Discovery of putative inhibitors of human Pkd1 enzyme: Molecular docking, dynamics and simulation, QSAR, and MM/GBSA.

Polycystic kidney disease is the most prevalent hereditary kidney disease globally and is mainly linked to the overexpression of a gene called PKD1. To date, there is no effective treatment available for polycystic kidney disease, and the practicing treatments only provide symptomatic relief. Discovery of the compounds targeting the PKD1 gene by inhibiting its expression under the disease condition could be crucial for effective drug development. In this study, a molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, QSAR, and MM/GBSA-based approaches were used to determine the putative inhibitors of the Pkd1 enzyme from a library of 1379 compounds. Initially, fourteen compounds were selected based on their binding affinities with the Pkd1 enzyme using MOE and AutoDock tools. The selected drugs were further investigated to explore their properties as drug candidates and the stability of their complex formation with the Pkd1 enzyme. Based on the physicochemical and ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) properties, and toxicity profiling, two compounds including olsalazine and diosmetin were selected for the downstream analysis as they demonstrated the best drug-likeness properties and highest binding affinity with Pkd1 in the docking experiment. Molecular dynamic simulation using Gromacs further confirmed the stability of olsalazine and diosmetin complexes with Pkd1 and establishing interaction through strong bonding with specific residues of protein. High biological activity and binding free energies of two complexes calculated using 3D QSAR and Schrodinger module, respectively further validated our results. Therefore, the molecular docking and dynamics simulation-based in-silico approach used in this study revealed olsalazine and diosmetin as potential drug candidates to combat polycystic kidney disease by targeting Pkd1 enzyme.

Biovalorization of lignin-derived substrates to vanillylamine via a self-sufficient amino donor and cofactor recycling whole-cell platform.

Lignin valorization through bioconversion to high-value chemicals is crucial for sustainable bioprocessing. Vanillin (VN), a primary lignin derivative, can be transaminated into vanillylamine (VM), a key precursor for capsaicin and pharmaceuticals. This study established a novel self-sufficient redox-complementary whole-cell system, facilitating the recycling of L-alanine and cofactors for efficient VM biosynthesis. Ammonium formate (AF) was employed as amino donor and co-substrate. Recombinant E. coli strain, co-expressing ω-transaminase (CvTA), L-alanine dehydrogenase (ALD), and formate dehydrogenase (FDH), showed higher yield in shorter reaction time compared to the strain expressing only CvTA and ALD. Intermittent feeding strategy was developed to mitigate VN cytotoxicity problem and a remarkable yield of 97.3 ± 1.0% was achieved of VM from 60 mM VN under optimized biotransamination conditions (37 °C, pH 8.0, VN:AF = 1:5, and 1.5 mM NAD+). Notably, a double-plasmid E. coli recombinant harboring CvTA, ALD, FDH, and aromatic dioxygenase (ADO) was constructed to convert isoeugenol into VM with a 73.2 ± 1.1% yield. This efficient biotransamination platform not only offers a sustainable route to VM for capsaicin production but also promotes lignin valorization for a greener bioeconomy.

The therapeutic potential of isosakuranetin against perfluorooctane sulfonate instigated cardiac toxicity via modulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway, inflammatory, apoptotic, and histological profile.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a pervasive organic toxicant that damages body organs, including heart. Isosakuranetin (ISN) is a plant-based flavonoid that exhibits a broad range of pharmacological potentials. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential role of ISN to counteract PFOS-induced cardiac damage in rats. Twenty-four albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were distributed into four groups, including control, PFOS (10 mg/kg) intoxicated, PFOS + ISN (10 mg/kg + 20 mg/kg) treated, and ISN (20 mg/kg) alone supplemented group. It was revealed that PFOS intoxication reduced the expressions of Nrf-2 and its antioxidant genes while escalating the expression of Keap-1. Furthermore, PFOS exposure reduced the activities of glutathione reductase (GSR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione (GSH) contents while upregulating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Besides, PFOS administration upregulated the levels of creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin I, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Moreover, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were increased after PFOS intoxication. Additionally, PFOS exposure downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 while upregulating the expressions of Bax and Caspase-3. Furthermore, PFOS administration disrupted the normal architecture of cardiac tissues. Nonetheless, ISN treatment remarkably protected the cardiac tissues via regulating aforementioned dysregulations owing to its antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties.

