Browsing by Author "Ajay Kumar"

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A comparative study of electrocatalytic performance of metal molybdates for the water oxidation
(Elsevier Ltd, 2018) V.K.V.P. Srirapu; Ajay Kumar; Nirmala Kumari; Pankaj Srivastava; Ravindra Nath Singh
Binary mixed oxides of molybdenum and a metal of the first-row transition metals with compositional formulae, MMoO4 (where M = Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn), were prepared by a microwave-assisted co-precipitation method and their electrocatalytic activities have been investigated for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 1 M KOH. Materials were characterized for structural and electrocatalytic surface properties using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, BET, XPS, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and anodic Tafel polarization techniques. The crystallite size of oxides ranged between ∼17 and ∼41 nm. For electrochemical studies, oxides obtained in powders form were produced in the thin-film form on the pretreated glassy carbon (GC) support. It has been observed that among electrocatalysts investigated, the CoMoO4/GC electrode was the greatest OER active while that the MnMoO4/GC electrode was the least active. The OER produced low Tafel slopes, ∼36, ∼43 and ∼46 mV respectively on FeMoO4, CoMoO4 and CuMoO4 while it showed the higher Tafel slopes on CrMoO4(∼57 mV), NiMoO4(∼71 mV) and MnMoO4 (∼89 mV). © 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
A Review on Traditional Anti-ulcer Medicinal Plants
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2023) Ambrish K. Singh; Priyamvada Arun; Jyoti Shukla; Ajay Kumar; Manmath K. Nandi; Zainularifeen Abduljaleel; Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi; Abdullah R. Alzahrani; Naiyer Shahzad
Traditional remedies have been used for generations to treat and maintain people's health and indigenous medicinal plants are an important part of this system, which, unlike western medicine, provide cures for practically all illnesses with no side effects. Ulcer is a chronic ailment that affects most of the world's population and has no absolute cure. An ulcer is the erosion of mucous lining in the gastrointestinal tract due to over secretion of HCl in the stomach, leading to inflammation and soreness. Consumption of highly spicy meals, an obese lifestyle, an unplanned diet, the use of excessive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, smoking, stress, an irregular sleep cycle, and regular alcohol consumption are all possible causes of ulcers. Ayurvedic and traditional medicine practitioners employ a variety of indigenous medicinal plants to cure ulcers. This review covers a wide variety of medicinal plants that may work as anti-ulcer and deserve more investigation. © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
Acute and subacute toxicity study of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand flower in Swiss albino mice
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Ashutosh Kumar; Brijesh Kumar; Rajesh Kumar; Ajay Kumar; Manish Singh; Vinod Tiwari; Anshuman Trigunayat; Paramita Paul; Pratistha Singh
Background: Calotropis procera is a large shrub which consists many medicinal properties, used in treatment of snake bite, sinus fistula, rheumatism, mumps, burn injuries, inflammation and jaundice traditionally. All the parts of Calotropis procera were utilized in the treatment of diseases out of which leaves and roots were investigated for its toxicity profile that showed dose dependent toxicity. Toxicity profile of flowers of Calotropis procera was not investigated in the previous studies. The aim of this study was to explore the acute and subacute toxicity of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera flowers for the safe use of traditional medicine. Method: In acute toxicity, a total of 20 female mice (Swiss albino), weighing between 23 and 32 g were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control, 300, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg groups with 5 mice each, and each received a single dose of extract at 300, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg, respectively. Animals were monitored for 14 days. In the subacute study, a total of 40 mice (23–32 g) were divided into 4 groups, each containing males and females. Group 1 (control group) received vehicle and groups 2, 3, and 4 received extract at doses of 300 mg/Kg, 1000 mg/Kg, 2000 mg/Kg of b.w., respectively, for 28 consecutive days. The study was conducted in compliance with the OECD guidelines 407 and 423. Results: Acute toxicity study showed no mortality at the dose of 2000 mg/Kg. In subacute toxicity study, statistical analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant differences compared to control group except marked increase in segmented neutrophils. Histopathological studies revealed no significant structural differences among the treated groups and in comparison to control group. Conclusions: It was concluded that oral administration of doses of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera flower, administered acutely, did not cause any mortality or notable changes at the dose of 2000 mg/Kg. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of in mice was higher than 2,000 mg/kg. In a 28-day subacute toxicity model, the extract did not cause any mortality, and no treatment-related changes were observed in body weight, organ weight, hematological and biochemical blood analysis, or histopathologic examinations at the extract dose of 2000 mg/Kg. These findings indicate that the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) of Calotropis procera flower ethanolic extract was greater than 2000 mg/kg/day. © 2022
Adjunct therapeutic potential of phytochemicals against cancer
(Elsevier, 2019) Vishal Kumar Gupta; Pradip Kumar Jaiswara; Pratishtha Sonker; Shiv Govind Rawat; Ajay Kumar
Cancer is a devastating disease which is responsible for the second major cause of death worldwide. The major factors associated with high death rate by cancer include late diagnosis, severe side effects of conventional anticancer drugs, and complex therapeutic procedures. In recent years, the use of phytochemicals has been exponentially increased in the field of cancer therapeutics because of its wide range of pharmacological values, promising therapeutic efficacy, low cost, and minimal side effects. The adjunct therapeutic potential of phytochemicals has also been tested in laboratory to clinics. Furthermore, the findings of several studies indicate the effective and promising adjunct therapeutic potential of phytochemicals against various cancers which informs the decision to utilize the phytochemicals as adjunct cancer therapeutic agents for designing the novel combinatorial cancer therapeutic approaches for the effective and safer treatment of cancer patients. This chapter is an attempt to discuss the potential adjunct therapeutic values of phytochemicals against cancer. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Advancement in bioinformatics and microarray-based technologies for genome sequence analysis and its application in bioremediation of soil and water pollutants
(Elsevier, 2020) Jyoti Singh; Madhuri Gupta; Kaushalendra Kumar Singh; Ajay Kumar; Deepanker Yadav; Wang Wenjing; Prashant Kumar Singh
The microarray is an excellent platform for the understanding of complex regulatory as well as functional mechanisms operating in various cellular processes and, hence, microarray significantly contributing to human welfare. However, voluminous data generated following to microarray, requiring a series of consecutive-analyses to extract useful information to draw any conclusion. Moreover, bioinformatics is an emerging tool advocated for the generation of valuable information’s from large datasets, such as microarray, RNA sequencing, next-generation sequencing, proteomics, transcriptomics. Therefore, to make these experiments interpretable, a series of algorithms must be applied. Thus, in recent decades, microarray in combination with bioinformatics has transformed the field of biology by enhancing our fundamental understanding of how genome shapes the organism. In this chapter, we discuss key concepts, tools, software, and databases used in bioinformatics for the interpretation of large datasets. Furthermore, some fundamental issues associated with sequence analyses, transcriptomic studies, computational proteomics and metabolomics, bioontologies, and biological databases covered to gain our fundamental understanding of the general approaches and algorithms currently employed in the microarray. Today’s world is suffering from various environmental pollutants that impose a negative impact on our lifestyles. Therefore an economical and eco-friendly way is urgently calling the attention of scientists. Recently, bioremediation emerges as a hopeful tool, which utilizes microbes to clean our environment. The microarray and bioinformatics approach could be applied for the identification and characterization of novel microbes, which will serve as an inoculum in wastes bioremediation. However, this field is remaining elusive because of the complex biological activities of these microbes, and a better knowledge of their interactions could only be possible through microarray and bioinformatics. Several molecular and bioinformatic tools such as genomics, transcriptomics, translatomics, proteomics, evogenimics, metagenomics, metabolomics are used to gather information on such interaction. In this chapter, we discuss the role of microarray-based technologies and bioinformatics in the bioremediation of wastes. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
