Evaluating the Diverse Anticancer Effects of Laos Kaempferia parviflora (Black Ginger) on Human Melanoma Cell Lines.

Cancer has become a consistent concern globally and increasingly fatal. Malignant melanoma is a rising concern, with its increased mortality. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (K. parviflora (KP)), commonly known as black ginger, is well known for its medicinal contributions. For the first time, in the following study we investigated the antimelanoma potential of Laos KP extracts in human cell lines. KP extracts (KPE) in methanol, DCM, and ethyl acetate showed strong cell inhibition in both melanomas, with KPE-DCM being particularly effective in inhibiting melanoma cell migration, invasion, and proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, while KPE-Hexane exhibited a low cell inhibition rate and a more limited effect. KPE affected the increased expression of caspase-3, PARP andBax and the decreased expression of the BcL-2, Mu-2-related death-inducing gene (MUDENG, MuD) protein. Furthermore, KPE enhanced apoptotic cells in the absence and presence of the pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. Interestingly, these apoptotic cells were significantly suppressed by the caspase inhibitor. Moreover, elevated mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, suggestive of KPE's mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in melanoma cells, were also confirmed. KPE treatment increased MMP levels, and upregulated the generation of ROS in A375 cells but not in A2058 cells. However, pretreatment with an ROS scavenger (NAC) suppressed KPE-induced cell death and ROS generation. These results clearly pointed out KPE-induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cell death as the mechanism behind the inhibition of the human melanoma cells. Future studies exploring the role of specific ROS sources and their interaction with mitochondrial dynamics could deepen the existing understanding on KPE-induced apoptosis.

A Comprehensive Survey on the Expediated Anti-COVID-19 Options Enabled by Metal Complexes-Tasks and Trials.

Contemporary pharmacology dating back to the late 19th/early 20th centuries has benefitted largely from the incorporation of metal complexes. Various biological attributes have been successfully realized using metal/metal complex-based drugs. Among anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiviral applications, anticancer applications have extracted the maximum benefit from the metal complex, Cisplatin. The following review has compiled the various antiviral benefits harnessed through inputs from metal complexes. As a result of exploiting the pharmacological aspects of metal complexes, the anti-COVID-19 deliverables have been summarized. The challenges ahead, the gaps in this research area, the need to improvise incorporating nanoaspects in metal complexes, and the need to test metal complex-based drugs in clinical trials have been discussed and deliberated. The pandemic shook the entire world and claimed quite a percentage of the global population. Metal complex-based drugs are already established for their antiviral property with respect to enveloped viruses and extrapolating them for COVID-19 can be an effective way to manipulate drug resistance and mutant issues that the current anti-COVID-19 drugs are facing.

Anticancer Therapeutic Effects of Green Tea Catechins (GTCs) When Integrated with Antioxidant Natural Components.

After decades of research and development concerning cancer treatment, cancer is still at large and very much a threat to the global human population. Cancer remedies have been sought from all possible directions, including chemicals, irradiation, nanomaterials, natural compounds, and the like. In this current review, we surveyed the milestones achieved by green tea catechins and what has been accomplished in cancer therapy. Specifically, we have assessed the synergistic anticarcinogenic effects when green tea catechins (GTCs) are combined with other antioxidant-rich natural compounds. Living in an age of inadequacies, combinatorial approaches are gaining momentum, and GTCs have progressed much, yet there are insufficiencies that can be improvised when combined with natural antioxidant compounds. This review highlights that there are not many reports in this specific area and encourages and recommends research attention in this direction. The antioxidant/prooxidant mechanisms of GTCs have also been highlighted. The current scenario and the future of such combinatorial approaches have been addressed, and the lacunae in this aspect have been discussed.

Consolidating the potency of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in viral diagnosis: Extrapolating its applicability for COVID diagnosis?

MALDI-TOF-MS has essentially delivered more than expected with respect to clinical pathogens. Viruses are the most versatile entities of clinical pathogens that have challenged well-established microbiological methodologies. This review evaluates the existing scenario with respect to MALDI TOF-MS analytical technique in the successful analysis of viral pathogens. The milestones achieved with respect to detection and identification of COVID-19 has been presented. The fact that only a handful of scattered applications for COVID-19 exist has been pointed out in the review. Further, the lapses in the utilization of the available state-of-the art MALDI-TOF-MS variants/benchmark sophistications for COVID-19 analysis, are highlighted. When the world is seeking for rapid solutions for early, sensitive, rapid COVID-19 diagnosis, maybe MALDI-TOF-MS, may be the actual 'gold standard'. Reverting to the title, this review emphasizes that there is a need for extrapolating MALDI-TOF-MS for COVID-19 analysis and this calls for urgent scientific attention.

