Influence of Borassus flabellifer Endocarps Hydrolysate on Fungal Biomass and Fatty Acids Production by the Marine Fungus Aspergillus sp.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) are important nutrients for human health. We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of marine water fungus Aspergillus sp. (Accession no: MZ505709) for lipid biosynthesis. The Yeast Extract Glucose (YEG) medium was supplemented with different concentration of Borassus flabellifer Endocarps Hydrolysate (BFEH; 1-5%) to evaluate the fungal biomass and its lipid accumulation. The combination of glucose and BFEH as carbon source increased the fresh weight (25.43 ± 0.33 g/L), dry weight (21.39 ± 0.77 g/L) and lipid yield (3.14 ± 0.09 g/L) of fungal biomass. The lipid content of dried fungal biomass has shown 91.08 ± 5.07 mg cod liver oil equivalents/g and 125.98 ± 5.96 mg groundnut oil equivalents/g biomass. GC-MS and NMR spectrometry analysis revealed the compounds involved in fatty acid metabolism and lipid signaling pathways along with the presence of linolenic acid. Interestingly, fungus grown in BFEH enriched medium has recorded the maximum amount of lipids with major fatty acid derivatives. Increase in the growth rate of Artemia franciscana was observed, when the extracted fungal lipid was supplemented as a food supplement. Therefore, this study suggests that marine fungal lipid may serve as potential natural compound as nutraceuticals and aquafeeds.

Comparative Study of Antifungal Efficacy of Various Endodontic Irrigants with and without Clotrimazole in Extracted Teeth Inoculated with Candida albicans.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To assess the application of clotrimazole (1%) as a complementary antifungal agent along with sodium hypochlorite (5.25%), chlorhexidine gluconate (2%), and doxycycline hydrochloride (5%) against Candida albicans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy freshly extracted single-rooted premolars with matured apices were collected, stored, and handled according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and recommendations. These were divided into three groups (two tests and one control group) depending on irrigants used. The efficacy of each irrigant group was compared. The observations were statistically analyzed by the multiple intergroup comparisons using ANOVA and Scheffe multiple comparisons (p < 0.001). RESULTS: The sodium hypochlorite (group IA-mean 129.6) has shown a statistically significant decrease in colony-forming units (CFUs) (p < 0.01) on comparison with chlorhexidine [(IB) mean 190.2]. A similar result was obtained in comparison with the sodium hypochlorite group (IA) and doxycycline HCl group [(IC) mean 318.4] and also between the sodium hypochlorite group (IA) and the control group [(III) mean 554.2]. The intragroup comparison of group II, group IIA (mean 63.3), and group IIB (mean 73.8) showed no statistically significant difference. Group III (mean 554.2) was the least effective of all the subgroups. CONCLUSION: Sodium hypochlorite showed better antifungal efficacy than chlorhexidine and doxycycline when used alone. The addition of clotrimazole increased the efficiency of doxycycline also, but it was less compared to sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine. Within the limitations of this study, the inclusion of 1% clotrimazole increased the antifungal efficacy of all the three irrigants. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our study compared the efficacy of the various endodontic irrigants and also determined their efficiency with the addition of the antifungal agent. Clotrimazole (1%) addition in irrigating solutions showed better results and promoted faster healing.