The present investigation is focused on exploring the anti-urolithiatic potential of aqueous leaf extract of Tragia involucrata (TIA) and its silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and to quantify the total phenol, flavonoid, terpenoid and sterol contents present in TIA. Quantification results suggested TIA to be a rich source of phenol, flavonoid and terpenoid and less of sterol content. The AgNPs were synthesized by a simple green method using aqueous extract of T. involucrata. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed through UV spectroscopy, particle size analysis, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The in vitro struvite growth inhibitory activity of the extract was performed using a single gel diffusion method. Samples incorporated with higher concentration of 2% TIA and AgNPs (200 μg mL) exhibited potent crystal growth inhibitory activity which was further supported by the dissolution of crystals in gel medium. Calcium oxalate stone formation was induced in rats by the oral administration of ethylene glycol in water. Stone formation was assessed by increase in the levels of calcium and phosphorous in the urine and accumulation of nitrogenous substances like urea, creatinine in renal tissues and blood. Prophylactic treatment with TIA and AgNPs showed significant anti-urolithiatic activity with normalization of the mineral contents of the urine and serum samples. Histopathological analysis of the kidney of TIA- and AgNP-treated animals showed no CaOx deposits and a normal architecture of the kidney cells. We conclude that aqueous extract of T. involucrata and its AgNPs has potential for the treatment of patients with recurrent stones.

In the present study, an efficient biosurfactant producing bacterial strain MKVIT3 was isolated from an oil logging area in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis was performed for the identification of different congeners present in the extracted biosurfactant. The column purified biosurfactant was used to stabilise the formation of silver nanoparticles (NP) using borohydrate reduction in reverse micelles. The silver NP were characterised using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, Powder-XRD TEM analysis and zeta potential. A comparative study of the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic efficacy was done for the extracted purified biosurfactant and the silver NP. The LC-MS/MS analysis of the biosurfactant revealed the presence of five rhamnolipid congeners. The synthesised silver NP showed the characteristic absorption peak in UV-vis at 440 nm. Powder-XRD and TEM analysis revealed the average particle size of the NP as 17.89 ± 8.74 nm as well as their cubic structure. Zeta potential value of -30.9 mV suggested that the silver NPs are stable in the suspension. Comparative study of the antimicrobial activity revealed that the silver NP are more potent than the biosurfactant in inhibiting the growth of microbes. Cytotoxic activity revealed that the biosurfactant are more effective than the synthesised silver NP.

The objective of this study was to assess the total phenol, flavonoid, terpenoid and sterol contents and the antioxidant properties of water, ethanol and chloroform extracts of the leaves of Ipomoea eriocarpa. The antioxidant activity of the three extracts was studied using 2,2-diphenyl-dipicrylhydrazyl and hydrogen peroxide methods. The in vitro growth inhibition of struvite crystals was also investigated in the presence of three extracts. Struvite crystals were grown using the single diffusion gel growth technique. The crystals were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric with differential thermal analysis. The ethanol extract showed the highest phenolic, flavonoid and terpenoid contents and possessed better antioxidant properties compared with the water and chloroform extracts. Furthermore, the ethanol extract was the only one that showed growth-inhibition properties. The inhibition of crystal growth by different concentrations of the leaf extract of I. eriocarpa was promising and rapid, indicating that the plant can potentially prevent and cure struvite-based urolithiasis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSIpomoea eriocarpa is traditionally used as a vegetable in India. The seeds are nutritious and a good source of carbohydrates and proteins. From the present studies, it can be concluded that regular consumption of this plant can provide a good source of natural antioxidants to the body. Therapeutic doses of the ethanol extract can inhibit or reduce the size of struvite-based kidney stones and could help in the passage of stones through the urinary tube. Thus, the plant can potentially prevent as well as cure struvite-based urolithiasis.

Production of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant (RBS) using discarded mixed bakery waste (BW) employing bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PG1 (identified by 16 s rDNA sequencing) was investigated for bioconversion of the food waste. Dry and powder form BW was supplemented with mineral salt media (MSM) as a sole carbon source for production of RBS. RBS production was measured based on the drop collapse assay and surface tension (ST) reduction of the culture media. Production of RBS in the culture media was enhanced by optimizing the carbon source (BW) concentration and the proper nitrogen source along with the pH of the MSM. Under optimized culture conditions, 11.56 g L −1 day −1 crude biosurfactant (BS) was achieved. The RBS had the ability to reduce the ST of the optimized MSM from 72.0 to 25.8 mN m −1 during culture, where the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the biosurfactant was found to be 100 mg L −1 . Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses of the purified BS confirmed that it is of rhamnolipid in nature and it is made up of both monorhamnolipid and dirhamnolipid congeners. Furthermore, the RBS did not express any cytotoxic effect on the cell line of mouse L292 fibroblastic cell indicating the biosafety nature of the high-value biomolecule.

Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate the prophylactic and curative effect of the ethanol leaf extract of Ipomoea eriocarpa (Convolvulaceae) (IEE) in ethylene glycol-induced urolithiasis in rats.Materials and Methods:Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). All the groups received stone-inducing treatment till 28th day, comprising 1% ethylene glycol (v/v) with 1% ammonium chloride (w/v) for 4 days, followed by 1% ethylene glycol alone in water, except Group I (Control). Group II received only stone-inducing treatment till 28th day. Group III (Standard) received cystone (500 mg/kg) from 15th day till 28th day. Group IV (Prophylactic) received IEE (200 mg/kg) from 1st day till 28th day and Group V (Curative) received IEE (200 mg/kg) from 15th day till 28th day. Various biochemical parameters such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, urea, and creatinine levels were evaluated using urine, serum, and kidney homogenate. The kidneys were also sectioned and examined histopathologically under light microscope to study the kidney architecture and calcium oxalate deposits.Results:The IEE treatment (prophylactic and curative) significantly (P < 0.001) restored the parameters in urine, serum, and kidney homogenate to near-normal level. The histopathological examinations revealed that calcium oxalate crystal deposits in the renal tubules and congestion and dilation of the parenchymal blood vessels were significantly reverted after IEE treatment.Conclusions:The leaf extract of I. eriocarpa reduces and inhibits the growth of urinary stones showing its effect as an antiurolithiatic agent.