Mushroom Polysaccharide-Assisted Anticarcinogenic Mycotherapy: Reviewing Its Clinical Trials.

Of the biologically active components, polysaccharides play a crucial role of high medical and pharmaceutical significance. Mushrooms have existed for a long time, dating back to the time of the Ancient Egypt and continue to be well explored globally and experimented with in research as well as in national and international cuisines. Mushroom polysaccharides have slowly become valuable sources of nutraceuticals which have been able to treat various diseases and disorders in humans. The application of mushroom polysaccharides for anticancer mycotherapy is what is being reviewed herein. The widespread health benefits of mushroom polysaccharides have been highlighted and the significant inputs of mushroom-based polysaccharides in anticancer clinical trials have been presented. The challenges and limitation of mushroom polysaccharides into this application and the gaps in the current application areas that could be the future direction have been discussed.

Nanotoxic impacts on staple food crops: There's plenty of room for the unpredictables.

As much as nanotechnology hit the headlines decades ago, currently nanotoxicity has become more than a reality than a threat. Even as nanotechnology is proven, nanotoxicity is well accomplished too. This review specifically concentrates on the area that is close to the consumers, that is the effect of nanomaterials (NMs) on staple food crops. Nanoimpacts impacting primary producers of the food pyramid, cannot be overlooked. Crucial issues on this topic, that have not caught the attention nor action of those concerned has been highlighted in this review. The amount of data and research in this direction was found to be scanty and scattered. Strong emphasis has been made to the fact that NMs when exposed to plants are accumulated and passed on to the second generation seeds and plant parts. This is perhaps a critical concern, that will not just have consequences as of now, but will have permanent and long lasting impacts on the future progenies too. The lack of life cycle assessment of the NMs prior to releasing them to plant interactions and the eventual bioaccumulation and corroborative effects on the plant system if not evaluated, will have more serious implications. This review is aimed at creating a public awareness, that the possibility of nanomaterials entering the consumers and other trophic levels of the food chain is inevitable under the current circumstances. Mitigation methods and check points prior to releasing the NMs to plants systems and risk assessment of specific NMs to specific plants under specified environments is suggested to give a clear overview and insights to prevention rather than a delayed and expensive cure strategy.

Bioinformatics for Renal and Urinary Proteomics: Call for Aggrandization.

The clinical sampling of urine is noninvasive and unrestricted, whereby huge volumes can be easily obtained. This makes urine a valuable resource for the diagnoses of diseases. Urinary and renal proteomics have resulted in considerable progress in kidney-based disease diagnosis through biomarker discovery and treatment. This review summarizes the bioinformatics tools available for this area of proteomics and the milestones reached using these tools in clinical research. The scant research publications and the even more limited bioinformatic tool options available for urinary and renal proteomics are highlighted in this review. The need for more attention and input from bioinformaticians is highlighted, so that progressive achievements and releases can be made. With just a handful of existing tools for renal and urinary proteomic research available, this review identifies a gap worth targeting by protein chemists and bioinformaticians. The probable causes for the lack of enthusiasm in this area are also speculated upon in this review. This is the first review that consolidates the bioinformatics applications specifically for renal and urinary proteomics.

The MUDENG Augmentation: A Genesis in Anti-Cancer Therapy?

Despite multitudes of reports on cancer remedies available, we are far from being able to declare that we have arrived at that defining anti-cancer therapy. In recent decades, researchers have been looking into the possibility of enhancing cell death-related signaling pathways in cancer cells using pro-apoptotic proteins. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and Mu-2/AP1M2 domain containing, death-inducing (MUDENG, MuD) have been established for their ability to bring about cell death specifically in cancer cells. Targeted cell death is a very attractive term when it comes to cancer, since most therapies also affect normal cells. In this direction TRAIL has made noteworthy progress. This review briefly sums up what has been done using TRAIL in cancer therapeutics. The importance of MuD and what has been achieved thus far through MuD and the need to widen and concentrate on applicational aspects of MuD has been highlighted. This has been suggested as the future perspective of MuD towards prospective progress in cancer research.

