Microscopic techniques for characterization and authentication of oil-yielding seeds

Investigation of alternative energy sources is need of current time due to growing power crisis and associated environmental issues. Biodiesel is considered as sustainable power source and promising alternative to fossil fuels. Therefore, our current investigation aimed to identify micromorphological characters of 10 novel nonedible oil-yielding seeds through scanning electron microscopy. It was revealed from light microscopic study that there is variation in seed size from 3 to 15 mm in length and 2 to 11 mm in width. Likewise, a huge variation in color was observed such as light green, greenish yellow, blackish brown, and various shades of brown. Presence and absence of Hilum was observed, and compression of seeds varied from depressed, lateral, and dorsoventral. Seed's shape differs from ovate, clavate, triangular ovate, cuneiform, ovoid, and elliptical shape. Seed oil content fall in range of 18–58% (wt/wt). Free fatty acid content of the seeds varies from 0.3 to 3.1 mg KOH/g. Ultrastructure of seeds exhibited huge variation in shape, size, periclinal wall, anticlinal wall, and surface ornamentation. Nonedible seeds varied in wall structure from angular, wavy, dentate entire, irregular, puzzled, elongated, even, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, looped, raised, depressed, lofty, even, pentagonal, polygonal, and undulate seed margins. Outcomes of this investigation recommended that scanning electron microscopy could act as a helpful tool in disclosing the hidden micromorphological characters among nonedible oil-yielding seeds and subsequently helping in correct, authentic seed identification and classification as potential feedstock for biodiesel.     

Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase Targeting in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM), a clonal plasma cell disorder, disrupts the bones’ hematopoiesis and microenvironment homeostasis and ability to mediate an immune response against malignant clones. Despite prominent survival improvement with newer treatment modalities since the 2000s, MM is still considered a non-curable disease. Patients experience disease recurrence episodes with clonal evolution, and with each relapse disease comes back with a more aggressive phenotype. Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) has been a major target for B cell clonal disorders and its role in clonal plasma cell disorders is under active investigation. BTK is a cytosolic kinase which plays a major role in the immune system and its related malignancies. The BTK pathway has been shown to provide survival for malignant clone and multiple myeloma stem cells (MMSCs). BTK also regulates the malignant clones’ interaction with the bone marrow microenvironment. Hence, BTK inhibition is a promising therapeutic strategy for MM patients. In this review, the role of BTK and its signal transduction pathways are outlined in the context of MM.     

Identification of novel nonedible oil seeds via scanning electron microscopy for biodiesel production

Exploration of substitute energy feed‐stocks is the much‐debated topic in the scientific society due to increasing power crises and related ecological concerns. As a source of sustainable energy, biodiesel turns out to be the best alternative to petro fuels. In this context, nonedible oil‐producing seeds might be a potential source for biodiesel production owing to their environment‐friendly nature and cost‐effectiveness. The current study, consequently, deals with the investigation and identification of micro‐morphological characters between six novel nonedible oil‐bearing seeds employing scanning electron microscopy as possible biodiesel feed‐stocks. Light microscopic examinations show that seed size varies from 0.3 to 1.3 cm in width and 0.5 to 1.5 cm in. Additionally, a large difference in seed color ranges from dark brown, black, and various shades of light brown was also witnessed. The FFA content of the seeds ranges in 0.3–4.1 mg KOH/g, and the seed oil content fall in 30–65% (w/w) range. SEM‐mediated seed ultrastructure investigations displays greater variation in seed size, shape, color, periclinal wall shape, and sculpturing and so on. All the seeds differ from rounded, ovoid, ovate, oblong, flattened, and elliptical shape. Greater variation in seed wall structure has been seen from angular, entire, irregular, straight, elongated, smooth, and polygonal. The periclinal wall arrangements show alteration from flat, depressed, elevated, smooth, pentagonal, bullate, and coarse seed margins. The results obtained from the current study suggest that scanning electron microscopy could be a beneficial tool in vitalizing the hidden micromorphological characters among various nonedible oil producing seeds, which eventually helps in exploration, correct identification, seed classification, and authentication in future.     

