Short-chain fatty acid and vitamin production potentials of Lactobacillus isolated from fermented foods of Khasi Tribes,Meghalaya, India

Vitamins and SCFA (short-chain fatty acids) production from Lactobacillus isolates are studied due to its health benefits to the human hosts. Lactobacillus strains are widely used in fermented foods, and few of them are reported with vitamin and SCFA production potential. Therefore, in the present study, vitamins and SCFA production capability of isolates were studied to find the potent Lactobacillus cultures for value-added functional food product development. Five Lactobacillus strains, i.e., KGL2, KGL3A, KGL4, RNS4, and WTS4, were isolated from rice-based traditional fermented foods of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India. All the well grown isolates were morphologically, physiologically, and genetically characterized. Then, vitamins and SCFA were estimated using HPLC based methods. Vitamins produced in vitamins free assay medium and SCFA in milk medium are produced by Lactobacillus. Lactic acid bacteria produce essential vitamins like riboflavin, folate, cobalamin, and SCFA which have health impacts (anti-obesity, anti-diabetics, anti-microbial, and other chronic diseases prevention) to the host. These vitamins are essential for cellular and metabolic growth of living system. In the study, five potent Lactobacillus isolates viz., KGL2 (Lactobacillus fermentum), KGL3A (Lactobacillus plantarum), KGL4 (Lactobacillus fermentum), RNS4 (Lactobacillus rhamnosus), and WTS4 (Lactobacillus fermentum) were considered for vitamins (B2, B12, and B9) and SCFA productions (lactate, butyrate, and acetate). However, KGL3A had shown highest B2 production (0.7 μg/ml) while KGL2 exhibited maximum B12 production (0.05 μg/ml) after 36 h. Moreover, WTS4 attributed highest folate production (0.09 μg/ml) after 24 h. In addition, RNS4 reported the maximum short-chain fatty acid production (0.77 g/l acetic acid, 0.26 g/l lactic acid, and 0.008 g/l butyric acid respectively). Potent Lactobacillus isolates from traditional fermented foods of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India (North East Part of India) showed maximum production of B2, B9, and B12 as well as short-chain fatty acids and could be used for their application as health beneficial functional fermented dairy products.     

Life cycle assessment of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites

Purpose  

The use of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites is gaining momentum with the pressure to lightweight vehicles; however energy intensity and cost remain major barriers to the wide-scale adoption of this material for automotive applications. This study determines the relative life cycle benefits of two precursor types (conventional textile-type acrylic fibers and renewable-based lignin), part manufacturing technologies (conventional SMC and P4), and a fiber recycling technology.     

Over‐expression of MSG1 Transcriptional Co‐activator Increases Melanin in B16 Melanoma Cells: A Possible Role for MSG1 in Melanogenesis

MSG1 is a 27 kDa nuclear protein that is expressed strongly in melanotic B16 melanoma cells but very weakly in amelanotic B16 cells. Transient expression of B16 cells with an expression vector for MSG1 resulted in an increase in levels of the enzyme dopachrome tautomerase but not tyrosinase, as detected by western blotting. Stable transfection of B16 melanoma cells with plasmids containing the full length MSG1 or its deletion mutants, however, generated cell lines that showed an increase in levels of tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase and cellular melanin when compared with control transfected cells. Our results suggest that MSG1 plays an important role in melanogenesis, by regulating the levels of the enzymes of the pigmentary system via tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase.     

Pollen Morphology of Indian Species of Saraca L. (Leguminosae)-A Threatened and Legendary Medicinal Tree

The genus Saraca L. (Leguminosae) is a universal panacea in herbal medicine. The present study investigates the comparative pollen morphology of four species of Saraca viz. S. asoca (Roxb.) de Wilde, S. declinata (Jack) Miq., S. indica L., and S. thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain growing in India to reveal differences of their pollen structures to aid taxonomic and evolutionary values. The detailed morphology and surface structure of pollen grains were studied and described using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains of Saraca showed isopolar, para-syncolporate, tricolporate, with radially symmetric, prolate and prolate-spheroidal structure. The surface of pollen of S. indica is rugulate with large lirae but in S. declinata, the surface is micro-rugulate to vermiculate with relatively thin lirae and that of S. thaipingensis is indistinct as the psilate surface with a frequent protuberance and fewer perforations were observed along with the gemmae like structure. Exine ornamentation helped to separate S. indica and S. asoca. Exine thickness varies from 3-4 μm. Presence of protuberance and exine thickness varies among individuals of the species spread over different locations. Present work also provides a unique palynological identity and interrelationship of these four species based on cluster analysis taking 23 pollen characters with the help of statistical method like the plotting of ternary graph. Ternary plots also helped to calculate the level of plasticity of each character in the intra- and inter-specific level.