Functional food supplements to ameliorate the secondary complications in high fructose fed diabetic rats.

Functional foods are the most natural and safest source of health ingredients, providing health benefits beyond basic nutrition, and hence can be used as supplements for the prevention of secondary complications in diabetes. Persistent diabetes may cause glycation of various tissue proteins such as of those in lens, kidney, blood, and brain, which may further lead to the development of pathological conditions such as cataract and cardiovascular diseases. This study on adult rats was designed to assess if the functional food supplements A and B (proprietary blends of antioxidant rich plant materials) can reduce secondary complications such as cataract, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress under severe diabetic conditions. After nine weeks of intervention of the supplements, it was found that the % HbA1c levels in the formulation group B significantly (p < 0.05) lowered (10.9%) followed by those in group A (11.1%) as compared to those in the diabetic fructose control (DFC) group (15.1%); moreover, plasma insulin levels were significantly (p < 0.01) improved in the formulation B group (9.8 mU L-1) as compared to those in the DFC group (8.5 mU L-1). The significantly higher level of plasma TEAC in group B (27.5 mg dL-1) (p < 0.02) and group A (26.6 mg dL-1) (p < 0.05) indicates an improved plasma antioxidants status as compared to that in DFC group (21.7 mg dL-1). Both the formulation groups A and B showed a decrease in AGEs and tryptophan fluorescence, which suggests amelioration of the glycation of lens proteins as compared to that in the DFC group. The present results indicate that the formulations A and B exhibit antiglycating and antioxidant potentials by inhibiting the high fructose-induced glycation in diabetic rats; hence, they may have therapeutic value as functional foods in the effective management of secondary complications associated with severe diabetic conditions.

Production of copolymer, poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) by Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027 using agro-wastes.

For cost effective production of PHA, agro-wastes like fruit peels, bagasse and deoiled cakes were screened as a sole source of carbon. Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027, which was isolated from one of the extreme environment, i.e. Lonar Lake, India, was explored for the production of PHA using fruit peels and bagasse having fermentable sugars. Among the agro-wastes tested, 1% (v/v) aqueous extract of bagasse was found to be the optimum carbon source with 47% PHA production on dry cell weight basis. Significant amount of total sugars are utilized and converted into cell mass and PHA, e.g. 62% sugar utilized from bagasse extract, 84% from orange peel extract and 71% from banana peel extract as compared to 51% in case of maltose. Hence the cost of production would be positively reduced. The detailed characterization of PHA formed by H. campisalis using bagasse extract as sole carbon source revealed that the organism produces a copolymer of PHB-co-PHV (94.4:5.6) having molecular weight M(w) 1.394 × 10(6) and melting temperature 168.9 °C. Production of PHA by H. campisalis using aqueous extract of fruit peels and a copolymer PHB-co-PHV using aqueous extract of bagasse is presumably the first report.

Statistical optimization of medium components for production of extracellular chitinase by Basidiobolus ranarum: a novel biocontrol agent against plant pathogenic fungi.

The influence of concentration of medium components such as colloidal chitin, lactose, malt extract, yeast extract, and peptone on the chitinase production from Basidiobolous ranarum at the flask level were studied by using statistical tool Central Composite Design (CCD) and analysed by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results revealed that colloidal chitin, malt extract and peptone had significant effect (P < 0.01) on the chitinase production at their individual levels. The polynomial equation of the model developed incorporates 3 linear, 3 quadratic and 5 interactive terms. Maximum chitinase production of 3.47 U ml(-1) was achieved with 1.5% colloidal chitin, 0.125% lactose, 0.025% malt extract and 0.075% peptone. After optimization, chitinase activity was increased by 7.71 fold. A second order polynomial equation was found to be useful for the development of efficient bioprocess for chitinase production. To screen the biotechnological potential of this enzyme, degradation of fungal mycelia by ammonium sulphate precipitate of the same was studied for several pathogenic fungi-in vitro which showed promising results particularly against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. This study provides the first evidence showing the effectiveness of RSM for the development of a robust statistical model for the chitinase production by Basidiobolus and for its application in the biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi.