Sudachitin Alleviates Paraquat Instigated Testicular Toxicity in Albino Rats via Regulating Nrf-2/Keap-1, Inflammatory, Steroidogenic, and Histological Profile.

Paraquat (PQ) is a noxious herbicide which adversely affects the vital organs including male reproductive system. Sudachitin (SCN) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that demonstrates a wide range of biological potentials. The current study was designed to investigate the alleviative potential of SCN to avert PQ-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Forty-eight male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were apportioned into four groups including control, PQ (5 mg/kg), PQ + SCN (5 mg/kg + 30 mg/kg), and SCN (30 mg/kg) only treated group. Our findings elucidated that PQ treatment reduced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and its antioxidant genes as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GSR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), while elevating the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, PQ intoxication upregulated the expressions of Keap-1 while downregulating the expression of 3-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD), 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Moreover, sperm anomalies were increased following the exposure to PQ. Besides, PQ exposure decreased the levels of plasma testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) while increasing the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Additionally, PQ treatment escalated the expressions of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases-3 (Caspase-3) and Bcl-2-associated X-protein (Bax) while downregulating the expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). Furthermore, PQ exposure disrupted the normal architecture of testicular tissues. However, SCN treatment remarkably protected the testicular tissues via regulating the aforementioned disruptions owing to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and androgenic potential.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Bioactivity of Mangifera indica Seed-Wrapped Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

In the realm of nanoparticles, metal-based nanoparticles have traditionally been regarded as the pioneering category. Compared to other nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles have several advantages, including optical and biological properties, which provide them a significant competitive advantage in clinical and biological applications. In the current investigation, we used an aqueous Mangifera indica seed extract to synthesize nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs). UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, atomic force spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the synthesized ZnO NPs. The nanoparticles were assessed for their potential to inhibit bacterial growth and protect cells from free radical damage. According to the current study's findings, zinc oxide nanoparticles that had been modified with the aid of mango seeds were very efficient in preventing the development of the tested bacteria and were also powerful antioxidants.

Assessment of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in Cirrhinus mrigala induced by trypan blue - An azo dye.

Cytotoxicity in freshwater fishes induced by industrial effluents and dyes is a global issue. Trypan blue dye has many applications in different sectors, including laboratories and industries. This study determines to detect the cytotoxic effects of trypan blue dye in vivo. The objective of this study was to estimate the sub-lethal effects of azodye in fish. Cirrhinus mrigala, a freshwater fish, was exposed to three different grading concentrations of dye 5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 20 mg/L in a glass aquarium. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the weight of fish was observed as 0.728 ± 0.14 g and 2.232 ± 0.24 g, respectively, in the trial groups exposed to 10 and 20 mg/L of dye in a week. After exposure to trypan blue dye, fishes were dissected to remove liver and kidney tissues. Histopathological assessments determined hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by trypan blue through the paraffin wax method. This dye induces mild alterations in the liver such as congestion, hemolysis, dilated sinusoids, ruptured hepatocytes, vacuolization, edema of hepatocytes, necrosis, degeneration, aggregation, and inflammation. This dye not only alters liver tissue, also induces an acute level of tissue alterations in the kidneys, such as degeneration of epithelial cells of renal tubules, shrinkage of the glomerulus, congestion, reduced lumen, degeneration of glomerulus, absence of space of bowmen, glomerulonephritis, necrosis in hematopoietic interstitial tissues and glomerulus, reduced lumen, vacuolar degeneration of renal tubules, increased per tubular space. The current study concludes that trypan blue dye released even in small amounts is found to be associated with a high incidence of cytotoxicity. Such tissue alterations in this species could be used as biomarkers for azo dyes.

Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Short Molecule, PS14 Derived from the Virulent Cellulose Binding Domain of Aphanomyces invadans, on Human Laryngeal Epithelial Cells and an In Vivo Zebrafish Embryo Model.

