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Plecospermum spinosum Trecul. leaves collected from Eastern Ghats, India were assessed for antioxidant potential using the methanolic extract in vitro for free radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum assays. The (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) (ABTS +) assay exhibited potent free radical scavenging capacity at 100 μg/mL (86.48 ± 0.8 %). Antimicrobial activity of the methanolic leaf extract greatly inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9 ± 0.7 mm) and Echinodontium tinctorium (12 ± 0.9 mm) when compared to the other tested pathogens. The hemolysis (%) was calculated for anti-inflammatory activity and the results showed dose dependent effects. The lowest inhibition (53.08 ± 1.5 %) was obtained for 800 μg/mL extract when compared with control aspirin (90.41 ± 1.3 %) at the same concentration. Qualitative phytochemical tests confirmed the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, sterols, sugars and free aminoacids. Totally, 35 different phytochemical compounds were found using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Furthermore, the phenolics (70.34 ± 2.1 mg/g), flavonoids (164.28 ± 1.1 mg/g) and other metabolites were estimated quantitatively. These results exhibited considerable antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals. P. spinosum may be employed for the separation of novel bioactive metabolites with potential pharmaceutical activities.

Ayurveda contains a variety of medicines including the polyherbal fermented traditional medicines namely Arishta and Asava. It remains as a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals including antioxidants. There are scanty publications on the antioxidant activity of these medicines. There is a need to explore the natural antioxidants to replace synthetic counterparts which requires an assessment in terms of antioxidant activity by in vitro analysis. This study employs a range of antioxidant assay systems containing various free radicals (DPPH, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, super oxide, nitric oxide and ABTS), Inhibition of free radical generation (metal chelating) and H+ – donating ability (reducing power) were performed. Ashokarishta, Aswagandharishta and Dasamoolarishta exhibited higher degree of antioxidant activities but less than the corresponding standards. Based on IC50 values, the hydrogen peroxide scavenging ability of Ashokarishta is comparable to the standard L-ascorbic acid. In ABTS assay, Aswagandharishta and Dasamoolarishta are comparable to the standard Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These may be due to the phytochemical heterogeneity of the samples assayed. Thus study can lead to the sourcing of Ayuvedic polyherbal fermented medicines as a novel source of natural antioxidant molecules that might be acting as free radical quencher or scavenger and to treat human ailments.

Three efficient Bacillus species selected among the 55 indigenous isolates from poultry manure (PM) were used for the development of a rapid and efficient composting process. The biochemical and 16sr RNA sequence analyses identified the isolates as Bacillus flexus (B-07), B. cereus (B-41) and B. subtilis (B-54). Collectively, the consortium has the ability of cellulolysis, keratinolysis, ammonia oxidation, nitrite oxidation and P solubilization for composting PM along with carbon amendments. The efficacy of composting with rice husk or sawdust with the consortium (10(9) CFU/ml) was tested. The biochemical and microbiological profiles showed that the efficacy of compost with sawdust along with consortium was better when compared to rice husk, resulting in the development of a rapid and single cycle of composting in 30 days. The resultant compost in pot trials enhanced the yield of the pulse crop, Vigna radiata to 78% and the oilseed crop, Sesamum indicum to 45% when compared to the addition of chemical fertilizers.

The isolation, screening, and identification of multi-metal resistant (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) bacteria from polluted coastal sediment samples were performed. In this study, the isolates S2-2 and S3-2 had higher multi-metal resistance and were identified as Pseudomonas pachastrellae KMS2-2 and Bacillus cereus KMS3-1, respectively. One-variable-at-a time approach suggested that optimum conditions for exopolysaccharides (EPS) production were pH 7.0, incubation time 120 h, 5 g/L sucrose, and 10 g/L yeast extract. Further, optimization by central composite design revealed that the optimum concentrations of sucrose and yeast extract for higher EPS production (8.9 g/L) were 5 g/L, and 30 g/L, respectively. Heteropolysaccharide nature of EPS determined by FTIR, TLC, and HPLC analysis, consist of mannose, rhamnose, glucose, and xylose. In addition, EPS showed strong emulsifying and flocculation activity. Results suggested the potential EPS-producing multi-metal resistant Bacillus cereus KMS3-1 could be used in biotechnological and industrial application, especially metal removal.