Advancement of Abiotic Stresses for Microalgal Lipid Production and Its Bioprospecting into Sustainable Biofuels
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Rahul Prasad Singh; Priya Yadav; Indrajeet Kumar; Manoj Kumar Solanki; Rajib Roychowdhury; Ajay Kumar; Rajan Kumar Gupta
The world is currently facing global energy crises and escalating environmental pollution, which are caused by the extensive exploitation of conventional energy sources. The limited availability of conventional energy sources has opened the door to the search for alternative energy sources. In this regard, microalgae have emerged as a promising substitute for conventional energy sources due to their high photosynthetic rate, high carbohydrate and lipid content, efficient CO2 fixation capacity, and ability to thrive in adverse environments. The research and development of microalgal-based biofuel as a clean and sustainable alternative energy source has been ongoing for many years, but it has not yet been widely adopted commercially. However, it is currently gaining greater attention due to the integrated biorefinery concept. This study provides an in-depth review of recent advances in microalgae cultivation techniques and explores methods for increasing lipid production by manipulating environmental factors. Furthermore, our discussions have covered high lipid content microalgal species, harvesting methods, biorefinery concepts, process optimizing software tools, and the accumulation of triglycerides in lipid droplets. The study additionally explores the influence of abiotic stresses on the response of biosynthetic genes involved in lipid synthesis and metabolism. In conclusion, algae-based biofuels offer a viable alternative to traditional fuels for meeting the growing demand for energy. © 2023 by the authors.
Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology
(Elsevier, 2020) Prashant Kumar Singh; Ajay Kumar; Vipin Kumar Singh; Alok Kumar Shrivastava
Advances in Cyanobacterial Biology presents the novel, practical, and theoretical aspects of cyanobacteria, providing a better understanding of basic and advanced biotechnological application in the field of sustainable agriculture. Chapters have been designed to deal with the different aspects of cyanobacteria including their role in the evolution of life, cyanobacterial diversity and classification, isolation, and characterization of cyanobacteria through biochemical and molecular approaches, phylogeny and biogeography of cyanobacteria, symbiosis, Cyanobacterial photosynthesis, morphological and physiological adaptation to abiotic stresses, stress-tolerant cyanobacterium, biological nitrogen fixation. Other topics include circadian rhythms, genetics and molecular biology of abiotic stress responses, application of cyanobacteria and cyanobacterial mats in wastewater treatments, use as a source of novel stress-responsive genes for development of stress tolerance and as a source of biofuels, industrial application, as biofertilizer, cyanobacterial blooms, use in Nano-technology and nanomedicines as well as potential applications. This book will be important for academics and researchers working in cyanobacteria, cyanobacterial environmental biology, cyanobacterial agriculture and cyanobacterial molecular biologists. © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Agrochemicals influencing nitrogenase, biomass of N2-fixing cyanobacteria and yield of rice in wetland cultivation
(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Nalinaxya Prasad Dash; Ajay Kumar; Manish Singh Kaushik; Gerard Abraham; Pawan Kumar Singh
Cyanobacteria maintain soil fertility by performing N2-fixation and act as a key biocatalyst in nitrogen cycle. Chemical N-fertilizers and pesticides as agrochemicals are intensively being used in rice farming to boost rice production, this work deals with the first hand information on their influence on native N2-fixing cyanobacteria, which play an important role in maintaining soil health. A field study was conducted for three consecutive seasons in water logged rice field to observe the influence of agrochemicals, urea, benthiocarb and carbofuran in isolation and in combinations on biomass, acetylene reduction activity (ARA) and N-yield of native cyanobacteria as well as, on growth and yield of rice. The ARA and N-yield followed almost same trend. It is discernible that both urea and benthiocarb had deleterious effects whereas, carbofuran was promoting effects on cyanobacterial growth, ARA and N-yield. The combination of all the three above agrochemicals was found inhibitory, but inhibition was comparatively less than that of urea or benthiocarb in isolation or urea plus benthiocarb treatments. It is concluded that the combination of agrochemicals was toxic, in comparison to the control, but was better than application of urea N or benthiocarb alone or with their combinations. It was recorded that along with rice straw and gain yields, panicle numbers were the maximum at the combination with treatments of benthiocarb+carbofuran. Adverse effects of used agrochemicals on cyanobacteria in wetland rice cultivation could be avoided by a prudent use of chemical N-fertilizers and pesticide(s) in combination. © 2016
Agroecological Management of the Grey Mould Fungus Botrytis cinerea by Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria
(MDPI, 2023) Ma. del Carmen Orozco-Mosqueda; Ajay Kumar; Ayomide Emmanuel Fadiji; Olubukola Oluranti Babalola; Gerardo Puopolo; Gustavo Santoyo
Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould and one of the most important plant pathogens in the world because of the damage it causes to fruits and vegetables. Although the application of botrycides is one of the most common plant protection strategies used in the world, the application of plant-beneficial bacteria might replace botrycides facilitating agroecological production practices. Based on this, we reviewed the different stages of B. cinerea infection in plants and the biocontrol mechanisms exerted by plant-beneficial bacteria, including the well-known plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). Some PGPB mechanisms to control grey mould disease include antibiosis, space occupation, nutrient uptake, ethylene modulation, and the induction of plant defence mechanisms. In addition, recent studies on the action of anti-Botrytis compounds produced by PGPB and how they damage the conidial and mycelial structures of the pathogen are reviewed. Likewise, the advantages of individual inoculations of PGPB versus those that require the joint action of antagonist agents (microbial consortia) are discussed. Finally, it should be emphasised that PGPB are an excellent option to prevent grey mould in different crops and their use should be expanded for environmentally friendly agricultural practices. © 2023 by the authors.
Algae Polysaccharides (Carrageenan and Alginate)—A Treasure-Trove of Antiviral Compounds: An In Silico Approach to Identify Potential Candidates for Inhibition of S1-RBD Spike Protein of SARS-CoV2
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Dikshansha Rohilla; Akhileshwar Kumar Srivastava; Rahul Prasad Singh; Priya Yadav; Sandeep Kumar Singh; Dharmendra Kumar; Nikunj Bhardwaj; Mahipal Singh Kesawat; Kapil Deo Pandey; Ajay Kumar
For the last three years, the world has faced the unexpected spread of the pandemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The high mortality rate and ever-changing shape of the virus are the challenging factors in the effective management of SARS-CoV-2. However, in last three years, research communities have made significant progress in developing vaccines and controlling the spread of the pandemic to a certain extent. These vaccines contain the attenuated pathogens, which after application did not kill the virus but protected the human by enhancing the immune system response during pandemic exposure. However, the negative side effects and the high cost of the synthetic vaccines are always of concern for researchers, consumers, and the government. Therefore, as an alternative to synthetic drugs, natural medicines or natural plant products have piqued researchers’ interest. Algae are considered as a treasure house of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, vitamins, polysaccharides, proteins, etc. These bioactive compounds have been well documented for the treatments of various human ailments such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, sulfated polysaccharides such as alginate and carrageenan have been reported as having antiviral and immunomodulating properties. Therefore, this review addresses algal polysaccharides, especially alginate and carrageenan, and their application in the treatment of COVID-19. In addition, in silico approaches are discussed for the inhibition of the S1-RBD (receptor-binding domain) of SARS-CoV-2, which attaches to the host receptor ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), and the interaction with the network of relative proteins is also explored, which will help in drug discovery and drug design. © 2023 by the authors.
