Protective Effect of Withania somnifera and Cardiospermum halicacabum Extracts Against Collagenolytic Degradation of Collagen

The irreversible destruction of extracellular matrix (ECM) such as cartilage, tendon, and bone that comprise synovial joints is the hallmark of both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis by over-expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-collagenases. We report herein the detailed study on the inhibitory effects of Withania somnifera extract (WSE) and Cardiospermum halicacabum extract (CHE) on Clostridium histolyticum collagenase (ChC) activity against the degradation of the ECM component of bovine Achilles tendon type I collagen by hydroxyproline assay method. Interaction of WSE and CHE with ChC exhibited 71% and 88% inhibition, respectively, to the collagenolytic activity of ChC against collagen degradation, and the inhibition was found to be concentration-dependent. The inhibition kinetics of ChC by both the extracts has been deduced from the extent of hydrolysis of N-[3-(2-furyl) acryloyl]-Leu-Gly-Pro-Ala. Both WSE and CHE are provided competitive and mixed type inhibition on ChC activity, respectively. Circular dichroism studies of ChC on treatment with WSE and CHE revealed changes in the secondary structure of collagenase. These results suggest that the WSE and CHE facilitated collagen stabilization through collagenase inhibition.     

Adaptation strategies of the sheathed cyanobacterium Lyngbya majuscula to ultraviolet-B

Lyngbya majuscula is a dominant organism in the east coast of India forming characteristic mat in dried saline soils simultaneously exposed to solar radiation of the tropics. Studies on the growth response, changes in the spectral properties of the methanolic extract and protein profile of this estuarine sheathed cyanobacterium to UV-B revealed existence of effective adaptation mechanism to withstand prolonged UV-B radiation. Carotenoids along with MAAs of the organism was increased with increase in UV irradiation. Increase in thickness of the mucilaginous sheath layer as well as cellular carbohydrate content was observed upon exposure to prolonged UV-B dose. Induction of 21 and 33 kDa low molecular weight proteins, and a 99 kDa protein together with formation of distinct multilayered sheath embedding trichomes with granulated cells were the adaptive features of the organism to cope with UV-B stress. The organism was considerably revived after incubating the irradiated cells in mineral medium under florescent light and in the dark suggesting existence of photoreactivation and dark repair in this cyanobacterium. However more experiments are needed to establish the existence of photoreactivation and dark repair mechanism in the studied cyanobacterium.     

Mechanistic studies on the oxidation of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone by a {Mn4O6}4+ core in aqueous media

Described in this work is the kinetics of oxidation of ascorbic acid and hydroquinone by a tetranuclear Mn(IV) oxidant, [Mn(4)(μ-O)(6)(bipy)(6)](4+) (1(4+), bipy =2,2(/)-bipyridine), in aqueous solution over a wide pH range 1.5-6.0. In particular, below pH 3.0, protonation on the oxo-bridge of 1(4+) results in the formation of [Mn(4)(μ-O)(5)(μ-OH)(bipy)(6)](5+) (1H(5+)) as an additional oxidant over 1(4+). Both ascorbic acid and ascorbate whereas only hydroquinone and none of its protolytic species were found to be reactive reducing agents in these reactions. Analysis of the rate data clearly established that the oxo-bridge protonated oxidant 1H(5+) is kinetically far more superior to 1(4+) in oxidizing ascorbic acid and hydroquinone. Rates of these reactions are substantially lowered in D(2)O-enriched media in comparison to that in H(2)O media. An initial one electron one proton transfer electroprotic rate step could be mechanistically conceived. DFT studies established that among the two sets of terminal and central Mn(IV) atoms in the tetranuclear oxidant, one of the two terminal Mn(IV) is reduced to Mn(III) at the rate step that we can intuitively predict considering the probable positive charge distribution on the Mn(IV) atoms.     

Symmetric duality with (p, r) − ρ − (η, θ)-invexity

In this paper we introduce a new type of generalized invex function, called (p, r) − ρ − (η, θ)-invex function and study symmetric duality results under these assumptions. In our study the nonnegative orthants for the constraints are replaced by closed convex cones and their polars. We establish weak and strong duality theorems under (p, r) − ρ − (η, θ)-invexity assumptions for the symmetric dual problems. We also give many examples to justify our results.     

