as tools for data collection.

RESULTS

A total of 97 patients were found to be suffering from tennis elbow affecting mostly 41-50 years of age group and seen mostly in female (62%). Further, it was found that housewives (31%) were mostly affected. Diagnosis of tennis elbow was done commonly by clinical evaluation (61%) and X-ray (39%). Both Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological approaches were in practice. Pharmacological treatment include NSAIDS (59% Aceclofenac, 19% Naproxen, 18% Indomethacin, 16% Diclofenac, 6% Piroxicam) and Steroids (23% methylprednisolone acetate and 21% oral prednisolone). Non-Pharmacological treatment was done by lifestyle modification (100%), 78% application of heat, 63% use of tennis elbow band, 29% exercise and 28% physiotherapy. Surgical intervention (3%) was also done when the conservative management failed.

CONCLUSION

There is professional risk of tennis elbow for housewives, farmers and shopkeepers in context of Nepal. Only one treatment approach is not effective in management of tennis elbow for long term effect.

Abnormal motor cortex excitability during linguistic tasks in adductor-type spasmodic dysphonia

In healthy subjects (HS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied during 'linguistic' tasks discloses excitability changes in the dominant hemisphere primary motor cortex (M1). We investigated 'linguistic' task-related cortical excitability modulation in patients with adductor-type spasmodic dysphonia (ASD), a speech-related focal dystonia. We studied 10 ASD patients and 10 HS. Speech examination included voice cepstral analysis. We investigated the dominant/non-dominant M1 excitability at baseline, during 'linguistic' (reading aloud/silent reading/producing simple phonation) and 'non-linguistic' tasks (looking at non-letter strings/producing oral movements). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the contralateral hand muscles. We measured the cortical silent period (CSP) length and tested MEPs in HS and patients performing the 'linguistic' tasks with different voice intensities. We also examined MEPs in HS and ASD during hand-related 'action-verb' observation. Patients were studied under and not-under botulinum neurotoxin-type A (BoNT-A). In HS, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited larger MEPs during 'reading aloud' than during the other 'linguistic'/'non-linguistic' tasks. Conversely, in ASD, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited increased-amplitude MEPs during 'reading aloud' and 'syllabic phonation' tasks. CSP length was shorter in ASD than in HS and remained unchanged in both groups performing 'linguistic'/'non-linguistic' tasks. In HS and ASD, 'linguistic' task-related excitability changes were present regardless of the different voice intensities. During hand-related 'action-verb' observation, MEPs decreased in HS, whereas in ASD they increased. In ASD, BoNT-A improved speech, as demonstrated by cepstral analysis and restored the TMS abnormalities. ASD reflects dominant hemisphere excitability changes related to 'linguistic' tasks; BoNT-A returns these excitability changes to normal.

Functional connectivity changes and their relationship with clinical disability and white matter integrity in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Background and objective:

To define the pathological substrate underlying disability in multiple sclerosis by evaluating the relationship of resting-state functional connectivity with microstructural brain damage, as assessed by diffusion tensor imaging, and clinical impairments.

Methods:

Thirty relapsing–remitting patients and 24 controls underwent 3T-MRI; motor abilities were evaluated by using measures of walking speed, hand dexterity and balance capability, while information processing speed was evaluated by a paced auditory serial addiction task. Independent component analysis and tract-based spatial statistics were applied to RS-fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging data using FSL software. Group differences, after dual regression, and clinical correlations were modelled with General-Linear-Model and corrected for multiple comparisons.

Results:

Patients showed decreased functional connectivity in 5 of 11 resting-state-networks (cerebellar, executive-control, medial-visual, basal ganglia and sensorimotor), changes in inter-network correlations and widespread white matter microstructural damage. In multiple sclerosis, corpus callosum microstructural damage positively correlated with functional connectivity in cerebellar and auditory networks. Moreover, functional connectivity within the medial-visual network inversely correlated with information processing speed. White matter widespread microstructural damage inversely correlated with both the paced auditory serial addiction task and hand dexterity.

Conclusions:

Despite the within-network functional connectivity decrease and the widespread microstructural damage, the inter-network functional connectivity changes suggest a global brain functional rearrangement in multiple sclerosis. The correlation between functional connectivity alterations and callosal damage uncovers a link between functional and structural connectivity. Finally, functional connectivity abnormalities affect information processing speed rather than motor abilities.