Moringa Tree, Gift of Nature: a Review on Nutritional and Industrial Potential.

Purpose of Review: Worldwide occurring Moringa plant is commonly famous as a fruit vegetable, known as drumstick or shevga all over India. The miraculous nutritional potential of the drumstick plant was already proved by worldwide research. But in the common population, it is unknown for the nutritional potential of its leaves. The majority of the population is known it only as a fruit vegetable. The Moringa leaves contain almost all essential nutrients, growth factors, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, minerals, and metals like potassium, iron, and zinc. Besides these, nowadays, plant leaves may be used to prepare various nutritional supplements and medicine. Recent Findings: Besides this, this review takes into account some joint efforts of NASI, Allahabad-funded project to use these Moringa leaves for different formulations and its popularization efforts for malnutrition eradication in tribal, i.e., development of recipes of Moringa leaves that will not only make easy preparations but also help to make habitual use of Moringa leaves today. Summary: This review describes the morphology, occurrence, and distribution of Moringa sp., chemical constitutions of Moringa leaves, its potential as anticancer, antidiabetes, and antimicrobial agent and as a nutritional supplement and the commercial future of various products.

Integrated Genomic and Functional Characterization of the Anti-diabetic Potential of Arthrobacter sp. SW1.

For decades, bacterial natural products have served as valuable resources for developing novel drugs to treat several human diseases. Recent advancements in the integrative approach of using genomic and functional tools have proved beneficial in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these biomolecules. This study presents an in-depth characterization of the anti-diabetic activity exhibited by a bacterial isolate SW1, isolated from an effluent treatment plant. As a primary screening, we assessed the isolate for its potential to inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. Upon confirmation, we further utilized LC-MS, ESI-MS/MS, and NMR spectroscopy to identify and characterize the biomolecule. These efforts were coupled with the genomic assessment of the biosynthetic gene cluster involved in the anti-diabetic compound production. Our investigation discovered that the isolate SW1 inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. The chemical analysis suggested the production of acarbose, an anti-diabetic biomolecule, which was further confirmed by the presence of biosynthetic gene cluster "acb" in the genome. Our in-depth chemical characterization and genome mining approach revealed the potential of bacteria from an unconventional niche, an effluent treatment plant. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of the first few reports of acarbose production from the genus Arthrobacter.

Production and characterization of multifacet exopolysaccharide from an agricultural isolate, Bacillus subtilis.

This study aims to explore the fermentative production and physicochemical properties of an exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced from agricultural isolate, Bacillus subtilis S1 in submerged culture. The structural characterization (Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 13 C Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry) revealed that the EPS is an acidic heteropolymer consisting of glucose, glucuronic acid, pyruvic acid, and succinic acid. The non-Newtonian shear thickening nature of EPS with a 1.55 × 107  Da molecular weight is confirmed by rheology analysis. The extracted EPS was 61.3% amorphous with partial crystallinity (38.7%) as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The EPS shows two-step decomposition and thermal stability up to 300 °C as confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The EPS has a small Z-average particle size (74.29 nm), high porosity (92.99%), high water holding (92.39%), and absorption capacity (1,198%). The biocompatible nature is confirmed by cytotoxic testing on the human keratinocytes cell line. The demonstrated unique characteristics of Bacillus EPS presents it as a choice of biomaterial for diverse applications.

A novel screening method for potential naringinase-producing microorganisms.

Naringinase has high industrial importance, and the progress in naringinase research is still quite slow. The unavailability of an effective, simple screening method, which will be applicable to different microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes, is one of the main reasons for this gap. Therefore, a simple plate assay was developed for effective screening of microorganisms for naringinase by exposing to iodine vapors. This plate assay will fill the technological void for simple screening method and will lead to screen more potent industrially important naringinase-producing microorganisms.

