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Nutritional Value, Fatty Acid and Phytochemical Composition, and Antioxidant Properties of Mysore Fig (Ficus drupacea Thunb.) Fruits
Ficus drupacea is a fruit-bearing tree that is distributed in Southeast Asia and Australia. The objective of this research was to ascertain the following with regard to ripened fruits: (i) their nutritional value, (ii) their mineral status, (iii) the fatty acid composition of fruit and seed oil, (iv) their phytochemical makeup, and (v) their antioxidant properties. The ripened fruits contained 3.21%, 3.25%, 0.92%, 1.47%, and 2.20% carbohydrate, protein, fat, ash, and fiber, respectively. Fruits had an energy content of 30.18 kcal/100 g. In terms of mineral content, the fruit was rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen, with values of 21.03, 13.24, 11.07, and 4.13 mg/g DW. Iron, zinc, manganese, and boron had values of 686.67, 124.33, 114.40, and 35.78 g/g DW, respectively. The contents of oxalate and phytate were 14.44 and 2.8 mg/g FW, respectively. The fruit and seed oil content were 0.67 and 8.07%, respectively, and the oils physicochemical properties were comparable to those of fig fruit and seed oils. Omega-3 (?-linolenic acid), omega-6 (linoleic acid), and omega-9 (oleic acid) fatty acids were abundant in the oils. Fruit extracts in acetone, methanol, and water have greater concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, total antioxidant activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays demonstrated increased antioxidant activities in close correlation with the higher concentrations of phenolics, flavonoids, and alkaloids. The results of this study demonstrate that the fruits of F. drupacea are a strong source of nutrients and phytochemicals, and they merit more investigation and thought for possible uses. 2024 by the authors. -
Production of anthraquinones from cell and organ cultures of Morinda species
Abstract: Since ancient times, Morinda species, particularly Morinda citrifolia, have been used for their therapeutic benefits. Iridoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols, and carotenoids are examples of natural substances with bioactivity. Anthraquinone derivatives are the most significant of these chemicals since they are utilized as natural coloring agents and have a wide range of medicinal functions. Utilizing cell and organ cultures of Morinda species, various biotechnological methods have been developed for the bioproduction of anthraquinone derivatives. The generation of anthraquinone derivatives in cell and organ cultures is summarized in this article. The methods used to produce these chemicals in bioreactor cultures have also been examined. Key points: This review investigates the potential of cell and organ cultures for anthraquinone synthesis. The overproduction of anthraquinones has been addressed using a variety of techniques. The use of bioreactor technologies for anthraquinone manufacturing is highlighted. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. -
Anthraquinone Production from Cell and Organ Cultures of Rubia Species: An Overview
The Rubia genus includes major groups of medicinal plants such as Rubia cordifolia, Rubia tinctorum, and Rubia akane. They contain anthraquinones (AQs), particularly alizarin and purpurin, which have pharmacological effects that are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hemostatic, antibacterial, and more. Alizarin and purpurin have been utilized as natural dyes for cotton, silk, and wool fabrics since the dawn of time. These substances have been used in the cosmetics and food industries to color products. The amount of AQs in different Rubia species is minimal. In order to produce these compounds, researchers have established cell and organ cultures. Investigations have been conducted into numerous chemical and physical parameters that affect the biomass and accumulation of secondary metabolites in a cell, callus, hairy root, and adventitious root suspension cultures. This article offers numerous techniques and approaches used to produce biomass and secondary metabolites from the Rubia species. Additionally, it has been emphasized that cells can be grown in bioreactor cultures to produce AQs. 2022 by the authors. -
Bioreactor systems for micropropagation of plants: present scenario and future prospects
Plant micropropagation has been adapted in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and other related fields for large-scale production of elite plants. The use of liquid media and adoption of bioreactors have escalated the production of healthy plants. Several liquid-phase, gas-phase, temporary immersion, and other modified bioreactors have been used for plant propagation. The design, principle, operational mode, merits, and demerits of various bioreactors used for the regeneration of propagules, such as bulblets, cormlets, rhizomes, microtubers, shoots (subsequent rooting), and somatic embryos, are discussed here. In addition, various parameters that affect plant regeneration are discussed with suitable examples. Copyright 2023 Murthy, Joseph, Paek and Park. -
Bioreactor configurations for adventitious root culture: recent advances toward the commercial production of specialized metabolites
