The spatial distribution of physicochemical parameters in coastal sediments along the Bay of Bengal Coastal Zone with statistical analysis.

The current study focused on the monitoring of pollution loads in the Kalpakkam coastal zone of India in terms of physico-chemical characteristics of sediment. The investigation took place at 12 sampling points around the Kalpakkam coastal zone for one year beginning from 2019. The seasonal change of nutrients in the sediment, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total organic carbon, and particles size distribution, was calculated. Throughout the study period, the pH (7.55 to 8.99), EC (0.99 to 4.98 dS/m), nitrogen (21.74 to 58.12 kg/ha), phosphorus (7.5 to 12.9 kg/ha), potassium (218 to 399 kg/ha), total organic carbon (0.11 to 0.88%), and particle size cumulative percent of sediments (from 9.01 to 9.39%) was observed. A number of multivariate statistical techniques were used to examine the changes in sediment quality. The population means were substantially different according to the three-way ANOVA test at the 0.05 level. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed a substantial association with all indicators throughout all seasons, implying contamination from both natural and anthropogenic causes. The ecosystem of the Kalpakkam coastal zone has been affected by nutrient contamination.

Core-Shell Structured Antimicrobial Nanofiber Dressings Containing Herbal Extract and Antibiotics Combination for the Prevention of Biofilms and Promotion of Cutaneous Wound Healing.

Burn wounds are susceptible to microbial invasion from both resident and exogenous bacteria, which becomes a critical public health issue and causes substantial economic burden. There is a perceived demand to produce new antimicrobial wound dressings that hinder bacterial colonization while accelerating the healing process and hence would provide an improved standard of care for patients. Since ancient times, herbal extracts from medicinally important plants have extensively been used for treating burn injuries. This work reports the utility of electrospun nanofibers containing plant extracts and antibiotics combination as a multifunctional scaffold for treating second-degree burns. First, we determined the various components of plant extracts from Gymnema sylvestre by two different processing methods and their synergism with minocycline antibiotics. Then, we prepared core-shell nanofibrous dressings with poly-ε-caprolactone/gelatin laden with minocycline hydrochloride as a shell and gelatin infused with G. sylvestre extracts (ultrasound-assisted extracts and cold macerated extracts) as the core using coaxial electrospinning. The electrospun nanofibers displayed a smooth, continuous, and bead-free morphology with adequate wettability. The presence of extract components in the core-shell nanofibers resulted in enhanced mechanical properties when compared to pristine mats. The core-shell structures resulted in sustained release of the bioactive components when compared to nanofiber blends. Core-shell nanofiber mats containing plant extracts and antibiotic combinations displayed potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties while promoting the spread and proliferation of skin cells when compared to pristine mats. In a porcine model of cutaneous second-degree burns, we showed that wounds treated with the antimicrobial dressing improved re-epithelialization and collagen organization in comparison to untreated wounds.

Uranium induces genomic instability and slows cell cycle progression in human lymphocytes in acute toxicity study.

In the situation of radiation triage, accidental exposure to uranium, or uranium contamination in food or water; haematopoietic decline or bone marrow sickness is observed in the aftermath followed by other systemic effects. Most studies done previously have been on cytogenetic analysis in blood lymphocytes of uranium miners wherein causal relationship was difficult to be established. This study provides new insights into the minimum risk level of uranium to human lymphocytes, DNA damage induced and alterations in the cell cycle progression through 96-h acute toxicity study. Cytotoxicity studies by MTT assay and flow cytometry showed that uranyl nitrate concentration of 1280 µM lead to 50% cell death, 640 µM caused 25% death, 250 µM caused 10% cell death and 5 µM was the NOAEL. Uranium caused DNA damages in a dose dependent manner as evident from comet and CBMN assays. A marked increase in G2/M phase cells was observed in the test culture groups. Halting of cell cycle at G2/M checkpoint also signified the extent of double strand breaks and genetic instability with increasing uranium dose in this study. Better cell cycle responses and lower genetic damage index observed in lower dosage of exposure, suggests adaptability and repair responses in human lymphocytes. Together these results advance our understanding of uranium effects on mammalian cells.

