Browsing by Author "Minaxi Sharma"

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A global perspective on a new paradigm shift in bio-based meat alternatives for healthy diet
(Elsevier Ltd, 2023) Akanksha Rai; Vivek K. Sharma; Minaxi Sharma; Shiv M. Singh; Brahma N. Singh; Anita Pandey; Quang D. Nguyen; Vijai Kumar Gupta
A meat analogue is a casserole in which the primary ingredient is something other than meat. It goes by various other names, such as meat substitute, fake meat, alternative meat, and imitation meat. Consumers growing interest in improving their diets and the future of the planet have contributed to the move towards meat substitutes. This change is due to the growing popularity of low-fat and low-calorie diets, the rise of flexitarians, the spread of animal diseases, the loss of natural resources, and the need to cut down on carbon emissions, which lead to greenhouse effects. Plant-based meat, cultured meat, algal protein-based meat, and insect-based meat substitutes are available on the market with qualities like appearance and flavor similar to those of traditional meat. Novel ingredients like mycoprotein and soybean leg haemoglobin are mixed in with the more traditional soy proteins, cereals, green peas, etc. Plant-based meat is currently more popular in the West, but the growing interest in this product in Asian markets indicates the industry in this region will expand rapidly in the near future. Future growth in the food sector can be anticipated from technologies like lab-grown meat and its equivalents that do not require livestock breeding. Insect-based products also hold great potential as a new source of protein for human consumption. However, product safety and quality should be considered along with other factors such as marketability and affordability. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd
Advances and future prospects of pyrethroids: Toxicity and microbial degradation
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Saurabh Singh; Arpan Mukherjee; Durgesh Kumar Jaiswal; Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira; Ram Prasad; Minaxi Sharma; Ramesh Chander Kuhad; Amritesh Chandra Shukla; Jay Prakash Verma
Pyrethroids are a class of insecticides structurally similar to that of natural pyrethrins. The application of pyrethrins in agriculture and pest control lead to many kinds of environmental pollution affecting human health and loss of soil microbial population that affect soil fertility and health. Natural pyrethrins have been used since ancient times as insect repellers, and their synthetic versions especially type 2 pyrethroids could be highly toxic to humans. PBO (Piperonyl butoxide) is known to enhance the toxicity of prallethrin in humans due to the resistance in its metabolic degradation. Pyrethroids are also known to cause plasma biochemical profile changes in humans and they also lead to the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species. Further they are also known to increase SGPT activity in humans. Due to the toxicity of pyrethrins in water bodies, soils, and food products, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable approaches to reduce their levels in the respective fields, which are eco-friendly, economically viable, and socially acceptable for on-site remediation. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to analyse the advances and prospects in using pyrethrins and possible technologies to control their harmful effects. The pyrethroid types, composition and biochemistry of necessary pyrethroid insecticides have been discussed in detail, in the research paper, along with their effect on insects and humans. It also covers the impact of pyrethroids on different plants and soil microbial flora. The second part deals with the microbial degradation of the pyrethroids through different modes, i.e., bioaugmentation and biostimulation. Many microbes such as Acremonium, Aspergillus, Microsphaeropsis, Westerdykella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus have been used in the individual form for the degradation of pyrethroids, while some of them such as Bacillus are even used in the form of consortia. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
Bio‐based formulations for sustainable applications in agri‐food‐pharma
(MDPI, 2021) Minaxi Sharma; Rajeev Bhat; Zeba Usmani; David Julian McClements; Pratyoosh Shukla; Vinay B. Raghavendra; Vijai Kumar Gupta
[No abstract available]
Enhanced bioremediation of pulp effluents through improved enzymatic treatment strategies: A greener approach
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Mandeep Dixit; Guddu Kumar Gupta; Zeba Usmani; Minaxi Sharma; Pratyoosh Shukla
