Colorimetric paper bioassay by horseradish peroxidase for the detection of catechol and resorcinol in aqueous samples

Abstract

Phenolic compounds such as catechol and resorcinol are toxic and persistent pollutants in the aqueous environment. Detection procedures such as chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods are time-consuming and require sophisticated instruments with skilled manpower. Development of a simple, cost effective, portable and disposable paper based biosensor could be a better alternative to the conventional methods. The present study attempted to develop a paper based biosensor by immobilizing horseradish peroxidase enzyme to detect catechol and resorcinol in aqueous samples. Horseradish peroxidase catalyzes the oxidation of phenolic compounds to semiquinones, which on reaction with a chromogen, 3-methyl 2-benzothiazolinone hydrazine (MBTH) gives faint pink to red color depending on the compound and its concentration in the sample is the basis for biosensing application. Different methods of enzyme immobilization on filter paper like physical adsorption, covalent coupling, and polysaccharide entrapment were executed. The performance of the various enzyme immobilization methods was evaluated by analyzing the developed color intensity using ImageJ software. Entrapment technique is the most effective method of immobilizing enzyme on the filter paper that produces the highest color intensity with better stability. The visible limit of detection (LoD) was observed as 0.45?mM (50?mg/L) for catechol and 0.09?mM (10?mg/L) for resorcinol in aqueous samples.     

How metals directly affect the antioxidant status in the liver and kidney of Oreochromis niloticus? An in vitro study

BackgroundMetals can disturb the integrity of physiological and biochemical mechanisms in fish. Thus components of defense as an antioxidant system are significant biomarkers due to their vital role in coping with metal stress. The aim of the current study is to investigate the direct effects of Cd, Cu, and Zn sublethal exposures (in vitro) on the antioxidant system parameters in the liver and kidney of Nile tilapia.MethodsThe antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH levels were analyzed after in vitro sublethal metal (200 and 400 μg/L Cd, Cu, and Zn) treatments of Oreochromis niloticus liver and kidney supernatants.ResultsMetals even at lower levels caused significant changes in the levels of antioxidant system parameters due to concentration, metal, and tissue type. GSH metabolism parameters were more responsive to the metal effect. TBARS levels and GPX activity were mostly increased while CAT, SOD, rGSH, and GSH/GSSG levels decreased. The kidney was more affected than the liver in vitro conditions. Cu was more effective in the liver whereas it was Zn for the kidney. Cd caused negative correlations among the antioxidant enzymes. Significant correlations were found between enzymes and GSH levels upon Zn and Cu exposures.ConclusionsDirect metal effects may trigger different response trends due to their nature and tissue differences. The current data provide a knowledge about which antioxidant biomarkers can define better the oxidative stress caused by direct metal effect for further studies including in vivo experiments.     

The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus intraradices and other microbial groups affect plant species in a copper-contaminated post-mining soil

Background and aimArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have an important role in plant-microbe interactions. But, there are few studies in which the combined effect of AMF with a stress factor, such as the presence of a metal, on plant species were assessed. This study investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Rhizophagus intraradices and other soil microbial groups in the presence of copper on three plant species in a microcosm experiment.MethodsTwo grass species Poa compressa and Festuca rubra and one herb species Centaurea jacea were selected as model plants in a pot-design test in which soils were artificially contaminated with copper. Treatments were bacteria (control), saprophytic fungi, protists, and a combined treatment of saprophytic fungi and protists, all in the presence or absence of the AM fungal species. After sixty days, plants were harvested and the biomass of grass and herb species and microbial respiration were measured.ResultsThe results showed almost equal above- and belowground plant biomass and microbial respiration in the treatments in the presence or absence of R. intraradices. The herb species C. jecea responded significantly to the soil inoculation with AM fungus, while grass species showed inconsistent patterns. Significant effect of AMF and copper and their interactions was observed on plant biomass when comparing contaminated vs. non-contaminated soils.ConclusionStrong effect of AMF on the biomass of herb species and slight changes in plant growth with the presence of this fungal species in copper-spiked test soils indicates the importance of mycorrhizal fungi compared to other soil microorganisms in our experimental microcosms.     

樟树叶片挥发性有机物释放季节动态和日动态变化规律

采用动态顶空采集法和热脱附-气质联用技术,对不同季节和一天内不同时间点樟树叶片释放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)成分含量及其变化规律进行了分析。结果表明:全年樟树叶片释放的VOCs共计78种,其中萜烯类(19种)和烷烃类(18种)化合物种类较多; 32种樟树叶片释放的挥发性成分相对含量在不同季节存在显著差异(P0.05); 3月份释放的VOCs种类最为丰富,萜烯类化合物相对含量最高(43.49%),主要为1-石竹烯、D-柠檬烯和α-蒎烯,其他月份释放的VOCs则以烷烃类和醇类为主;春季,樟树叶片在绝大多数时间点释放VOCs以萜烯类化合物为主,且早上8:00释放的萜烯类化合物相对含量最大。综上结果认为,樟树是营造保健型生态园林的理想树种,其叶片释放的VOCs中富含多种对人体健康有益的萜烯类化合物,春季的早晨是进行森林康养活动的最佳时间。     

