Nephroprotective effect of Bryophyllum pinnatum‐mediated silver nanoparticles in ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rat

A large population is suffering from multifactorial urolithiasis worldwide with a reoccurrence rate of almost 70%–80% in males and 47%–60% in females. In the present study, the nephroprotective effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesised by Bryophyllum pinnatum was evaluated in ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rat. B. pinnatum‐mediated AgNPs which were found to be spherical and polydispersed particles with an average size of 32.65 nm determined by transmission electron microscopy analysis, and showing an absorption peak at 432 nm by the UV‐Vis spectrophotometric analysis, revealing the role of hydroxyl group in the synthesis by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy analysis, with a zeta potential value of −15.7 mV. The crystalline nature and fcc structure was demonstrated based on X‐ray diffraction analysis. Animal study was performed on 36 male Wistar rats divided into six equal groups, which demonstrated significant increase in serum total protein, albumin and globulin and significant decrease in AST, ALT, creatinine, BUN, calcium and phosphorus in group V and VI when compared with group II and IV. No crystalluria was observed in rats given B. pinnatum AgNPs. Histopathological observations in group V and VI showed mild degenerative changes and restoration or maintenance of kidney parenchyma when compared with group II and IV rats. Thus, the authors conclude with the beneficial preventive and therapeutic nephroprotective effect of B. pinnatum‐mediated AgNPs against ethylene glycol‐induced urolithiasis in rats.     

Gram yield estimation through SVI under variable soil and management conditions

Soil crop management interaction influence on spectral vegetation indices (SVIs) and dry matter (DM) in different growth stages of gram crop were studied through an experiment. Significant differences in the values of IR/R and NDVI in the branching stage (St1: 20.17***, 14.06***) and the pod development stage (St2: 12.73***, 8.48**) and non-significant differences in pod maturity stage (St3: 0.193, 0.023) indicate that plant, soil and management interactions have yielded significant difference up to St2. The values of coefficient of variation (Cv) show the significant differences in DM production between the soils (St1: 43.5***, St2: 228.5***, St3: 36.3***) and treatment (St1: 10.8***, St2: 6.6**, St3: 2.9). These variation are well in agreement with the changes which have taken place in the values of SVIs, as it can be clearly seen that the increase in SVIs corresponds with the consistent increase in DM up to stage 2. The significant differences between SVIs values between soils and treatments and the positive correlation with DM at St2, justifies their consideration in estimating the yield of gram crop under variable soil and management conditions. The regression relation of DM with NDVI in three soils and four management factors has yielded 12 regression models in order to predict DM/grain production using SVI's values in St2. Based on goodness of fit and considering the highest R2 value, the best yield prediction models for S1, S2 and S3 soils are (i) y 0.91 0.03 NDVI (R2 0.42) S1 soils (ii) y 1.89 0.06 NDVI (R2 0.96) S2 soils (iii) y 3.85 0.46 NDVI (R2 0.32) S3 soils.     

Aflatoxin Inactivation Using Aqueous Extract of Ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi) Seeds

ABSTRACT: Aqueous extract of ajowan seeds was found to contain an aflatoxin inactivation factor (IF). Thin layer chromatography analysis of the toxins after treatment with IF showed relative reduction of aflatoxin G₁ > G₂ > B₁ > B₂. Quantification of toxin using a fluorotoxin meter as well as the Enzyme Linked Immuno s orb ent Assay (ELISA) confirmed these findings. An approximate 80% reduction in total aflatoxin content over the controls was observed. This observed phenomenon of reduction in total toxin was referred to as toxin inactivation. Temperature was found to influence the rate of toxin inactivation. At 45 °C, it was found to be rapid during the initial 5 h and slowed later. The IF was found to retain considerable activity even after boiling and autoclaving, indicating partial heat stability. The activity was lost below pH 4.0. Above pH 4.0, it increased gradually, reaching the maximum at pH 10.0. IF was found to be stable to gamma irradiation. Toxin decontamination in spiked corn samples could be achieved using IF. This study emphasizes the potential of ajowan IF in aflatoxin removal from contaminated food commodities. However, the biological toxicity, if any, of the IF inactivated aflatoxins needs to be confirmed, and the work in this direction is in progress.     