In this study, the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities of PS14, a short peptide derived from the cellulase binding domain of pathogenic fungus, Aphanomyces invadans, have been evaluated, in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis of PS14 revealed the physicochemical properties and the web-based predictions, which indicate that PS14 is non-toxic, and it has the potential to elicit anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. These in silico results were experimentally validated through in vitro (L6 or Hep-2 cells) and in vivo (zebrafish embryo or larvae) models. Experimental results showed that PS14 is non-toxic in L6 cells and the zebrafish embryo, and it elicits an antitumor effect Hep-2 cells and zebrafish embryos. Anticancer activity assays, in terms of MTT, trypan blue and LDH assays, showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. Moreover, in the epithelial cancer cells and zebrafish embryos, the peptide challenge (i) caused significant changes in the cytomorphology and induced apoptosis; (ii) triggered ROS generation; and (iii) showed a significant up-regulation of anti-cancer genes including BAX, Caspase 3, Caspase 9 and down-regulation of Bcl-2, in vitro. The anti-inflammatory activity of PS14 was observed in the cell-free in vitro assays for the inhibition of proteinase and lipoxygenase, and heat-induced hemolysis and hypotonicity-induced hemolysis. Together, this study has identified that PS14 has anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, while being non-toxic, in vitro and in vivo. Future experiments can focus on the clinical or pharmacodynamics aspects of PS14.

Design and development of porous terracotta disc: An eco-friendly novel control agent for mosquito larvae.

In the present work, we synthesized silver nanoparticles supported by rice husk by hydrothermal treatment, as-synthesized silver nanoparticles rice husk (AgNPs-RH) bio-composite mixed with potter clay thoroughly, molded, dried into a disc-shaped before firing and applying as a point of use larvicidal agent. As designed, porous terracotta disc (PTD) infused with AgNPs-RH-biocomposite were characterized by UV spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The amount of silver ions released from the PTD was also found to be within the prescribed limit of 0.1 ppm-level. Later we dropped the PTD and tested its larvicidal activity against the IVth instar larva stage of Aedes, Anopheles and Culex species. We found 100% larvicidal mortality in 24 h of exposure to the designed PTD and the amount of silver released from the porous disc was found to be 0.0343 ppm. Further from the histopathological studies of dead larvae revealed that the silver ions from the PTD have substantially damaged the exoskeleton of larvae.

Ecotoxicity of neonicotinoids and diamides on population growth performance of Zygogramma bicolorata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

Relative ecotoxicity of approved neonicotinoids (i.e. imidacloprid, clothianidin, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran) and diamides (i.e. chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole and flubendiamide) was examined on population growth parameters of Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister on parthenium under laboratory conditions at 27 ± 1 °C, 65 ± 5% relative humidity and 10 L : 14D photoperiod. The dose of all tested insecticides in the bioassay procedure was within a minimum range of their recommended field rate. In acute toxicity trial, imidacloprid caused highest rate of mortality in treated adults of Z. bicolorata, however, it was lowest in flubendiamide treatment followed by cyantraniliprole and chlorantraniliprole. Further, based on toxicity coefficient (E) value in acute toxicity trial, all were classified as harmful (H) and diamides were classified as moderately harmful (MH) as per IOBC classification. Moreover, chronic toxicity trials were carried out through life table response experiments (LTREs) in the F1 progeny of acute toxicity experienced group. Prolonged development with the highest mortality was evident in as compared to diamides. Furthermore, population growth parameters i.e. potential fecundity (Pf), natality rate (mx), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), net reproductive rate (R0) and finite rate of increase (λ) was greatly reduced in Z. bicolorata treated with neonicotinoids as compared with diamides. However, mean generation time (Tc), corrected generation time (τ) and the doubling time (DT) was prolonged in neonicotinoids followed by diamides. Furthermore, proportion of females was greatly reduced (0.43-0.48 females) in neonicotinoids as comparison to diamides (0.53-0.55 females) and control (0.67 females). On the basis of ecotoxicity trials, the tested neonicotinoids were highly toxic to Z. bicolorata than diamides. Therefore, diamide insecticides could be used with Z. bicolorata, however, for validation experimentation need to be done under natural field conditions.

DNA-Mediated Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks for Ultrasensitive Photoelectrochemical Enzyme-Free Immunoassay.

A novel enzyme-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunoassay was developed for the ultrasensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) based on the DNA-mediated nanoscale zirconium-porphyrin MOFs (NMOFs). By virtue of the intrinsic coordination between unsaturated zirconium sites of the NMOFs frameworks and phosphonate groups, the 5'-phosphorylared ss-DNA-tagged antibody (Ab-DNA) conjugate with a consecutive stretch of guanines as a spacer could be loaded on the NMOFs easily, obtaining a novel type of Ab-DNA-functionalized NMOFs complex. Additionally, as a photocathode PEC active nanomaterial, NMOFs exhibited a significant enhanced photocurrent response with the presence of dopamine under oxygen-containing aqueous media at -0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Furthermore, with the aid of the electrochemical grafting of polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers functionalized interface, the novel type of Ab-DNA-NMOFs further served as a PEC signal nanoprobe for the ultrasensitive PSA immunoassay. Under optimal conditions, the corresponding immunosensor possessed a wide calibration range of 1 pg mL-1 to 10 ng mL-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 pg mL-1. This present work demonstrated the promising application of DNA-mediated NMOFs in developing highly sensitive, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective PEC biosensors.

