Microbial community diversity of an integrated constructed wetland used for treatment of sewage.

The microbial community diversity in Constructed Wetland System (CWS) plays a key role in the removal of pollutants from waste water. An integrated functional CWS developed at Neela Hauz Biodiversity Park, Delhi was selected to assess the diversity in composition and structure of microbial community diversity of sludge and sediment of CWS, based on metagenomic approach using 16S rRNA genes. The sediment showed higher diversity than sludge and both formed distinct clusters. The taxonomic structure of the microbial community of CWS is represented by 6,731 OTUs distributed among 2 kingdoms, 103 phyla, 227 classes, 337 orders, 320 families, 295 identified genera, and 84 identified species. The relative abundance of top 5 dominant phyla of sludge and sediment varied from 3.77% (Acidobacteria) to 35.33% (Proteobacteria) and 4.07% (Firmicutes) to 28.20% (Proteobacteria), respectively. The range of variation in relative abundance of top 5 dominant genera of sludge and sediment was 2.58% (Hyphomicrobium) to 6.61% (Planctomyces) and 2.47% (Clostridium) to 4.22% (Syntrophobacter), respectively. The rich microbial diversity of CWS makes it perform better in pollutants removal (59.91-95.76%) than other CWs. Based on the abundance values of taxa, the taxa are grouped under four frequency distribution classes-abundant (>20), common (10-19), rare (5-9), and very rare (1-4). The unique structure of microbial communities of integrated CWS is that the number of abundant taxa decreases in descending order of taxonomic hierarchy, while the number of rare and very rare taxa increases. For example, the number of abundant phyla was 14 and 21 in sludge and sediment, respectively and both communities have only 3 abundant genera each. This is in contrast to 4 and 17 very rare phyla in sludge and sediment, respectively and both the communities have 114 and 91 very rare genera, respectively. The outcomes of the study is that the integrated CWS has much higher microbial community diversity than the diversity reported for other CWs, and the rich diversity can be used for optimizing the performance efficiency of CWS in the removal of pollutants from waste water. Such structural diversity might be an adaptation to heterogeneous environment of CWS.

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling of aqueous methanol fraction of Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. and Sphagnum fimbriatum Wilson for probable antiviral potential.

The bryophytes consist of liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, among which the liverworts are quite different in having cellular oil bodies and contain numerous terpenoids, acetogenins, quinones, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, etc. These metabolites exhibit interesting biological activity such as allergenic response, insecticide, cytotoxic, neurotrophic, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV actions, etc. Though several bioactive compounds have been isolated in many liverworts, yet most of the liverworts have been unexplored till date regarding their phytochemistry. The ability of liverworts to generate a wide range of important phytochemicals makes them a hoard of bioactive compounds. In the past, a few species of bryophytes have been evaluated against a few viruses and interesting results were obtained that showed their role as an immunity enhancer against viral infection. The phytoconstituents found in liverworts and mosses can be useful to increase human immunity against a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Keeping this in view, one of the most developed and robust metabolomics technologies, Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) was used to estimate the various phytoconstituents found in a commonly growing thalloid liverwort, Plagiochasma appendiculatum, and moss Sphagnum fimbriatum. The obtained profiles were appraised for their bioactive potential and probable role as antiviral agents.

Groups of coevolving positions provide drug resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: A study using targets of first-line antituberculosis drugs.

Drug resistance has been associated with point mutations in coding regions leading to an altered protein sequence and structure. Such changes have been seen as isolated events occurring at various positions in a sequence. However, we hypothesise that it is not a single mutation at a specific position but a group of positions that coevolve in a correlated fashion to increase the fitness of a target protein against a drug. To prove the hypothesis, selected protein sequences of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance genes were successfully screened using a bioinformatics approach to detect groups of coevolving amino acids at important structural and functional positions in the targets of first-line antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide). The algorithmically characterised genetic mutations and the lineage-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected previously in drug resistance genes of M. tuberculosis complex genomes were also found in the identified coevolving groups. Mapping of coevolving positions to the secondary structure of proteins clearly indicates the preference of amino acid residues in the helix to coevolve. Moreover, active-site residues of some candidate proteins were also found in coevolving groups. The coevolving groups detected in this study will be useful to gain new insights into the molecular and evolutionary basis of drug resistance. This work provides an important first step towards finding solutions to the multidrug resistance problem through coevolution analysis of proteins, in turn helping to develop new drug regimens against pathogens, including M. tuberculosis.

