An industrially potent rhamnolipid-like biosurfactant produced from a novel oil-degrading bacterium, Bacillus velezensis S2.

Surfactants can reduce the interfacial surface tension between two immiscible liquids making them a desirable component for various industrial applications. However, the toxic nature of chemical surfactants brought immense attention towards biosurfactants. Being biodegradable, biosurfactants are eco-friendly and considered safer for different commercial uses. This study focused on the production of biosurfactant from an oil-degrading bacteria and its functional efficacy for prospective industrial applications. Here, a promising oil-tolerant strain, Bacillus velezensis S2 was isolated from oil contaminated sites which showed >50% degradation of convoluted crude oil within 28 days in comparison to a control. The isolate was then found to produce an excellent surface-active compound with an emulsification index of 67.30 ± 0.8% and could reduce the surface tension up to 36.86 ± 0.36 mN m-1. It also manifested a critical micelle concentration of 45 mg L-1 while reducing the surface tension from 72 to 30 mN m-1. When extracting biosurfactant from isolated bacteria, ethyl acetate extraction showed 1.5 times greater efficacy than chloroform : methanol extraction. The purified biosurfactant was characterized using TLC, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, elemental analyses and spectrophotometric techniques leading to its identification as a rhamnolipid. The stability of produced biosurfactant at higher temperature (up to 180 °C) was determined by thermal analysis, endorsing its application in high temperature reservoir conditions. Additionally, the extracted biosurfactant showed excellent foaming efficacy with insignificant antibacterial and cytotoxic responses, which indicates their potential application in cleaning and cosmetics industries. Thus, the present study outlines a bi-functional novel isolate Bacillus velezensis S2 which could play a significant role in oil remediation from the environment as well as serve as a potential source of non-toxic and eco-friendly biosurfactants for various industrial applications.

Novel Products as Promising Therapeutic Agents for Angiogenesis Inhibition.

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis is the process of forming new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels and occurs during development, wound healing, and tumor growth. In this review, we aimed to present a comprehensive view of various factors contributing to angiogenesis during carcinogenesis. Anti-angiogenesis agents prevent or slow down cancer growth by interrupting the nutrients and blood supply to the tumor cells, and thus can prove beneficial for treatment. METHOD: The discovery of several novel angiogenic inhibitors has helped to reduce both morbidity and mortality from several life-threatening diseases, such as carcinomas. There is an urgent need for a new comprehensive treatment strategy combining novel anti-angiogenic agents for the control of cancer. The article contains details of various angiogenic inhibitors that have been adopted by scientists to formulate and optimize such systems in order to make them suitable for cancer. RESULTS: The results of several researches have been summarized in the article and all of the data support the claim that anti-angiogenic agent is beneficial for cancer treatment. CONCLUSION: This review focuses on novel antiangiogenic agents that play a crucial role in controlling carcinogenesis.

Explicit mechanistic insights of Prosopis juliflora extract in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats at the molecular level.

