Ferulic acid modulates ultraviolet-B radiation mediated inflammatory signaling in human dermal fibroblasts

Authors: Kanagalakshmi A1, Agilan B1, Mohana S1, Ananthakrishnan D2, Velmurugan D2, Karthikeyan R1, Ganesan M1, Srithar G1 and Rajendra Prasad N1*	Abstract :- (pdf) Full text :- (pdf)
Institution: 1. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar – 608 002, India. 2. Bioinformatics Infrastructure Facility (BIF),University of Madras, Chennai-25	Google scholar Cite factor Academia.edu Issuu	Scribd Indian sciences.in Slideshare Index Copernicus

Abstract:

Ultraviolet B (UVB 290-320 nm) participate in the development of the cutaneous inflammatory response which includes a cascade of events that involves increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and other inflammatory cytokines. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα/γ) are considered to be potential targets for photo protection because they inhibit UVB mediated inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the effect of ferulic acid on UVB-radiation induced expression of TNF-α and COX-2 in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFa). Further, the action of ferulic acid on PPARα/γ activation and its binding interaction with these proteins were analyzed by induced fit docking. We found that onetime UVB exposure (19.8 mJ/cm2) showed significantly increased the expressions of COX-2 and TNF-α in HDFa after 4 h post-irradiation when compared to the control cells. Ferulic acid pretreatment for 30 min before UVB exposure prevented UVB-induced overexpression of these inflammatory markers. It has also been found that ferulic acid activates PPARα/γ expressions in HDFa. Further, induced fit docking analysis showed that there was a greater binding interaction of ferulic acid with PPARγ than PPARα. Thus, ferulic acid exhibits beneficial effects against UVB-induced inflammatory responses probably through down-regulating COX-2 and TNF-α expressions and activating PPARα/γ agonists.

Key words:

Ultraviolet B radiation, Ferulic acid, Human dermal fibroblasts, Inflammatory markers, Photoprotection

How to cite: Kanagalakshmi A, Agilan B, Mohana S, Ananthakrishnan D, Velmurugan D, Karthikeyan R, Ganesan M, Srithar G and Rajendra Prasad N. Ferulic acid modulates ultraviolet-B radiation mediated inflammatory signaling in human dermal fibroblasts Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(8):1505-1515

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Detection of biofilm formation in urinary isolates: need of the hour

Authors: Saha R1*, Arora S1, Das S1, Gupta C1, Maroof KA2, Singh NP1 and Kaur IR1.	Abstract :- (.pdf) Full text :- (pdf)
Institution: 1. Department of Microbiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi – 110095, India. 2. Department of Community Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Dilshad Garden, Delhi – 110095, India.	Google scholar Cite factor Academia.edu Issuu	Scribd Indian sciences.in Slideshare Index Copernicus

 Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to estimate biofilm (BF) formation in urinary catheterized patients, by comparing three methods i.e. Tissue culture plate method (TCP), Congo Red Agar method (CRM) and Tube method (TM) and to study the antimicrobial resistance pattern in BF producing and non BF producing isolates. A total of 130 urinary catheterized patients were taken as the study group. From one milli litre of urine sample isolates > 102 colony forming units per milli litre were screened for the detection of BF by TCP, TM and CRM. Antibiotic sensitivity test for both BF producing and non BF producing bacterial and fungal isolates were done as per CLSI guidelines. From 130 urine samples in our study group, 55 samples grew microorganisms of significance, of which 11 samples were poly-microbial in nature. Of these biofilm production was seen in 49 microorganisms (89.09%) by any of the three methods used. TCP method picked up 69% of biofilm producers as compared to TM and CRM which picked up only 36% and 27% biofilm producers respectively. Our study reveals TCP method as the more dependable one as compared to TM and CRA methods for the quantitative biofilm detection, so it can be recommended as a screening method in laboratories.

Key words:

Biofilm, biofilm detection, Congo Red Agar.

Abbreviations:

BF - Biofilms; TCP - Tissue Culture Plate; CRM - Congo Red Method; TM - Tube Method; CLSI - Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute; CAUTI - Catheter associated Urinary Tract Infection; CLED - Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient; BHIB - Brain Heart Infusion Broth; TSB - Trypticase soy broth; ELISA - Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; MHA - Muller Hinton Agar; MIC -Minimum Inhibitory Concentration; ATCC - American type culture collection; GPC -Gram positive cocci; GNB - Gram negative bacilli.

