Biosynthesis of Copper Nanoparticles using an Extract of the root of Asparagus racemosus:Basic Synthesis,Antimicrobial,and Anti-oxidant Potentials

Copper nanoparticles(CuNPs)have emerged as a promising alternative due to their unique antimicrobial properties.The synthesis of CuNPs using Asparagus racemosus,commonly known as Shatavari,offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to producing nanomaterials.Moreover,the resulting CuNPs have been found to possess excellent antibacterial,and antioxidant properties,which further expands their potential applications in medicine and environmental remediation.In this article,we discussed the in vitro characterization of the CuNPs.In vitro studies revealed that CuNPs have the potential for biomedical applications and as a base nanomaterial for the construction of drug delivery and targeting vehicles.

Comparison of the Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of<i>Asparagus racemosus</i>Linn. in Combination with Gliclazide and Pioglitazone on Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

In recent years, the popularity of medicinal plants as a remedy has been increased manifold due to having minimal adverse effects. The current study aimed to compare the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of Asparagus racemosus (EEAR) Linn. alone and combinedly with conventional antidiabetic agents (gliclazide and pioglitazone) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Wister albino rats by the administration of single intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg b.w.). Effect of oral administration of two different doses of EEAR (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.), gliclazide (10 mg/kg b.w.) and pioglitazone (10 mg/70kg/b.w.) alone for 2 weeks and a combination of EEAR (200 mg/kg b.w.) with either gliclazide (10 mg/kg b.w.) or pioglitazone (10 mg/70kg/b.w.) for 2 weeks were examined on hypoglycemic activity on 0th, 5th, 10th and 14th day of treatment. After 2 weeks of treatment, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects were estimated by serum biochemical markers such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate trans-aminases (SGPT) and total protein (TP) with the help of commercially available kits. The survival rate, body weight and organ weight were also measured. Alloxan treatment resulted in persistent hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and liver dysfunction in rats. Treatment with EEAR at different doses improved hyperglycemia significantly (p th and 14th day of treatment in a dose-dependent mood when compared to the disease control rats, gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats. The combination therapy significantly (p th, 10th and 14th day of treatment as compared to that of disease control rats, gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats. Proposed adjunct therapy also markedly (p < 0.001;p < 0.01, p < 0.001) improved serum TG, HDL and LDL level with insignificant change in VLDL and TC level while comparing with groups receiving gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats. Administration of different doses of EEAR markedly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001;p < 0.05, p < 0.01;p < 0.05) reduced the activity of TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and HDL cholesterol levels in a dose-dependent approach with respect to that of gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats. The effect of combination therapy significantly (p < 0.001;p < 0.001;p < 0.01, p < 0.001) decreased the SGOT, SGPT and TP hepatic enzyme levels when compared to disease control rats, gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats indicated improvement in liver dysfunctions. Administration of different doses of EEAR noticeably (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001;p < 0.05, p < 0.01;p < 0.05, p < 0.01) reduced the liver enzymes level including SGOT, SGPT and TP in a dose-dependent manner as compared to the disease control rats, gliclazide treated rats and pioglitazone treated rats. The maximum survival rate (100%) was observed in rats of combination treated rats. No significant changes in the body weight and organ weight to body weight ratio were observed except the groups that were given combined therapy showed improvement in the liver and pancreas weight. Our study suggests that the EEAR potentiates the activity of gliclazide and pioglitazone in controlling blood glucose levels, modifies the lipid profile and improves in liver dysfunction on alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Genetic evaluation of twenty seed sources of Asparagus racemosus

A field trial of 20 seed sources of Asparagus racemosus was conducted at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India to evaluate their performance of different economic traits. Genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, genotypic coefficient of variance （GCV） and phenotypic coefficient of variance （PCV） for number of shoots, shoot height, shoot weight, number of roots, root length, root diameter and root weight were calculated. Maximum genotypic and phenotypic variance was observed in shoot height among the shoot - related traits and root length among the root - related traits. For the shoot height, genotypic variance, phenotypic variance, genotypic coefficient of variance, phenotypic coefficient of variance were 231.80, 3924.80, 61.26 and 1037.32, respectively, where those of the root length were 9.55, 16.80, 23.46 and 41.27, respectively. The maximum genetic advance and genetic gain were obtained for shoot height among the shoot-related traits and root length among the root-related traits. Index values were developed for all the seed sources based on the four most important traits, and Panthnagar （Uttrakhand）, Jodhpur （Rajasthan）, Dehradun （Uttarakhand）, Chandigarh （Punjab）, Jammu （Jammu and Kashmir） and Solan （Himachal Pradesh）, were promising seed sources for root production.

