Organophosphorus insecticides mineralizing endophytic and rhizospheric soil bacterial consortium influence eggplant growth-promotion.

This study was aimed to evaluate eggplant's growth-enhancing activity of chlorpyrifos and diazinon-degrading endophytic and rhizospheric soil bacteria isolated from cauliflower and tomato roots and the rhizospheric soil of rice roots, respectively. The identified endophytes belong to the Acinetobacter, Enterobacter and Klebsiella genera, while rhizospheric soil isolates belong to Pantoea, Acinetobacter, Kosakonia, Morganella, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella genera with species variation and genetic distances. All the strain's consumed 100% (50 mg/5 mL) chlorpyrifos and diazinon after 14 days of exposure, except for Pantoea sp. HSTU-Sny4 (84%) and Kosakonia sp. HSTU-ASn39 (42%). The strain's exhibited N-fixation, P-solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and ACC-deaminase production capabilities. The individual strain's and consortium treatment enhanced eggplant growth at germination, seedling, vegetative and reproductive stages. Plant growth-promoting genes, e.g., nif-cluster, chemotaxis, phosphates, sulfur, abiotic stress, chemotaxis, biofilm formation and organophosphorus insecticide-degrading genes were annotated in Klebsiella sp. HSTU-Sny5 and Morganella sp. HSTU-ASny43 genomes. Importantly, the mixed consortium supplemented with 40% urea-treated eggplants demonstrated similar growth parameters compared to the 100% urea eggplants. Plenty of insecticide-degrading proteins belonged to HSTU-Sny5 and HSTU-ASny43 strain's and had interacted with 100 different insecticides as confirmed in virtual screening. This research has a significant role in reducing the application of chemical fertilizer and bioremediation of pesticides in agriculture.

Vanda roxburghii: an experimental evaluation of antinociceptive properties of a traditional epiphytic medicinal orchid in animal models.

BACKGROUND: Ethnopharmacological approach has explored several leads from plant sources to identify potential new drugs for various diseases including pain. Vanda roxburghii R. Br., an epiphytic orchid is widely distributed throughout Bangladesh. The root of this plant has a folkloric reputation to treat inflammations, fever, dyspepsia, bronchitis, hiccough, piles, snake bites, and diseases of the nervous system. In this study therefore, we aimed to investigate antinociceptive and cytotoxic properties of the extracts from the root of V. roxburghii. METHODS: Dried powder of aerial root of V. roxburghii was extracted with methanol (VRM) and the resultant was fractionated into petroleum ether (VRP), chloroform (VRC), ethyl acetate (VRE), and residual aqueous fraction (VRA). The antinociceptive effect of the extracts was evaluated in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin injection, and hot plate tests. The brine shrimp lethality bioassay in vitro was used to evaluate cytotoxic activity of the plant extracts. RESULTS: In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, mice treated with different fractions (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) exhibited reduced number of writhing. Amongst, VRE showed the highest activity at all three concentrations (43.65, 71.34, and 80.23%, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner. Secondly, VRC (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg, i.p.) displayed the highest reduction of paw licking time in mice during the first phase of the formalin test (by 15.00, 37.05, and 56.44%, respectively) as well as during the second phase of the test (by 20.55, 49.08, and 59.81%, respectively). In hot plate test, VRE treatment at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg both increased the highest latency time after 30 min. All fractions showed lower cytotoxicity compared with the standard drug vincristine sulfate in the brine shrimp bioassay. CONCLUSION: Overall studies suggest that the root of V. roxburghii is effective as a potent analgesic with lower toxicity. Our findings support previous claims of traditional uses of V. roxburghii in different inflammatory disorders.

Sol-Gel Route for the Synthesis of CoFe2-x Er x O4 Nanocrystalline Ferrites and the Investigation of Structural and Magnetic Properties for Magnetic Device Applications.

