Xanthan gum production using jackfruit-seed-powder-based medium: optimization and characterization.

Xanthan gum (XG) production by Xanthomonas campestris NCIM 2961 using jackfruit seed powder (JSP) as a novel substrate was reported. Central composite design (CCD) of response surface method (RSM) was used to evaluate the linear and interaction effects of five medium variables (JSP, peptone, citric acid, K2HPO4 and KH2PO4) for XG production. Maximum XG production (51.62 g/L) was observed at the optimum level of JSP (4 g/L), peptone (0.93 g/L), citric acid (0.26 g/L), K2HPO4 (1.29 g/L) and KH2PO4 (0.5 g/L). K2HPO4 and KH2PO4 were found as significant medium components, which served as buffering agents as well as nutrients for X. campestris growth. The obtained biopolymer was characterized as XG by XRD and FTIR analysis. Results of this study revealed that JSP was found to be a suitable low cost substrate for XG production.

Therapeutic drugs: healing power of marine fish.

Marine fish is a major source of high-quality protein, lipids, and a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. These macromolecules and their derivatives show different pharmacological activities, which make the fish as a therapeutic diet. Modern technology has made it easy to explore the therapeutic importance of fish-based diet on cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, radicals-mediated diseases, and cancer. In this review, we focus on exploration of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, and their derivatives from marine fish as a major source for bioactive compounds and their medicinal importance.

Marine bacterial sources of bioactive compounds.

Thousands of novel compounds have been isolated from various marine bacteria and tested for pharmacological properties, many of which are commercially available. Many more are being tested as potential bioactive compound at the preclinical and clinical stages. The growing interest in marine-derived antiviral compounds, along with the development of new technology in marine cultures and extraction, will significantly expedite the current exploration of the marine environment for compounds with significant pharmacological applications, which will continue to be a promising strategy and new trend for modern medicine. Marine actinomycetes and cyanobacteria are a prolific but underexploited source for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites.

Purification and identification of antioxidant peptides from the skin protein hydrolysate of two marine fishes, horse mackerel (Magalaspis cordyla) and croaker (Otolithes ruber).

In the current study, two peptides with antioxidant properties were purified from skin protein hydrolysates of horse mackerel (Magalaspis cordyla) and croaker (Otolithes ruber) by consecutive chromatographic fractionations including ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. By electron spray ionization double mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), the sequence of the peptide from the skin protein hydrolysate of horse mackerel was identified to be Asn-His-Arg-Tyr-Asp-Arg (856 Da) and that of croaker to be Gly-Asn-Arg-Gly-Phe-Ala-Cys-Arg-His-Ala (1101.5 Da). The antioxidant activity of these peptides was tested by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry using 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH·) and hydroxyl (OH·) radical scavenging assays. Both peptides exhibited higher activity against polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) peroxidation than the natural antioxidant α-tocopherol. These results suggest that the two peptides isolated from the skin protein hydrolysates of horse mackerel and croaker are potent antioxidants and may be effectively used as food additives and as pharmaceutical agents.

Purification and biochemical characterization of antioxidant peptide from horse mackerel (Magalaspis cordyla) viscera protein.

In the present study, a peptide having high antioxidant properties was isolated from horse mackerel viscera protein, Magalaspis cordyla. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion was employed to obtain potential protein hydrolysate and was subjected to consecutive chromatographic methods using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) connected to diethyl amino ethyl (DEAE) anion exchange column and Sephadex G-25 gel filtration column. The activity of the fractions was tested against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals and the isolated peptide showed 89.2 and 59.1 percentage of scavenging. The amino acid sequence of purified peptide was determined using ESI-MS/MS as Ala-Cys-Phe-Leu (518.5 Da), it exhibited high activity against polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) peroxidation than that of natural antioxidant, α-tocopherol.

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Desquamative gingival lesions are non-plaque induced inflammatory gingival lesions. It is a clinical description and not a diagnosis. These desquamative lesions represent oral manifestations of various dermatoses. Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), one of the rare dermatoses shows desquamative lesions as the oral manifestation. We here with report a case of SLE with oral lesions involving gingiva of a 36 year old female patient. The clinical presentation, histological features, and investigatory findings are discussed.