Microbiological evaluation of sprouts marketed in Mumbai, India, and its suburbs

A study was undertaken to assess the microbiological quality of sprouts marketed in Mumbai and its suburbs. A total of 124 sprout samples of four different legumes--mung (Phaseolus aureus), matki (Phaseolus aconitifolius), chana (Cicer arietinum), and vatana (Pisum sativum)--were analyzed over a period of 12 months for aerobic plate counts, coliforms, yeast and mold counts, staphylococci, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Aerobic plate counts ranged from 7.6 to 8.9 log CFU/g, coliform counts ranged from 5.4 to 7.9 log CFU/g, yeast and mold counts ranged from 3.6 to 7.3 log CFU/g, and staphylococci counts ranged from 3.3 to 6.6 log CFU/ g. Nonpathogenic E. coli was detected in 13% of the mung, 26% of the matki, 40% of the chana, and 19% of the vatana samples. Salmonella Typhimurium was detected in 21% of the mung, 40% of the matki, and 4% of the chana samples. Salmonella Dublin was detected in 2% of the mung samples, and Salmonella Washington was detected in 4% of the matki samples. L. monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 were not detected in any of the samples examined. Coagulase-positive S. aureus was detected in 4% of the mung, 11% of the matki, and 4% of the chana samples. The results indicated that the marketed sprouts were of poor microbiological quality; therefore, further processing, such as radiation processing, is needed to ensure their safety.     

Effectiveness of radiation processing in elimination of Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes from sprouts

The effectiveness of radiation treatment in eliminating Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes on laboratory inoculated ready-to-eat sprouts was studied. Decimal reduction doses (D10-values) for Salmonella Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes in dry seeds of mung (green gram), matki (dew gram), chana (chick pea), and vatana (garden pea) ranged from 0.189 to 0.303 kGy and 0.294 to 0.344 kGy, respectively. In sprouts made from these seeds, the D10-values ranged from 0.192 to 0.208 kGy for Salmonella Typhimurium and from 0.526 to 0.588 kGy for L. monocytogenes. Radiation treatment with a 2-kGy dose resulted in complete elimination of 10(4) CFU/g of Salmonella Typhimurium and 10(3) CFU/g of L. monocytogenes from all the four varieties of sprouts. No recovery of Salmonella Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes was observed in the radiation treated samples stored at 4 and 8 degrees C up to 12 days. Radiation treatment with 1 kGy and 2 kGy resulted in a reduction of aerobic plate counts and coliform counts by 2 and 4 log CFU/g, respectively; the yeast and mold counts and staphylococci counts decreased by 1 and 2 log CFU/g, respectively. However, during postirradiation storage at 4 and 8 degrees C, aerobic plate counts, coliform counts, yeast and mold counts, and staphylococci counts remained constant throughout the incubation period. This study demonstrates that a 2-kGy dose of irradiation could be an effective method of processing to ensure microbial safety of sprouts.     

Radiation Processing of Minimally Processed Pineapple (Ananas comosus Merr.): Effect on Nutritional and Sensory Quality

ABSTRACT:  Radiation processing of minimally processed pineapple at a dose of 2 kGy was investigated. Effect of this treatment on different quality parameters like vitamin C content, total carotenoids content, sensory attributes, texture, and color was determined over a storage period of 12 d at 8 to 10 °C. Results showed that the irradiation treatment showed no significant effect ( P > 0.05) on total vitamin C content of pineapple samples but a significant decrease ( P ≤ 0.05) in vitamin C during storage period in both controls as well as irradiated samples was observed. However, total carotenoids were not affected by irradiation and were stable during the whole storage period as well ( P > 0.05). Sensory evaluation studies revealed that irradiation had no significant effect ( P > 0.05) on the ratings of any of the sensory attributes of pineapple samples. Taste panelists could not differentiate between control and irradiated samples. Textural studies showed no significant effect ( P > 0.05) of irradiation as well as storage period on the firmness of the central edible region of pineapple samples. Color attributes of both control and irradiated samples showed slight variation during the storage period of 12 d. However, irradiation at 2 kGy did not have a significant effect ( P > 0.05) on all color coordinates. Thus, radiation processing with 2 kGy did not affect significantly the nutritional value as well as the sensory quality of minimally processed pineapple samples.     

Effectiveness of radiation processing for elimination of Salmonella Typhimurium from minimally processed pineapple (Ananas comosus Merr.)

