Isolation and characterization of a 20 kD prolamin from kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) (L.): Homology with other millets and cereals

The homologus 20 kD prolamin from kodo millet and other minor millets viz. barnyard, little and foxtail millets, were purified using preparative gel electrophoresis and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The amino acid composition of the purified 20 kD prolamin protein from different minor millets revealed higher content of glutamic acid, alanine, leucine and serine and lower quantity of lysine and methionine. They contain 55 to 58 percent of non-polar amino acids which make them more hydrophobic than other protein fractions. The total number of amino acid residues per polypeptide chain ranged from 152 to 155 based on theoretical calculation. Peptide mapping of the 20 kD prolamin hydrolyzed with trypsin gave fewer cleavage products than expected. The antigenic relationships among these minor millets and cereals viz. wheat, maize, rice, sorghum, finger millet and pearl millet were studied using the antibody raised against the 20 kD prolamin. Cross reactivity was seen in all the minor millets at the 20 kD region. But in barnyard and little millets lower molecular weight polypeptides also cross reacted with the antibody. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the prolamins from other cereals and millets are related to the 20 kD prolamin of kodo millet. Rice was the only common cereal that did not cross react immunologically with the antibody raised against 20 kD prolamin of kodo millet.     

Homologies between prolamins of different minor millets

Minor millets, viz. Barnyard millet, Proso millet, Little millet, Foxtail millet and Kodo millet, one variety in each grown in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu were selected for the study. The protein contents of the selected decorticated millets were found to be 11.0, 12.3, 12.9, 10.5 and 10.6% respectively. Fractionation of these proteins revealed that prolamin forms major storage protein in Foxtail millet whereas, glutelin forms major storage protein in all the other millets. The extractability was studied using different solvents, viz. isopropyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol with varying concentration of 2-mercapto ethanol. Electrophoretic pattern of the extracted prolamins from these millets were compared and found that a protein band at the molecular weight range of 20 kD was found homologous in all except Proso millet. The extractability of the 20kD protein in 90% isopropyl alcohol showed its strong hydrophobic nature.     

Isolation,Characterization and Quantification of Tricin and Flavonolignans in the Medicinal Rice Njavara (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.), as Compared to Staple Varieties

Njavara is an important medicinal rice variety of Kerala, India, widely used in Ayurveda as a ‘health food’ and in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, paralysis, neurodegenerative diseases and in rejuvenation therapy. Phytochemical investigations and spectroscopic studies of the diethyl ether fraction of methanolic extract of Njavara Black (NB) rice bran gave three important compounds namely, tricin and two rare flavonolignans- tricin 4′-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether and tricin 4′-O-(threo-β-guaiacylglyceryl) ether. The EC₅₀ values of these compounds in DPPH system were 90.39, 352.04 and 208.1 μg/ml, respectively. Quantification of the compounds by HPLC in NB and staple, non-medicinal rice varieties Sujatha (SJ) and Palakkadan Matta (PM) showed that tricin is present 39.64 and 16.12 fold higher in NB, compared to SJ and PM, respectively. This is the first report on the occurrence of tricin at significantly higher levels in Njavara and occurrence of the two flavonolignans in Oryza sativa species. Of the three compounds, tricin and the threo- form of flavonolignan showed anti-inflammatory effect of >65% after 5 h, at 2 mg/kg, in carrageenan-induced, paw edema experiments in rats. The results of the study corroborate with the preferential use of Njavara in indigenous medicine, over staple varieties.     

Microencapsulation of Fish Oil Using Fish Protein Hydrolysate,Maltodextrin, and Gum Arabic: Effect on Structural and Oxidative Stability

ABSTRACT

Microencapsulated fish oil was prepared by spray drying using fish protein hydrolysate, sodium caseinate, maltodextrin, and gum Arabic as wall material. Fish protein hydrolysate was prepared from pink perch meat, and its physical and functional properties were studied. Microencapsulates prepared with a combination of sodium caseinate, maltodextrin, and gum Arabic were kept as control. The encapsulation efficiency and oil release behavior of microencapsulates was evaluated. Surface morphology and thermal properties of microencapsulates were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, respectively. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that the spectral pattern of microencapsulates showed a similar structural pattern with a minor band shift for both control and fish protein hydrolysate containing microencapsulates. Oxidative stability of fish oil microencapsulates indicated that the sample stored under was 4°C was more stable than microencapsulates stored under 60°C and 28 ± 2°C temperature conditions. Moreover, microencapsulates containing fish protein hydrolysate had a lower thiobarbituric acid value. Results suggest that the incorporation of fish protein hydrolysate along with other wall material could improve the oxidative stability of microcapsules during storage.     

