Exploring the synergistic effect of chromium (Cr) tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nano zero valent iron (nZVI) for suppressing Cr uptake in Aloe Vera.

Chromium (Cr) contamination of soil has substantially deteriorated soil health and has interfered with sustainable agricultural production worldwide and therefore, its remediation is inevitable. Inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in association with nanotechnology has exerted broad based impacts in agriculture, and there is an urgent need to exploit their synergism in contaminated soils. Here, we investigated the effect of co-application of Cr-tolerant "Pseudomonas aeruginosa CKQ9" strain and nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) in improving the phytoremediation potential of aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis L.) under Cr contamination. Soil was contaminated by using potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) salt and 15 mg kg-1 contamination level in soil was maintained via spiking and exposure to Cr lasted throughout the duration of the experiment (120 days). We observed that the co-application alleviated the adverse impacts of Cr on aloe vera, and improved various plant attributes such as plant height, root area, number of leaves and gel contents by 51, 137, 67 and 49% respectively as compared to control treatment under Cr contamination. Similarly, significant boost in the activities of various antioxidants including catalase (124%), superoxide dismutase (87%), ascorbate peroxidase (36%), peroxidase (89%) and proline (34%) was pragmatic under contaminated soil conditions. In terms of soil Cr concentration and its plant uptake, co-application of P. aeruginosa and nZVI also reduced available Cr concentration in soil (50%), roots (77%) and leaves (84%), while simultaneously increasing the relative production index by 225% than un-inoculated control. Hence, integrating PGPR with nZVI can be an effective strategy for enhancing the phytoremediation potential of aloe vera.

Combined effect of PGPR and nanotechnology in the bioremediation of toxic contaminants is well reported in literature. Most of these reports comprise the use of hyperaccumulator plants for phytoextraction of heavy metals. However, phytostabilization potential of hyperaccumulators is still un-explored. Current study investigated the role of PGPR and Fe-NPs in suppressing the uptake of Cr in aloe vera, a hyperaccumulator plant.

Production performance, protein digestibility, gut health and economic efficiency in sexed broilers with super dozing of lysine.

Modern commercial broiler is growing very rapidly and its amino acid requirement is not fulfilling. An experimental trial was conducted to study the effect of super-dosing of lysine in fish meal-based diets (50% fish meal and 50% SBM) on production performance, protein digestibility and economic efficiency in male and female broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty (480) one-day-old male and female broiler chicks were divided into forty experimental units of 12 birds each. Five levels of dietary lysine i.e. 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130% of Ross-308 recommendation in male and female birds were separately used. Weight gain and feed intake were higher (p < 0.05) in birds received 100 and 110% recommended lysine than other levels. Feed conversion ratio and EPEF were improved (p < 0.05) in birds received 100% recommended lysine than other levels. Higher (p < 0.05) CP digestibility and lower production cost per kg live weight were noted for birds fed diet containing lysine 100, 110 and 120% than 90 and 130%. Male birds had higher (p < 0.05) WG, FI, EPEF, protein digestibility and lower production cost per kg live weight than female birds. In conclusion, lysine levels below 100% and above 110% of Ross recommended levels had poor production performance, protein digestibility and economic efficiency.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Acacia jacquemontii Stem Extract against High-fat and CCl4-induced Liver Injury in Rat's Model.

BACKGROUND: Chronic liver injury leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis, activating myofibroblasts in the liver and secreting extracellular matrix proteins that make the fibrous scar. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to characterize the polyphenolic content present in Acacia jacquemontii stem and evaluate its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. METHODS: The phenolic contents in Acacia jacquemontii polyphenolic extract (AJPPE) were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of AJPPE were determined through biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, and ALP), lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL), antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, LPO, GSH, and CAT), anti-fibrotic activity (collagen deposition), and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: HPLC analysis of AJPPE showed the presence of polyphenols, including chlorogenic acid, P-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and kaempferol, in a remarkable therapeutic range. Results of the in vivo analysis showed a significant decrease in the level of lipid profile, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein), TC (total cholesterol), triglycerides, liver function markers (AST, ALT, and ALP), collagen deposition and significantly increased the level of anti-oxidative biomarkers (CAT, SOD, LPO, and GSH) by using AJPPE. CONCLUSION: The above-mentioned results have shown that AJPPE possesses significant antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects. Furthermore, histopathological results also supported the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of AJPPE.