Development and assessment of tyrosinase inhibitory activity of liposomes of Asparagus racemosus extracts

The purpose of this study was to develop liposomal formulations of Asparagus racemosus root extract(AR1-6)as well as evaluate the physicochemical properties and in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity.Liposomes composed of AR1-6 to lipid weight ratio of 1:10 and lecithin(LEC)or Phospholipon
90G(PC90G)as structural phospholipid at 7:3 molar ratio to CHOL were prepared by various methods,i.e.chloroform-film(CF),reverse-phase evaporation(REV),polyol dilution(PD),and freeze-drying of monophase solution(MFD)methods.The results revealed that vesicles prepared by CF and MFD were multilamellar whereas those prepared by REV and PD were oligolamellar in nature with particle sizes ranging from 0.26 to 13.83 mm.The zeta potentials were in the range of
1.5 to
39.3 mV.AR1-6 liposomes with LEC possessed significantly higher entrapment than those with PC90G.The highest entrapment efficiency and in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity of 69.08%and 25%,respectively,were obtained from liposomes having LEC and prepared by PD method.The tyrosinase inhibitory activity were in the rank order of LEC>PC90G,and PD>CF>REV>MFD.It could be concluded that the mechanism of vesicle forming in each method of preparation was the key factor influencing physicochemical properties,particularly vesicle type,size,surface charge,and entrapment,which were well correlated with the biological activity.

大赖草(Leymus racemosus)结实格局

连续2年对新疆阿勒泰地区荒漠植物大赖草(Leymus racemosus)居群(公路附近沙丘平坦处,P1;农田周围沙丘平坦处,P2;周围积水沙丘中下部,P3;多个沙丘中间平坦处,P4;多个沙丘中间隆起处,P5)、小穗间和小穗内的结实格局进行了比较研究。结果表明:(1)2011年大赖草的穗长、穗宽、总花数、结实率和大种子比率都高于2012年,小种子数低于2012年;2年的结实率在5个居群间均表现为P2>P3>P1>P5>P4。(2)每花序内不同小穗的穗宽、总花数和结实率表现为中部>下部>上部。(3)每小穗均有3.7±0.56朵花、0.6±0.09粒种子,小穗基部的结实率较高。大赖草结实率在年际和不同环境下波动较大,水分和温度是影响其结实格局的主要因素;小穗间及小穗内的资源分配符合资源竞争假说。大赖草花多果少的结实格局是适应荒漠资源贫瘠、干旱少雨气候条件的一种生殖保障。

Cytogenetic and molecular identification of three Triticum aestivum-Leymus racemosus translocation addition lines

Chromosome 2C from Aegilops cylindrica has the ability to induce chromosome breakage in common wheat （Tritivum aestivum）. In the BC1F3 generation of the T. aestivum cv. Chinese Spring and a hybrid between T. aestivum-Leymus racemosus Lr.7 addition line and T. aestivum-Ae, cylindrica 2C addition line, three disomic translocation addition lines （2n = 44） were selected by mitotic chromosome C-banding and genomic in situ hybridization. We further characterized these T. aestivum-L, racemosus translocation addition lines, NAU636, NAU637 and NAU638, by chromosome C-banding, in situ hybridization using the A- and D-genome-specific bacterial artificial chromosome （BAC） clones 676D4 and 9M13; plasmids pAsl and pSc119.2, and 45S rDNA; as well as genomic DNA of L. racemosus as probes, in combination with double ditelosomic test cross and SSR marker analysis. The translocation chromosomes were designated as T3AS-Lr7S, T6BS-Lr7S, and T5DS-Lr7L. The translocation line T3AS-Lr7S was highly resistant to Fusarium head blight and will be useful germplasm for resistance breeding.

Preparation of rice fermented food using root of Asparagus racemosus as herbal starter and assessment of its nutrient profle

The popularity of traditional fermented food products is based on their healthiness.The addition of a starter brings consistent,desirable,and predictable food changes with improved nutritive,functional,and sensory qualities.The addition of a mixture of plant residues as a starter or source of microbes is an age-old practice to prepare traditional fermented food and beverages,and most of the reported data on traditional foods were based on the analysis of the fnal product.The contribution of an individual starter component(plant residue)is not experimentally substantiated for any traditional fermented food,but this data are very essential for the formulation of an efective starter.In this study,Asparagus racemosus,which used as a common ingredient of starter for preparation of rice fermented food in the Indian sub-continent,was used as a starter for the preparation of rice fermented food under laboratory scale,and its microbial and nutrient profle was evaluated.The fermented product was a good source of lactic acid bacteria,Bifdobacterium sp.,yeast,etc.The food product was acidic and enriched with lactic acid and acetic acid with titratable acidity of 0.65%.The content of protein,fat,minerals,and vitamins(water-soluble)was considerably improved.Most notably,oligosaccharide(G3-matotriose),unsaturated fatty acids(ω3,ω6,ω7,andω9),and a pool of essential and non-essential amino acids were enriched in the newly formulated food.Thus,the herbal starter-based rice fermented food would provide important macro-and micronutrients.They could also deliver large numbers of active microorganisms for the sustainability of health.Therefore,the selected plant part conferred its suitability as an efective starter for the preparation of healthier rice-based food products.