Algal Metabolites Can Be an Immune Booster against COVID-19 Pandemic
(MDPI, 2022) Ajay Kumar; Rahul Prasad Singh; Indrajeet Kumar; Priya Yadav; Sandeep Kumar Singh; Kaushalendra; Prashant Kumar Singh; Rajan Kumar Gupta; Shiv Mohan Singh; Mahipal Singh Kesawat; Ganesh Dattatraya Saratale; Sang-Min Chung; Manu Kumar
The world has faced the challenges of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) for the last two years, first diagnosed at the end of 2019 in Wuhan and widely distributed worldwide. As a result, the WHO has proclaimed the illness brought on by this virus to be a global pandemic. To combat COVID-19, researcher communities continuously develop and implement rapid diagnoses, safe and effective vaccinations and other alternative therapeutic procedures. However, synthetic drug-related side effects and high costs have piqued scientists’ interest in natural product-based therapies and medicines. In this regard, antiviral substances derived from natural resources and some medicines have seen a boom in popularity. For instance, algae are a rich source of compounds such as lectins and sulfated polysaccharides, which have potent antiviral and immunity-boosting properties. Moreover, Algae-derived compounds or metabolites can be used as antibodies and vaccine raw materials against COVID-19. Furthermore, some algal species can boost immunity, reduce viral activity in humans and be recommended for usage as a COVID-19 preventative measure. However, this field of study is still in its early stages of development. Therefore, this review addresses critical characteristics of algal metabolites, their antioxidant potential and therapeutic potential in COVID-19. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
An appraisal of the current status of inhibition of glucose transporters as an emerging antineoplastic approach: Promising potential of new pan-GLUT inhibitors
(Frontiers Media S.A., 2022) Mithlesh Kumar Temre; Ajay Kumar; Sukh Mahendra Singh
Neoplastic cells displayed altered metabolism with accelerated glycolysis. Therefore, these cells need a mammoth supply of glucose for which they display an upregulated expression of various glucose transporters (GLUT). Thus, novel antineoplastic strategies focus on inhibiting GLUT to intersect the glycolytic lifeline of cancer cells. This review focuses on the current status of various GLUT inhibition scenarios. The GLUT inhibitors belong to both natural and synthetic small inhibitory molecules category. As neoplastic cells express multiple GLUT isoforms, it is necessary to use pan-GLUT inhibitors. Nevertheless, it is also necessary that such pan-GLUT inhibitors exert their action at a low concentration so that normal healthy cells are left unharmed and minimal injury is caused to the other vital organs and systems of the body. Moreover, approaches are also emerging from combining GLUT inhibitors with other chemotherapeutic agents to potentiate the antineoplastic action. A new pan-GLUT inhibitor named glutor, a piperazine-one derivative, has shown a potent antineoplastic action owing to its inhibitory action exerted at nanomolar concentrations. The review discusses the merits and limitations of the existing GLUT inhibitory approach with possible future outcomes. Copyright © 2022 Temre, Kumar and Singh.
An insight into the molecular docking interactions of plant secondary metabolites with virulent factors causing common human diseases
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Ajay Kumar; Sandeep Kumar Singh; Vipin Kumar Singh; Chandra Kant; Amit Kishore Singh; Vijay Tripathi; Kalpna Singh; Vijay Kumar Sharma; Joginder Singh
Plant natural products or secondary metabolites have gained significant attention globally because of discoveries of semi-synthetic drugs novel bioactive compounds. Currently, a large part of global population relies on natural products to cure ailments and even chronic diseases and to enhance their immune system. Interestingly, the commonly used drugs for the treatment of some common human diseases like cancer, ulcer, tuberculosis, asthma, etc., have been reported to be of plant origin and recognized to elicit beneficial effects in virulent factors of diseases in vivo and in vitro. The herbal drugs are economical and considered as safe upto certain extent from major side effects. But, still there is need of rapid collection, characterization, taxonomy, certification, and storage for broad, efficient and effective use in drug design or discovery. In this review, we summarized the plants derived secondary metabolites used in treating common human diseases and emphasised the protein-ligand interactions between virulent factors of diseases namely Insulin, p53, Proteasome-associated ATPase, Enterotoxin, Choleragen, IgE with secondary metabolites Aloin, Sesamin, Alliin, Flavanon, Salannin Octyl-β-d-Glucopyranoside of plants respectively, through molecular docking. This study will play a valuable and effective role in drug designing and screening plant-derived metabolites for drug designing. © 2021 SAAB
Analysis of potential neuropharmacological activity and attenuating effect in chronic constriction induced neuropathic pain using Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand flower ethanol extract
