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Carbohydrate polymers are biological macromolecules that have sparked a lot of interest in wound healing due to their outstanding antibacterial properties and sustained drug release. Arabinoxylan (ARX), Chitosan (CS), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets were combined and crosslinked using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a crosslinker to fabricate composite hydrogels and assess their potential in wound dressing for skin wound healing. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and biological assays were used to evaluate the composite hydrogels. FTIR validated the effective fabrication of the composite hydrogels. The rough morphologies of the composite hydrogels were revealed by SEM and AFM (as evident from the Ra values). ATC-4 was discovered to have the roughest surface. TEM revealed strong homogeneous anchoring of the rGO to the polymer matrix. However, with higher amount of rGO agglomeration was detected. The % swelling at various pHs (1−13) revealed that the hydrogels were pH-sensitive. The controlled release profile for the antibacterial drug (Silver sulfadiazine) evaluated at various pH values (4.5, 6.8, and 7.4) in PBS solution and 37 °C using the Franz diffusion method revealed maximal drug release at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. The antibacterial efficacy of the composite hydrogels against pathogens that cause serious skin diseases varied. The MC3T3-E1 cell adhered, proliferated, and differentiated well on the composite hydrogels. MC3T3-E1 cell also illustrated excellent viability (91%) and proper cylindrical morphologies on the composite hydrogels. Hence, the composite hydrogels based on ARX, CS, and rGO are promising biomaterials for treating and caring for skin wounds.

In current study, α-amylase of fungal origin was immobilized using cross-linking strategy. The influence of precipitant (ammonium sulphate) and cross-linker (glutaraldehyde) concentration revealed that 60% (w/v) precipitant and 1.5% (v/v) cross-linker saturation was required to attain optimum activity. Cross-linked amylase aggregates (CLAAs) were characterized and 10-degree shift in optimum temperature (soluble enzyme: 50 °C; cross-linked: 60 °C) and 1-unit shift in pH (soluble enzyme: pH -6; cross-linked: pH -7) was observed after immobilization. The Vmax for soluble α-amylase and its cross-linked form was 1225 U ml−1 and 3629 U ml−1, respectively. The CLAAs was more thermostable than its soluble form and retained its 30% activity even after 60 min of incubation at 70 °C. Moreover, cross-linked amylase retained its activity after two months while its soluble counterpart lost its complete activity after 10 and 20 days at 30 °C and 4 °C storage, respectively. Reusability test showed that cross-linked amylase could retain 13% of its residual activity after 10 repeated cycles. Therefore, 10 times more glucose was produced after cross-linking than soluble amylase when it was utilized multiple times. This study indicates that amylase aggregates are highly effective for continuous liquefaction of starch, hence have strong potential to be used for different industrial processes.

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is a very common problem of alkaline soils. Incorporation of organic residues with urea could be promising practice for improving soil properties and crop yield. Thi...

The unique properties and advantages of edible films over conventional food packaging have led the way to their extensive exploration in recent years. Moreover, the incorporation of bioactive components during their production has further enhanced the intrinsic features of packaging materials. This study was aimed to develop edible and bioactive food packaging films comprising yeast incorporated into bacterial cellulose (BC) in conjunction with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and glycerol (Gly) to extend the shelf life of packaged food materials. First, yeast biomass and BC hydrogels were produced by Meyerozyma guilliermondii (MT502203.1) and Gluconacetobacter xylinus (ATCC53582), respectively, and then the films were developed ex situ by mixing 30 wt.% CMC, 30 wt.% Gly, 2 wt.% yeast dry biomass, and 2 wt.% BC slurry. FE-SEM observation showed the successful incorporation of Gly and yeast into the fibrous cellulose matrix. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the development of composite films through chemical interaction between BC, CMC, Gly, and yeast. The developed BC/CMC/Gly/yeast composite films showed high water solubility (42.86%). The yeast-incorporated films showed antimicrobial activities against three microbial strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Saccharomyces aureus, by producing clear inhibition zones of 16 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm, respectively, after 24 h. Moreover, the films were non-toxic against NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells. Finally, the coating of oranges and tomatoes with BC/CMC/Gly/yeast composites enhanced the shelf life at different storage temperatures. The BC/CMC/Gly/yeast composite film-coated oranges and tomatoes demonstrated acceptable sensory features such as odor and color, not only at 6 °C but also at room temperature and further elevated temperatures at 30 °C and 40 °C for up to two weeks. The findings of this study indicate that the developed BC/CMC/Gly/yeast composite films could be used as edible packaging material with high nutritional value and distinctive properties related to the film component, which would provide protection to foods and extend their shelf life, and thus could find applications in the food industry.