总状毛霉生物转化孕酮的研究

为筛选羟基化多样性的菌株,对总状毛霉(Mucor racemosus)生物转化孕酮进行研究。转化产物经HPLC分析,共分离到6个转化产物,通过NMR、MS及FTIR等手段对孕酮转化产物进行结构鉴定。其结构为11α-羟基孕酮(1);15α-羟基孕酮(2);11α,15β-二羟基孕酮(3);6β,11α-二羟基孕酮(4);7β,15β-二羟基孕酮(5);1-脱氢11α-羟基孕酮(6)。研究结果表明,总状毛霉转化孕酮的衍生物具有丰富的多样性。

大赖草SRAP-PCR反应体系的建立与优化

本研究以新疆大赖草为材料,利用单因素实验和正交设计实验相结合分别研究了模板DNA浓度、Mg2+浓度、dNTPs浓度等对大赖草SRAP-PCR体系的影响,并对扩增体系进行了优化。最后确定SRAP-PCR反应体系(25μL体系)中各因素最佳浓度为:引物0.4 mmol/L,模板DNA 30 ng/μL,dNTP 0.16 mmol/L Mg2+1.5 mmol/L,Taq DNA聚合酶量1.0 U。经PCR反应体系验证和引物筛选试验表明,发现该体系适合于后续的大赖草遗传多样性研究。

不同贮藏条件对大赖草种子萌发的影响

将野外观测与室内实验相结合,研究不同贮藏条件对大赖草种子萌发的影响。结果表明：室内干藏与野外埋藏于地表的种子随贮藏时间的延长,种子萌发率呈现缓慢升高后逐渐降低的趋势,说明大赖草种子存在着后熟现象;埋藏5 cm深度的种子,埋藏2、7、8个月时,种子自然萌发率分别为5.15%、7.52%和94%,剩余种子在室内条件下萌发率大于95%。而埋藏于原生境的种子埋藏2个月无萌发现象,埋藏8个月自然萌发率为90%;说明大赖草的种子在土壤中属于瞬间种子库;黑暗有利于大赖草种子的萌发。不同贮藏条件下大赖草种子的含水量表现为：埋藏5 cm深度〉埋藏于地表〉室内干藏,大赖草种子萌发的最低含水量为19.5%。在自然生境中,野外埋藏的种子被动物搬运的占12%～90%,平均达44.5%,致使土壤中种子数量锐减。因此,大赖草种子在土壤种子库中数量匮乏;自然生境中干旱少雨、水分缺少,导致种子萌发后易＂闪苗＂。这些因素是大赖草有性繁殖更新率低的主要原因。

Effects of Ayurvedic Rasayana botanicals on CYP3A4 isoenzyme system

OBJECTIVE： Consuming botanical dietary supplements or herbal drugs along with prescription drugs may lead to potential pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic（PK-PD） herb-drug interactions（HDI）. The present study focuses on the importance of and novel approach for assessing HDI in integrative medicine with case examples of two frequently-used Ayurvedic Rasayana botanicals.METHODS： The aqueous extracts of Asparagus racemosus（ARE） and Gymnema sylvester（GSE） were prepared as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Chemoprofiling of these extracts was done using high-performance liquid chromatography（HPLC）. Additionally, ARE was characterized for the presence of shatavarins IV and I using HPLC ＆ mass spectroscopy respectively. Effects of ARE and GSE were investigated on rat liver microsome using testosterone probe drug assay. The changes in formation of metabolite（6-β hydroxy testosterone） were monitored on incubation of testosterone alone, testosterone with ketoconazole, ARE and GSE using HPLC. Half inhibitory concentration（IC50） was used to predict plausible HDI.RESULTS： ARE and GSE showed no inhibition with IC50 values 〉1 000 μg/m L while the standard inhibitor ketoconazole completely abolished CYP3A4-dependent activity at 0.531 μg/m L and IC50 was found to be 0.036 μg/m L.CONCLUSION： ARE and GSE prepared as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India were found to be safe for CYP3A4-mediated inhibitory HDI in rats. Our in vitro study suggests the need of further in vivo investigation for HDI in order to provide clinical relevance.