This study reports the formation of Er-doped nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite with the formula CoFe2-x Er x O4 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10) from nontoxic metal precursors Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Fe(NO3)3·9H2O, and Er(NO3)3·5H2O through an easy and economical sol-gel route in which citric acid is served as the chelating agent. The as-prepared powder was annealed at 700 °C for 3 h in ambient air to get the required spinel structure. The annealed samples were subjected to structural and magnetic characterization. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) data of the samples confirmed the cubic spinel structure formation. The average crystallite size evaluated from XRD data increased from 21 to 34 nm with the substitution of Er due to the larger atomic size of Er3+ than Fe3+. Moreover, the crystallite size obtained from XRD data are well matched with the particle size measured from transmission electron microscopy images. The lattice parameters obtained from XRD data agree well with the values estimated from theoretical cation distribution and Rietveld refinement calculation. The hysteresis curve exhibits the particles are soft ferromagnetic and the coercivity increased from 54.7 to 76.6 kA/m with maximum saturation magnetization, M s = 61 emug-1 for 0.10 Er content. The squareness ratios were found to be less than 0.5, which indicates the single-domain nature of our particles. The blocking temperature measured from field cooled-zero field cooled curves is T B > 350 K for all the samples, which is much higher than the room temperature (300 K). The enhancement of saturation magnetization and coercivity has been explained based on the crystallite size, anisotropy constant, and cation distribution. Thus, the structural and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) can be tuned by Er incorporation and these NPs can be applied in different soft magnetic devices.

Spike protein recognizer receptor ACE2 targeted identification of potential natural antiviral drug candidates against SARS-CoV-2.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), also known as peptidyl-dipeptidase A, belongs to the dipeptidyl carboxydipeptidases family has emerged as a potential antiviral drug target against SARS-CoV-2. Most of the ACE2 inhibitors discovered till now are chemical synthesis; suffer from many limitations related to stability and adverse side effects. However, natural, and selective ACE2 inhibitors that possess strong stability and low side effects can be replaced instead of those chemicals' inhibitors. To envisage structurally diverse natural entities as an ACE2 inhibitor with better efficacy, a 3D structure-based-pharmacophore model (SBPM) has been developed and validated by 20 known selective inhibitors with their correspondence 1166 decoy compounds. The validated SBPM has excellent goodness of hit score and good predictive ability, which has been appointed as a query model for further screening of 11,295 natural compounds. The resultant 23 hits compounds with pharmacophore fit score 75.31 to 78.81 were optimized using in-silico ADMET and molecular docking analysis. Four potential natural inhibitory molecules namely D-DOPA (Amb17613565), L-Saccharopine (Amb6600091), D-Phenylalanine (Amb3940754), and L-Mimosine (Amb21855906) have been selected based on their binding affinity (-7.5, -7.1, -7.1, and -7.0 kcal/mol), respectively. Moreover, 250 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations confirmed the structural stability of the ligands within the protein. Additionally, MM/GBSA approach also used to support the stability of molecules to the binding site of the protein that also confirm the stability of the selected four natural compounds. The virtual screening strategy used in this study demonstrated four natural compounds that can be utilized for designing a future class of potential natural ACE2 inhibitor that will block the spike (S) protein dependent entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the host cell.

Molecular identification of a Bacillus cereus strain from Murrah buffalo milk showed in vitro bioremediation properties on selective heavy metals.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims for molecular identification of naturally growing Bacillus cereus strain from a unique source, able to survive, and alleviate heavy metals from the nature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pure isolate from Murrah buffalo milk was prepared in B. cereus selective Polymyxin pyruvate egg-yolk mannitol-bromothymol blue agar (PEMBA) medium through a cascade of contamination free subcultures. The morphological and biochemical tests were done prior to 16S rRNA gene sequencing for strain identification and further physiological tests. The test strain was inoculated in both solid and suspension culture medium supplemented individually with Cd, Cu, Ag, and Zn to reveal the qualitative and quantitative heavy metal tolerance properties, respectively. Finally, the data collected from the in vitro assessment was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Molecular analysis revealed that the test strain was B. cereus BF2, which was motile, catalase positive and Gram positive rod. B. cereus BF2 was found significant at 0.3% bile salt tolerance [two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)-p value is < 0.0001] where, t-test p value is < 0.0002 between Control Group (CG) and TGR-1; p < 0.037 between TGR-1 and 2; p < 0.0014 between CG and TGR-2. Similarly, B. cereus BF2 was significant in pH tolerant up to 8.0 with p < 0.0115 (in scale p < 0.05). The heavy metal tolerance test revealed that the test metals could not stop the growth of B. cereus BF2 even after 24 h of incubation but partially suppressed the growth kinetics for letting into stationary phase. Among the four heavy metals, Cd and Zn showed partial antagonism to the growth of B. cereus BF2. The survivability was highly significant in the medium supplemented with Zn (p < 0.0001) and Ag (p < 0.018). CONCLUSION: Bacillus cereus BF2 can survive in selective heavy metals with metal resistance and biodegradation capacity.

