Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Properties of Extracts from Three Underutilized Food Plants of North East India

Three underutilized leafy vegetables Sarcochlamys pulcherrima (Roxb.) Gaudich (SP), Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (IA) and Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC (ZR) were extracted with different solvents viz. 95 % ethyl alcohol, methanol and hot water. The extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant potential via DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assay along with electroanalytical studies using cyclic voltammetry. The antidiabetic potential was determined by recording their α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assay. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) based phytochemical profiles of the extracts were also determined. All three extracts of SP exhibited significant antioxidant capacity. The antidiabetic potential of the IA and ZR extracts was found to be higher than or at par with that of standard acarbose. LC/MS studies reveal the presence of hitherto reported antioxidant and antidiabetic compounds like gamma-aminobutyric acid, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, α-viniferin, piperlonguminine, niacin, kaempferol, etc., in the extracts.     

Functional characterization and mutation analysis of family 11, Carbohydrate-Binding Module (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ct</Emphasis>CBM11) of cellulosomal bifunctional cellulase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium thermocellum</Emphasis>

The non-catalytic, family 11 carbohydrate binding module (CtCBM11) belonging to a bifunctional cellulosomal cellulase from Clostridium thermocellum was hyper-expressed in E. coli and functionally characterized. Affinity electrophoresis of CtCBM11 on nondenaturing PAGE containing cellulosic polysaccharides showed binding with β-glucan, lichenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose. In order to elucidate the involvement of conserved aromatic residues Tyr 22, Trp 65 and Tyr 129 in the polysaccharide binding, site-directed mutagenesis was carried out and the residues were changed to alanine. The results of affinity electrophoresis and binding adsorption isotherms showed that of the three mutants Y22A, W65A and Y129A of CtCBM11, two mutants Y22A and Y129A showed no or reduced binding affinity with polysaccharides. These results showed that tyrosine residue 22 and 129 are involved in the polysaccharide binding. These residues are present in the putative binding cleft and play a critical role in the recognition of all the ligands recognized by the protein.     

Structural and biochemical properties of lichenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium thermocellum</Emphasis>

The recombinant enzyme lichenase of size 30 kDa was over-expressed using E. coli cells and purified by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) and size exclusion chromatography. The enzyme displayed high activity towards lichenan and β-glucan. The enzyme showed no activity towards carboxymethyl cellulose, laminarin, galactomannan or glucomannan. Surprisingly, affinity-gel electrophoresis on native-PAGE showed that the enzyme binds only glucomannan and not lichenan or β-glucan or other manno-configured substrates. The enzyme was thermally stable between the temperatures 60°C and 70°C. Presence of Cu²⁺ ions at a concentration of 5 mM enhanced enzyme activity by 10% but higher concentrations of Cu²⁺ (>25 mM) showed a sharp fall in the enzyme activity. Heavy metal ions Ni²⁺, Co²⁺ and Zn²⁺ did not affect the activity of the enzyme at low concentrations (0–10 mM) but at higher concentrations (>10 mM), caused a decrease in the enzyme activity. The crystals of lichenase were produced and the 3-dimensional structure of native form of enzyme was previously solved at 1.50 Å. Lichenase displayed (β/α)₈-fold a common fold among many glycoside hydrolase families. A cleft was identified that represented the probable location of active site.     

Chemopreventive action of Phyllanthus urinaria Linn on DMBA-induced skin carcinogenesis in mice

The inhibition of tumor incidence by hydro-alcoholic extract of the whole plant of P. urinaria was evaluated in 6-7 weeks old female albino mice on two-stage process of skin carcinogenesis induced by a single application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (50 microg/50 microl of acetone), and 2 weeks later, promoted by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/three times a week) till the end of the experiment (15 weeks). Topical application of the extract at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight/day for 15 weeks at the peri-initiational stage (i.e., 7 days before and 7 days after DMBA application), promotional stage (i.e., from the time of croton oil application) and both peri and post-initiational stages (i.e., 7 days prior to DMBA application and continued till the end of the experiment) on the shaven backs of the mice recorded a significant reduction in tumor incidence to 50, 33.3 and 16.7% respectively in comparison to the control (i.e., the mice treated with DMBA and croton oil only) where tumor incidence was found to be 81.8%. The average number of papillomas per mouse was also significantly reduced. The results suggest a possible chemopreventive property of P. urinaria against DMBA-induced skin papillomagenesis in mice.     

Description of a new species of Mustura Kottelat (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae) from the Brahmaputra drainage,India

Mustura subhashi, new species, is described from the Dikal River, a north bank tributary of the Brahmaputra drainage in Arunachal Pradesh. It is distinguished from all its congeners by having a colour pattern of 14–23 dark-greyish black to dark brown irregular bars on a greyish to pale beige body; pre-dorsal bars thin, numerous, wider than interspaces, weakly contrasted, uniting dorsally at lateral one-third or midway on flank to form thicker bars, coalescing further at lateral one-fifth and continuous on dorsum with contralateral bars; bars below dorsal fin exhibiting similar condition but slightly wider than pre-dorsal bars; post-dorsal bars thicker than anterior bars, wider than interspaces, sharply contrasted, rarely coalescing on flank; and a short bar along the caudal mid-line, rarely forming a blotch. Based on re-examination of the type specimens and additional materials, Mustura dikrongensis is confirmed as a species belonging to Mustura, and M. harkishorei is not sufficiently diagnosed from 'Nemacheilus' corica.     