Background: The Ancient system of medicine showed the limelight on the use of herbal remedies and was found to possess minimal side effects and acceptable therapeutic outcomes. In this context, Prosopis juliflora gained importance in managing chronic diseases such as cancer, dermatological diseases, and chronic inflammatory disorders. Hence, P. juliflora was selected for further investigation associated with diabetes and inflammation. Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic activity in chemically induced experimental rats and explore the nature of phytocomponents that may produce this activity. Methods: Experimentally, diabetes was induced by a single administration of streptozotocin at 50 mg/kg intraperitoneally in Wistar rats. The animals were treated orally with P. juliflora at low and high doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 10 days. Blood collected from the retro-orbital plexus was analyzed for parameters like blood glucose levels, insulin, adiponectin, Keap1 and Nrf2. PPAR-γ, AMPK and GLUT 2 levels were analyzed in the pancreatic tissue. Besides, at the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed, and the pancreatic tissue sections were subjected for histopathological, morphometrical and immune histochemical exploration. The phytochemical composition of the plant was investigated by GC-MS. Results: The administration of P. juliflora higher dose showed a significant decrease (**p< 0.001) in blood glucose levels with a rise in adiponectin, PPARγ, Keap1, Nrf2, Glut 2, and AMPK significantly (**p< 0.001). The inflammatory cytokine TNFα was also estimated and was found to be lowered significantly (**p< 0.001) in test drug-treated animals. Furthermore, in the pancreatic tissue, the number of Islets, the area, and the number of ß-cells were improved significantly with the sub-chronic treatment of P. juliflora extract. The structure and function of ß-cells were also revamped. Conclusion: The study results demonstrated a significant effect of P. juliflora on glycemic status, inflammatory condition, and the architecture of pancreatic tissue. In the identification and isolation process by GC MS, it was noticed that P. juliflora contained few phytochemical constituents from which it might be considered a promising drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Dissemination and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediment of Buriganga and Dhaleswari rivers of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Concentration, source, ecological and health risks of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were estimated for water and sediment samples of two urban rivers namely Buriganga River (BR) and Dhaleswari River (DR). The mean concentration of ∑PAHs in BR water and sediment were 9619.2 ngL-1 and 351.6 ngg-1, respectively. Furthermore, the average PAH concentrations detected in DR water and sediment were 1979.1 ngL-1 and 792.9 ngg-1, respectively. The composition profile showed that 3-ring PAHs were dominant in the water matrix; however, 5-ring PAHs were prevalent in the sediment samples of both rivers. Sources apportion study of PAHs indicated that mixed combustion and petroleum sources are responsible for PAHs contamination in the rivers. Ecological risk study of water suggested that the aquatic lives of both rivers are threatened by Fla, BbF, BkF, DahA, and IcdP, as presented above the threshold level. Comparison with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that adverse effects might cause occasionally in the sediment ecosystem in DR at certain sampling sites for Nap, Acy, Fl, Phe, Ant, Pyr, Chr, BaP, and DahA. On the other hand, the presence of Nap, Acy and DahA might occasionally cause adverse biological effects in the BR sediment ecosystem. Estimated hazard quotient (HI > 1) and carcinogenic risk (CRtotal > 10-4) values indicated that local inhabitants living in the vicinity of the rivers are prone to high health risks.

Development of a fabricated first-flush rainwater harvested technology to meet up the freshwater scarcity in a South Asian megacity, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The scarcity of freshwater in most of the megacities in the world is an important concern. In this regard, scientifically harvested rainwater could provide an effective measure to this crisis. In this attempt, we developed a cost-effective sensor-based automated first-flush rainwater harvesting system (RHS) to improve the freshwater scarcity and economic development of megacities like Dhaka, Bangladesh. To investigate the performance of the developed system, a suit of representative rainwater samples was systematically collected, preserved, and assessed between the months of July-December 2021 for water quality parameters such as physicochemical (pH, EC, TDS, DO, hardness, and alkalinity), anions (F-, Cl-, NO2 -, NO3 -, Br-, and SO4 2-), elemental (Ca, Mg, Cr, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Be, Ni, Se, and Fe), and microbial contamination analysis. A Multiparameter digital meter and a titrimetric method were employed for measuring the physicochemical properties whereas elemental concentration was detected using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and atomic absorption spectrometer. The changes in microbial contamination in the preserved rainwater were investigated from time to time during the whole experimental period. The findings showed that the mean pH (6.90) and concentrations (mg/L) of other concerning parameters such as TDS (15.5), DO (7.26), hardness (14.9), Cl- (3.59), NO3 - (4.84), SO4 2- (4.62), Fe (<0.2), Cr (0.086 µg/L), As (0.224 µg/L), Cd (0.260 µg/L), Hg (0.270 µg/L), and Pb (5.530 µg/L) in the harvested rainwater samples were below the WHO drinking water guidelines and literature data implying that the harvested rainwater derived from the developed RHS is completely safe for drinking and other uses even in respect to the microbial contamination (total bacterial counts: 0-15 CFU/mL, and total and fecal coliform less than 1.8 MPN/100 mL) for long storage. Hence, this technology has a huge opportunity to mitigate safe freshwater scarcity and groundwater depletion issues, especially in megacities such as Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Phytochemical, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Evaluation of Tribulus terrestris L., Typha domingensis Pers., and Ricinus communis L.: Scientific Evidences for Folkloric Uses.