In vitro plant cell and organ cultures are appealing alternatives to traditional methods of producing valuable specialized metabolites for use as: pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics, perfumes, and agricultural chemicals. Cell cultures have been adopted for the production of specialized metabolites in certain plants. However, in certain other systems, adventitious roots are superior to cell suspension cultures as they are organized structures that accumulate high levels of specialized metabolites. The cultivation of adventitious roots has been investigated in various bioreactor systems, including: mechanically agitated, pneumatically agitated, and modified bioreactors. The main relevance and importance of this work are to develop a long-lasting industrial biotechnological technology as well as to improve the synthesis of these metabolites from the plant in vitro systems. These challenges are exacerbated by: the peculiarities of plant cell metabolism, the complexity of specialized metabolite pathways, the proper selection of bioreactor systems, and bioprocess optimization. This reviews major objective is to analyze several bioreactor types for the development of adventitious roots, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each type of bioreactor, and to describe the strategies used to increase the synthesis of specialized metabolites. This review also emphasizes current advancements in the field, and successful instances of scaled-up cultures and the generation of specialized metabolites for commercial purposes are also covered. 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. -
Production of biomass and bioactive compounds from cell and organ cultures of ginseng, He-shou-wu, purple coneflower, and St. John's wort for the use in cosmetic industry
Plants and their products have been utilized as raw materials in the preparation of cosmetics for millennia. Currently, research is being done to find new plant materials that may be used as ingredients in cosmetic preparations, including body sprays, shampoos, conditioners, hair dyes/sprays, and other cosmetics. The plants that are used in the preparation of cosmetic products are usually procured from nature, however, the quality and quantity of bioactive ingredients present in the biomass vary based on the species, environment, and geographical locations from where the material has been procured. In addition, procurement of plant material from natural resources may lead to a shortage of material and even endanger the status of rare plants in the natural environment. Therefore, there is increased interest in the use of plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures (PCTOC) for the production of raw materials and bioactive specialized metabolites. There is also scope for increasing the accumulation of biomass and bioactive compounds in PCTOC by adopting various strategies such as optimization of culture medium, culture environment, elicitation, and other bioprocess methods. Furthermore, PCTOC-produced raw materials are free from contaminants, pesticides, and heavy metals and an important benefit of producing biomass in vitro is that it is easily accepted by regulatory authorities and consumers. In the current review, we describe the bioactive compounds of ginseng, purple coneflower, He-shou-wu, and St. John's wort which have cosmetological importance. Additionally, we elucidate the PCTOC method adopted for the production of biomass and bioactive compounds in these plants. 2023 SAAB -
Production of specialized metabolites in plant cell and organo-cultures: the role of gamma radiation in eliciting secondary metabolism
Purpose: To provide an updated summary of recent advances in the application of gamma irradiation to elicit secondary metabolism and for induction of mutations in plant cell and organ cultures for the production of industrially important specialized metabolites (SMs). Conclusions: Research on the application of gamma radiation with plants has contributed a lot to microbial decontamination of seeds, and the promotion of physiological processes such as seed germination, seedling vigor, plant growth, and development. Various studies have demonstrated the influence of gamma rays on the morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of plants. Recent research efforts have also shown that low-dose gamma (5100 Gy) irradiation can be utilized as an expedient solution to alleviate the deleterious effect of abiotic stresses and to obtain better yields of plants. Inducing mutagenesis using gamma irradiation has also evolved as a better option for inducing genetic variability in crops, vegetables, medicinal and ornamentals for their genetic improvement. Plant SMs are gaining increasing importance as pharmaceutical, therapeutic, cosmetic, and agricultural products. Plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures represent an attractive alternative to conventional methods of procuring useful SMs. Among the varied approaches the elicitor-induced in vitro culture techniques are considered an efficient tool for studying and improving the production of SMs. This review focuses on the utilization of low-dose gamma irradiation in the production of high-value SMs such as phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Furthermore, we present varied successful examples of gamma-ray-induced mutations in the production of SMs. Copyright 2024 Taylor & Francis Group LLC. -
Nanomaterials as novel elicitors of pharmacologically active plant specialized metabolites in cell and organ cultures: current status and future outlooks
Specialized plant metabolites, such as phenolics, terpenes, terpenoids, nitrogen-containing compounds, and sulfur-containing compounds, are commercially valuable owing to their wide array of applications in the medical, pharmacological, cosmetic, agriculture, and food industries. Procuring valuable specialized metabolites from wild or cultivated plants is desirable; however, the concentrations and quality of secondary compounds vary between samples. Therefore, plant cells and organ cultures have been selected as viable alternatives for producing specialized metabolites. Elicitation is a strategy used to enhance the accumulation of specialized compounds in cell and organ cultures. Different biotic substances, including signaling chemicals such as salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate, elements of plant cell walls (cellulose and pectin), polysaccharides from microbes (chitin and glucan), and abiotic substances such as inorganic salts, heavy metals, UV radiation, and high salinity, have been successfully tested and used as elicitors for the hyperaccumulation of bioactive substances in cell and organ cultures. Recently, metals, metal oxide nanoparticles, and carbon-based nanomaterials have been used as unique elicitors to boost the synthesis of bioactive compounds in cell and organ cultures. The applications and usage of nanoparticles as elicitors in plant cell and organ cultures are summarized in this review. The mechanism of elicitation, toxicity, benefits, and drawbacks of using nanoparticles in plant cell and organ cultures are discussed. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2023. -