Poly-ε-Caprolactone/Gelatin Hybrid Electrospun Composite Nanofibrous Mats Containing Ultrasound Assisted Herbal Extract: Antimicrobial and Cell Proliferation Study.

Electrospun fibers have emerged as promising materials in the field of biomedicine, due to their superior physical and cell supportive properties. In particular, electrospun mats are being developed for advanced wound dressing applications. Such applications require the firers to possess excellent antimicrobial properties in order to inhibit potential microbial colonization from resident and non-resident bacteria. In this study, we have developed Poly-ε-Caprolactone /gelatin hybrid composite mats loaded with natural herbal extract (Gymnema sylvestre) to prevent bacterial colonization. As-spun scaffolds exhibited good wettability and desirable mechanical properties retaining their fibrous structure after immersing them in phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.2) for up to 30 days. The initial burst release of Gymnema sylvestre prevented the colonization of bacteria as confirmed by the radial disc diffusion assay. Furthermore, the electrospun mats promoted cellular attachment, spreading and proliferation of human primary dermal fibroblasts and cultured keratinocytes, which are crucial parenchymal cell-types involved in the skin recovery process. Overall these results demonstrated the utility of Gymnema sylvestre impregnated electrospun PCL/Gelatin nanofibrous mats as an effective antimicrobial wound dressing.

Antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility of electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone fibrous mats containing Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract.

Wound care management presents one of the substantial and tenacious challenges to the healthcare systems worldwide. Microbial colonization and subsequent biofilm formation after injury have garnered much attention, as there is an appreciable correlation between biofilms formation and delayed healing in chronic wounds. Nanotechnology has emerged as a potential platform for the management of treating acute and chronic wounds. This study presents the utility of electrospun nanofiber mats containing a natural extract (Gymnema sylvestre) that averts biofilm formation but supports human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) attachment. The scaffolds exhibited good wettability, enhanced mechanical properties and contact mediated inhibition of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. MTS viability assay and confocal imaging further confirmed that the natural extract loaded mats remained non-cytotoxic for hDFs. Overall these findings evidenced the suitability of the Gymnema sylvestre (GS) functionalized electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanofibers, as an effective wound dressing with broad spectrum anti-bacterial properties.

Natural radionuclide dose and lifetime cancer risk due to ingestion of fish and water from fresh water reservoirs near the proposed uranium mining site.

Ten sampling locations in Nagarjuna Sagar Dam have been selected to assess the suitability of the reservoir water for human consumption. The sediment, water, and fish samples were collected and analyzed for radionuclide (238U, 232Th, 210Po, 226Ra, 210Pb) and physicochemical parameters like pH, TOC, total hardness, alkalinity, DO, cation exchange capacity, and particle size. The spatial variations among the radionuclides (238U, 232Th, 210Po, 226Ra, 210Pb) in water and bottom sediments of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam were determined. The uranium concentration in the sediment and water was in BDL (<0.5 ppb). The maximum permissible limits in water samples of the analyzed radionuclides are 238U-10 Bq/l, 210Po-0.1 Bq/l, 226Ra-1 Bq/l, and 210Pb-0.1 Bq/l. The radionuclides in our water samples were approximately 50 times far below the recommended limit. The ingestion of water and fish would not pose any significant radiological impact on health or cancer risk to the public, implicating that the fishes from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam reservoir are safe for human consumption except the fisherman community.

Uranium (238U)-induced ROS and cell cycle perturbations, antioxidant responses and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities in the freshwater iridescent shark fish Pangasius sutchi.

