Production of L-phenylacetylcarbinol by free and immobilized yeast cells.

Production of L-phenylacetylcarbinol (L-PAC) through biotransformation of benzaldehyde by free and immobilized cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been attempted. L-PAC production was found to be maximum (0.4 microliter/ml) when anaerobically grown free cells were used as biocatalyst during aerobic biotransformation for two hours with magnetically stirred bioreactor. Growth under oxygen limited conditions led to accumulation of higher amount of pyruvate decarboxylase enzyme and co-substrate, pyruvate, resulting in higher L-PAC formation. L-PAC yield was low when biotransformations were carried out anaerobically either for aerobically or anaerobically grown free cells. Free cells were found to be more efficient biocatalyst for L-PAC production, as compared with the immobilized cells, with the investigated benzaldehyde concentration (0.3% v/v) and cell density (17.5% w/v). The study has explored and indicated the possibility of optimizing the yield of L-PAC by growing the yeast cells under oxygen limited condition for suitable aerobic mode of benzaldehyde biotransformation.

Effects of long term feeding of acetone extract of Momordica charantia (whole fruit powder) on alloxan diabetic albino rats.

Acetone extract of whole fruit powder of Momordica charantia a given orally daily lowered the blood sugar and serum cholesterol levels to normal range after 15 to 30 days in alloxan diabetic rats. The blood sugar once lowered after 30 days treatment did not increase even after 15 days of discontinuation of the treatment.