Light as an elicitor for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in plant cell, tissue, and organ cultures
Currently, in vitro cell, tissue, and organ cultures are used to produce plant secondary metabolites that are used as natural coloring agents, nutraceuticals, and medications. Various strategies have been applied for the hyperaccumulation of biomass and bioactive secondary compounds in vitro. The elicitation of cultured cells and organs with biotic and abiotic elicitors is an excellent strategy that has yielded promising results. Among various abiotic elicitors, light parameters such as light quality, intensity, and photoperiod have evolved as biotechnological tools to elicit cultures. Of the various light sources tested, ultraviolet (UV) lights, particularly UV-B, red, blue, and a mixture of light emitted by fluorescent light or light-emitting diodes, have yielded outstanding results and boosted the accumulation of bioactive compounds in cultured cells and organs. The objective of the current study was to evaluate light as an elicitor source and summarize the advantages and limitations of various light sources as elicitors for the bioaccumulation of secondary metabolites in vitro. The mechanism of the elicitation of secondary metabolism by UV and spectral light is discussed in this review. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Anthocyanin Production from Plant Cell and Organ Cultures In Vitro
Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments found in plants. They exist in various colors, including red, purple, and blue, and are utilized as natural colorants in the food and cosmetics industries. The pharmaceutical industry uses anthocyanins as therapeutic compounds because they have several medicinal qualities, including anti-obesity, anti-cancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Anthocyanins are conventionally procured from colored fruits and vegetables and are utilized in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, the composition and concentration of anthocyanins from natural sources vary quantitively and qualitatively; therefore, plant cell and organ cultures have been explored for many decades to understand the production of these valuable compounds. A great deal of research has been carried out on plant cell cultures using varied methods, such as the selection of suitable cell lines, medium optimization, optimization culture conditions, precursor feeding, and elicitation for the production of anthocyanin pigments. In addition, metabolic engineering technologies have been applied for the hyperaccumulation of these compounds in varied plants, including tobacco and arabidopsis. In this review, we describe various strategies applied in plant cell and organ cultures for the production of anthocyanins. 2023 by the authors. -
Production of betalains in plant cell and organ cultures: a review
Betalains are nitrogen-containing natural pigments that are water soluble and they comprise of the red-violet betacyanin and the yellow betaxanthin which are abundant in plants such as red/yellow beet, amaranth, prickly pear, pitaya, and others. They are widely used as food coloring agents for many centuries. Betalains are used in pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and cosmeceuticals, since they have tremendous potential to scavenge free radicals and prevent diseases, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, cancer, neurological disorders, and vascular stenosis. Betalains are proven to be toxicologically safe and have health benefits, they have been approved as food additives in the United States of America, and European countries. Although betalains can be found in natural resources, there are differences in their composition, amounts, and seasonality. For this reason, researchers have developed alternative methods of producing these valuable compounds using cell and organ culture techniques. In several plants, cell and organ cultures are established, and bioreactor technologies have been used to produce betalains on a wide scale. In this review, we discuss the varied biotechnological methods and approaches applied for the biosynthesis of betalains including metabolic engineering approaches. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Suspension culture of somatic embryos for the production of high-value secondary metabolites
Secondary metabolites from plants are ubiquitous and have applications in medicines, food additives, scents, colorants, and natural pesticides. Biotechnological production of secondary metabolites that have economic benefits is an attractive alternative to conventional methods. Cell, adventitious, and hairy root suspension cultures are typically used to produce secondary metabolites. According to recent studies, somatic embryos in suspension culture are useful tools for the generation of secondary metabolites. Somatic embryogenesis is a mode of regeneration in several plant species. This review provides an update on the use of somatic embryogenesis in the production of valuable secondary metabolites. The factors influencing the generation of secondary metabolites using somatic embryos in suspension cultures, elicitation methods, and prospective applications are also discussed in this review. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. 2023, Prof. H.S. Srivastava Foundation for Science and Society. -
Internet of Things in Bioelectronics: Emerging Technologies and Applications