(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Ashutosh Kumar; Brijesh Pawan Kumar; Raj Kumar; Vinod N. Tiwari; Pratistha K. Singh; Ajay Kumar; Manish Kumar Singh; Chandra Shekhar Azad; Ankit Uniyal
Background: Calotropis procera, also known as "毒竹 du zhu" in Chainese, is used in several remedies to treat a variety of ailments, including inflammatory diseases, skin concerns, pain disorders, and respiratory issues. It has been observed that the various parts of the plant have been traditionally used for as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions. The flower of this herb has not been investigated for these pharmacological properties. Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the neuropharmacological profile and ameliorative potential of ethanolic extract of C. procera flower (EECP) in chronic constriction injury (CCI) induced neuropathic pain in rats. Methods: GCMS analysis was performed to identify the active phytocmpounds of the plant. Neuropharmacological profile has been investigated by maximal electroshock seizure and pentylenetetrazole for antiepileptic, elevated maze plus and open field test for anxiety, tail suspension and forced swim test for depressant activity, and acetylcholinesterase and Morris water maze test for cognition. Anti-neuropathic pain was assessed via heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia tests in rats after inducing CCI. Pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined by ELISA kits. SOD and nitrile level were measured for antioxidant activity. Sciatic nerve's histopathological changes for nerve deformity were evaluated by H &E staining. Results: GCMS analysis revealed the presence of phytocompounds Lupeool, acetate, n-hexadecanoic acid, γ-sitosterol, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester, β-Amyrin, phytol and other compounds. In neuropharmacological profile, EECP had a significant anticonvulsant effect, a decrease in locomotor activity, indicating a sedative effect but showed no anxiolytic effect. The immobility time decreased significantly in both the forced swim test and tail suspension test. The activity of acetylcholinesterase in the brain was decreased and Morris water test results revealed a shorter escape latency and greater time spent in the target quadrant. In anti-neuropathic pain assessment, the EECP reduced CCI-induced hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were reduced while SOD levels increased and nitrite levels decreased in the sciatic nerve. Histological analysis revealed sciatic nerve deformity was reduced. Conclusion: It is concluded that extract showed a potent antiepileptic, antidepressant, cognition enhancer and protective against nerve deformity and neuropathic pain. Phytocompounds identified via GCMS having neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be correlated with the neuropharmacological and analgesic activities of the extract. © 2025
Antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of Rutin isolated from Nigrospora sphaerica, an Euphorbia hirta based endophytic fungus
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024) Veer Singh Gautam; Puja Kumari; Pradip Kumar Jaiswara; Ajay Kumar; Ravindra Nath Kharwar
The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize rutin from the endophytic Nigrospora sphaerica of Euphorbia hirta L. The compound was isolated and purified through thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, it was identified as rutin (RN) using fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) analyses. The estimated RN concentration in the culture filtrate of N. sphaerica was 19.54 mg/L. The calculated IC50 values of RN with respect to antioxidant potential estimated using 2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and nitric oxide (NO) approaches were 29.1, 36.5, 42.2 and 43.4 µg/mL, respectively. Besides, a combined treatment of RN and cisplatin (CP) inhibited the survival of tumor cells (HuT-78) significantly (P<0.05). Interestingly, the RN enhanced the apoptosis-inducing ability of CP considerably. In conclusion, N. sphaerica may be exploited as an alternative source of rutin for various commercial applications. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd
Antioxidant efficacy and curcumin content of turmeric (Curcuma-longa L.) flower
(Publishers, 2016) Ajay Kumar; Monika Singh; Prem Pratap Singh; Sandeep Kumar Singh; Pratima Raj; Kapil D. Pandey
Objective: The objective of the work is to evaluate the curcumin content, antioxidant activity and total phenol content of Curcuma longa flower. Methods: Curcumin content were analyzed through HPLC-PDA analysis. The antioxidant activity of the flower was determined by free radical scavenging activity of DPPH, and the total phenol content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent through standard protocols.Results: The flowers had found about (3.87±0.5μg/g) of curcumin during HPLC-PDA analysis. The antioxidant activity (DPPH free radicals scavenging activity IC50) of the turmeric flower (3.2 μg/ml) was found near to the standard ascorbic acid (2.6 μg/ml). In addition to these, a significant amount of phenolics (210.45±1.32 mg GAE/100 g) was present in the turmeric flowers. Conclusion: The flowers of curcuma longa contains a significant amount of curcumin, antioxidant activity and phenol contents. © 2016 The Authors.