Background In order to find a new natural resource for pain-relief, the analgesic effects of Ilex dipyrena crude extract, fractions, and subfractions were evaluated in in-vivo mouse models with possible mechanism of action. Methods Analgesic effects of crude extract (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight), fractions and subfractions (75 mg/kg body weight) were screened using heat-induced (tail-immersion and hot plate test) and chemical-induced (formalin and acetic acid) nociception models in mice. The samples were also tested for the elucidation of a possible mechanism through opioidergic and GABAergic systems. Results The administration of crude extract, fractions and subfractions produced analgesic responses in acetic acid, formalin, tail immersion, and hot plate model for pain similar to those obtained with the standard. Naloxone antagonized the antinociceptive effects of the tested samples, whereas bicuculline showed partial inhibition. Considering the analgesic response, crude extract, fractions, and subfractions demonstrated promising inhibitory activity against all test models for pain, which was further supported by the possible involvement of opioidergic and GABAergic systems. Conclusion The results suggest that this plant may be useful in the development of new analgesic drugs. Further research with regard to the isolation of bioactive compounds is required to verify these findings.

Paper description: The manuscript demonstrates the first isolation and characterization of PGPR associated with the Nicotiana tabacum root soil system from an unexplored and isolated area of Pakistan. The findings demonstrate that the indigenous microbial community of this region possess a strong potential to enhance the growth and yield of tobacco crop through enhancement of nutrients uptake and antifungal activity. These finding have a significant and sustainable impact in terms of reduction of application of chemical fertilizers/fungicides and enhancement of growth and yield of crop. A bstract: An unexplored soil microbial community associated with the root system of Nicotiana tabacum was isolated to analyze its impact on growth and yield of the crop. A total of nine isolates out of 180 were biochemically screened and characterized as potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria due to the expression of growth-promoting traits. All isolates were positive for ammonia production, 8 were positive for phosphate solubilization but none for auxin production. The majority of the isolates were also found positive for hydrogen cyanide, siderophore and hydrolytic/degradative enzymes production, enabling them to restrict the growth of Fusarium oxysporum in an in vitro assay. Although all tested isolates enhanced tobacco growth significantly, Baj-ER-01 and CD-RS-03 were found to be the most promising in enhancing all aspects of growth. This study provides evidence for the enhancement of growth and yield of inoculated tobacco plants through an adequate supply of nutrients and/or controlling phytopathogens. https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS180315035K Received: March 15, 2018; Revised: July 22, 2018; Accepted: July 26, 2018; Published online: August 9, 2018 How to cite this article: Khan S, Subhan F, Haleem KS, Khattak MNK, Khan I, Sultan T, Tauseef I. Impact of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on yield and disease control of Nicotiana tabacum . Arch Biol Sci. 2018;70(4):717-25.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a biomaterial for diverse biomedical applications owing to its unique structural, physico-chemical, mechanical, and biological features. Its porous geometry and three-dimensional fibrous structure allow the impregnation of various materials into its matrix. The current study was aimed to fabricate 3D scaffolds of bacterial cellulose and chitosan (BC-Chi) through a one-step ex situ solution impregnation strategy and analyze the scaffold interaction with the ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed successful impregnation of chitosan into the BC matrix. Phase-contrast and confocal microscopy analyses revealed that human ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780) were adhered not only to the surface but deeply infiltrated into the matrix of BC-Chi scaffold. WST-1 assay, histology analysis, and cytoskeleton and nuclear staining showed high viability, proliferation, and infiltration of A2780 cell lines into the scaffold. The RT-PCR analysis revealed a decreased mRNA level of Notch receptors, indicating a strong cell-scaffold interaction. The improved biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and 3D structure of fabricated BC-Chi scaffold justify its potential applications diagnosis of ovarian cancer in vivo.