This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the exciting intersection between technology and biology and delves into the principles, applications, and future directions of IoT in the realm of bioelectronics; it serves as both an introduction for those new to the field and as a detailed reference for experienced professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge. The rapid convergence of technology and biology heralds a new era of evolution in the Internet of Things (IoT), a transformative force enabling interconnected devices to communicate and operate with unparalleled synergy. This is particularly true in the groundbreaking field of bioelectronics, where the fusion of biological systems with electronic devices and IoT is reshaping the landscape of bioelectronics, promising to open up new frontiers in healthcare, diagnostics, and personalized medicine. This timely book explores the numerous ways in which IoT-enabled bioelectronic devices are used to monitor and enhance human health, from wearable sensors that track vital signs to implantable devices that can communicate with healthcare providers in real time. One central theme of this book is the transformative impact of IoT on healthcare. By enabling continuous, remote monitoring of patients, IoT technologies are not only improving the accuracy of diagnostics but also making healthcare more accessible and personalized. The book also addresses the critical issues of securing health records on the internet, which are of paramount importance as we increasingly rely on interconnected devices to collect and transmit sensitive health information. Additional attention is paid to the future directions of IoT in bioelectronics and the integration of innovative areas, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, in driving the development of ever more sophisticated and capable bioelectronic systems. Audience The target audience includes professionals, researchers, academics, and students involved in various fields related to bioelectronics, IoT, healthcare, biotechnology, engineering, and related disciplines. 2024 Scrivener Publishing LLC. -
Nickel-Based Inks for Flexible Electronics - A Review on Recent Trends
Inkjet printing (IJP) is an efficient, simple, scalable and low-cost additive manufacturing technique for the deposition of functional materials on substrates used in flexible electronic devices, sensors, and light-emitting diodes to name a few. Nanoparticle ink, metal oxide decomposition (particle-free ink), polymer ink, and semiconductor ink are classifications of the inks used in IJP. Effective printing of the material is possible when the ink parameters (viscosity, particle size, surface tension) and its derived dimensionless quantities (Weber number, Reynolds' number, and Ohnesorge number) fall within a desirable range. The formation of the coffee-ring effect during the post-printing process is one of the major concerns, which affects the morphology and electrical conductivity of the printed pattern. In this review, a summary of recent developments of Ni-based inks in terms of formulation, sintering and properties is presented, along with the effect of combining Ni with other materials such as NiO, Ag, Cu, Zn, Fe, carbon, and rare earth metals on the film properties. The precursors and solvents used for the Ni ink preparation, along with the additives and surfactants, have been presented to understand their impact on the film's properties and develop a design to choose the ideal precursor-solvent pair. Finally, the challenges in formulating inks and the necessity to develop a model to optimize the choice of solvent/ precursor are presented. The model would improve the selection of additives and precursors and reduce material wastage and enhance performance with fewer defects. 2022 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
A Statistical Analysis and Comparison of the spread of Swine Flu and COVID-19 in India
Introduction: The world is currently experiencing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [COVID-19], however, this is not a new phenomenon; it occurred in 2009-2010 in the form of novel influenza A. (H1N1). The H1N1 virus primarily afflicted people between the ages of 26 and 50, but SARS-CoV-2 primarily afflicted those over the age of 60, increasing the number of deaths owing to their weakened immunity. The report provides a case study of the impact of H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2 in India. Methods: Data is obtained from The Hindustan Times newspaper, GoI press releases and World Health Organization (WHO) reports. Results: The incidence rate was initially low and it was only by the 10-15th week that it started increasing. There is an initial upward trend before levelling out followed by a second wave and third wave. COVID-19 exhibited a steeper growth, where the steps taken by the Government were ineffective leading to higher death cases. Kerala was affected due to the travellers returning from the Middle East, while Maharashtra and Delhi saw large incidence rates due to the migrant influx and communal gathering. Conclusion: The most effective and practical approach is to test the symptomatic patients and aggressive testing to contain the transmission. Awareness campaigns to educate the public about social distancing and personal hygiene is more practical. There is still scope of improvement with regards to the public health care support, preparedness and response. Lockdown measures could have been avoided if the initial screening was conducted properly. 2022 UPM Press. All rights reserved. -
Novel Anti-Corrosion and Anti-Fouling Coatings and Thin Films