Antitumor action of 3-bromopyruvate implicates reorganized tumor growth regulatory components of tumor milieu, cell cycle arrest and induction of mitochondria-dependent tumor cell death
(Academic Press Inc., 2018) Saveg Yadav; Praveen Kumar Kujur; Shrish Kumar Pandey; Yugal Goel; Babu Nandan Maurya; Ashish Verma; Ajay Kumar; Rana Pratap Singh; Sukh Mahendra Singh
Evidences demonstrate that metabolic inhibitor 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) exerts a potent antitumor action against a wide range of malignancies. However, the effect of 3-BP on progression of the tumors of thymic origin remains unexplored. Although, constituents of tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in regulation of tumor progression, it remains unclear if 3-BP can alter the composition of the crucial tumor growth regulatory components of the external surrounding of tumor cells. Thus, the present investigation attempts to understand the effect of 3-BP administration to a host bearing a progressively growing tumor of thymic origin on tumor growth regulatory soluble, cellular and biophysical components of tumor milieu vis-à-vis understanding its association with tumor progression, accompanying cell cycle events and mode of cell death. Further, the expression of cell survival regulatory molecules and hemodynamic characteristics of the tumor milieu were analysed to decipher mechanisms underlying the antitumor action of 3-BP. Administration of 3-BP to tumor-bearing hosts retarded tumor progression accompanied by induction of tumor cell death, cell cycle arrest, declined metabolism, inhibited mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated release of cytochrome c and altered hemodynamics. Moreover, 3-BP reconstituted the external milieu, in concurrence with deregulated glucose and pH homeostasis and increased tumor infiltration by NK cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes. Further, 3-BP administration altered the expression of key regulatory molecules involved in glucose uptake, intracellular pH and tumor cell survival. The outcomes of this study will help in optimizing the therapeutic application of 3-BP by targeting crucial tumor growth regulatory components of tumor milieu. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.