热风干燥温度对荷叶离褶伞干燥特性及挥发性风味物质的影响

为探究不同热风干燥温度对荷叶离褶伞干燥特性及挥发性风味物质的影响。本研究比较了8种常见干燥动力学模型对荷叶离褶伞干燥过程拟合的适用性,采用GC-IMS技术,对不同干燥温度处理下荷叶离褶伞的挥发性风味物质进行测定。结果表明：荷叶离褶伞热风干燥为典型的降速干燥,Midilli-Kucuk模型可以较好地描述其热风干燥过程（R²>0.99791,RMSE<0.0152,χ²<2.31×10^-4）;温度对荷叶离褶伞风味物质影响显著,在5个干燥温度处理下的荷叶离褶伞中共鉴定到47种挥发性风味物质,包括醛类13种、酮类8种、醇类13种、酯类5种和其他类8种。随着干燥温度升高（55-75℃）,醛类物质相对含量呈下降趋势,而醇类、酮类以及其他物质（乙酸等）略有上升趋势。     

一氧化氮参与盐胁迫下长春花酚类代谢的调控研究

为研究外源一氧化氮(NO)调控盐胁迫下长春花中酚类化合物的响应,采用液相色谱—质谱联用(LCMS)技术靶向分析梯度浓度硝普纳(SNP)处理对盐胁迫下长春花幼苗根、茎、花、叶4个部位中酚类化合物组分及含量水平的变化。结果共鉴定出L-苯丙氨酸和18种酚类物质,C6C1类5种、C6C3类5种、C6C3C6类8种,其中原儿茶酸、绿原酸、槲皮素在长春花根、茎、花、叶4个部位中均存在;不同浓度SNP处理后长春花不同部位酚类化合物响应积累明显不同,其中C6C1和C6C3小分子酚酸类化合物主要积累在根和茎中,C3C6C3类主要富集在花和叶中;L-苯丙氨酸在茎、叶中相对含量较高,盐胁迫下茎中含量显著升高,且随外源NO浓度增大呈下降趋势。外源NO影响盐胁迫下植物器官中酚类化合物的积累和变化,其中根和茎响应敏感,从种类和相对含量的角度,茎和叶更适合检测酚类化合物。     

Dammarane triterpenes targeting α-synuclein: biological activity and evaluation of binding sites by molecular docking

Parkinson''s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects adult people whose treatment is palliative. Thus, we decided to test three dammarane triterpenes 1, 1a, 1b, and we determined that 1 and 1a inhibit β-aggregation through thioflavine T rather than 1b. Since compound 1 was most active, we determined the interaction between α-synuclein and 1 at 50 µM (Kd) through microscale thermophoresis. Also, we observed differences in height and diameter of aggregates, and α-synuclein remains unfolded in the presence of 1. Also, aggregates treated with 1 do not provoke neurites'' retraction in N2a cells previously induced by retinoic acid. Finally, we studied the potential sites of interaction between 1 with α-synuclein fibrils using molecular modelling. Docking experiments suggest that 1 preferably interact with the site 2 of α-synuclein through hydrogen bonds with residues Y39 and T44.     

Marine microorganisms as an untapped source of bioactive compounds

The search for novel biologically active molecules has extended to the screening of organisms associated with less explored environments. In this sense, Oceans, which cover nearly the 67% of the globe, are interesting ecosystems characterized by a high biodiversity that is worth being explored. As such, marine microorganisms are highly interesting as promising sources of new bioactive compounds of potential value to humans. Some of these microorganisms are able to survive in extreme marine environments and, as a result, they produce complex molecules with unique biological interesting properties for a wide variety of industrial and biotechnological applications. Thus, different marine microorganisms (fungi, myxomycetes, bacteria, and microalgae) producing compounds with antioxidant, antibacterial, apoptotic, antitumoral and antiviral activities have been already isolated. This review compiles and discusses the discovery of bioactive molecules from marine microorganisms reported from 2018 onwards. Moreover, it highlights the huge potential of marine microorganisms for obtaining highly valuable bioactive compounds.     

Phytochemical screening and anti-oxidant activity of Sargassum wightii enhances the anti-bacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In this study, the phytochemical, phenolic, flavonoid and bioactive compounds were successfully screened from crude extract of Sargassum wightii by LC-MS analysis after NIST interpretation. Bacterial growth inhibition study result was shown with 24 mm zone inhibition at 200 µg/mL concentration against P. aeruginosa. The increased phenolic content was much closed to gallic acid and the range was observed at 250 μg/mL concentration. In addition, flavonoid contents of the algae extract was indicated more significant with rutin at 200 μg/mL. In result, both the phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were more correlated with gallic acid and rutin. Further, the total anti-oxidant and DPPH radical scavenging activities were shown increased activity at 200 μg/mL concentrations. Furthermore, the excellent anti-bacterial alteration result was observed at 200 μg/mL concentration by minimum inhibition concentration. Therefore, the result was revealed that the marine algae Sargassum wightii has excellent phytochemical and anti-oxidant activities, and it has improved anti-bacterial activity against P. aeruginosa.