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Boerhaavia diffusa (family: Nyctaginaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant of rasayana category as per ayurvedic claims, commonly known as ‘Punarnava’ in Indian system of medicine. It is used as a green leafy vegetable in many Asian and African countries besides possessing anticancer, antiestrogenic, immunomodulatory and antiamoebic activities. Its phytochemicals like flavanoids, alkaloids, phenols, polyphenols etc. have been extensively explored to gain insight into its wide range of bioactivities and medicinal attributes, and boeravinone B has been reported as most potent and interesting flavonoid for its therapeutic properties. In present investigation high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis was done on monthly basis for two consecutive years to check the influence of temperature, humidity and rainfall on production and quantification of boeravinone B in various plant parts of field grown B. diffusa. Throughout the year, variation in the concentration of boeravinone B was observed and highest yield was observed in July, which is also the best time for Boerhaavia multiplication and growth. Amongst the plant parts, maximum concentration of boeravinone B was obtained in root parts (6.63%) followed by leaves (4.28%) and minimal content was obtained in shoot parts (3.08%). These results indicate the ideal time for harvesting of the whole herb for its better utilization as a herbal therapeutic for commercial purposes.

Diethyl sulfate (DES)-based chemical mutagenesis was applied on different fungal strains with the aim of diversifying the secondary metabolites. The mutant strain (VRE-MT1) of Penicillium oxalicum was subjected to dereplication (LCMS-based) and isolation of natural products, resulting in obtaining 10 molecules of bioactive potential. Metabolites, viz. tuckolide, methylpenicinoline, 2-acetyl-3,5-dihydroxy-4,6-dimethylbenzeneacetic acid, penicillixanthone A, brefeldin A 7-ketone, and antibiotic FD 549, were observed for the first time from P. oxalicum. The results of antimicrobial activity reveal that the compounds N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]formamide, methylpenicinoline, and penipanoid A have potent antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 16, 64, and 16 μM, respectively, and the compounds N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]formamide, methylpenicinoline, and penipanoid A were found active against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), with MIC values of 16, 64, and 16 μM, respectively. Also, the metabolites N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]formamide and tuckolide showed effective antioxidant activity in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid scavenging assays. The mutant VRE-MT1 was found to have 8.34 times higher quantity of N-[2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]formamide as compared to the mother strain. The DES-based mutagenesis strategy has been found to be a potent tool to diversify the secondary metabolites in fungi.

There is a unique microbial community in the female lower genital tract known as the vaginal microbiota, which varies in composition and density and provides significant benefits during pregnancy, reproductive cyclicity, healthy newborn delivery, protection from preterm birth, infections such as UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and so on, and improves the efficacy of treatments for vaginal cancers. Methods: It is necessary to know how the vaginal microbiome is composed in order to make an accurate diagnosis of the diseases listed above. A microbiome’s members are difficult to classify, and the way microbial communities function and influence host–pathogen interactions are difficult to understand. More and more metagenomic studies are able to unravel such complexities due to advances in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics. When it comes to vaginal microbiota research, we’ll be looking at the use of modern techniques and strategies that can be used to investigate variations in vaginal microbiota in order to detect diseases earlier, better treat vaginal disorders, and boost women’s health. Discussion: The discussed techniques and strategies may improve the treatment of vaginal disorders and may be beneficial for women’s overall health.

According to folklore, Bacopa monnieri commonly called as Brahmi is known for its cognitive enhancing properties. The plant is found abundantly in wetlands but the drug content (bacosides) is very low (0.2%), therefore, alternative biotechnological protocols are highly needed to supplement the constant source of this valuable plant material which produces stable amounts of bacosides. The present study was conducted to explore the application of different culture systems for cultivation of shoot biomass and maximization of biologically active bacoside biosynthesis in this medicinally important plant. Shoot cultures of Bacopa were cultivated in two different modified benchtop bioreactors: glass bottle bioreactor and balloon type bubble bioreactor and compared with those grown in traditional Erlenmeyer agitated flask. The shoots cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor system showed excellent growth (growth index 796.47 ± 17.27 fresh weight and 395.55 ± 7.55 dry weight) as compared to glass bottle bioreactor system (growth index 488.17 ± 14.4 fresh weight and 327.79 ± 6.64 dry weight) and agitated flask (growth index 363.43 ± 11 fresh weight and 304.22 ± 6.76 dry weight). Furthermore, bacosides produced by shoot cultures cultivated in the balloon type bubble bioreactor (321.95 ± 17.14 mg/L) and glass bottle bioreactor (180.18 ± 6.25 mg/L) configurations were ∼2.78 fold and ∼1.55 fold higher than that recorded in agitated flask cultures (115.7 ± 3.84 mg/L). The balloon type bubble bioreactor system was found to be advantageous for enhancing B. monnieri shoot biomass and bacoside biosynthesis along with ensuring a successful protocol for continuous supply.