Gamma radiation susceptibility of strains of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) resistant and susceptible to fenvalerate

Gamma radiation susceptibility of adults of the fenvalerateresistant strain of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae) was studied under laboratory conditions. Selection for resistance to fenvalerate in adult beetles was carried out up to the sixth generation. In each generation of selection, adults of the fenvalerateresistant strain were evaluated for susceptibility to gamma radiation and compared with their fenvalerate-susceptible counterparts. Susceptibility to 60Co gamma radiation was evaluated on the basis of dosage-mortality (LD) and time-mortality (LT) responses. We found the LD values 50 50 50 for the fenvalerate-resistant and-susceptible strains to be 89.16 and 97.46 Gy respectively, showing no significant difference in susceptibility to gamma radiation. LT values were 7.58 and 17.20 days for the 50 fenvalerate-resistant and-susceptible strains respectively, showing that mortality in the resistant strain occurred markedly earlier than in the susceptible strain.     

Enhancement of Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza Sativa) by Plant Probiotic Endophyte,Lysinibacillus sphaericus under Greenhouse Conditions

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen (N) is the “prime” among the three major nutrients required for plant growth. The large potential demand of nitrogen for plant growth is mainly achieved through biological nitrogen fixation. We have attempted to study the growth enhancement of rice crop under greenhouse conditions using the endophytic diazotrophic bacteria Lysinibacillus sphaericus. The effect of inoculation of L. sphaericus on yield and nutrient uptake was studied. All the parameters studied showed significantly higher values than that obtained in uninoculated absolute control. The highest yield was given by treatment T7 (seed and foliar) followed by T9 (soil and foliar) and T5 (seed and soil) and were statistically at par. The highest dry weight of grains was found to be in treatment T2 (13.0 g^?1plant) which received soil treatment of L. sphaericus followed by T9 (12.2 g^?1plant) which received combined application of L. sphaericus as soil and foliar treatment. It can be deduced from the results, there is a high influence of endophytic bacteria L. sphaericus in plant growth despite the mode of inoculation. This establishes the potential of diazotrophic endophyte L. sphaericus to limit the use of industrial N fertilizers thereby enhancing the fertility of the soil.     

Changes in the carbohydrates and nitrogenous components during germination of proso millet,Panicum miliaceum

Since germination has been found to increase the nutritive qualities of grains, proso millet, a minor millet, was allowed to germinate for 1–7 days and analysed for protein fractions, free amino acids, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, non-protein nitrogen, starch, and sugars. Overnight soaking and germination up to 7 days significantly increased the free amino acids and total sugars while the content of dry weight and starch decreased. Increases in albumin and globulin and large decreases in prolamin accompanied sprouting. The percent protein in germinated grains was higher than in the initial grain as a result of dry matter loss during germination. Further, there was an increase in lysine, tryptophan and non-protein nitrogen contents during germination. No change was noticed in methionine content.     

Plant Growth Promoting Traits of Indigenous Phosphate Solubilizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Chilli (Capsicumannuum L.) Rhizosphere

Phosphorus (P) is the second key nutrient for plants and it affects several attributes of plant growth. Identification of a potent phosphate solubilizing microorganism capable of transforming the insoluble P into soluble and plant-accessible forms is considered as the best eco-friendly option for providing inexpensive P to plants. Hence, this study was focused to assess the growth enhancement traits of the phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) isolated from chili rhizosphere. Twelve PSB were isolated by enrichment culture technique and its P solubilization efficiency was checked using Vanadomolybdate phosphoric yellow color method. Among them, two potent strains PS2 and PS3, identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa KR270346 and KR270347 based on biochemical and molecular characterization, were selected for further study. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates interestingly showed the presence of various potential plant growth-promoting properties including indole acetic acid and siderophore production. The growth enhancement effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates on chilli showed promising results, and the growth parameters were found to be statistically signi?cant when compared to control. The results demonstrated an eloquent impact on various aspects, namely microbial count and PSB population, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activity, available phosphorous in the soil, plant nutrient uptake, and yield parameters. Inoculation of these two isolates together with the addition of rock phosphate increased comparable amount of available P and these treatments were statistically at par throughout the growth period. The results con?rmed the growth-promoting potential of the isolates to develop as biofertilizers either alone or as components of integrated nutrient management systems.     

Effect of dietary fiber on the activity of intestinal and fecal beta-glucuronidase activity during 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis

The effects of fiber isolated from black gram (Phaseolus mungo) and Coconut (Cocos nucifera) kernel on the metabolic activity of intestinal and fecal beta glucuronidase activity during 1,2-dimethylhydrazine induced colon carcinogenesis were studied. The results indicated that the inclusion of fiber from black gram and coconut kernel generally supported lower specific activities and less fecal output of beta-glucuronidase than did the fiber free diet. This study suggests that the fibers isolated from coconut or black gram may potentially play a role in preventing the formation of colon tumors induced by the carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine by reducing the activity of the intestinal as well as fecal beta-glucuronidase.