Enterobacillus tribolii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from the gut of a red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Two novel Gram-stain negative facultative anaerobic, motile, rod-shaped bacterial strains IG-V01(T) and IG-V01b were isolated from the gut of red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains IG-V01(T) and IG-V01b were found to have their highest sequence similarity (96.5% and 96.4%) with Serratia nematodiphila DZ0503SBS1(T) (Enterobacteriaceae family) respectively. Strains IG-V01(T) and IG-V01b share 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and exhibit very similar phenotypic characteristics. In addition, they show 89.7% genomic relatedness (DNA-DNA hybridisation). Major fatty acids were identified to be C(16:0) (38.3%), C(17:0) cyclo (19.5-20%) and C(14:0) (11.2-11.3%). Cells contain phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol as predominant polar lipids. Genomic DNA G+C content (mol%) was determined to be 51.5-51.7. A polyphasic approach employing the study of morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two newly isolated strains cannot be placed in any of the existing genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Therefore, it is proposed that strains IG-V01(T) and IG-V01b belong to a novel genus within the family Enterobacteriaceae, and represent a new species Enterobacillus tribolii gen. nov., sp. nov., with the type strain =IG-V01(T) = KCTC 42159(T) = MCC 2532(T).

2-Methyl-4-oxo-N-(4-oxo-2-phenyl substituted-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-5-carboxamides--a new range of fluorescent whiteners: synthesis and photophysical characterization.

Fluorescent quinazolinones were synthesized form ethyl 2-methyl-4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline -5-carboxylate intermediate. The photophysical properties of the compounds were evaluated in DMF solvent. The experimental absorption and emission of the compounds were compared with the vertical excitation and emission obtained Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) computation. Application of the fluorescent compounds as a fluorescent brightening agent was tested on polyester fiber. Changes in the electronic transition, energy levels, and orbital diagrams of quinazolin-4(3H)-one analogues were investigated using the DFT computations and were correlated with the experimental spectral data. The experimental absorption and emission wavelengths are in good agreement with those predicted using the DFT and TD-DFT.

TDDFT investigation of the electronic structures and photophysical properties of fluorescent extended styryl push-pull chromophores containing carbazole unit.

Push-pull chromophores attached to carbazole based π-conjugating spacers bearing N-alkylamino donors, cyanovinyl and carbethoxy acceptors have been studied by the means of UV-Visible measurements. The intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) of these π-conjugated systems has also been tested by investigating the ability of the solute molecules to undergo shifts in their fluorescence emission maxima with increasing solvent polarity. Density Functional Theory [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] and Time Dependent Density Functional Theory [TD-B3LYP/6-31G(d)] computations have been used to have more understanding of the structural, molecular, electronic and photophysical parameters of push-pull dyes. The largest wavelength difference between the experimental and computed electronic absorption maxima was 45 nm. For emission, a largest difference of 61 nm was observed. The ground state and excited state dipole moments in different solvents were determined using experimental solvatochromic data and computed Onsager radii. The dipole moments of the molecules in the excited state were observed to be higher than in the ground state.

Synthesis, photo-physical and DFT studies of ESIPT inspired novel 2-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole.

Novel ESIPT inspired benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole were synthesized from 2,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid and 1,2-phenelenediamine, 2-aminophenol, and 2-aminothiophenol respectively. The synthesized 2-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl) benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole are fluorescent and the emission characteristic are very sensitive to the micro-environment. They show a single absorption and dual emission with large Stokes shift originating from excited state intramolecular proton transfer. The absorption-emission characteristics of all these compounds are studied as a function of pH. The change in the electronic transition, energy levels, and orbital diagrams of synthesized compounds were investigated by the molecular orbital calculation and were correlated with the experimental spectral emission. Experimental absorption and emission wavelengths are in good agreement with those predicted using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) [B3LYP/6-31G(d)].

Synthesis and photo-physical characteristics of ESIPT inspired 2-substituted benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole fluorescent derivatives.

Novel 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol, 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol, 2-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-5-(N,N-diethylamino) phenol and their derivatives have been synthesized from p-N,N-diethyl amino salicylaldehyde with different substituted o-phenylenediamine or o-aminophenol or o-aminothiophenol and their photo-physical properties were studied. Effects of solvent polarity in the absorption-emission properties of synthesized compounds were investigated. All these compounds shows excited state intra-molecular proton transfer pathway having single absorption and dual emission characteristics. The fluorescent compounds were characterised by FT-IR, (1)HNMR, (13)C NMR and Mass spectral analysis. TGA analysis showed these compounds are thermally stable up to 200 °C.