Opuntia ficus indica (L.) fruit extract alleviates oxidative stress through activation of dual oxidases and Keap1/Nrf2 signaling cascades in high-fat-diet associated atherosclerosis rats.

Atherosclerosis is a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation associated with progressive thickening and hardening of the large to medium-sized arteries due to plaque formation. The study aims to evaluate the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic efficacy of Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) fruit extract against the high-fat-diet associated atherosclerotic rat model. In-vitro qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening of OFI fruit extract revealed the significant presence of total phenolic content and total flavonoid contents. In-vitro antioxidant activity of fruit extract was determined through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and FRAP assays that have shown their protective efficacy against the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Results revealed that the level of total oxidant stress was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced and down expression levels of dual oxidases (Duox, Duoxa-1, and Duox-2) in all the treatment groups (I, II, III) as compared with positive control were observed. The total antioxidant capacity was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in all treatment groups in comparison with the positive control group and higher expression level of the Nrf-2 signaling pathway (Nfe-212, NFR-1, and Keap-1) was observed in all the treatment groups compared with the positive control group. Histopathological examination of the aorta showed that high-fat diet markedly increased endothelial lining and thickness of tunica media and adventitia, with irregular media segments having wavy laminae, and a significant increase in entropy of fibers disposition was observed. Conclusively, OFI fruit extract has shown promising protective, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory efficacy through the restoration of normal parenchyma in high-fat dieting-associated oxidative stress and endothelial inflammation.

Isolation of the 3ß-HSD promoter from Digitalis ferruginea subsp. ferruginea and its functional characterization in Arabidopsis thaliana.

BACKGROUND: Although members of the SDR gene family (short chain dehydrogenase) are distributed in kingdom of life, they have diverse roles in stress tolerance mechanism or secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Nevertheless, their precise roles in gene expression or regulation under stress are yet to be understood. METHODS: As a case study, we isolated, sequenced and functionally characterized the 3ß-HSD promoter from Digitalis ferruginea subsp. ferruginea in Arabidopsis thaliana. RESULTS: The promoter fragment contained light and stress response elements such as Box-4, G-Box, TCT-motif, LAMP element, ABRE, ARE, WUN-motif, MYB, MYC, W box, STRE and Box S. The functional analysis of the 3ß-HSD promoter in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings showed that the promoter was expressed in cotyledon and root elongation zone in 2 days' seedlings. However, this expression was extended to hypocotyl and complete root in 6 days' seedlings. In 20 days-old seedlings, promoter expression was distributed to the whole seedling including hydathodes aperture, vascular bundle, shoot apical meristem, trichomes, midrib, leaf primordia, hypocotyl and xylem tissues. Further, expression of the promoter was enhanced or remained stable under the different abiotic stress conditions like osmotic, heat, cold, cadmium or low pH. In addition, the promoter also showed response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) application. The expression could not be induced in wounded cotyledon most likely due to lack of interacting elements in the promoter fragment. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the 3ß-HSD promoter could be a candidate for the development of transgenic plants especially under changing environmental conditions.

Plastidial Expression of 3ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase and Progesterone 5ß-Reductase Genes Confer Enhanced Salt Tolerance in Tobacco.

The short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) gene family is widely distributed in all kingdoms of life. The SDR genes, 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3ß-HSD) and progesterone 5-ß-reductases (P5ßR1, P5ßR2) play a crucial role in cardenolide biosynthesis pathway in the Digitalis species. However, their role in plant stress, especially in salinity stress management, remains unexplored. In the present study, transplastomic tobacco plants were developed by inserting the 3ß-HSD, P5ßR1 and P5ßR2 genes. The integration of transgenes in plastomes, copy number and transgene expression at transcript and protein level in transplastomic plants were confirmed by PCR, end-to-end PCR, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Subcellular localization analysis showed that 3ß-HSD and P5ßR1 are cytoplasmic, and P5ßR2 is tonoplast-localized. Transplastomic lines showed enhanced growth in terms of biomass and chlorophyll content compared to wild type (WT) under 300 mM salt stress. Under salt stress, transplastomic lines remained greener without negative impact on shoot or root growth compared to the WT. The salt-tolerant transplastomic lines exhibited enhanced levels of a series of metabolites (sucrose, glutamate, glutamine and proline) under control and NaCl stress. Furthermore, a lower Na+/K+ ratio in transplastomic lines was also observed. The salt tolerance, mediated by plastidial expression of the 3ß-HSD, P5ßR1 and P5ßR2 genes, could be due to the involvement in the upregulation of nitrogen assimilation, osmolytes as well as lower Na+/K+ ratio. Taken together, the plastid-based expression of the SDR genes leading to enhanced salt tolerance, which opens a window for developing saline-tolerant plants via plastid genetic engineering.