Ethanol Extract of Cissus quadrangularis Enhances Osteoblast Differentiation and Mineralization of Murine Pre-Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells.

Traditional medicinal literature and previous studies have reported the possible role of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) as an anti-osteoporotic agent. This study examines the effectiveness of CQ in promoting osteoblast differentiation of the murine pre-osteoblast cell line, MC3T3-E1. Ethanolic extract of CQ (CQ-E) was found to affect growth kinetics of MC3T3-E1 cells in a dosage-dependent manner. High concentrations of CQ-E (more than 10 µg/ml) have particularly adverse effects, while lower concentrations of 0.1 and 1 µg/ml were non-toxic and did not affect cell viability. Notably, cell proliferation was significantly increased at the lower concentrations of CQ-E. CQ-E treatment also augmented osteoblast differentiation, as reflected by a substantial increase in expression of the early osteoblast marker ALP activity, and at later stage, by mineralization of extracellular matrix compared to the control group. These findings suggest dose-dependent effect of CQ-E with lower concentrations exhibiting anabolic and osteogenic properties. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 540-547, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Crosstalk Between K ras (Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homologue) and Adherence Molecular Complex Leads to Disassociation of Cells-A Possible Contribution Towards Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer.

Constitutive activation of mutant K ras (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue) and disassembly of E-cadherin-catenin complex (E-cadherin, α-catenin, ß-catenin, and γ-catenin) play an important role in apoptosis, differentiation, and cell proliferation. In this study, the expression pattern of K ras and E-cadherin-catenin complex has been evaluated in normal and mutant colorectal cancer cell lines with an object to determine its impact on disassociation of cells from one another. We addressed the expression analysis of K ras with reference to its association with adherence molecules in two colorectal cancer cell lines, that is, Caco-2 (wild type K ras served as a control) and DLD1 (heterozygous mutation at codon 13) at message level by qRT-PCR and translational level by western blotting. Compared to the control Caco-2 cell lines, the K ras in DLD1 cell lines showed slightly higher values while α-catenin showed a slight lower (1.3-folds), ß-catenin and E-cadherin showed significantly lower expression (4.2-fold decrease). It can be inferred that a possible cross talk exists between K ras and adherent junction mediated signalling. Mutation at codon 13 (G to D) leads to the overexpression of K ras and reduced expression of adherent junction complex resulting in metastasis. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2340-2345, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Molecular Characterization of a Copper Metallothionein Gene From a Ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis.

A new copper metallothionein (TfCuMT) gene has been identified from a locally isolated ciliate Tetrahymena farahensis. It contains 327 nucleotides encoding a peptide chain of 108 amino acids and belongs to class MTT2 and subfamily 7b. Amplification from both gDNA and mRNA confirmed the intronless nature of this gene. Like most of the metallohtioneins, cysteine residues contribute nearly 30% content with the specific CKC motifs. Structural repeats present in peptide sequence of TfCuMT indicate internal duplication of gene at some stage of gene evolution. The predicted model of copper metallothionein protein showed that copper ions are mainly chelated by thiol sulfur of cysteine residues and are embedded in the folds of polypeptide chain. For in vivo expression of TfCuMT in Escherichia coli host cells the classical stop codons, which coded for glutamine in the ciliate were mutated to CAA and CAG through site directed mutagenesis. The mutated gene showed higher expression in pET28a expression vector compared with pET21a. Optimum expression was obtained after 6-8 h of 0.1 mM IPTG induction. Stability of His tagged TfCuMT in 5% SDS was low, with half-life of about 104 min. Presence of 1.0 µM copper increased the expression level by 1.65-fold. Presence of 100 µM Cysteine in culture medium caused 2.4-fold increase in expression level. His tagged TfCuMT was purified through affinity chromatography using NTN-His binding resin in the presence of 0.1 M imidazole and NaCl. The modeled structure of the TfCuMT showed a cleft for Cu binding with correct orientation of Cys residues in the motif CKC. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1843-1854, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An Easily Fabricated Electrochemical Sensor Based on a Graphene-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Determination of Octopamine and Tyramine.