Many medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries despite the lack of scientific evidence of their therapeutic effects. This study evaluated the phytochemical and dual biological profiling, namely, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties, of three plant species, namely, Tribulus terrestris L., Typha domingensis Pers., and Ricinus communis L., in order to explore potential relationships (if any) with their ethnopharmacological uses. GC-MS was used to achieve phytochemical screening of two plant extracts (T. terrestris and T. domingensis). The primary chemicals detected in varying amounts in both extracts were siloxane derivatives, fatty acid esters, diisooctyl phthalate, phytosterol, and aromatic acid esters. According to the findings, the major component detected in both extracts was 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and diisooctyl ester (antibacterial and antifungal). T. domingensis contained a low level of benzoic acid, methyl ester (antibacterial). Both extracts included stigmasterol and sitosterol, as well as six different forms of fatty acid esters. Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, thyroid inhibitor, and anti-inflammatory properties have all been described. Human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), human ovary adenocarcinoma (A2780), and human colon adenocarcinoma (HT29), as well as normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC5), all showed cytotoxic activity. The most potent activity against A2780 cells was seen in T. terrestris and T. domingensis extracts (IC50: 3.69 and 5.87 g/mL, respectively). R. communis was more active against MCF7 cells (1.52 µg/mL) followed by A2780 and HT29 cells, respectively. R. communis showed a dose-dependent clonogenic effect against MCF7 cells. The antibacterial activity of all three plant extracts was tested against three standard Gram-positive, four standard Gram-negative, and two clinical bacterial strains. Among the three extracts examined, T. terrestris was the most effective, followed by R. communis, and finally, T. domingensis plant extract was effective against various isolated bacteria. This study, interestingly, sheds light on the bioactive components found in plant extracts that can be utilized for cytotoxic and antibacterial purposes.

Bioactive Natural Antivirals: An Updated Review of the Available Plants and Isolated Molecules.

Viral infections and associated diseases are responsible for a substantial number of mortality and public health problems around the world. Each year, infectious diseases kill 3.5 million people worldwide. The current pandemic caused by COVID-19 has become the greatest health hazard to people in their lifetime. There are many antiviral drugs and vaccines available against viruses, but they have many disadvantages, too. There are numerous side effects for conventional drugs, and active mutation also creates drug resistance against various viruses. This has led scientists to search herbs as a source for the discovery of more efficient new antivirals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 65% of the world population is in the practice of using plants and herbs as part of treatment modality. Additionally, plants have an advantage in drug discovery based on their long-term use by humans, and a reduced toxicity and abundance of bioactive compounds can be expected as a result. In this review, we have highlighted the important viruses, their drug targets, and their replication cycle. We provide in-depth and insightful information about the most favorable plant extracts and their derived phytochemicals against viral targets. Our major conclusion is that plant extracts and their isolated pure compounds are essential sources for the current viral infections and useful for future challenges.

Antidiabetic effect of Punica granatum flowers: effect on hyperlipidemia, pancreatic cells lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in experimental diabetes.

The present study investigated the effects of Punica granatum aqueous extract (PgAq) on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats by measuring fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles (atherogenic index), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and activities of both non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg/kg) to albino Wistar rats. The increase in blood glucose level, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), LPO level with decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), reduced glutathione (GSH) content and antioxidant enzymes namely, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were the salient features observed in diabetic rats. On the other hand, oral administration of PgAq at doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg for 21 days resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose, TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and tissue LPO levels coupled with elevation of HDL-C, GSH content and antioxidant enzymes in comparison with diabetic control group. The results suggest that PG could be used, as a dietary supplement, in the treatment of chronic diseases characterized by atherogenous lipoprotein profile, aggravated antioxidant status and impaired glucose metabolism and also in their prevention.