Integrated Genomic and Functional Characterization of the Anti-diabetic Potential of Arthrobacter sp. SW1.

For decades, bacterial natural products have served as valuable resources for developing novel drugs to treat several human diseases. Recent advancements in the integrative approach of using genomic and functional tools have proved beneficial in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these biomolecules. This study presents an in-depth characterization of the anti-diabetic activity exhibited by a bacterial isolate SW1, isolated from an effluent treatment plant. As a primary screening, we assessed the isolate for its potential to inhibit alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes. Upon confirmation, we further utilized LC-MS, ESI-MS/MS, and NMR spectroscopy to identify and characterize the biomolecule. These efforts were coupled with the genomic assessment of the biosynthetic gene cluster involved in the anti-diabetic compound production. Our investigation discovered that the isolate SW1 inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity. The chemical analysis suggested the production of acarbose, an anti-diabetic biomolecule, which was further confirmed by the presence of biosynthetic gene cluster "acb" in the genome. Our in-depth chemical characterization and genome mining approach revealed the potential of bacteria from an unconventional niche, an effluent treatment plant. To the best of our knowledge, it is one of the first few reports of acarbose production from the genus Arthrobacter.

Phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using the leaves extract of Ficus talboti king and evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

The present study, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at 90 °C temperature using an aqueous extract from Ficus talboti leaf and the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the AgNPs obtained. The devised method is simple and cost-effective, and it produces spherical AgNPs of size 11.9 ± 2.3 nm. The synthesized AgNPs was characterized as UV-vis spectrum and obtain a peak at 438 nm. The phytochemical study result shows that the secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannin, flavonoids, phytosterol, and glycosides may be responsible for reducing as well as capping silver ions into AgNPs. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) studies of the particles revealed a dominance of spherical particle AgNPs. The face centered cubic structure of the AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks at 111°, 200°, 220°, and 311°; SAED patterns confirms the plane of silver nanoparticle planes with clear circular spots on the selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Elemental analysis was done by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). In addition, this study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the biosynthesized AgNPs that were found to be significant.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Passiflora foetida L.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extract of Passiflora foetida (P. foetida) leaves. METHODS: Ethanol extract of P. foetida leaf was evaluated for analgesic action by acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate method in albino mice. The anti-inflammatory property of ethanolic leaf extract was tested by carrageenan induced acute paw edema and histamine induced acute paw edema in rats. RESULTS: The dose 200 mg/kg of P. foetida leaf extract exhibited highest significant analgesic activity [(13.50±0.43) min] at a reaction time of 20 min in hot plate method in mice. The ethanol extract of leaf dose 100 mg/kg produced a highly significant anti inflammatory effect [(1.302±0.079) mL] in rats. CONCLUSIONS: It is very clear that P. foetida also has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities for the pharmaceuticals.

Evaluation of velvet bean meal as an alternative protein ingredient for poultry feed.

The effect of certain simple and cost-effective processing methods on the nutritional and anti-nutritional properties of seed materials of an under-utilized food legume, Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis (Wall. ex Wight) Baker ex Burck (velvet bean, VB), collected from Valanadu, Kerala, India was analyzed in experiment 1. The raw VB seeds were found to contain appreciable levels of crude protein (263.2 g/kg dry matter (DM)); ether extract (79.6 g/kg DM); crude fiber (95.8 g/kg DM) and ash content (38.4 g/kg DM). Among the different treatments used, soaking in sodium bicarbonate solution + autoclaving was more effective in reducing maximum levels of various anti-nutritional compounds of VB seeds. Furthermore, in experiment 2, the effect of inclusion of different levels of velvet bean meal (VBM; subjected to soaking in sodium bicarbonate solution + autoclaving) as an alternative protein source in poultry feed on the growth performance of commercial-type broiler birds was investigated. The results indicate that the inclusion of VBM up to the 40% level exhibited better growth performance of the broiler birds such as feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio in both the starter and finisher phases.