Noninvasive genetic monitoring of tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) population of Orang National Park in the Brahmaputra floodplain, Assam, India

The Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India, is one of the prime habitats for the endangered Royal Bengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris. With dwindling global population, estimation of the minimum number of tigers has always been a curiosity to wildlife researchers as well as to protected area managers. In the present study, DNA-based techniques were used for identifying individual tigers present in Orang National Park of Assam, from 57 faecal samples collected during February 2009. Orang National Park stands as an island of a single forest patch along the north bank of river Brahmaputra. The present study confirms the presence of 17 individual tigers in Orang National Park, with five male and 12 female. DNA-based capture–recapture analysis yielded minimum range estimate of 18 and 19 individuals, with possible overestimates of population size following two models of capture probability in CAPWIRE. The results of our genetic counting of tigers are compared with the estimates of 19 tigers based on pugmark analysis by the state Forest Department in 2000 and an independent capture–recapture estimate of 14 (±3.6) individuals based on photographic identity study in 2009. Looking at high mortality of tigers in the area, with 19 reported deaths during 2000 to 2009, our results indicate high individual turnover in the area. This study shows that Orang National Park harbours a healthy breeding population of tigers. However, the possibility of a source-sink dynamics operating in the landscape could not be ruled out, with possible immigration from nearby Kaziranga National Park on the south bank of Brahmaputra, which has the highest reported density of the species in the world.     

Impatiens pyrorhiza sp. nov. (Balsaminaceae) from east Himalaya

Impatiens pyrorhiza sp. nov. from the Tawang and West Kameng districts in northwest Arunachal Pradesh, India, is described and compared with related species. It is similar to I. gamblei from east Nepal and northwest Darjeeling, but differs in for example: a) rhizome extended, orange, much‐branched, b) leaves with numerous teeth, c) petiole base with prominent glands, d) raceme supported by subtending leaf and e) lateral sepals without an apical divergent extended callosity.     

Optimization of Nutrient Requirements and Culture Conditions for the Production of Rhamnolipid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 7815) using Mesua ferrea Seed Oil

Environmental awareness has led to a serious consideration for biological surfactants and hence non-edible vegetable oils may serve as a substitute carbon source for bio-surfactant production (rhamnolipid) which might be an alternative to complex synthetic surfactants. There are reports of rhamnolipid production from plant based oil giving higher production than that of glucose because of their hydrophobicity and high carbon content. Therefore the contribution of non-edible oil such as Mesua ferrea seed oil could serve as a good carbon source for rhamnolipid production. Moreover the use of rhamnolipid production from non-edible plant based seed oil has not been reported elsewhere. The present work focus on the optimal production of rhamnolipid by considering both micro and macro nutrients and culture conditions using response surface methodology. The study observes that micronutrients play a significant role in rhamnolipid production from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 7815). The investigation results with the statistically optimize parameters able to produce a higher rhamnolipid production and this methodology could be used to optimize the nutrients requirements and culture conditions. The present findings would assist in bioremediation of crude oil contaminated ecosystems.     

Length–weight relationships of three freshwater fish species from the Kameng River (Brahmaputra basin) in Arunachal Pradesh,northeast India

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) for three fish species, Psiloryhnchus homaloptera Hora & Mukherji, 1935, Pseudecheneis sulcata (McClelland, 1842) and Devario aequipinnatus (McClelland, 1839), from the Kameng River in Arunachal Pradesh, India were estimated from August 2016 to October 2017. Fishes were collected seasonally using cast nets (2.5 m, 1.2 cm) and electrofishing device (Safari Surveyor, 12 V 7 amp). The b values in the LWRs were determined as 2.98, 2.93 and 2.72 for P. homaloptera, P. sulcata and D. aequipinnatus respectively. The coefficient of determination (r² > .95) for all the species is statistically significant.     

Achieving global mortality reduction targets and universal health coverage: The impact of COVID-19

Wenhui Mao and coauthors discuss possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for health aspirations in low- and middle-income countries.

Summary points

• The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic threatens progress toward a “grand convergence” in global health—universal reduction in deaths from infections and maternal and child health conditions to low levels—and toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
• Our analysis suggests that COVID-19 will exacerbate the difficulty of achieving grand convergence targets for tuberculosis (TB), maternal mortality, and, probably, for under-5 mortality. HIV targets are likely to be met.
• By 2035, our analysis suggests that the public sectors of low-income countries (LICs) would only be able to finance about a third of the costs of a package of 120 essential non-COVID-19 health interventions through domestic sources, unless the country increases significantly the priority assigned to the health sector; lower middle-income countries (LMICs) would likewise only be able to finance a little less than half.
• The likelihood of getting back on track for reaching grand convergence and UHC will depend on (i) how quickly COVID-19 vaccines can be deployed in LICs and LMICs; (ii) how much additional public sector health financing can be mobilized from external and domestic sources; and (iii) whether countries can rapidly strengthen and focus their health delivery systems.