How to cite: Saha R, Arora S, Das S, Gupta C, Maroof KA, Singh NP and Kaur IR. Detection of biofilm formation in urinary isolates: need of the hour. Journal of Research in Biology (2014) 4(1): 1174-1181

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Bioefficacy of Novaluron®, a chitin synthesis inhibitor against the tropical warehouse moth, Ephestia cautella

Abstract:

The tropical warehouse moth, Ephestia cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a major pest of stored maize in Ghana. It is controlled mainly by the use of synthetic insecticides which has become a major challenge in the stored product industry in Ghana. Both laboratory and field trials were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of novaluron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor against E. cautella. Five concentrations of Novaluron (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mL/L of water) were prepared and each concentration was topically applied on the notal regions of 10 fifth instar larvae of           E. cautella per concentration. At 0.4 mL/L and 0.5 mL/L treatments, larval mortality ranged between 50-80% after 96 h of exposure. Also, Novaluron (0.5 mL/L) was used to treat four surfaces (concrete, wood, glass and plastic) usually encountered in structural insect pest management systems and the larvae exposed to these surfaces. Hocklicombi^® (5 mL/L) served as positive control. Larval mortality (35.5-97.5%), pupation (0.0-35.0%) and adult emergence (0.0-20.0%) in surfaces treated with Hocklicombi^® compared favourably with those treated with Novaluron (25.0-97.5%), (2.5-60%) and (0.0-42.5%), respectively. A simulated field experiment was conducted in which four batches of 5 kg of maize in miniature bags were pretreated with 0.4 mL/L Novaluron and 50 unsexed adults were introduced. This was left in a crib at the University of Ghana farm for 60 days. The field experiment showed that after 60 days of storage there was a lower weight loss in the Hocklicombi^® (6.6%) and Novaluron (6.8%) treatments compared to the negative control (11.3%).

Key words:

Novaluron, Hocklicombi^®, Ephestia cautella, warehouse moth, chitin, loss assessment.

Authors: Sackey I, Eziah VY and Obeng-Ofori D.	Abstract :- (.pdf) Full text :- (pdf)
Institution: Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and  Consumer Sciences, P. O. Box LG 44, University of Ghana, Legon.	Google scholar Cite factor Academia.edu Issuu Mendeley ejournals.org	Scribd Indian sciences.in Slideshare Cite u like Index Copernicus

How to cite: Sackey I, Eziah VY and Obeng-Ofori D. Bioefficacy of Novaluron®, a chitin synthesis inhibitor against the tropical warehouse moth, Ephestia cautella. Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 759-767

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Assessing heavy metal contamination of road side soil in urban area

Abstract:

Environmental pollution of heavy metals from automobiles has attained much attention in the recent past. The pollution of soil by heavy metals is a serious environmental issue. Heavy metals are released during different operations of the road transport such as combustion, component wear, fluid leakage and corrosion of metals lead, cadmium, copper and zinc which are the major metal pollutants of the road side environment. The present research is conducted to study heavy metal contamination in road side and industrial soil of Madurai city. The soil samples are collected from three sites and analyzed for six heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Cd). Their concentration and distribution in different depths (0 cm, 5 cm and 10 cm) were determined. Heavy metal contents were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The studies with Enrichment Factor (EF) indicate that lead has been enriched to quite great extent while the Normalized Scatter Coefficient values (NSC) indicate faster enrichment of cadmium. The level of heavy metals in road side soils were higher as compared to their natural background levels. The results revealed that the heavy metals are harmful to the road side vegetation, wild life and the neighbouring human settlements.

Key words:

Pollution, combustion, heavy metal enrichment, road side soils, enrichment factor, Normalized scatter coefficient value, environmental pollution.

Authors: Sarala Thambavani D1, Vidya Vathana M2.	Abstract :- (.PDF) Full text :- (Pdf)
Institution: 1. Associate Professor Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Govt. Arts College (W), Madurai. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Sacs M.A.V.M.M Engg. College, Madurai.	Google scholar Cite factor Academia.edu Issuu Mendeley ejournals.org	Scribd Indian sciences.in Slideshare Cite u like Index Copernicus

How to cite: Sarala Thambavani D and Vidya Vathana M. Assessing heavy metal contamination of road side soil in urban area. Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 789-796

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This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited