The Biological Potentialsof Indian Traditional Medicine, Curcumin for Treating Human Diseases.

Curcumin is an active compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. (Turmeric). It possesses a di phenolic structure and there are three important fractions of curcumin namely curcumin, mono-desmethoxycurcumin and bis-desmethoxycurcumin. Curcumin is having high medicinal value. It is widely in Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medicine formulations to treat various diseases. It is effective against microbial pathogens like bacteria, virus and fungi. It is highly potent and kills cancerous cells. Curcumin exhibits antioxidant activity and reduces lipoperoxidation. Cardioprotective nature of curcumin is also reported. It can protect the brain from neurodegenerative disorders caused by oxidative stress. It is safe to use in humans and animals. In addition to its medicinal value, it is also having numerous commercial applications like dyeing, cooking purposes and antiseptics etc. The cultivation of turmeric by means of inorganic inputs makes it contaminated with heavy metals is reported. Improving the biological use of curcumin provides healthy humankind and increases the economic status of a country.

Intrinsic characteristics of Cr6⁺-resistant bacteria isolated from an electroplating industry polluted soils for plant growth-promoting activities.

The Cr(6+)-resistant plant growth-promoting bacteria was isolated from soil samples that were collected from an electroplating industry at Coimbatore, India, that had tolerated chromium concentrations up to 500 mg Cr(6+)/L in Luria-Bertani medium. Based on morphology, physiology, and biochemical characteristics, the strain was identified as Bacillus sp. following the Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology. Evaluation of plant growth-promoting parameters has revealed the intrinsic ability of the strain for the production of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), siderophore, and solubilization of insoluble phosphate. Bacillus sp. have utilized tryptophan as a precursor for their growth and produced IAA (122 µg/mL). Bacillus sp. also exhibited the production of siderophore that was tested qualitatively using Chrome Azurol S (CAS) assay solution and utilized the insoluble tricalcium phosphate as the sole source of phosphate exhibiting higher rate of phosphate solubilization after 72 h of incubation (1.45 µg/mL). Extent of Cr(6+) uptake and accumulation of Cr(6+) in the cell wall of Bacillus sp. was investigated using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy, respectively. The congenital capability of this Cr(6+)-resistant plant growth-promoting Bacillus sp. could be employed as bacterial inoculum for the improvement of phytoremediation in heavy metal contaminated soils.

Phytochemical Screening and Toxicity Studies on the Leaves of Capparis sepiaria Linn. (Capparidaceae).

Capparis sepiaria Linn. (Family: Capparidaceae) is a rare indigenous in South India but has widespread distribution in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. The present study intended with various phytochemical screening and toxicity studies were carried out on the leaves of the Capparis sepiaria. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation of the ethanolic extract of revealed that the presence of reducing sugar, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides, alkaloids, gums, resins, amino acids, proteins and anthraquinones. The toxicity studies were performed as acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity determined the LD50 value of 300-5000 mg/kg body weight 4-6 weeks. The results of the various phytochemical tests indicated that the plant to be rich in various biologically active compounds which could serve as potential source of the crude drugs and in addition the plant is not toxic to the experimental model.