The massive load of effluents released from the pulp and paper industry has an adverse environmental impact due to the discharge of hazardous materials. These effluents contain mostly recalcitrant compounds like lignin, which are rigid and resilient to degradation. Bioremediation technologies such as biostimulation using nutrients and biological techniques are being used for the biodegradation of hazardous effluents. But they are not up to that level of remediation efficiency. Many enzymes have been used for bioremediation in recent years, which are easy to use, eco-friendly, and adequate to ensure the public safety. Such enzymes, along with their mechanisms, have been well studied for the bioremediation of effluents. This review describes enzyme technologies, including laccase mediated treatment, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase treatment to reduce effluent load into the environment. The other methods including aerobic and anaerobic treatments utilizing bio-sludge for producing beneficial products such as biofuels, and bio-sorbents for oil peeling are also described in the present review. This review also gives a summarized but unique description of the aspects of the immobilized biocatalysts and biosorbents used to mitigate the production of toxic pollutants from the pulp and paper industry. The strategies based on the advanced enzyme engineering technologies for bioremediation of such contaminants are also briefly described. This review also discusses the techno-economic assessment of enzymatic remediation and future challenges for the bioremediation of these effluents. In conclusion, enzyme-based advanced technologies are crucial ‘green technologies’ for providing a sustainable solution for bioremediation and reduced environmental pollution. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Microbe-fabricated nanoparticles as potent biomaterials for efficient food preservation
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Akanksha Rai; Vivek K. Sharma; Akansha Jain; Minaxi Sharma; Ashok Pandey; Harikesh B. Singh; Vijai K. Gupta; Brahma N. Singh
In recent years, cutting-edge nanotechnology research has revolutionized several facets of the food business, including food processing, packaging, transportation, preservation, and functioning. Nanotechnology has beginning to loom large in the food business as the industry's demand for biogenic nanomaterial grows. The intracellular and extracellular synthesis of metal, metal oxide, and other essential NPs has recently been explored in a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, yeasts, microalgae, and viruses. These microbes produce a variety extracellular material, exopolysaccharides, enzymes, and secondary metabolites which play key roles in synthesizing as well as stabilizing the nanoparticle (NPs). Furthermore, genetic engineering techniques can help them to improve their capacity to generate NPs more efficiently. As a result, using microorganisms to manufacture NPs is unique and has a promising future. Microbial-mediated synthesis of NPs has lately been popular as a more environmentally friendly alternative to physical and chemical methods of nanomaterial synthesis, which require higher prices, more energy consumption, and more complex reaction conditions, as well as a potentially dangerous environmental impact. It is critical to consider regulatory measures implemented at all stages of the process, from production through refining, packaging, preservation, and storage, when producing bionanomaterials derived from culturable microbes for efficient food preservation. The current review discusses the synthesis, mechanism of action, and possible food preservation uses of microbial mediated NPs, which can assist to minimize food deterioration from the inside out while also ensuring that food is safe and free of contaminants. Despite the numerous benefits, there are looming debates concerning their usage in food items, particularly regarding its aggregation in human bodies and other risks to the environment. Other applications and impacts of these microbe-fabricated NPs in the context of future food preservation prospects connected with regulatory problems and potential hazards are highlighted. © 2022
Shaping the gut microbiota by bioactive phytochemicals: An emerging approach for the prevention and treatment of human diseases
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Surya Sudheer; Prateeksha Gangwar; Zeba Usmani; Minaxi Sharma; Vivek Kumar Sharma; Siva Sankar Sana; Fausto Almeida; Nawal Kishore Dubey; Dhananjaya Pratap Singh; Neeraj Dilbaghi; Hamid Reza Khayat Kashani; Vijai Kumar Gupta; Brahma Nand Singh; Maryam Khayatkashani; Seyed Mohammad Nabavi
