Incidence of mud crab reovirus (MCRV) outbreak in polyculture ponds of Andhra Pradesh, south east coast of India.

Reovirus designated as Mud crab reovirus (MCRV) is associated with the mass mortalities of mud crabs resulting in significant economic loss to crab and shrimp-mud crab polyculture farmers in the Nagayalanka, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. The 100 % chronic mass mortalities have been attributed to the outbreak of Mud crab reovirus (MCRV) in the polyculture farms. The moribund crabs showed autotomy, discoloration of carapace, loss of appetite, slow movement and loose gills. Histopathological observations of the infected mud crabs showed an atrophied hepatopancreas, complete degeneration of tissues along with viral inclusions in hepatopancreas, gills and muscles. Further analysis using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), showed that the viral particles had a diameter of 70 nm and exhibited a non-enveloped, icosahedral shape arranged in a crystalline manner. The virus mainly infects the connective tissue of hepatopancreas, gills, muscle and develops in the cytoplasm. RT-PCR reconfirmed the presence of reovirus in the hepatopancreas of spontaneously infected mud crab Scylla serrata. The current study shows the importance of monitoring the MCRV prevalence in polyculture farms to minimize its spread and precautionary measures can be taken by screening the brooders from the crab hatchery and stocking of wild crabs without screening should be avoided in order to prevent MCRV outbreak.

Fermented Asterina pectinifera with Cordyceps militaris Mycelia Induced Apoptosis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells.

This prime objective of this study was to explore the anti-cancer activity of fermented Asterina pectinifera with Cordyceps militaris mycelia (FACM) in B16F10 murine melanoma cells. The effect of FACM on cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. Furthermore, the effect of FACM was compared with unfermented A. pectinifera on cell viability. The results demonstrated that the fermented FACM extract has a higher inhibitory activity on the proliferation of B16F10 murine melanoma cells than unfermented A. pectinifera. In addition, FACM also promoted the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax leading to stimulate apoptosis in B16F10 cells. Therefore the present study demonstrates that the FACM might be a potential effective anti-cancer agent, as a result of its stronger anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis inducing effect than A. pectinifera or C. militaris on melanoma cells.

Taurine Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Toxicity on B16F10 Cells.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of doxorubicin co-treatment with taurine on B16F10 melanoma cells. Frequently, Doxorubicin is used in the treatments of many different kinds of cancers, some of which are soft tissue sarcomas, hematological malignancies and carcinomas. However, the clinical application of doxorubicin is compromised by its severe adverse effects, including cardiotoxicity. In the present study, the efficacy of doxorubicin co-treatment with taurine was investigated. B16F10 cell viability was evaluated using MTT assays, trypan blue dye exclusion assays, and fluorescent staining technique. Apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry and the proteins associated with apoptosis and cellular differentiations were assessed by immunoblotting. Doxorubicin inhibited cell growth and induced cell death in B16F10 cells. Interestingly, doxorubicin co-treatment with taurine inhibited apoptosis in B16F10 cells. These results indicate that doxorubicin co-treatment with taurine attenuates doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity and reduces ROS production in B16F10 cells.

Biosynthesis of Oligomeric Anthocyanins from Grape Skin Extracts.

We synthesized oligomeric anthocyanins from grape skin-derived monomeric anthocyanins such as anthocyanidin and proanthocyanidin by a fermentation technique using Aspergillus niger, crude enzymes and glucosidase. The biosyntheses of the oligomeric anthocyanins carried out by the conventional method using Aspergillus niger and crude enzymes were confirmed by ESI-MS. The molecular weight of the synthesized anthocyanin oligomers was determined using MALDI-MS. The yield of anthocyanin oligomers using crude enzymes was higher than that of the synthesis using Aspergillus fermentation. Several studies have been demonstrated that oligomeric anthocyanins have higher antioxidant activity than monomeric anthocyanins. Fermentation-based synthesis of oligomeric anthocyanins is an alternative way of producing useful anthocyanins that could support the food industry.

Ocular promoting activity of grape polyphenols-A review.

The eye is a sensitive organ with complex optical system involves in the perception of light. Although it has several protective mechanisms by itself, various physiological and metabolic disorders are detrimental to the proper functioning of the visual system. Grape juice has long been used worldwide for its potent medicinal values including ocular promotion. Bioactivities of grape products are highly attributed to the presence of health promoting phytochemicals in them. Some phytochemicals present in the grape juice have been involved in the maintenance of intra-ocular pressure, regulation of glucose metabolisms and suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the system. Particularly, the grape derived phytochemicals involve in minimizing various eye defects such as macular degradation, uvea, cataract formation, red eye, diabetic retinopathy and so on. However, only limited number of studies has been conducted so far focusing the ocular promoting activity of grape polyphenols. In this review, we discuss the role of grape polyphenols in ocular promotion relating their anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-aging, anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Chaenomeles sinensis Leaf Extracts on LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells.

The fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis has been traditionally used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various human ailments, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and so on, but the pharmacological applications of the leaf part of the plant have not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the various radical scavenging activities and anti-inflammatory effects of different Chaenomeles sinensis leaf (CSL) extracts. The water extract showed a higher antioxidant and radical scavenging activities. However the ethanolic extracts showed higher NO scavenging activity than water extract, therefore the ethanolic extract of CSL was examined for anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The 70% ethanol extract of CSL (CSLE) has higher anti-inflammatory activity and significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In addition, CSLE suppressed LPS-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production, IL-1ß and phospho-STAT1 expression. In this study, we investigated the effect of CSLE on the production of inflammatory mediators through the inhibition of the TRIF-dependent pathways. Furthermore, we evaluated the role of CSLE on LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6. Our results suggest that CSLE attenuates the LPS-stimulated inflammatory responses in macrophages through regulating the key inflammatory mechanisms, providing scientific support for its traditional uses in treating various inflammatory diseases.

Antioxidant and anticancer effects of extracts from fermented Haliotis discus hannai with Cordyceps militaris mycelia.

In this study, Haliotis discus hannai (H. discus hannai) was fermented using Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) and was investigated for the improvement of its antioxidant and anticancer potential after fermentation. Different radical scavenging activities of the extracts from fermented H. discus hannai with C. militaris mycelia (FHCM) were assessed by electron spin resonance. The antioxidant potential of FHCM was also determined on the basis of a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethybenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity. Higher antioxidant and radical scavenging activities were observed in FHCM than in the unfermented C. militaris mycelia or H. discus hannai alone. FHCM demonstrated an anticancer activity against melanoma B16F10 cell line. In addition, FHCM co-treatment with doxorubicin showed an increased anticancer effect in both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the present study suggests that the mycelial fermentation on H. discus hannai is highly suitable for pharmaceutical applications.

Radical scavenging activities of Asterina pectinifera fermented with Cordyceps militaris mycelia.

Asterina pectinifera was fermented with Cordyceps militaris mycelia for improvement of anti-oxidant activities. DPPH, alkyl, hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging activities were evaluated using electron spin resonance. Anti-oxidant activities were also determined based on the ferric reducing anti-oxidant power assays and the ABTS radical scavenging activity. The lipid peroxidation inhibition activity was confirmed using ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid assays. The free radical scavenging activity and anti-oxidative effects of A. pectinifera fermented with C. militaris mycelia (FACM) extracts were higher than for A. pectinifera and C. militaris mycelia extracts alone. FACM extracts contained different biochemical ingredients due to fermentation of A. pectinifera and provide a beneficial anti-oxidant activity. FACM extracts are a promising source of beneficial antioxidants for use in food industries.