Larvicidal activity and in vitro regulation of rotenoids from Cassia tora L.

The search for new insecticidal natural products is very important viewing the global incidence of malaria. In the present study, rotenoids viz., sumatrol, rotenone, tephrosin, rotenol, deguelin, and elliptone were identified from the plant parts and callus culture of Cassia tora L. Maximum content of rotenoids was observed in roots (1.96% ± 0.03) and minimum in the stem (0.52% ± 0.02). Rotenoid showed larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi larvae (LC50-120.61 ppm; P < 0.05). To enhance the production of rotenoids in vitro, the callus culture of C. tora was supplemented with different concentrations of precursors (phenylalanine and methionine). More than onefold increase in the rotenoid content was observed as compared to the control. The present study highlights the insecticidal potential of rotenoids from C. tora. Moreover, the enhanced production of rotenoids using precursors can be exploited commercially.

Evaluation of bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of hydroethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. from Rajasthan, India.

Moringa oleifera Lam., the miracle tree, is widely used as a traditional medicine. The analyses of phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of hydroethanolic extract of various plant parts of M. oleifera revealed that leaves possessed the highest content of total phenolics (9.58 mg/g), ß-carotene (14.10 mg/g) and lycopene (2.60 mg/g). Flowers and bark showed the highest content of total flavonoids (3.5 mg/g) and anthocyanin (52.80 mg/g), respectively. Leaves also showed maximum antioxidant potential using nitric oxide scavenging assay (IC50 - 120 µg/ml) and deoxyribose degradation assay (IC50-178 µg/ml). Highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in flowers (IC50-405 µg/ml). The GC-MS study revealed the presence of 29, 36 and 24 compounds in bark, leaf and flower, respectively. The major constituent identified were epiglobulol (41.68% in bark), phytol (23.54% in leaf) and ß-sitosterol (15.35% in flower).The phytochemicals identified possess several therapeutic activity, including antioxidant potential, which was confirmed through earlier reports. Moreover, the presence of 1,1,3-triethoxubutane in all the plant parts analyzed, projects it as an important source of waste water treatment as hydrophobic modifiers.

Effect of Initial Temperature Treatment on Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of initial temperature treatment on phytochemical and antioxidant potential of commercially important plant Azadirachta indica A. Juss. The leaves were differentially treated after harvest at temperatures 4, -20, and 110 °C and at room temperature, separately. It was found that a quick drying process at 110 °C followed by air-drying helped in maximum retention of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity, which was significantly higher than other processing methods. Correlation analysis revealed that total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) can be a measure to assess the antioxidant potential using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Nitric oxide scavenging assay (NOSA) was insignificantly related to DPPH and FRAP. Also, FRAP and DPPH can be a predictive assay for each other, but not with NOSA. Thus, a quick drying process at 110 °C using an oven can be a cost-effective venture, especially in developing countries, for retaining the nutritive value and antioxidant activity of A. indica.

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of sterols from Gymnema sylvestrte R. Br.

Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. is an important medicinal plant known for its antidiabetic potential. In the present study, phytosterols from G. sylvestre was identified and quantified in vivo and in vitro. Maximum callus induction was observed in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L(-1) of 2, 4-D. The protein content was significantly high both in aerial plant parts and callus tissue. Phytosterols were identified using chromatographic and spectral studies. beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol were identified both in vivo and in vitro. Lanosterol was identified only in callus culture. Phytosterols have reported for the first time in callus culture of G. sylvestre.

Evaluation of evidenced-based radioprotective efficacy of Gymnema sylvestre leaves in mice brain.

A Gymnema sylvestre leaves extract (GSE) rich in gymnemic acids was examined for its antioxidant activities through various in vitro assays, along with its radioprotective efficacy in mice brain. The IC(50) values of GSE for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl scavenging assays, superoxide radical scavenging assays, inhibition of in vitro lipid peroxidation assays, and protein carbonyl formation assay were 238, 140, 99.46, and 28.03 microg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the total phenolic content in GSE was equivalent to 18.06 microg/mL of Gallic acid. The rate of *OH radical scavenging activity of GSE is 0.46 times slower than SCN- derived from nanosecond pulse radiolysis studies. Results of in vivo studies showed that radiation (8 Gy)-induced augmentation in the levels of lipid peroxidation and depletion in glutathione and protein levels in mice brain were significantly ameliorated by GSE pretreatment. Results suggest that the radioprotective efficacy of GSE may be due to its antioxidant properties.