In vivo, In vitro anti-arthritic studies of Ellagic acid from Kirganelia reticulata Baill and its molecular docking.

Kirganelia reticulata is a useful shrub having various medicinal properties. In vivo, in vitro and in silico antiarthritic activity of a phytoconstituent, ellagic acid (EA) isolated from the leaves of K. reticulata was screened. EA is a naturally occurring plant polyphenol found at high concentrations that act as potential protectors against variety of human diseases. Formaldehyde induced paw edema, assumed to be one of the most suitable test procedures to screen chronic anti-inflammatory agents as it closely resembles human arthritis, and was employed for this study. The course of treatment was followed for over and 4 weeks post inoculation period using health, clinical and behavioural methods of study. Estimation of change in body weight was considered as health parameters and clinical observations included paw edema volume, change in the movements was studied in behavioural observations. The effect of EA was compared with standard drug aspirin. Various in vitro models such as inhibition of protein denaturation, effect of membrane stabilization and proteinase inhibitory actions were studied. EA with two different concentrations (100 μg/ml and 250 μg/ml) was used and results were compared with acetyl salicylic acid. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-2α) promotes degradative pathways that foster osteoarthritis. The inhibitory effect of EA was studied using automated docking and efficiency was compared with standard drug in terms of interaction and binding. The isolated compound EA showed anti-arthritic activity which was found to be significant to that of the standard drugs and supports the traditional use of plant for rheumatism.

In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Lectin from Different Endophytic Fungi of Viscum album L.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant potential of lectin from the endophytic fungi of Viscum album. Place and duration of study: Department of Biotechnology, Shridevi Institute of Engineering and Technology campus, Tumkur, Karnataka, India between November 2012 and March 2013. Methodology: Isolation, identification of endophytic fungi from Viscum album, mass production, lectin isolation, purification using affinity chromatography. In vitro antioxidant activity of lectin using total antioxidant assay, DPPH, FRAP, Fe3+ reducing assay and H2O2 scavenging activity. Result: Different endophytic fungi were isolated and identified as Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium moniliforme, Trichothecium sp. Isolated lectin was capable of agglutinating A+ve erythrocytes, various in vitro antioxidant assays were carried out. Total antioxidant activity showed that (418μg/mg) of ascorbic acid equivalent in the Viscum album extract, among endophyhtes higher activity observed in Fusarium oxysporum (348.54 μg/mg). DPPH assay showed endophytic lectin significantly reduced DPPH free radicals with the low IC50 value observed in Aspergillus flavus (127.9μg/ml) in compared to Viscum album (92.4μg/ml). Highest FRAP value was observed in the location from Viscum album of (180.12μg/ml) among endophytes Aspergillus flavus showed (133.22μg/ml) of the ascorbic acid equivalent of Fe2+/ mg of listing. In Fe3+ reducing ability showed concentration dependent reduction in Fe3+ to Fe2+, low IC50 value was observed in endophytic lectin Fusarium oxysporum (143.4 μg/ml). These values are slightly higher in relation to Viscum album (120.3μg/ml). In H2O2 scavenging activity there was concentration dependent scavenging activity was observed, IC50 value in Fusarium moniliforme was (171.2 μg/ml) , Viscum album is listing showed (183.4 μg/ml). Conclusion: Lectin isolated from endophytic fungi relieved that it was capable of scavenging the free radicals, antioxidant activity was comparatively higher in endophytes than compared with Viscum album. Endophytic lectin could be a novel source for scavenging the free radicals having pharmaceutical value.

In vitro antibacterial activity of Terminalia chebula leaf gall extracts against some human pathogenic strains.

The leaf galls of Terminalia chebula is used widely as Karkatasringi in south Indian markets. Karkatashringi is an important crude drug employed in various indigenous systems of medicine against several diseases and the drug has diverse medicinal properties. The present study was carried out to understand the antimicrobial activity of various extracts. The antibacterial activity of T. chebula (leaf gall) was evaluated against ten bacterial strains including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using the agar-well diffusion method. Among the two extracts tested, the ethanol extract presented the best results against all the bacteria while aqueous extract showed moderate inhibition of the microbial growth. Each extract is unique against different microorganisms; Staphylococcus aureus was more susceptible to both extract among the tested organisms, whereas Serratia marcescens and Proteus mirabilis were less susceptible for ethanol and aqueous extract respectively. The inhibitory effect of the extracts was compared with standard antibiotic Ciprofloxacin.

Effect of temperature and relative humidity on spinning behaviour of silkworm (Bombyx mori.L).

The rate of spinning of silkworm larva (Bombyx mori.L) was slow at 22 degrees C and fast at 38 degrees C. The time taken for completion of cocoon was longest at 98 +/- 2% and least at 40 +/- 2% RH. However, good quality cocoons were spun at 22 degrees C and 65 +/- 5% RH, hence it would be advantageous to maintain this temperature and relative humidity at the time of cocoon spinning in the case of CB race of silkworm.