Skin diseases associated with inflammation or oxidative stress represent the most common problem in dermatology. The present study demonstrates that fish scale collagen peptides (FSCP) protect against CoCl2-induced cytotoxicity and TNF-α-induced inflammatory responses in human HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Our study is the first to report that FSCP increase cell viability and ameliorate oxidative injury in HaCaT cells through mechanisms mediated by the downregulation of key proinflammatory cytokines, namely, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and iNOS. FSCP also prevent cell apoptosis by repressing Bax expression, caspase-3 activity, and cytochrome c release and by upregulating Bcl-2 protein levels in CoCl2- or TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT cells. In addition, the inhibitory effects of FSCP on cytotoxicity and the induction of proinflammatory cytokine expression were found to be associated with suppression of the ROS, MAPK (p38/MAPK, ERK, and JNK), and NF-κB signaling pathways. Taken together, our data suggest that FSCP are useful as immunomodulatory agents in inflammatory or immune-mediated skin diseases. Furthermore, our results provide new insights into the potential therapeutic use of FSCP in the prevention and treatment of various oxidative- or inflammatory stress-related inflammation and injuries.

A viral disease such as COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-2019) is a major health problem and worsens the complications of various diseases including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and cancers. The current study summarises the therapeutic progress and efficacy of curcumin for the cure and prevention of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and SARS-related COVID-19. Curcumin is extracted from the herb Curcuma longa L., known for its various therapeutic functions such as anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti- cancer activities. Very little is known about its therapeutic importance for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infections and complications. Curcumin has the ability to interact with spike protein or ACE2 protein in COVID-19-induced signal transduction pathway. Curcumin also suppresses several important signaling pathways in viral infection such as the well-known transcription factors including NF-kB, STAT-3, Wnt/β-catenin, Nrf2, p38/MAPK. Curcumin inhibit virus-induced inflammation by modulating the manifestation of various factors such as IL-10, IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α/β, and COX-2 in COVID-19 diseases. The modulation of multiple molecular targets by treatment with curcumin and anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin make it an ideal candidate phytochemical for the treatment of SARS and SARS-related COVID-19.

In the current study, highly porous and biocompatible regenerated bacterial cellulose–gelatin (rBC–G) composite scaffolds were fabricated for tissue engineering applications. The scaffolds were prepared from porogen added composite solution of BC–G using a casting and leaching approach. The structural characterization of the scaffolds was carried out through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FE-SEM images showed the presence and interconnectivity of pores, while FT-IR and XPS spectra confirmed the composite chemistry of the scaffolds. The observed high porosity and rapid swelling of the scaffolds ensure their nutrient exchange ability during practical applications. In vitro biological tests showed that animal fibroblast cells (NIH 3T3) adhered to and proliferated well on the rBC–G composite scaffolds. Cell penetration assessed by Confocal microscopy indicated up to 200 μm infiltration after 7 days of incubation, suggesting the suitability of the scaffolds for three-dimensional cell culture. The enhanced expression of metalloproteases (MMPs) showed that prolonged cell incubation can lead to extracellular matrix (ECM) production inside the 3D rBC–G scaffolds. These results demonstrated that our 3D rBC–G composite scaffolds are candidates for future biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration.