The effect of different elicitors [jasmonic acid, salicylic acid] and precursors [calcium pantothenate, cholesterol, sodium nitroprusside] on the stimulation of biomass and secondary metabolite production in suspension cultures of Bacopa monnieri was studied. Induction of primary callus cultures was successfully carried out on the Gamborg’s B(5) (B(5)) medium fortified with 2, 4-D (1.0 mg l(−1)) using Bacopa monnieri leaves as explants. The friable fine suspension cell culture was raised on parent B(5) media without agar. The elicitation using different elicitors and precursors at varying concentrations was carried out over a period of 3, 6, 9, 15 days. Elicitor treated cultures showed marked increase in biomass and bacoside production around 6th–9th day (0.98 GI DW). In the present study, salicylic acid at 1.0 mg l(−1) induced a maximum elicitation in bacoside content (6.58 mg g(−1) DW). The present study provides favorable evidence on the potential of bacoside production using suspension cultures of B. monnieri. The study results also indicate the beneficial effects of elicitation on metabolite production in in vitro suspension cultures of B. monnieri plant known for its cognitive improving properties.

The potential of various culture lines of Atropa acuminata were investigated for resourcing acid phosphatase (ACP) (3.1.3.2). Crude enzyme extract comprised of a mixture of four isoforms, distinguishable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) with molecular weight ranging from 39 to 215 kDa. In vitro regenerated proliferative shoots, callus and roots showed higher specific activity (2.49, 3.41, 2.91 U/mg protein, respectively) as compared to in vivo grown plants (0.71 U/mg protein). ACP activity in root cultures increased progressively up to 4.6 U/mg during the entire growth period (2 ? 24 weeks), whereas in case of shoot cultures, the specific activity escalated to 2.49 U/mg at 8 weeks, which then declined subsequently (1.95 U/mg). Similarly, callus cultures initially showed a higher phosphohydrolytic activity (3.41 U/mg protein) until 8 weeks by which period, it decreased with the passage of growth period. The present studies reveal an alternate system for resourcing of ACP from Atropa acuminata.Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 26(1): 15-23, 2016 (June)

Rising cases of environmental mercury hazards has led to a need for cost-effective mercury treatment techniques. Extensive use of mercury from ancient times has resulted in water contamination that may require remediation. Mercury contamination is tedious to treat and may pose a risk to human health and the environment. To deal with this threat of mercury contamination, industrial wastes and wastewaters containing mercury requires treatment for its removal and immobilization. This chapter provides a synopsis of the availability, performance, and technologies for management of mercury in water. It covers the innovative methods to treat the mercury contamination like biosorption. In this chapter, the technological aspects available for the mercury treatment technologies are reviewed. It describes the theory, design, and operation of the technologies; provides information on commercial availability and use; and includes data on performance, where available.

Nanosized forms of different metals are a part of the nanoparticles that have been enlisted for controlling plant diseases. Nanoparticles synthesized from silver have been used as a potent pesticidal agent among different nanoparticles against a huge range of pathogens, fungi, and viruses. Fungal diseases are mainly culpable for significant deterioration in crop turnout. Various studies have been conducted from time to time in order to study the fungicidal potential of silver nanoparticles against different phytopathogens involved in diverse plant diseases e.g. sclerotium forming phytopathogens – Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, phytopathogens accountable for developing anthracnose extensively in fruits – Colletotrichum gloeosporioide, etc. Unchecked usage of fungicides has kindled many problems such as injurious consequences on human health, detrimental impact on insects involved in pollination and also imposed negative effects on domestic animals. Thus, introduction of chemical agents into the soil and water is affecting the stability of whole ecosystems.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging branch utilizing nanosized molecules and attracting every possible corner of research adopted for the betterment of humankind. Plant-mediated nanoparticles are chosen over conventionally synthesized nanomaterials because of their ecofriendly nature, economic value, reduced toxicity, and rapid and easy handling. Plant-based metabolites possess diverse therapeutic applications and have the ability to reduce metal ions to produce nanosized particles via the green synthetic approach. The combining of the attributes from metal ions and plant metabolites has a huge capacity to synthesize a potential bioactive molecule. Among different metallic nanoparticles, plant-fabricated nanoparticles have unique physiochemical properties and thus have great potential for the development of a new array of herbicides, pesticides, target genes, antimicrobials, and a wide range of antipathogenic molecules. The elucidation of synthesis, characterization, and applications of plant-mediated nanoparticles is an alternative approach toward medico aid by generating novel and potential drug molecules. Furthermore, this technique is very simple, environmentally clean, and has demonstrated well the synergistic effect of metal and plant metabolites.

The effect of different abiotic elicitors [jasmonic acid, copper sulphate (CuSO4) and salicyclic acid] at varying concentrations on the stimulation of biomass and bacoside production in in vitro Bacopa monnieri shoot culture was studied. A systematic study conducted over a period of 35 days indicated that the maximum bacoside production (6.74 mg g− 1 dry weight (DW)) was obtained after a lag of 7 days and thereafter, the content decreased gradually to again increase at 28 days (5.91 mg g− 1 DW). Therefore, elicitation experiments were carried out over a period of 3, 6 and 9 days. The shoot cultures treated with 45 mg L− 1 of CuSO4 exhibited the highest bacoside content of 8.73 mg g− 1 DW (∼1.42-fold higher) than in control cultures (6.14 mg g− 1 DW). This study indicates the effectiveness of abiotic elicitation on bacoside production in in vitro shoot cultures of this medicinally important herb known for its memory-enhancing properties.