Nanomaterials and nanocomposite materials have been developed as corrosion inhibitors and are the most noble and effective alternatives to traditional organic corrosion inhibitors. Nanomaterials provide reasonably high anticorrosive activity in both aqueous and solution phases. A unified approach to this task is lacking, however, which highlights the role of all disciplines involved in the creation and use of corrosion protection coatings for metals. Fouling is the process of accumulating unwanted material that is mostly non-living and comprised of detritus and organic or inorganic compounds, or organisms, such as tiny viruses up to giant kelps. This book covers both the processes of biofouling and anti(bio)fouling, and the devices that stop the biofouling process. This book provides a missing synopsis by providing an understanding of the anticorrosive and anti-biofouling effects of nanomaterials and nanocomposites under different environments. It features an up-to-date picture of the quality and chemistry of a substrate surface, its proper preparation by conversion treatment, the function of resins and anticorrosive pigments in paints, and novel concepts for corrosion protection. 2024 Scrivener Publishing LLC. -
Nanoarchitectures as photoanodes
This chapter looks into providing detailed information on the state-of-the-art and recent trends on materials and nanoarchitectures for improved photoanode device. It provides a roadmap for researchers toward optimization of photoanodes using advanced material engineering. The chapter casts some light on the performance of various photoanode materials and nanostructures, such as TiO2, ZnO, SnO2, Nb2O5, Al2O3, ZrO2, CeO2, SrTiO3, Zn2SnO4, and carbon in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Plasmonic photoanodes are an emerging field in DSSC spanning a wide range of materials where the paramount challenge is coming up with effective strategies to incorporate suitable plasmonic structures into nanocrystalline and nanostructured electrodes. Optical excitation of the dye is the basis of DSSC operation, where an electron is excited from the dye molecule into the conduction band of a wideband metal oxide. 2020 JohnWiley & Sons Inc. All rights reserved. -
Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) for solar cell applications
There is an eminent global energy crisis and photovoltaics as one of the primary renewable energy sources is playing an important part in offsetting the dependency on fossil fuels. Current solar cells technology is dominated by silicon, and researchers are trying to replace it with organic and nanocrystalline semiconducting materials. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, GCN) has gained interest as a visible light driven photocatalyst with a unique 2D structure, excellent chemical stability and tunable electronic structure along with attractive optoelectronic properties. Pure GCN suffers from low surface area and rapid recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs resulting in low photovoltaic and photocatalytic activity and hence modification by doping with other atoms is required. Photocatalytic applications of GCN based nanomaterials for water splitting, hydrogen production, CO2 reduction and pollutant degradation has been extensively investigated and systematically reviewed. However, their applications as energy storage has been explored recently and there is a lack of comprehensive review that systematically summarizes the application of GCN and GCN-based heterostructures for solar cell applications. Heterojunctions with superior light absorption and appropriate conduction band and valence band alignment is a promising approach for the applications in efficient environmental remediation and solar energy storage. This critical review summarizes the synthesis and advances of GCN nanocomposites modified with semiconductors (TiO2, ZnO), bismuth titanate, strontium titanate and rare earth metals for solar cell applications. GCN-based heterostructures with perovskite and polymer based materials are also presented. The characteristics and transfer mechanism within the various heterojunctions is also reviewed and presented. The review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the challenges and new directions in exploring GCN-based advanced nanomaterials particularly towards photovoltaics and energy storage applications. 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. -
Inkjet printing of MOx-based heterostructures for gas sensing and safety applicationsRecent trends, challenges, and future scope
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are pollutants that affect air quality and human health. Detection of VOCs is important for environmental safety. Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) is a promising product for gas sensors due to its advantages of easy fabrication, low cost, and good portability. Their performance is greatly affected by microstructure, defects, catalysts, heterojunctions, and moisture. Metal oxidebased nanomaterials serve as a platform to identify various VOCs with high sensitivity due to their wide bandgap, n-type transport, and excellent electrical properties. Gas detection devices based on doping, altered morphology, and heterostructure have been shown to be effective against VOCs. Inkjet printing (IJP) is a promising process for the room-temperature deposition of functional metal oxides for sensing applications. However, the development of metal oxide ink requires a careful selection of the precursors, solvents, and additives. This section will focus on the production of various metal oxide (MOx)-based sensors such as ZnO, SnO2, MoO3, CuO, Cu2O, Mn3O4, and WO3 for the detection of VOCs such as acetylene, toluene, ethanol, formaldehyde, and acetone. It will summarize recent research and advances in large-scale printing of MOx-based nanocomposites. This work illustrates the need to explore new composite materials, structures, and morphology as well as other methods for better and faster transformation. The role of solvents in ink stabilization and printing and the behavior of ink rheological parameters in the IJP spraying process will also be discussed. Ink formulations for the synthesis of functional nanocomposites will be analyzed and presented for future scope and challenges. 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.