Innate catalytic and free radical scavenging activities of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Dillenia indica bark extract.

A green approach was envisaged for the rapid synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles in an aqueous medium using phenolic rich ethanolic bark extract from D. indica with marked free radical scavenging and reducing ability. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was confirmed and characterized by using UV-visible spectroscopy, particle size analyzer, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Bio-reduction of Ag+ was confirmed with the appearance of golden yellow coloration within 5-10min at 45°C with maximum absorbance at 421nm. XRD analysis of AgNPs indicated the crystalline nature of metallic Ag. As analyzed by TEM, AgNPs were found to be spherical in shape, well dispersed and size varied from 15 to 35nm and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies showed the average particle size of 29nm with polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.280. Synthesized AgNPs were showing surface functionalization as revealed through FTIR studies. These AgNPs were observed to be highly stable at room temperature (28±2°C) for more than 3months, thereby indicating the ethanolic extract of D. indica was a reducing as well as a capping agent for stabilization of AgNPs. Moreover, these green synthesized AgNPs showed enhanced free radical scavenging and excellent catalytic activities when used in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and methylene blue dye, at room temperature.

Lanthanum induced B-to-Z transition in self-assembled Y-shaped branched DNA structure.

Controlled conversion of right-handed B-DNA to left-handed Z-DNA is one of the greatest conformational transitions in biology. Recently, the B-Z transition has been explored from nanotechnological points of view and used as the driving machinery of many nanomechanical devices. Using a combination of CD spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and PAGE, we demonstrate that low concentration of lanthanum chloride can mediate B-to-Z transition in self-assembled Y-shaped branched DNA (bDNA) structure. The transition is sensitive to the sequence and structure of the bDNA. Thermal melting and competitive dye binding experiments suggest that La(3+) ions are loaded to the major and minor grooves of DNA and stabilize the Z-conformation. Our studies also show that EDTA and EtBr play an active role in reversing the transition from Z-to-B DNA.

Improved liquid chromatographic method for determination of organic acids in leaves, pulp, fruits, and rinds of Garcinia.

An improved liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for determination of organic acids in leaves, pulp, fruits, and rinds of Garcinia. At present, the commonly used LC method for analysis of organic acids in Garcinia extracts uses direct application of the extracts on the column. This practice gradually reduces efficiency of the column and shortens its life. In the improved method, the interfering substances such as pigments and xanthones were effectively removed by passing the aqueous extract through an ODS cartridge. With subsequent injection on a C18 reversed-phase column, using 6.0 mM phosphoric acid as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and UV detection at 210 nm, the organic acids were determined in the extracts. The major organic acid was (-)-hydroxycitric acid at the level of 2.5, 0.8, 3.0, and 20.1% in leaf, pulp, fresh fruit, and dried rinds, respectively. Minor quantities of hydroxycitric acid lactone, oxalic acid, and citric acid were also identified. Limits of detection and recoveries were 0.9-1.5 microg and 93.9-99.8%, respectively. This is the first report on the composition of organic acids from Garcinia pedunculata.

Evaluation of antioxidant activities and antimutagenicity of turmeric oil: a byproduct from curcumin production.

Curcumin removed turmeric oleoresin (CRTO) was extracted with hexane concentrated to get turmeric oil, and that was fractionated using silica gel column chromatography to obtain three fractions. These fractions were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Turmeric oil contained aromatic turmerone (31.32%), turmerone (15.08%) and curlone (9.7%), whereas fractions III has aromatic turmerone (44.5%), curlone (19.22%) and turmerone (10.88%) as major compounds Also, oxygenated compounds (5,6,8-10) were enriched in fraction III. Turmeric oil and its fractions were tested for antioxidant activity using the beta-carotene-linoleate model system and the phosphomolybdenum method. The fraction III showed maximum antioxidant capacity. These fractions were also used to determine their protective effect against the mutagenicity of sodium azide by means of the Ames test. All the fractions and turmeric oil exhibited a markedly antimutagenicity but fraction III was the most effective. The antioxidant effects of turmeric oil and its fractions may provide an explanation for their antimutagenic action.

Organic acids from leaves, fruits, and rinds of Garcinia cowa.

Organic acids in fresh leaves, fruits, and dried rinds of Garcinia cowa (G. cowa) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Fresh leaves, fruits, and dried rinds were extracted with water at 120 degrees C for 20-30 min under 15 lbs/in(2) pressure. Also, dried rinds were extracted with solvents (acetone and methanol) using a Soxhlet extractor at 60 degrees C for 8 h each. The samples were injected to HPLC under gradient elution with 0.01 M phosphoric acid and methanol with a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min using UV detection at 210 nm. The major organic acid was found to be (-)-hydroxycitric acid present in leaves, fruits, and rinds to the extent of 1.7, 2.3, and 12.7%, respectively. (-)-Hydroxycitric acid lactone, and oxalic and citric acids are present in leaves, fruits, and rinds in minor quantities. This is the first report on the composition of organic acids from G. cowa.