Production and characterization of a biodegradable poly (hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-co-PHV) copolymer by moderately haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis MCM B-1027 isolated from Lonar Lake, India.

Several microorganisms produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). They are accumulated intracellularly as energy storage compounds. The PHAs are of interest because of their potential in biomedical applications. Halophilic bacteria and archaea are known to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). This paper describes production of a biodegradable copolymer, PHB-co-PHV by a moderately haloalkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis, isolated from Lonar Lake, India. The production of PHA was in the range of 45-81% on dry cell weight basis when the organism was grown in a production medium containing 1% (w/v) maltose and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract, at pH ranging from 6 to 9 with an inoculum density of 10(5)-10(7) cells/ml of medium, for incubation period of 15-30 h and at 37 degrees C. The polymer produced by the organism is a hydroxyester with molecular weight of 1.3014 x 10(6). Its melting temperature was 171 degrees C. The (1)H NMR analysis revealed that the polymer was a copolymer of PHB-co-PHV. This could be achieved by providing simple carbon source viz. maltose.

Effect of microbial activities on stored raw buffalo hide.

'Keeping qualities' of hides are dependent on the total microbial flora associated with the hides and the biochemical changes brought about by these microorganisms during short-term storage at ambient temperature (28 +/- 2 degrees C). It was evident that within first 24 hr of hide's ambient storage, bacterial load was raised to 8.8 log cfu g(-1) hide from 6.1 log cfu g(-1) hide. Nonlinear parabolic increase in release of hydroxyproline and tyrosine from stored hide was observed starting from 0 hr and confirming proteolytic activities. Continuous release of CO2 from the stored hide suggested its mineralization. Exponential release of free fatty acids during storage indicated simultaneous lipolysis. Thus the process of biodegradation during the course of ambient storage of hide piece was found to progress steadily and seems to be interrelated as well as very complex. During the storage period, the liquefaction of hide piece was also observed visually within 96 hr. Present studies of assessment of bacterial activities on hide with respect to total bacterial load, release of amino acids, free fatty acids and evolved CO2 provide data that can be used to formulate and evaluate hide curing agent(s) other than salt, thus rendering leather industry a platform to design bio-based technologies for efficient and ecofriendly preservation of raw materials.

Production and partial characterization of dehairing protease from Bacillus cereus MCM B-326.

Bacillus cereus MCM B-326, isolated from buffalo hide, produced an extracellular protease. Maximum protease production occurred (126.87+/-1.32 U ml(-1)) in starch soybean meal medium of pH 9.0, at 30 degrees C, under shake culture condition, with 2.8 x 10(8) cells ml(-1) as initial inoculum density, at 36 h. Ammonium sulphate precipitate of the enzyme was stable over a temperature range of 25-65 degrees C and pH 6-12, with maximum activity at 55 degrees C and pH 9.0. The enzyme required Ca(2+) ions for its production but not for activity and/or stability. The partially purified enzyme exhibited multiple proteases of molecular weight 45 kDa and 36 kDa. The enzyme could be effectively used to remove hair from buffalo hide indicating its potential in leather processing industry.

Optimization of protease activity of alkaliphilic bacteria isolated from an alkaline lake in India.

Alkaliphilic bacteria belonging to the genera Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas and Arthrobacter isolated from sediment samples of the alkaline Lonar lake situated in the Buldhana District of Maharashtra State, India, were studied for the production of protease activity. Among the 54 isolates obtained, Arthrobacter ramosus and Bacillus alcalophilus exhibited high protease activity using soyacake as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Protease activity was optimum at 1% initial substrate concentration, at 30 degrees C and under shake culture condition for both organisms. The enzyme was thermostable (65 degrees C), stable at pH 12 and also active in the presence of commercial detergent. This enzyme removed blood stains from cotton fabric indicating its potential use in detergent formulations.