ABSTRACT:  The microbiological quality of market samples of minimally processed (MP) pineapple was examined. The effectiveness of radiation treatment in eliminating Salmonella Typhimurium from laboratory inoculated ready-to-eat pineapple slices was also studied. Microbiological quality of minimally processed pineapple samples from Mumbai market was poor; 8.8% of the samples were positive for Salmonella. D₁₀ (the radiation dose required to reduce bacterial population by 90%) value for S. Typhimurium inoculated in pineapple was 0.242 kGy. Inoculated pack studies in minimally processed pineapple showed that the treatment with a 2-kGy dose of gamma radiation could eliminate 5 log CFU/g of S. Typhimurium. The pathogen was not detected from radiation-processed samples up to 12 d during storage at 4 and 10 °C. The processing of market samples with 1 and 2 kGy was effective in improving the microbiological quality of these products.     

Cell apoptosis control using BMP4 and noggin embedded in a polyelectrolyte multilayer film

Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is a genetically regulated process of cell elimination essential during development. During development, programmed cell death is involved in the specific shaping of organs, in the elimination of cells having achieved their program, and in regulating the number of cells to differentiate. Tooth development includes these three aspects and was used here as a model to study the control of apoptosis. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are currently considered as playing a major role in signaling apoptosis. This apoptosis could be stopped by treatments with a BMP antagonist ("Noggin"). We selected a model system made by a layer-by-layer approach using poly-L-glutamic acid (PlGA) and poly-L-lysine (PlL) films into which BMP4 and/or Noggin have been embedded. Our results indicate that in situ control of apoptosis during tooth differentiation mediated by both BMP4 and Noggin embedded in a polyelectrolyte multilayer film is possible. We show here for the first time that in the presence of BMP4 and Noggin embedded in a multilayered film, we can induce or inhibit cell death in tooth differentiation, and conserve their biological effects.     

Radiation processing for elimination of Salmonella typhimurium from inoculated seeds used for sprout making in India and effect of irradiation on germination of seeds

The effect of radiation processing on the germination of the sprout seeds mung (Phaseolus aureus), matki (Phaseolus aconitifolius), chana (Cicer arietinum), and vatana (Pisum sativum) in terms of percent germination, germination yield, sprout length, vitamin C content, and texture was investigated. Gradual decreases in the percent germination, germination yield, and sprout length with increases in radiation dose (0.5 to 2.0 kGy) were observed. Vitamin C content and texture remained unaffected for the seeds treated with doses of up to 2 kGy. To determine the efficacy of radiation treatment in elimination of foodborne pathogens, seeds inoculated with 4 log CFU/g of Salmonella Typhimurium were treated with radiation doses of 1 and 2 kGy. A reduction in counts of Salmonella Typhimurium in inoculated seeds after radiation treatment was observed. A radiation dose of 2 kGy resulted in the complete elimination of 4 log CFU/g of Salmonella Typhimurium from the inoculated seeds. However, on sprouting for 48 h, the count of Salmonella Typhimurium reached 8 log CFU/g for the control seeds and the seeds treated with a 1-kGy radiation dose. The aerobic plate counts for seeds were 2.0 to 2.6 log CFU/g, which were reduced to 0.9 to 1.2 log CFU/g on treatment with a 2-kGy radiation dose. On sprouting for 48 h, the aerobic plate count reached 8 log CFU/g for both the control and radiation-treated seeds. The study demonstrates that irradiation can control bacterial levels on seeds but not contamination introduced during posttreatment handling. Therefore, radiation processing of the final product (sprouts) is recommended, rather than of the seeds.     

Radiation processing of minimally processed sprouts (dew gram and chick pea): effect on sensory,nutritional and microbiological quality

Sprouts have become an important part of the diet because of their nutritive value and low‐calorie content. The effect of radiation processing (1 and 2 kGy dose) on minimally processed dew gram and chick pea sprouts with respect to different quality parameters was studied over a storage period of 16 days at 8 °C. Radiation treatment and storage period did not have any significant effect on the sensory as well as nutritional qualities of irradiated dew gram and chick pea sprout. No significant change (P > 0.05) was observed in the colour and firmness of irradiated sprouts as compared to control samples. However, radiation processing resulted in significant reduction in aerobic plate counts (APC), coliform counts (CC), yeast and mould count (YMC) and staphylococci counts (SC). Radiation processing of dew gram and chick pea sprouts at 1 and 2 kGy extends the shelf life without affecting sensory and nutritional qualities.