Effect of 'Procumbenase' a serine protease from Tridax procumbens aqueous extract on wound healing: A scar free healing of full thickness wounds.

Wound healing involves several cellular and molecular pathways. Tridax procumbens activates genetic pathways with antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, aiding wound healing. This study purified Procumbenase, a serine protease from T. procumbens extract, using gel filtration (Sephadex G-75) and ion exchange (CM-Sephadex C-50) chromatography. Characterization involved analyses of protease activity, RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE, gelatin zymogram, PAS staining, mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism. Optimal pH and temperature were determined. Protease type was identified using inhibitors. Wound-healing potential was evaluated through tensile strength, wound models, hydroxyproline estimation, and NIH 3T3 cell scratch analysis. In incision wound rat models, Procumbenase increased tensile strength on day 14 more than saline and Povidone­iodine. It increased wound contraction by 89 % after 10 days in excision wound models, attaining full contraction by day 15 and closure by day 21. Scarless wound healing was enhanced by 18 days of epithelialization against 22 and 21 days for saline and povidone­iodine. Procumbenase increased hydroxyproline concentration 2.53-fold (59.93 ± 2.89 mg/g) compared to saline (23.67 ± 1.86 mg/g). In NIH 3 T3 cell scratch assay, Procumbenase increased migration by 60.93 % (50 µg) and 60.57 % (150 µg) after 48 h. Thus, Procumbenase is the primary bioactive molecule in T. procumbens, demonstrates scar-free wound healing properties.

Biological and environmental studies on pectin-zirconium (IV) phosphate, a biopolymer doped hybrid cation exchanger.

Pectin, a biological macromolecule-doped zirconium (IV) Phosphate is reported as a novel ion exchanger which has been characterized by few physico-chemical characterization techniques such as FTIR analysis, XRD, TGA/DTA, DSC, SEM study, UV-vis spectrophotometry and elemental analysis. The method of synthesis along with ion exchange characterization has also been reported including ion exchange capacity, thermal stability, concentration and elution study. Adsorption study has been explored for few alkaline earths and transition metal ions in several acidic media. Based on adsorption study, it has been found that the reported ion exchanger has shown enantioselectivity for mercury (II) ions. Hence, few binary separations have been performed on lab-made samples depicting that the material would be of great importance in water pollution control. In addition to it, antimicrobial activity of the material on some microorganisms has been studied revealing the highest antimicrobial activity towards Ecoli ESS 2231 which would be added application in terms of water purification. Moreover, the exchanger is found stable up to 200 °C by retaining 90.6 % of its capacity whereas up to 400 °C, it exhibits decrement by retaining 75.5 % of its ion exchange capability which provides a way to explore applications of the exchanger at a higher range of temperatures.

Relationship of Vitamin D-Deficient Diet and Irisin, and Their Impact on Energy Homeostasis in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have identified the role of irisin and vitamin D in energy homeostasis. However, the effect of irisin and vitamin D on energy regulation has not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, in this study, the effects of a vitamin D-deficient diet and irisin on total energy expenditure (TEE), food intake, and blood metabolites were investigated in rats. METHODS: Sixteen healthy weaned male albino rats were randomly divided into two groups: a group fed a normal balanced growth diet (group A: n = 8) and a group fed a normocalcemic diet that is vitamin D deficient with limited ultraviolet (UV) light exposure (group B, n = 8). After 6 weeks, the volumes of respiratory gases were measured by open-circuit indirect calorimetry. Serum irisin, 25-OHVD3, calcium, insulin, and glucose levels were measured using ELISA. The respiratory quotient (RQ), energy expenditure, and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. RESULTS: Rats with hypovitaminosis D were hypoirisinemic. Food intake, RQ (to the range of using endogenous fat), and glucose levels reduced significantly, while insulin levels increased. Body weight and TEE were non-significant changed. Additionally, irisin was strongly and positively correlated with body weight under normal conditions (r = 0.905, p < 0.01), and a moderate negative correlation in group B (r = -0.429, p < 0.05). TEE and irisin showed no significant correlation. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the early changes in energy homeostasis and irisin levels during states of hypovitaminosis D are affected by long-term consumption of a vitamin D-deficient diet with limited UV exposure.