Hydrogels are prototypical matrices for 3D cell culture, of which alginate hydrogels are extensively used. However, ionic crosslinking agents, such as Ca2+, are required to form alginate hydrogels, but introduce Ca2+-associated cytotoxicity and long-term stability issues. Collagen is a promising biomaterial for 3D cell culture scaffolds primarily due to its biocompatibility. In the present study, the authors designed and fabricated a calcium-free, physically crosslinked, efficient, and bioactive hydrogel composed of alginate, marine collagen, and agarose (AmCA) for use in 3D cell cultures. This AmCA hydrogel was assessed by FTIR, swelling property, scanning electron microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, cell proliferation, cell viability, confocal microscopy, transparency and RT-PCR analyses. The gel was found to exhibit excellent cytocompatibility with various tumor and non-tumor cells, to generate high yields of multicellular spheroids, and to promote cellular activity. Furthermore, the transparency of the AmCA hydrogel suggests it can be used without cell-tracking chemicals in morphological studies of cell cultures. Taken together, it would appear that the described physically crosslinked AmCA hydrogel could provide a novel platform for the development of customizable, transparent, biocompatible, functional, easy-to-produce, and cost-effective scaffolds for use in 3D cultures of various cell types.

In this study, we sought to synthesize regenerated bacterial cellulose (rBC) scaffolds for application in in vitro tissue regeneration. Bacterial cellulose (BC) was dissolved in N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide (NMMO), and salt crystals were added as porogens, followed by casting in molds and incubation in water. The synthesized scaffolds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The FT-IR spectra exhibited bands characteristic for BC in rBC scaffolds, indicating no alteration in chemical structure, while FE-SEM revealed a porous structure of the rBC scaffold. The scaffolds exhibited very high swelling ratio, indicating enhanced water absorption and nutrient exchange capacity. The in vitro biocompatibility of the rBC scaffolds was tested based on the adhesion, growth, and proliferation of animal fibroblasts (NIH 3T3), and the osteogenesis of animal osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1). Results indicated good cell adhesion, penetration, and proliferation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin red staining (ARS) revealed osteogenic differentiation of animal osteoblasts on the scaffolds. These results demonstrate that the rBC scaffolds are potential candidates for future tissue engineering applications.

BackgroundBeaches are recreational spots for people. However, beach sand contains harmful microbes that affect human health, and there are no established methods for either sampling and identifying beach-borne pathogens or managing the quality of beach sand.MethodThis study was conducted with the aim of improving human safety at beaches and augmenting the quality of the beach experience. Beach sand was used as a resource to isolate bacteria due to its distinctive features and the biodiversity of the beach sand biota. A selected bacterial isolate termed FSRS was identified asPseudomonas stutzeriusing 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, and the sequence was deposited in the NCBI GenBank database under the accession numberMF599548. The isolatedP. stutzeribacterium was cultured in Luria–Bertani growth medium, and a crude extract was prepared using ethyl acetate to examine the potential pathogenic effect ofP. stutzerion human skin. A human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) was used to assess cell adhesion, cell viability, and cell proliferation using a morphological analysis and a WST-1 assay.ResultThe crudeP. stutzeriextract inhibited cell adhesion and decreased cell viability in HaCaT cells. We concluded that the crude extract ofP. stutzeriFSRS had a strong pathological effect on human skin cells.DiscussionBeach visitors frequently get skin infections, but the exact cause of the infections is yet to be determined. The beach sand bacteriumP. stutzerimay, therefore, be responsible for some of the dermatological problems experienced by people visiting the beach.

Epidemiological studies have shown that inflammation plays a critical role in the development and progression of various chronic diseases, including cancers, neurological diseases, hepatic fibrosis, diabetic retinopathy, and vascular diseases. Decursin and decursinol angelate (DA) are pyranocoumarin compounds obtained from the roots of Angelica gigas. Several studies have described the anti-inflammatory effects of decursin and DA. Decursin and DA have shown potential anti-inflammatory activity by modulating growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor, transcription factors such as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, cellular enzymes including matrix metalloproteinases cyclooxygenase, and protein kinases such as extracellular receptor kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, and protein kinase C. These compounds have the ability to induce apoptosis by activating pro-apoptotic proteins and the caspase cascade, and reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins such as B-cell lymphoma 2 and B-cell lymphoma-extra-large. Interaction with multiple molecular targets and cytotoxic effects, these two compounds are favorable candidates for treating various chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancers (prostate, breast, leukemia, cervical, and myeloma), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, hepatic fibrosis, osteoclastogenesis, allergy, and Alzheimer's disease. We have summarized the preliminary studies regarding the biological effects of decursin and DA. In this review, we will also highlight the functions of coumarin compounds that can be translated to a clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of various inflammatory ailments.