Synthesis and in vitro cholinesterase inhibitory potential of dihydropyridine derivatives.

Twelve derivatives of dihydropyridine derivatives (6-17) were synthesized and evaluated for in-vitro cholinesterases (AChE, BChE) inhibitory activity. All compounds showed potent activity with IC50 values between 0.21±0.003 to 147.14±0.12µM for AChE and among them five compounds showed potent activity with IC50 values 17.16±0.02 to 231.6±0.12µM for BChE when compared with standard Eserine (IC50 = 0.85±0.0001 µM (AChE) & 0.04±0.0001µM (BChE). The most potent compound 11 can be considered as potential lead compound showed an inhibition of 95.35±0.11 and IC50= 0.21±0.003 while compound 7 showed an inhibition of 83.45±0.13 and IC50= 17.16±0.02. It is concluded from structural activity relationship that the presence of nitro group at C-2 and C-4 position of dihydropyridine ring increase the acetyl cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities of these compounds while presence of -Br and -Cl also enhances the activities.

Biologically active scaffolds: Synthesis, characterization and studies of oxino bis-pyrazoles by environmental friendly method.

In the present communication, synthesis of bis-pyrazolones containing aryl motifs (4-14) and their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, hemolytic and antihemolytic activities were reported. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by analytical techniques such 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, mass spectrometry and compound No 4 additionally by X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4, 12, 14 were obtained in more than 85% yield. In comparison to typical acarbose (IC50 = 37.38±0.12µM), all synthesized compounds showed potent activity with IC50 values between 31.26±0.11 to 396.25±0.18µM. The most potent compounds 6, 8 and 11 showed IC50 values within the range of 31.26±0.11 to 37.48±0.12µM. Compounds 7, 10, 12 and 13 showed IC50 values within the range of 65.23±0.12 to 154.87±0.16µM, while compounds 4, 5 and 9 showed moderate inhibition with IC50 values 286.56±0.16 to 396.25±0.18µM. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, suggests that electron withdrawing groups played a crucial role in enhancing α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of title compounds. In addition, results of the hemolytic and antihemolytic activity studies indicated that compound 13 possessed moderate levels of hemolytic and highest anti- hemolytic activity while 8 showed low anti- hemolytic and high hemolytic activity.

Microwave and conventional synthesis of Co (II), Cu (II) and Ni (II) metal complexes of some acid hydrazones with their spectral characterization and biological evaluation.

The transition metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) derived from N'-((5-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)-2-hydroxybenzohydrazide (L24) and N'-((5-(2, 5-dichlorophenyl)furan-2-yl)methylene)benzohydrazide (L21) have been synthesized by conventional as well as microwave method being shorter time consuming, solvent less and gives improved yields as compared to the traditional conventional technique. These compounds were characterized by melting point, TLC, FTIR, 1H-NMR, elemental analysis, potentiometric titration, ICP-OES and EIMS. From this analytical data it is confirmed that complexes are in octahedral structure with coordination number 6 which revealed 1:2 (metal:ligand). FTIR data shows that these synthesized hydrazone ligands have ONO donor sites and coordinate with transition metal ions in a tridentate monobasic manner. All these synthesized compounds were tested for evaluation of antibacterial activity by agar disc diffusion assay and total antioxidant activity by Phosphomolybdenum method.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Immunity in Plants Against Pathogens.

Global crop production is highly threatened due to pathogen invasion. The huge quantity of pesticides application, although harmful to the environment and human health, is carried out to prevent the crop losses worldwide, every year. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and plant resistance against pathogen is important. The resistance against pathogens is regulated by three important phytohormones viz. salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). Here we review possible role of CRISPR technology to understand the plant pathogenicity by mutating genes responsible for pathogen invasion or up-regulating the phytohormones genes or resistant genes. Thus hormone biosynthesis genes, receptor and feeding genes of pathogens could be important targets for modifications using CRISPR/Cas9 following multiplexing tool box strategy in order to edit multiple genes simultaneously to produce super plants. Here we put forward our idea thatthe genes would be either mutated in case of plant receptor protein targets of pathogens or up-regulation of resistant genes or hormone biosynthesis genes will be better choice for resistance against pathogens.