Antitumor and chemosensitizing action of 3-bromopyruvate: Implication of deregulated metabolism
(Elsevier Ireland Ltd, 2017) Saveg Yadav; Shrish Kumar Pandey; Ajay Kumar; Praveen Kumar Kujur; Rana Pratap Singh; Sukh Mahendra Singh
3-Bromopyruvate (3-BP), brominated derivative of pyruvate, possesses strong antitumor potential, owing to its ability to inhibit multiple target molecules crucial for survival of neoplastic cells. Although, 3-BP displays cytotoxicity against a wide variety of tumors, there is no report with respect to malignancies of thymic origin. Therefore, we investigated its antineoplastic action in vitro against tumor cells of a murine transplantable lymphoma of thymoma origin, designated as Dalton's lymphoma (DL). 3-BP treatment of tumor cells inhibited metabolism and survival with augmented induction of apoptosis and necrosis. 3-BP treatment suppressed lactate release, glucose uptake, deregulated pH homeostasis and augmented chemosensitization. It also altered expression of metabolism, chemosensitivity and cell survival regulatory molecules including HK 2, GAPDH, LDH, SDH, HIF-1α, MDR-1 & GLUT-1 and cytokine repertoire of IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, & VEGF. Pretreatment with MCT-1 inhibitor α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate and siRNA gene silencing of HK 2 implicated the role of MCT-1 and HK 2 in 3-BP cytotoxicity. 3-BP also altered expression of cell death regulatory Bcl-2, Mcl-1, caspase-3 accompanied by increased cytochrome c release, indicating mitochondrial mode of cell death. The study collates possible molecular mechanisms of cytotoxic action of 3-BP, which will help to optimize the therapeutic efficacy of 3-BP against tumors of thymic origin. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Antitumor and chemosensitizing action of dichloroacetate implicates modulation of tumor microenvironment: A role of reorganized glucose metabolism, cell survival regulation and macrophage differentiation
(2013) Ajay Kumar; Shiva Kant; Sukh Mahendra Singh
Targeting of tumor metabolism is emerging as a novel therapeutic strategy against cancer. Dichloroacetate (DCA), an inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), has been shown to exert a potent tumoricidal action against a variety of tumor cells. The main mode of its antineoplastic action implicates a shift of glycolysis to oxidative metabolism of glucose, leading to generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen intermediates. However, the effect of DCA on tumor microenvironment, which in turn regulates tumor cell survival; remains speculative to a large extent. It is also unclear if DCA can exert any modulatory effect on the process of hematopoiesis, which is in a compromised state in tumor-bearing hosts undergoing chemotherapy. In view of these lacunas, the present study was undertaken to investigate the so far unexplored aspects with respect to the molecular mechanisms of DCA-dependent tumor growth retardation and chemosensitization. BALB/c mice were transplanted with Dalton's lymphoma (DL) cells, a T cell lymphoma of spontaneous origin, followed by administration of DCA with or without cisplatin. DCA-dependent tumor regression and chemosensitization to cisplatin was found to be associated with altered repertoire of key cell survival regulatory molecules, modulated glucose metabolism, accompanying reconstituted tumor microenvironment with respect to pH homeostasis, cytokine balance and alternatively activated TAM. Moreover, DCA administration also led to an alteration in the MDR phenotype of tumor cells and myelopoietic differentiation of macrophages. The findings of this study shed a new light with respect to some of the novel mechanisms underlying the antitumor action of DCA and thus may have immense clinical applications.© 2013 Elsevier Inc.
Application of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis using cone-beam computed tomography: An evidence-based systematic review
(Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, 2025) Utkarsh Yadav; Adit Srivastava; Junaid Ahmed; Raveena Yadav; Ajay Kumar; Amlendu Shekhar
Purpose: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a significant subtype of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). The purpose of this study was to comprehensively summarize the current literature on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the diagnosis and management of TMJOA using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This systematic review was pre-registered in the PROSPERO database (PROSPERO CRD42024509772). Up to December 2023, research was conducted using Google Scholar, Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases to identify studies evaluating the use of AI technologies in the management and diagnosis of TMJOA via CBCT. The search strategy included MeSH terms, keywords, and their combinations. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. Results: Out of 2,543 articles retrieved, a total of 9 studies were included in this systematic review. All included studies were observational and employed AI models based on convolutional neural networks, including SVA, SSD, LightGBM, XGBoost, and YOLO. The performance of these models varied, with accuracy ranging from 73.5% to 99% and F1-scores between 0.80 and 0.86. Among these, YOLO demonstrated the highest accuracy for the assessment and diagnosis of TMJOA using CBCT scans. Conclusion: AI algorithms developed for the automated diagnosis of TMJOA can be utilized by clinicians as decision-support tools. Incorporating diverse input data types, such as electronic medical records, radiomics features, and biomarkers, alongside diagnostic imaging may further increase the diagnostic accuracy for TMDs. ©© 2025 by Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.