Cadmium is considered one of the most toxic, non biodegradable heavy metal for the human and animals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the changes in biochemical parameters of blood and accumulation of cadmium in various tissue caused by various levels of dietary cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in broiler chicks. CdCl2 was administered through drinking water to broiler chicks. In spectral analysis, CdCl2 treatment caused a significant increase in Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), creatinine and uric acid levels in all treated groups. Intriguingly, the GPT, creatinine, and uric acid levels were significantly higher at 75 mg/kg as compared to the groups treated with high doses (100, 125 and 150 mg/kg) of CdCl2. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for the determination of Cd accumulation in kidney, liver and Breast muscles. AAS analysis revealed that Cd accumulation is increased in breast muscles as compared to liver and kidney at higher doses of Cd than 75 mg/kg.

One of the most challenging objectives of 3D cell culture is the development of scaffolding materials with outstanding biocompatibility and favorable mechanical strength. In this study, we fabricated a novel nanofibrous scaffold composed of fish collagen (FC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) blends by using the electrospinning method. Nanofibrous scaffolds were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and it was revealed that the diameter of nanofibers decreased as FC content was increased in the FC/PCL composite nanofibers. The cytocompatibility of the FC/PCL scaffolds was evaluated by SEM, WST-1 assay, confocal microscopy, western blot, and RT-PCR. It was found that the scaffolds not only facilitated the adhesion, spreading, protrusions, and proliferation of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), but also stimulated the expression of genes and proteins involved in cell adhesion and T-cell development. Thus, these results suggest that the FC/PCL composite nanofibrous scaffolds will be a useful model of 3D cell culture for TECs and may have wide applicability in the future for engineering tissues or organs.

A metabolic abnormality such as obesity is a major obstacle in the maintenance of the human health system and causes various chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, as well as various cancers. This study was designed to summarize the recent scientific knowledge regarding the anti-obesity role of curcumin (diferuloylmethane), which is isolated from the herb curcuma longa, known to possess anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about its exact underlying molecular mechanisms in the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases. Furthermore, cell cultures, animal models of obesity, and few human clinical and epidemiological studies have added the promise for future therapeutic interventions of this dietary compound.An electronic search was performed using Science finder, Medline, Scopus, Google scholar and collected English language articles from 2000 to 2010, relating to the role of curcumin in obesity and metabolic diseases.Obesity has been classified as a growing epidemic and its associated metabolic disorders are considered a major risk to the health system. Curcumin interacts with specific proteins in adipocytes, pancreatic cells, hepatic stellate cells, macrophages, and muscle cells, where it suppresses several cellular proteins such as transcription factor NF-kB, STAT-3, Wnt/β-catenin and activates PPAR-γ, Nrf2 cell signaling pathway. In addition, curcumin downregulates the inflammatory cytokines, resistin and leptin, and upregulates adiponectin as well as other associated proteins. The interactions of curcumin with several signal transduction pathways reverse insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and other inflammatory symptoms associated with obesity and metabolic diseases.The modulation of several cellular transduction pathways by curcumin has recently been extended to elucidate the molecular basis for obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases. These findings might enable novel phytochemical treatment strategies as well as curcumin translation to the clinical practice for the treatment and prevention of obesity-related chronic diseases. Furthermore, the relatively low cost of curcumin, safety and proven efficacy make it advisable to include curcumin as part of healthy diet.