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of seeds of different cultivars of mungbean

ABSTRACT:  Seeds of 4 cultivars (M-1, M-6, NM-92, and NM-98) of mungbean [ Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] were investigated for proximate composition, antioxidant potential, fatty acids, tocopherols, and minerals profiles. Hexane-extracted seed oil content of the investigated cultivars of mungbeans ranged from 1.20% to 1.56%. Mungbean seeds were found to be a rich source of protein (20.97% to 31.32%). The contents of Fe, Cu, Mg, Na, K, Ca, and Zn were found to be 105.8 to 190.9, 4.8 to 6.3, 48.6 to 51.7, 382.6 to 562.7, 11.6 to 18.8, 359.2 to 482.9, and 24.9 to 47.2 mg/kg, respectively. The mungbean seeds contained linoleic acid in the highest amount, 340.5 to 465.7 mg/100 g of dry seed, followed by palmitic, oleic, linolenic, stearic, and arachidic acids: 278.1 to 401.2, 212.6 to 293.5, 188.7 to 236.8, 135.5 to 168.4, and 22.8 to 24.5 mg/100 g of dry seed, respectively. The seeds were found to be a rich source of tocopherols (α, γ, δ) ranged from 1.1 to 10.1, 60.7 to 80.9, and 4.6 to 11.2 mg/kg, respectively. Methanolic extracts of the seeds of the mungbean cultivars exhibited a good antioxidant activity as determined in terms of measurement of total phenolic contents (TPC) (0.62 to 1.08 g/100 g of dry matter), percent inhibition of peroxidation (49.8% to 89.2%), reducing power (1.19% to 1.45%), and bleaching β-carotene. The results of the present analytical study revealed these 4 mungbean cultivars to be a potential source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and protein, all of which are linked with positive health benefits.     

Biological activity of fluidized bed ethanol extracts from several edible mushrooms

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of fluidized bed ethanol extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus PQMZ91109, PBS281009, M2191 (obtained from a laboratory greenhouse), Agaricus bisporus, Marasmius oreades, Craterellus cornucopioides, and Tuber melanosporum were investigated using free radical scavenging activities, metal chelating effects, inhibition of lipid peroxidation (inhibition of peroxyl radicals), xanthine oxidase, and lipoxygenase, and identification of antioxidant compounds. Levels of different compounds with antioxidant properties demonstrated the presence of more tocopherols than polyphenol carboxylic acids and flavones. HPLC showed that T. melanosporum extracts had high correlation values between levels of different active compounds and antioxidant assay results. Tocopherol levels were highly correlated (R ²=0.867) with anti-inflammatory activities and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Fluidized bed ethanol extracts from dried mushroom fruit bodies can be a source of products rich in tocopherols, and can constitute an important ingredient in food supplements.     

Characterization of the Composition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caesalpinia bonducella</Emphasis> Seed Grown in Temperate Regions of Pakistan

Caesalpinia bonducella is an oilseed that is indigenous to Pakistan. The hexane-extracted oil content from the seed kernel was 17.3 ± 1.0% DM (dry matter). The proximate analysis of C. bonducella seed estimated protein, fiber and ash contents to be 20.8 ± 1.4, 5.3 ± 1.0 and 4.6 ± 0.8%, respectively. Trace metals were determined comparable to commonly consumed legume seeds. α-Tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol ranging from 345.10 to 460.21 mg/kg of oil, followed by γ- and δ-tocopherol. The major sterols were β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmastenol and Δ7 avenasterol. The kernel oil was found to contain a high level of linoleic acid (72.7 ± 1.0%) followed by oleic, stearic and palmitic acids. The high percentage of linoleic acid revealed that this oil is a potential source for the manufacture of cosmetics, paints, varnishes, soaps, liquid soaps and other products including biodiesel. These investigations suggest that C. bonducella oil is potentially an important dietary source of essential fatty acids and protein which could be employed for edible and commercial applications in various industries of Pakistan.     

Fabrication of HA/PHBV composite scaffolds through the emulsion freezing/freeze-drying process and characterisation of the scaffolds

Biodegradable polymer-based scaffolds containing osteoconductive hydroxyapatite (HA) particles can be very useful for bone tissue engineering. In this investigation, HA nanoparticles were incorporated in poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-valerate) (PHBV) polymer to fabricate osteoconductive composite scaffolds. PHBV and HA/PHBV scaffolds were made using an emulsion freezing/freeze-drying technique. The scaffolds produced were subsequently characterized using several techniques. It was found that the scaffolds were highly porous and had interconnected porous structures. The pore size ranged from several microns to around 300 mum. The spherical HA nanoparticles which were produced in-house through a nanoemulsion process could be incorporated into composite scaffolds although some of these nanoparticles existed on the surface of pore walls when a relatively large amount of HA was used for composite scaffolds. The incorporation of HA nanoparticles also enhanced compressive mechanical properties of the scaffolds.