Elemental analysis of carrageenans isolated from Hypnea musciformis red algae of Karachi coast using SEM-EDX.

The carrageenans with high molecular weight, crude and dialysed polysaccharide fractions obtained from Hypnea musciformis red algae of Karachi coast in Pakistan. The elemental composition was determined by using SEM-EDX technique which is one of the modern, reliable and accurate techniques. After analyzing multiple mineral elements were detected in different quantities. The numbers of elements found in crude extracts were greater than that in the dialysed extracts. All extracts contained the higher concentrations of C followed by O (except dialysed acidic extract). Among other elements, Cl and K were present in the highest amounts (>25.0%) in dialysed acidic extracts. However, Al was detected in low concentrations in only crude aqueous and acidic extracts. The mineral concentrations ranges were 30.34-52.46%, 17.00-43.46%, 0.63-4.05%, 0.49-3.35%, 0-0.33%, 0.74-17.92%, 0.59-25.31%, 0.58-25.46%, 1.10-6.72%, 0-2.60% for C, O, Na, Mg, Al, S, Cl, K, Ca and Zn in these crude and dialyzed extracts respectively. The study confirmed the presence of major elements such that Na, Mg, Ca, K and Zn in high quantities. However, there was no toxic element identified like Cd, Hg and Pb which show that these carrageenans are safer to utilize in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Chemical and toxicological studies on different brands of Asmad (Antimony sulphide) available in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Eye is the most beautiful, important and sensitive organ of human body. It is not only linked with visionary complex optical system also has the ability to differentiate among the millions of colors. The apparent human personality is also associated with it. Asmad/Antimony Sulfide/Kohl/Surma powder is one of the eye preparation has been used since ancient time. There are several aesthetic and ophthalmic preparations available for human eye and they have closed association between the aesthetic and medicinal significance such as cleansing, soothing, strengthening and anti-infectious actions along with beautifying purpose of eye. The main objective of present research is to provide scientific findings regarding beneficial and toxic effects of Asmad products available in market for the frequent users. The chemical and toxicological investigations on ten selected famous brands of Pakistan samples (PHS1, PHS2, PLS, PMS and PSS) and Saudi Arabia samples (SBS, SAS, SHS, SMS and STS) were carried out through advanced and sophisticated technique Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) linked with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) which is used to determine the presence different percentages of organic and inorganic elements in all the brands of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian samples. The safety and toxicity depends on the Na, Mg, Ca, K, Al, Cu, Zn, Fe, Bi, Si, O, C, S and Pb percentages respectively of the Asmad products.

Characterization of high molecular weight dextran produced by Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing Weissella cibaria CMGDEX3 was isolated from cabbage on sucrose containing De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar. Dextransucrase activity and dextran yield was found to be 7.1 DSU ml(-1) and 2.4 g dl(-1), respectively. The structural characterization of purified EPS determined by FTIR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that W. cibaria CMGDEX3 synthesized a linear dextran that predominately had α (1→6) glycosidic linkages with only a few (3.4%) α (1→3) linked branches. Molecular mass determination showed that it was a high molecular weight dextran of an average >2,000,000 Da. According to our knowledge this is the first report on isolation of dextran synthesizing Weissella genus from Pakistan.

LC-ESI-MS characterisation of phytoalexins induced in chickpea and pea tissues in response to a biotic elicitor of Hypnea musciformis (red algae).

A simple extraction procedure and HPLC method was developed to analyse the major and minor components of induced phytoalexins of elicited tissues (seeds) of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) and peas (Pisum sativum L.) treated with a biotic elicitor (k-carrageenan) of Hypnea musciformis (red algae) from the Karachi coast. The level and timing of the induced phytoalexin production were estimated on the basis of various elicitor dilutions and as a function of time; the results are presented and discussed. A LC-ESI-MS/MS technique has been employed for the detection and characterisation of the induced phytochemical components (flavonoids and their glyco-conjugates). Nine flavonoids were identified from chickpeas: naringin, naringin malonate, liquiritigenin, naringenin, biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, maackiain and medicarpin, while five flavonoids were identified from peas: afrormosin, anhydropisatin, pisatin, pseudobaptigenin and maackiain. These compounds play a vital role as phytoalexins because of their antimicrobial activity.