A simple electrochemical sensor has been developed for highly sensitive detection of octopamine and tyramine by electrodepositing reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) nanosheets onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrocatalytic oxidation of octopamine and tyramine is individually investigated at the surface of the ERGO modified glassy carbon electrode (ERGO/GCE) by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Several essential factors including the deposition cycle of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets and the pH of the running buffer were investigated in order to determine the optimum conditions. Furthermore, the sensor was applied to the quantification of octopamine and tyramine by DPV in the concentration ranges from 0.5 to 40 µM and 0.1 to 25 µM, respectively. In addition, the limits of detection of octopamine and tyramine were calculated to be 0.1 µM and 0.03 µM (S/N = 3), respectively. The sensor showed good reproducibility, selectivity and stability. Finally, the sensor successfully detected octopamine and tyramine in commercially available beer with satisfactory recovery ranges which were 98.5%-104.7% and 102.2%-103.1%, respectively. These results indicate the ERGO/GCE based sensor is suitable for the detection of octopamine and tyramine.

Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Differential Gene Expression of Amur Ide (Leuciscus waleckii) during Spawning Migration.

Amur ide (Leuciscus waleckii), an important aquaculture species, inhabits neutral freshwater but can tolerate high salinity or alkalinity. As an extreme example, the population in Dali Nor lake inhabits alkalized soda water permanently, and migrates from alkaline water to neutral freshwater to spawn. In this study, we performed comparative transcriptome profiling study on the livers of Amur ide to interrogate the expression differences between the population that permanently inhabit freshwater in Ganggeng Nor lake (FW) and the spawning population that recently migrated from alkaline water into freshwater (SM). A total of 637,234,880 reads were generated, resulting in 53,440 assembled contigs that were used as reference sequences. Comparisons of these transcriptome files revealed 444 unigenes with significant differential expression (p-value ≤ 0.01, fold-change ≥ 2), including 246 genes that were up-regulated in SM and 198 genes that were up-regulated in FW. The gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the mTOR signaling pathway, Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway, and oxidative phosphorylation were highly likely to affect physiological changes during spawning migration. Overall, this study demonstrates that transcriptome changes played a role in Amur ide spawning migration. These results provide a foundation for further analyses on the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying Amur ide spawning migration.

Gene Expression Variations of Red-White Skin Coloration in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio).

Teleosts have more types of chromatophores than other vertebrates and the genetic basis for pigmentation is highly conserved among vertebrates. Therefore, teleosts are important models to study the mechanism of pigmentation. Although functional genes and genetic variations of pigmentation have been studied, the mechanisms of different skin coloration remains poorly understood. The koi strain of common carp has various colors and patterns, making it a good model for studying the genetic basis of pigmentation. We performed RNA-sequencing for red skin and white skin and identified 62 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Most of them were validated with RT-qPCR. The up-regulated DEGs in red skin were enriched in Kupffer's vesicle development while the up-regulated DEGs in white skin were involved in cytoskeletal protein binding, sarcomere organization and glycogen phosphorylase activity. The distinct enriched activity might be associated with different structures and functions in erythrophores and iridophores. The DNA methylation levels of two selected DEGs inversely correlated with gene expression, indicating the participation of DNA methylation in the coloration. This expression characterization of red-white skin along with the accompanying transcriptome-wide expression data will be a useful resource for further studies of pigment cell biology.

Accumulation of heavy metals in the fish, Oreochromis niloticus and Poecilia latipinna and their concentration in water and sediment of dam lake of Wadi Namar, Saudi Arabia.

The present study reports the accumulation of heavy metals like Cu, Hg, Cd, Pb and Cr in different tissues viz. liver, kidney, gills and muscles of Oreochromisniloticus and Poecilia latipinna from two sites in dam lake of Wadi Namar. Water and sediment samples were also collected from two sites for heavy metal analysis. Metal concentration in water and sediment samples of both the sites were observed in the following order: Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd>Hg; however, their concentration was found to be more at site 2 as compared to site 1. The order of metal accumulation in different tissues of O. niloticus and P. latipinna was in the following order: Cu>Cr>Pb>Cd>Hg at both the sites, while liver accumulated maximum amounts of metals followed by kidney, gills and muscles. The results showed the site 2 was more polluted by metals than Site 1 and O. niloticus accumulated greater amount of metals than P. latipinna.

A convenient strategy for mitigating microplastics in wastewater treatment using natural light and ZnO nanoparticles as photocatalysts: A mechanistic study.

