Photo-catalytic dye degradation potentials of Ag-Pd bimetallic nanoparticles synthesized from Vitex negundo.

Plant extracts are a great alternative to synthesizing nanoparticles of different metals and metal oxides. This green synthesis method has opened up numerous possibilities in various scientific domains. In present study, Leaf extract from Vitex negundo is a non-deciduous, long-lasting shrub from the Verbenaceae family is used as capping and reducing agents for the synthesis of silver and palladium nanoparticles. The characterization study UV-vis spectrophotometer analysis showed absorbance value around 320 nm which confirming that Ag-Pd nanoparticles have been successfully obtained. Further, SEM is used to investigate the morphology of Ag-Pd NPs, which revealing their spherical and rod-like configuration, aggregation, and the size of the particles are obtained between 50 and 100 nm. The successful synthesis of Ag-Pd NPs was further confirmed by the EDAX chart, which displayed the peak of Ag and Pd at bending energies between 0.5 and 1.5 keV. According to the quantitative study, Ag and Pd ions found about 5.24 and 13.28%, respectively. In addition, surface studies with TEM confirming that synthesized Ag-Pd NPs are predominates with spheres structure morphologies, with sizes averaging 11.20 nm and ranging from 10 to 20 nm. Further, Ag-Pd nanoparticles was applied as potential photocatalyst materials to degrade methylene blue dye and found about 85% of the degradation efficiency within 150 min of the sunlight exposure thus could be used as catalyst to removal of hazardous organic dye molecules.

Carvacrol modulates instability of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and downregulates the expressions of PCNA, MMP-2, and MMP-9 during diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common malignant tumor in the world, both in terms of incidence and mortality in Asian and Western countries. There are currently limited therapeutic regimens available for effective treatment of this cancer. Carvacrol is a predominant monoterpenoic phenol believed to impede cancer promotion and progression. The present study was conducted to decipher the role of carvacrol during diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in male wistar albino rats. Carvacrol (15 mg/kg body weight) suppressed the elevation of serum tumor marker enzymes, carcinoembryonic antigen, and α-feto protein induced by DEN. The activities of phase I enzymes increased markedly during DEN induction, but was found to be significantly lowered upon carvacrol treatment. On the contrary, the phase II enzymes decreased in DEN-administered animals, which was improved normalcy upon carvacrol-treated animals. DEN-administered animals showed increased mast cell counts, argyrophilic nucleolar organizing regions, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs-2/9), whereas carvacrol supplementation considerably suppressed all the above abnormalities. The results suggest that the carvacrol exhibited the potential anticancer activity by inhibiting cell proliferation and preventing metastasis in DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

Expeditious quantification of lignocellulolytic enzymes from indigenous wood rot and litter degrading fungi from tropical dry evergreen forests of Tamil Nadu.

In this study thirty wood rotting and litter degrading basidiomycetes were screened for the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes such as, laccase, peroxidase, and cellulase using rapid micro quantification assay. Out of the 30 indigenous isolates Trametes gibbosa was identified to be a potential lignocellulolytic enzyme producer, producing a maximum amount of cellulase (299.66 ± 1.59 IU/L) and laccase (257.94 ± 1.79 U/L). Moreover, it is the second leading producer of peroxidase enzyme (170.19 ± 1.98 U/L). Tricholomopsis sp. a wood rot basidiomycete was found to be the leading lignin decomposer with maximum peroxidase activity (287.84 ± 2 U/L) and second maximum laccase activity (250.19 ± 1.83 U/L). However, its cellulolytic potential was found to be moderate (100.04 ± 1.13 U/L). A higher level of lignocellulolytic enzymes was recorded in wood rotting basidiomycetes, whereas very low levels of lignolytic enzymes were found in litter inhabiting basidiomycetes. However, their cellulolytic potential was found to be moderate.