The strategic plan of this study is to analyze any possible radiological impact on aquatic organisms from forthcoming uranium mining facilities around the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in the future. The predominantly consumed and dominant fish species Pangasius sutchi, which is available year-round at Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, was selected for the study. To comprehend the outcome and to understand the mode of action of 238U, the fish species Pangasius sutchi was exposed to » and ½ of the LC50 doses of waterborne 238U in a static system in duplicate for 21 days. Blood and organs, including the gills, liver, brain and muscles, were collected at different time periods-0h, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h, 7, days 14days and 21 days-using ICP-MS to determine the toxic effects of uranium and the accumulation of 238U concentrations. The bioaccumulation of 238U in P. sutchi tissues was dependent on exposure time and concentration. The accumulation of uranium was, in order of magnitude, measured as gills>liver>brain>tissue, with the highest accumulation in the gills. It was observed that exposure to 238U significantly reduced antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and lipid peroxidase. The analysis of DNA fragmentation by comet assay and cell viability by flow cytometry was performed at different time intervals. DNA histograms by flow cytometry analysis revealed an increase in the G2/M phase and the S phase. The long-term 238U exposure studies in fish showed increasing micronucleus frequencies in erythrocytes with greater exposure time. The higher the concentration of 238U is, the greater is the effect observed, suggesting a close relationship between accumulation and toxicity. A possible ROS-mediated 238U toxicity mechanism and antioxidant responses have been proposed.

Potential anticancer properties of bioactive compounds of Gymnema sylvestre and its biofunctionalized silver nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: Gymnema sylvestre is an ethno-pharmacologically important medicinal plant used in many polyherbal formulations for its potential health benefits. Silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were biofunctionalized using aqueous leaf extracts of G. sylvestre. The anticancer properties of the bioactive compounds and the biofunctionalized SNPs were compared using the HT29 human adenoma colon cancer cell line. METHODS: The preliminary phytochemical screening for bioactive compounds from aqueous extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, and saponins. Biofunctionalized SNPs were synthesized using silver nitrate and characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction for size and shape. The characterized biofunctionalized G. sylvestre were tested for its in vitro anticancer activity against HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. RESULTS: The biofunctionlized G. sylvestre SNPs showed the surface plasmon resonance band at 430 nm. The scanning electron microscopy images showed the presence of spherical nanoparticles of various sizes, which were further determined using the Scherrer equation. In vitro cytotoxic activity of the biofunctionalized green-synthesized SNPs (GSNPs) indicated that the sensitivity of HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells for cytotoxic drugs is higher than that of Vero cell line for the same cytotoxic agents and also higher than the bioactive compound of the aqueous extract. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the anticancer properties of the bioactive compounds of G. sylvestre can be enhanced through biofunctionalizing the SNPs using the bioactive compounds present in the plant extract without compromising their medicinal properties.

In vivo anti-ulcer, anti-stress, anti-allergic, and functional properties of gymnemic acid isolated from Gymnema sylvestre R Br.

BACKGROUND: Gymnema sylvestre is a highly valued ethno pharmacologically important medicinal plant used currently in many poly-herbal formulations due to its potential antidiabetic activity and other health benefits. The present study was carried out to analyze the anti-stress, anti-allergic, and antiulcer activity of the bioactive compounds present in Gymnema sylvestre leaves. METHODS: The preliminary phytochemical screening for bioactive compounds from aqueous extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, and saponins. The antioxidant activities were investigated using DPPH radical scavenging method. The characterization of the extract was carried out using standard compound by High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and phytochemical analysis in terms of total phenol, total flavonoids, reducing power and antioxidant potentials, etc. The in vivo studies on albino mice proved the purified fraction has anti-stress/anti-allergic activity against milk induced leucocytosis/eosinophilia and able to inhibit the aspirin induced gastric ulcers. RESULTS: The quantitative estimation for aqueous extract exhibited total antioxidant (9.13 ± 0.04 µg/g), flavonoids (125.62 ± 26.84 µg/g), tannin (111.53 ± 15.13 µg/g), total phenol content (285.23 ± 1.11 µg/g) and free radical scavenging (52.14 ± 0.32%). Further the aqueous extract was consecutively purified by TLC and silica column chromatography. The purified fractions were characterized by HPTLC and GC-MS and the component was identified as gymnemic acid. The potency of the antimicrobial activity of the extract was studied with bacteria. Pharmacological experiments clearly demonstrated that the extracts of all plants given orally showed significant gastric protection against the asprin-induced gastric ulcer model in mice. Furthermore, healing effects were also confirmed through histopathological examination. CONCLUSIONS: The aqueous extracts of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre possess anti ulcerogenic, Anti allergic, Anti stress, properties that may be due to cytoprotective mechanism. These results support the ethno medical uses of the plant in the treatment of gastric ulcer.