Insights into Bioinformatic Applications for Glycosylation: Instigating an Awakening towards Applying Glycoinformatic Resources for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

Glycosylation plays a crucial role in various diseases and their etiology. This has led to a clear understanding on the functions of carbohydrates in cell communication, which eventually will result in novel therapeutic approaches for treatment of various disease. Glycomics has now become one among the top ten technologies that will change the future. The direct implication of glycosylation as a hallmark of cancer and for cancer therapy is well established. As in proteomics, where bioinformatics tools have led to revolutionary achievements, bioinformatics resources for glycosylation have improved its practical implication. Bioinformatics tools, algorithms and databases are a mandatory requirement to manage and successfully analyze large amount of glycobiological data generated from glycosylation studies. This review consolidates all the available tools and their applications in glycosylation research. The achievements made through the use of bioinformatics into glycosylation studies are also presented. The importance of glycosylation in cancer diagnosis and therapy is discussed and the gap in the application of widely available glyco-informatic tools for cancer research is highlighted. This review is expected to bring an awakening amongst glyco-informaticians as well as cancer biologists to bridge this gap, to exploit the available glyco-informatic tools for cancer.

Micropropagation and Quantification of Bioactive Compounds in Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray.

The goal of this study was to establish an efficient protocol for the large-scale propagation of Mertensia maritima (L.) Gray, and evaluate the carotenoid, fatty acid, and tocopherol contents in the leaves of in vitro regenerated shoots. Surface-disinfected node and shoot tip explants were placed on semisolid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0-16 µM N6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin, (KN), and thidiazuron (TDZ) alone, or in combination with, 1 or 2 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Of the three different cytokinins employed, TDZ elicited the best results for axillary shoot proliferation. A maximum frequency of shoot initiation above 84%, with a mean of 8.9 and 4.8 shoots per node and shoot tip, respectively, was achieved on the culture medium supplemented with 4 µM TDZ. A combination of TDZ + NAA significantly increased the percentage of multiple shoot formation and number of shoots per explant. The best shoot induction response occurred on MS medium with 4 µM TDZ and 1 µM NAA. On this medium, the node (93.8%) and shoot tip (95.9%) explants produced an average of 17.7 and 8.6 shoots, respectively. The highest root induction frequency (97.4%) and number of roots per shoot (25.4), as well as the greatest root length (4.2 cm), were obtained on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 4 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The presence of six carotenoids and α-tocopherol in the leaf tissues of M. maritima was confirmed by HPLC. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of 10 fatty acids, including γ-linolenic acid and stearidonic acid in the leaf tissues of M. maritima. All-E-lutein (18.49 µg g-1 fresh weight, FW), α-tocopherol (3.82 µg g-1 FW) and α-linolenic acid (30.37%) were found to be the significant compounds in M. maritima. For the first time, a successful protocol has been established for the mass propagation of M. maritima with promising prospects for harnessing its bioactive reserves.

Nature nominee quercetin's anti-influenza combat strategy-Demonstrations and remonstrations.

Nature's providences are rather the choicest remedies for human health and welfare. One such is quercetin, which is nature's nominee for cancer cure and recently demonstrated against influenza attack. Quercetin is highly recognized for its anticancer applications. This review emphasizes on yet another gift that this compound has to offer for mankind, which is none other than combating the deadly evasive influenza virus. The chemistry of this natural bioflavonoid and its derivatives and its modus operandi against influenza virus is consolidated into this review. The advancements and achievements made in the anti-influenza clinical history are also documented. Further, the challenges facing the progress of this compound to emerge as a predominant anti-influenza drug are discussed, and the future perspective for breaking its limitations through integration with nanoplatforms is envisioned.

Autochthonous self-assembly of nature's nanomaterials: green, parsimonious and antibacterial carbon nanofilms on glass.

The development of thin film coatings has been a very important development in materials science for the modification of native material surface properties. Thin film coatings are enabled through the use of sophisticated instruments and technologies that demand expertise and huge initial and running costs. Nano-thin films are yet a furtherance of thin films which require more expertise and much more sophistication. In this work for the first time we present a one-pot straightforward carbon thin film coating methodology for glass substrates. There is novelty in every single aspect of the method, with the carbon used in the nanofilm being obtained from turmeric soot, the coating technique consisting of a basic immersion technique, a dip-dry method, in combination with the phytosoot-derived carbon's inherent ability to self-assemble to form a uniform and continuous stable coating. The carbon nanofilm has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis, a goniometer and X-ray diffraction (XRD). This study for the first time opens a new school of thought of using such naturally available free nanomaterials as eco-friendly green coatings. The amorphous porous carbon film can be coated on any hydrophilic substrate and is not substrate specific. Its added advantages of being transparent and antibacterial in spite of being green and parsimonious are meant to realize its utility as ideal choices for solar panels, medical implants and other construction applications.

Attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy towards disclosing mechanism of bacterial adhesion on thermally stabilized titanium nano-interfaces.

Titanium is widely used as medical implant material and as condenser material in the nuclear industry where its integrity is questioned due to its susceptibility to bacterial adhesion. A systematic investigation on the influence of thermally (50-800 °C) stabilized titanium (TS-Ti) nano oxide towards bacterial adhesion was carried out. The results showed that below 350 °C significant bacterio-phobicity was observed, while above 500 °C significant affinity towards bacterial cells was recorded. Conventional characterization tools such as HR-TEM and XRD did not provide much insight on the changes occurring on the oxide film with heat treatment, however, attenuated total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) of the surface showed significant changes in the spectral pattern as a function of increasing heat treatment. It was observed that elevated OH, N-H and C=O groups and rutile titania on the TS-Ti oxide films led to higher affinity for bacterial adhesion. On the other hand low temperature TS-Ti nanooxide films (<350 °C) showed high C-H groups and decreased OH groups on their surface, which possibly contributed towards their bacterio-phobicity. The TS-Ti nanooxide film grown at 50 °C was observed to be the most efficient anti-bacterial adhesion interface, while the 800 °C interface was the one showing highest affinity towards bacterial adhesion. This study confirms the successful application of ATR-FTIR technique for nano-oxide film characterization and towards understanding the variations in bacterial interaction of such nano interfaces.

Purification and characterization of a highly active chromate reductase from endophytic Bacillus sp. DGV19 of Albizzia lebbeck (L.) Benth. actively involved in phytoremediation of tannery effluent-contaminated sites.

Phytoremediation using timber-yielding tree species is considered to be the most efficient method for chromium/tannery effluent-contaminated sites. In this study, we have chosen Albizzia lebbeck, a chromium hyperaccumulator plant, and studied one of its chromium detoxification processes operated by its endophytic bacterial assemblage. Out of the four different groups of endophytic bacteria comprising Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Bacillus, and Salinicoccus identified from A. lebbeck employed in phytoremediation of tannery effluent-contaminated soil, Bacillus predominated with three species, which exhibited not only remarkable chromium accumulation ability but also high chromium reductase activity. A chromate reductase was purified to homogeneity from the most efficient chromium accumulator, Bacillus sp. DGV 019, and the purified 34.2-kD enzyme was observed to be stable at temperatures from 20°C to 60°C. The enzyme was active over a wide range of pH values (4.0-9.0). Furthermore, the enzyme activity was enhanced with the electron donors NADH, followed by NADPH, not affected by glutathione and ascorbic acid. Cu(2+) enhanced the activity of the purified enzyme but was inhibited by Zn(2+) and etheylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). In conclusion, due to its versatile adaptability the chromate reductase can be used for chromium remediation.

The COVID-19 pandemic redefining the mundane food packaging material industry?

COVID-19 pandemic has been the talk of the globe, as it swept across the world population, changing enumerable aspects. The pandemic affected all sectors directly or indirectly. The food sector took a direct hit. The food packaging sector rose to the occasion to serve and feed the pandemic affected, but there were interactions, reactions, and consequences that evolved through the course of the journey through the pandemic. The aim of this perspective is to address the importance of the food packaging industry (from the COVID-19 point of view) and to highlight the unpreparedness of the food packaging materials, for times as these. As the world has been asked to learn to live with Corona, improvisations are definitely necessary, the lapses in the system need to be rectified, and the entire packaging industry has to go through fortification to co-exist with Corona or confront something worse than Corona. This discussion is set out to understand the gravity of the actual situation, assimilating information available from the scattered shreds of reports. Food packaging materials were used, and plastic wastes were generated in bulks, single-use plastics for fear of contamination gained prominence, leading to an enormous turnover of wastes. Fear of Corona, sprayed overloads of sanitizers and disinfectants on food package material surfaces for surface sterilization. The food packages were tailored for food containment needs, never were they planned for sanitizer sprays. The consequences of these sanitization procedures are unprecedented, neglected and in the post-COVID-19 phase no action appears to have been taken. Corona took us by surprise this time, but next time atleast the food packaging industry needs to be fully equipped. Speculated consequences have been reviewed and plausible suggestions have been proposed. The need for extensive research focus in this direction in exploring the ground-reality has been highlighted.