Development of double cylindrical dielectric barrier discharge ion source

This paper deals with the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) ion source composed of the outer cylindrical dielectric tube and the inner grounded metallic tube electrode. The sample gas is supplied through the inner ceramic tube. In this ion source, the DBD plasma is localized in the DBD tube so that the sample gases can be ionized just outside of the ceramic tube by the DBD excited helium gas without being exposed in the plasma jet. Besides, ambient air does not take part in the ionization of the sample vapor because ionization takes place inside the DBD ion source. Thus, this method is totally free from contaminants in ambient air. It was found that this ion source is capable of soft, high-sensitivity, and reproducible ionization. Application of this technique to the analysis of methamphetamine, carbaryl and basil leaf was given.     

The aggregation of Tyr-Phe dipeptide and Val-Tyr-Val tripeptide in aqueous solution and in the presence of SDS and PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer: fluorescence spectroscopic studies

The micelle formation of Tyr-Phe dipeptide and Val-Tyr-Val tripeptide has been studied for the first time. The aggregation numbers were determined for both the peptides in aqueous solution and in the presence of SDS and PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymer additive environments. The results obtained by steady state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques are in good agreement with each other. The higher value of aggregation number confirms the formation of mixed micelles. The fluorescence lifetime of tyrosine in various micellar and mixed micellar systems were also determined. The decreased lifetime values with the quencher suggested the dynamic nature of the quenching process. However, the possibility of static quenching cannot be ruled out. The accessibility of DPC quencher was found to be more in dipeptide than tripeptide.     

Acid-responsive microcapsules: the loading-unloading processes

A simple and convenient method to prepare acid-responsive microcapsules by using functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes and ytterbium triflate has been developed. Fluorescence active compounds were "pre-loaded" or "post-loaded" in the microcapsules and released later in acidic medium. An interesting "zip-unzip" phenomenon was observed while filming the action of acid on microcapsules under a microscope.     

Receptor design and extraction of inorganic fluoride ion from aqueous medium

A receptor with acidic methylene hydrogens is found to act as an efficient binding mode for F(-). This reagent could as well be used for selective and quantitative extraction of F(-) from the aqueous solution of NaF and sea water.     

Di-carboxylic acid cross-linking interactions improves thermal stability and mechanical strength of reconstituted type I collagen

This study emphasizes, cross-linking potential of a simple di-carboxylic acid, namely, oxalic acid with type I collagen for the preparation of collagen based biomaterial for clinical applications. Further the study discusses the characteristics features of the cross-linked material in comparison with the standard cross-linker. In addition, the study also demonstrates the role of ionic interactions in providing the thermal stability and tensile strength to the cross-linked biopolymer material. Type I collagen from rat tail tendon treated with oxalic acid at optimized concentrations provided a biopolymer material without changing the triple helical pattern of collagen (CD spectrum) and also with 6–7 fold increase in tensile strength than native collagen. FTIR spectral details demonstrate the ionic interactions between collagen and oxalic acid. Thermal stability analyses of oxalic acid cross-linked biopolymer revealed, high thermal stability compared to materials of glutaraldehyde cross-linked. The results of the study suggest oxalic acid as a suitable cross-linker for collagen and it cross-link with collagen through ionic interactions.     

Construction and studies of a new class of reciprocal trees: interknitting of the Pascal's triangle

A method of construction of a new class of trees with reciprocal pairs of eigenvalues (λ, 1/λ) has been developed. They are derived from star graphs and can be symbolized as K _{1, n ?1} + n(p) + mK ₂ (1 ≤ m ≤ n ? 1 except for n = 1). The trees are minimally Kekulenoid and hence contain reciprocal pairs of eigenvalues in their eigenspectra. The characteristic polynomial coefficients of these trees with given values of n and m are shown to be obtainable by appropriate use of the Pascal's triangle. A general formula for this purpose has been developed. An analytical formula for the Wiener indices of such trees in terms of m and n has been derived and some consequences of this formula are presented. The relevance of these trees to real molecular structures is discussed. The trees have been shown to be useful in observing the subspectrallity of two series of IPR fullerenes of formulae C_{50+10 n} and C_{60+12 n} (n is a positive integer).