Synthesis of new ESIPT-fluorescein: photophysics of pH sensitivity and fluorescence.

ESIPT-inspired benzimidazolyl substituted fluorescein dyes were synthesized. PH-sensitivity was determined by the photophysical property measured at a physiological possible pH range. Fluorescence quantum efficiency values were calculated independently at two different emissions. A rational relationship is defined between fluorescence quantum efficiency and calculated HOMO energy.

Synthesis and photo-physical properties of fluorescent 1,3,5-triazine styryl derivatives.

BACKGROUND: Organic fluorophore contains well-defined D-π-A (Donor-π system-Acceptor) push-pull system have wide application in the field of NLO, OLED and high tech application. Electron donor diphenyl, triphenyl and carbazole conjugated with electron acceptor terminal through π-system were reported recently for high-tech applications. N,N-Dialkyl substituted 1,3,5-triazine also acts as donor keeping this idea in mind we developed D-π-A styryl dyes. RESULTS: Novel "Y"-shaped acceptor-π-donor-π-acceptor type of compounds were synthesized from 4,4'-((6-(4-(diethylamino)phenyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4diyl)bis(oxy)) dibenzaldehyde (DIPOD) as electron donors and different active methylene compounds as electron acceptors by conventional Knoevenagel condensation reaction. Their photophysical and thermal properties were investigated. CONCLUSION: It was found that the strong electron acceptor-donor chromophoric system of these compounds showed high Stoke's shift and excellent thermal stability. Compounds showed positive solvatofluorism behavior from nonpolar to polar solvent. All compounds have good thermal stability.

Synthesis and characterization of novel 2, 2'-bipyrimidine fluorescent derivative for protein binding.

BACKGROUND: Fluorescent dyes with biocompatible functional group and good fluorescence behavior are used as biosensor for monitoring different biological processes as well as detection of protein assay. All reported fluorophore used as sensors are having high selectivity and sensitivity but till there is more demand to synthesized new fluorophore which have improved fluorescence properties and good biocompatibility. RESULTS: Novel 4, 4'-(1, 1'-(5-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-[2, 2'-bipyrimidine]-4, 6-diyl)bis(1H-pyrazol-3, 1-diyl)) dianiline fluorescent dye was synthesized by multistep synthesis from 2-phenylacetonitrile, 2-chloropyrimidine and 2-methoxyphenol. This dye has absorption at 379 nm with intense single emission at 497 nm having fairly good quantum yield (0.375) and Stokes shift. The intermediates and dye were characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectral analysis. The pyrazole bipyrimidine based fluorescent dye possessing two amino groups suitable for binding with protein is reported. Its utility as a biocompatible conjugate was explained by conjugation with bovine serum albumin. The method is based on direct fluorescence detection of fluorophore-labelled protein before and after conjugation. Purified fluorescent conjugate was subsequently analyzed by fluorimetry. The analysis showed that the tested conjugation reaction yielded fluorescent conjugates of the dye through carbodiimide chemistry. CONCLUSION: In summery synthesized fluorophore pyrazole-bipyrimidine has very good interaction towards protein bovine serum albumin and it acts as good candidate for protein assay.

Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal Properties, and Antimicrobial Activities of 5-(Diethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol and Its Transition Metal Complexes.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of new metal [Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), and Fe(II)] complexes from 5-(diethylamino)-2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol are described. The newly synthesized ligands were characterized by IR, (1)H NMR, and LC-MS analysis, and metal-ligand complex formations were confirmed by using atomic absorption spectroscopy and elemental analysis. All complexes show significant in vitro antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus strains and in vitro antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger strains by using serial dilution method. The antibacterial activities were expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in µg/mL. Thermal properties and electrochemical behavior of novel transition metal complexes have been studied.