A Comprehensive Compilation of Graphene/Fullerene Polymer Nanocomposites for Electrochemical Energy Storage.

Electricity consumption is an integral part of life on earth. Energy generation has become a critical topic, addressing the need to fuel the energy demands of consumers. Energy storage is an offshoot of the mainstream process, which is now becoming a prime topic of research and development. Electrochemical energy storage is an attractive option, serving its purpose through fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors manipulating the properties of various materials, nanomaterials and polymer substrates. The following review presents a comprehensive report on the use of carbon-based polymer nanocomposites, specifically graphene and fullerene-based polymer nanocomposites, towards electrochemical energy storage. The achievements in these areas, and the types of polymer nanocomposites used are listed. The areas that lack of clarity and have a dearth of information are highlighted. Directions for future research are presented and recommendations for fully utilizing the benefits of the graphene/fullerene polymer nanocomposite system are proposed.

A review on the impact of TRAIL on cancer signaling and targeting via phytochemicals for possible cancer therapy.

Anticancer therapies have been the continual pursuit of this age. Cancer has been ravaging all across the globe breathing not just threats but demonstrating them. Remedies for cancer have been frantically sought after. Few have worked out, yet till date, the available cancer therapies have not delivered a holistic solution. In a world where the search for therapies is levitating towards natural remedies, solutions based on phytochemicals are highly prospective attractions. A lot has been achieved with inputs from plant resources, providing numerous natural remedies. In the current review, we intensely survey the progress achieved in the treatment of cancer through phytochemicals-based programmed cell death of cancer cells. More specifically, we have further reviewed and discussed the role of phytochemicals in activating apoptosis via Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL), which is a cell protein that can attach to certain molecules in cancer cells, killing cancer cells. The objective of this review is to enlist the various phytochemicals that are available for specifically contributing towards triggering the TRAIL cell protein-mediated cancer therapy and to point out the research gaps that require future research motivation. This is the first review of this kind in this research direction.

A systematic assessment of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) application for rapid identification of pathogenic microbes that affect food crops: delivered and future deliverables.

MALDI-TOF MS has decades of experience in the detection and identification of microbial pathogens. This has now become a valuable analytical tool when it comes to the identification and detection of clinical microbial pathogens. This review gives a brief synopsis of what has been achieved using MALDI-TOF MS in clinical microbiology. The major focus, however, is on summarizing and highlighting the effectiveness of MALDI-TOF MS as a novel tool for rapid identification of food crop microbial pathogens. The methods used and the sample preparation methodologies reported thus far have been highlighted and the challenges and gaps and recommendations for fine tuning the technique have been put forth. In an era where anything close to the health and welfare of humanity has been considered as the top priority, this review pitches on one such relevant research topics.

Anti-COVID-19 Credentials of Chitosan Composites and Derivatives: Future Scope?

Chitosan derivatives and composites are the next generation polymers for biomedical applications. With their humble origins from the second most abundant naturally available polymer chitin, chitosan is currently one of the most promising polymer systems, with wide biological applications. This current review gives a bird's eye view of the antimicrobial applications of chitosan composites and derivatives. The antiviral activity and the mechanisms behind the inhibitory activity of these components have been reviewed. Specifically, the anti-COVID-19 aspects of chitosan composites and their derivatives have been compiled from the existing scattered reports and presented. Defeating COVID-19 is the battle of this century, and the chitosan derivative-based combat strategies naturally become very attractive. The challenges ahead and future recommendations have been addressed.

Review of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Causing Marine Fish Kills: Toxicity and Mitigation.

Extensive growth of microscopic algae and cyanobacteria results in harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments. HABs can harm humans and animals through their toxicity or by producing ecological conditions such as oxygen depletion, which can kill fish and other economically or ecologically important organisms. This review summarizes the reports on various HABs that are able to bring about marine fish kills. The predominant HABs, their toxins, and their effects on fishes spread across various parts of the globe are discussed. The mechanism of HAB-driven fish kills is discussed based on the available reports, and existing mitigation methods are presented. Lapses in the large-scale implementation of mitigation methods demonstrated under laboratory conditions are projected. Clay-related technologies and nano-sorption-based nanotechnologies, although proven to make significant contributions, have not been put to use in real-world conditions. The gaps in the technology transfer of the accomplished mitigation prototypes are highlighted. Further uses of remote sensing and machine learning state-of-the-art techniques for the detection and identification of HABs are recommended.