Polypropylene microplastics (PPMPs) are one of the major emerging contaminants in the ecosystem due to their frequent usage and improper disposal practices. These PPMPs enter ecosystems via wastewater effluent plants and cause severe environmental health issues. In addition, quantifying PPMPs smaller than 50 µm in wastewater plant extraction is very difficult. Thus, the current study was designed to mitigate the PPMPs using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) as a photocatalyst under sunlight. The photocatalytic reaction was examined using spectroscopic techniques and microscopic imaging. The findings indicated that the weight loss percentage of PPMPs increased, and a decrease in UV-Vis DRS peak intensities was observed. The spectroscopic results elucidated the formation of free radicals, which affect the PPMPs and lead to the formation of carbonyl, allylic, and unsaturated groups. Further, EDS reports clarified that there is increased oxygen content due to the photooxidation process and the disintegration of the polymer chain owing to decreased carbon levels. Overall, ZnO photocatalyst absorbs photons from the visible spectrum of sunlight and forms free radicals, which affect the PPMPs to initiate polymer deterioration. Also, the current study revealed the mechanistic pathway of PPMP degradation under the photocatalytic reaction as proposed in the results obtained above.

Effects of the medicinal plant, Tamarindus indica, as a potential supplement, on growth, nutrient digestibility, body composition and hematological indices of Cyprinus carpio fingerlings.

Tamarindus indica, a beneficial herb, has many health benefits but there is limited research on its use in fish nutrition industry. The current study investigated the effects of incorporating extracts of T. indica into the canola meal-based diets of Cyprinus carpio (common carp); following which, the growth, digestibility, carcass and hematological markers were assessed. A total of six diets were formulated with varying concentrations of T. indica extracts (TIE) viz, 0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, 1.5 %, 2 % and 2.5 %. The fish (N = 270, 15 fish/tank with triplicates) in each tank were fed experimental diets for 70 days. The study demonstrated that TIE supplementation significantly improved the growth of common carp when compared to 0 % TIE level (control). The best results were observed at 1 % TIE level for the specific growth rate (1.68 ± 0.03 %), weight gain (15.00 ± 0.57 g), and feed conversion ratio (1.36 ± 0.05). Conversely, the 2.5 % TIE level gave the least improvement in terms of growth performance. Specifically for nutrient digestibility, the maximum values of crude protein (CP, 67.60 ± 0.83 %), crude fat (CF, 67.49 ± 0.45 %) and gross energy (GE, 70.90 ± 0.56 %) were recorded at 1 % TIE level. In addition, the best results of body composition (protein: 63.92 ± 0.06 %, ash: 18.60 ± 0.03 %, fat: 7.12 ± 0.02 % and moisture: 10.36 ± 0.04 %) and hematological indices, were measured in carps fed with 1 % supplementation level. In conclusion, the overall health of C. carpio fingerlings was improved with TIE supplementation in the diet containing 1 % TIE.

Development of Biodegradable Bioplastics with Sericin and Gelatin from Silk Cocoons and Fish Waste.

The bioplastics sector promotes environmentally friendly means of cutting down on the usage of fossil fuels, plastic waste, and environmental pollution. Plastic contamination has detrimental effects on both ecological systems and the global food supply. The approach we present here to resolve this issue involves the integration of sericin and gelatin, obtained from cocoon and fish waste, respectively, with nano-reinforced cellulose crystals, to develop a biodegradable and compostable plastic material. The use of cocoon and fish wastes for the extraction of sericin and gelatin presents an environmentally beneficial approach since it contributes to waste reduction. The sericin level found in silk cocoon waste was determined to be 28.08%, and the gelatin amount in fish waste was measured to be 58.25%. The inclusion of sericin and gelatin in bioplastics was accompanied by the incorporation of glycerol, vinegar, starch, sodium hydroxide, and other coloring agents. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) examination of bioplastics revealed the presence of functional groups that corresponded to the sericin and gelatin components. The tensile strength of the bioplastic material was measured to be 27.64 MPa/psi, while its thickness varied between 0.072 and 0.316 mm. The results of burial experiments indicated that the bioplastic material had a degradation rate of 85% after 14 days. The invention exhibits potential as a viable alternative for packaging, containment, and disposable plastic materials. The use of this sustainable approach is recommended for the extraction of sericin and gelatin from silk cocoons and fish waste, with the intention of using them as raw materials for bioplastic production.