The human digestive tract is the cottage to trillions of live microorganisms, which regulate health and illness. A healthy Gut Microbiota (GM) is necessary for preventing microbial growth, body growth, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and enhancing immunity. The equilibrium in GM's composition and the presence/absence of critical species enable specific responses to be essential for the host's better health condition. Research evidences revealed that the dietary plants and their bioactive phytochemicals (BPs) play an extensive and critical role in shaping the GM to get beneficial health effects. BPs are also known to improve gastrointestinal health and reduce the risk of several diseases by modulating GM-mediated cellular and molecular processes. Regular intake of BPs-rich vegetables, fruits, and herbal preparations promotes probiotic bacteria, including Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species, while inhibiting unwanted gut residents' development Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium etc. Upon consumption, BPs contact the GM that gets transformed before being absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Biotransformation of BPs by GM is linked with the enhancement of bioactivity/toxicity diminishment of the BPs compared to parental phytochemicals. Therefore, the current review focuses on the role of BPs in shaping GM for the prevention and treatment of human diseases. © 2021
Tetrahydrocannabinols: potential cannabimimetic agents for cancer therapy
(Springer, 2023) Prateeksha Prateeksha; Vivek K. Sharma; Shiv M. Singh; Minaxi Sharma; Deepti Diwan; Abd El-Latif Hesham; Sanjay Guleria; Quang D. Nguyen; Vijai K. Gupta; Brahma N. Singh
Tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) antagonize the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, whose signaling to the endocannabinoid system is essential for controlling cell survival and proliferation as well as psychoactive effects. Most tumor cells express a much higher level of CB1 and CB2; THCs have been investigated as potential cancer therapeutic due to their cannabimimetic properties. To date, THCs have been prescribed as palliative medicine to cancer patients but not as an anticancer modality. Growing evidence of preclinical research demonstrates that THCs reduce tumor progression by stimulating apoptosis and autophagy and inhibiting two significant hallmarks of cancer pathogenesis: metastasis and angiogenesis. However, the degree of their anticancer effects depends on the origin of the tumor site, the expression of cannabinoid receptors on tumor cells, and the dosages and types of THC. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the molecular processes that THCs target for their anticancer effects. It also emphasizes the substantial knowledge gaps that should be of concern in future studies. We also discuss the therapeutic effects of THCs and the problems that will need to be addressed in the future. Clarifying unanswered queries is a prerequisite to translating the THCs into an effective anticancer regime. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Unearthing the power of microbes as plant microbiome for sustainable agriculture
(Elsevier GmbH, 2024) Arpan Mukherjee; Bansh Narayan Singh; Simranjit Kaur; Minaxi Sharma; Ademir Sérgio Ferreira de Araújo; Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira; Raj Morya; Gerardo Puopolo; Vânia Maria Maciel Melo; Jay Prakash Verma
In recent years, research into the complex interactions and crosstalk between plants and their associated microbiota, collectively known as the plant microbiome has revealed the pivotal role of microbial communities for promoting plant growth and health. Plants have evolved intricate relationships with a diverse array of microorganisms inhabiting their roots, leaves, and other plant tissues. This microbiota mainly includes bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoans, and viruses, forming a dynamic and interconnected network within and around the plant. Through mutualistic or cooperative interactions, these microbes contribute to various aspects of plant health and development. The direct mechanisms of the plant microbiome include the enhancement of plant growth and development through nutrient acquisition. Microbes have the ability to solubilize essential minerals, fix atmospheric nitrogen, and convert organic matter into accessible forms, thereby augmenting the nutrient pool available to the plant. Additionally, the microbiome helps plants to withstand biotic and abiotic stresses, such as pathogen attacks and adverse environmental conditions, by priming the plant's immune responses, antagonizing phytopathogens, and improving stress tolerance. Furthermore, the plant microbiome plays a vital role in phytohormone regulation, facilitating hormonal balance within the plant. This regulation influences various growth processes, including root development, flowering, and fruiting. Microbial communities can also produce secondary metabolites, which directly or indirectly promote plant growth, development, and health. Understanding the functional potential of the plant microbiome has led to innovative agricultural practices, such as microbiome-based biofertilizers and biopesticides, which harness the power of beneficial microorganisms to enhance crop yields while reducing the dependency on chemical inputs. In the present review, we discuss and highlight research gaps regarding the plant microbiome and how the plant microbiome can be used as a source of single and synthetic bioinoculants for plant growth and health. © 2024 Elsevier GmbH