Antinociceptive and Anxiolytic and Sedative Effects of Methanol Extract of Anisomeles indica: An Experimental Assessment in Mice and Computer Aided Models.

Anisomeles indica (L.) kuntze is widely used in folk medicine against various disorders including allergy, sores, inflammation, and fever. This research investigated the antinociceptive, anxiolytic and sedative effects of A. indica methanol extract. The antinociceptive activity was assessed with the acetic acid-induced writhing test and formalin-induced flicking test while sedative effects with open field and hole cross tests and anxiolytic effects with elevated plus maze (EPM) and thiopental-induced sleeping time tests were assayed. Computer aided (pass prediction, docking) analyses were undertaken to find out the best-fit phytoconstituent of total 14 isolated compounds of this plant for aforesaid effects. Acetic acid treated mice taking different concentrations of extract (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) displayed reduced the writhing number. In the formalin-induced test, extract minimized the paw licking time of mice during the first phase and the second phase significantly. The open field and hole-cross tests were noticed with a dose-dependent reduction of locomotor activity. The EPM test demonstrated an increase of time spent percentage in open arms. Methanol extract potentiated the effect of thiopental-induced hypnosis in lesser extent comparing with Diazepam. The results may account for the use of A. indica as an alternative treatment of antinociception and neuropharmacological abnormalities with further intensive studies. The compound, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid was found to be most effective in computer aided models.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, thrombolytic and cytotoxic activities of an ornamental medicinal plant: Persicaria orientalis.

BACKGROUND: Persicaria orientalis, an ornamental medicinal plant, has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Although the plant is reported to have some important pharmacological effects, many medicinal values remain unidentified. Our objective was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, thrombolytic, and cytotoxic properties of the methanol extract of P. orientalis leaves (Po-MeOH). METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity was measured by the inhibition of hypotonicity-induced human red blood cell hemolysis and albumin denaturation technique in vitro of Po-MeOH. Diarrheal episodes were examined in mice with castor oil-induced diarrhea. The clot lysis and brine shrimp lethality bioassay in vitro were used to evaluate the thrombolytic and cytotoxic activities of the plant extract, respectively. RESULTS: Using in vitro anti-inflammatory models, the results demonstrated that Po-MeOH at the five different dose ranges from 31.25 to 500 µg/mL significantly (p<0.05) protected (0.98%-50.71%) the erythrocyte membrane against lysis induced by hypotonic medium solution and protein denaturation (38.27%-79.22%) of bovine albumin, respectively. The extract exhibited a significant reduction of severity (75.17%) of castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice at the highest dose of 400 mg/kg compared to loperamide (82.06%) at 5 mg/kg. Po-MeOH also showed 33.14% clot lytic activity in the thrombolytic test and cytotoxicity with LC50 value 58.91 µg/mL in the brine shrimp bioassay. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that Po-MeOH has significant anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrheal effects along with moderate thrombolytic and lower cytotoxic properties that may warrant the further exploration.

Optimization of a Pt-free cathode suitable for practical applications of microbial fuel cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are considered as a promising way for the direct extraction of biochemical energy from biomass into electricity. However, scaling up the process for practical applications and mainly for wastewater treatment is an issue because there is a necessity to get rid of unsustainable platinum (Pt) catalyst. In this study, we developed a low-cost cathode for a MFC making use of sputter-deposited cobalt (Co) as the catalyst and different types of cathode architecture were tested in a single-chambered air-cathode MFC. By sputtering the catalyst on the air-side of the cathode, increased contact with ambient oxygen significantly resulted in higher electricity generation. This outcome was different from previous studies using conventionally-coated Pt cathodes, which was due to the different technology used.