Kurukshetra University

Diabetes is a common metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high plasma glucose levels, leading to major complications, such as diabetic neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases. One of the effective managements of diabetes mellitus, in particular, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) to decrease postprandial hyperglycemia, is to retard the absorption of glucose by inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, such as α-glucosidase and α-amylase, in the digestive organs. α-Glucosidase is the key enzyme catalyzing the final step in the digestive process of carbohydrates. Hence, α-glucosidase inhibitors can retard the liberation of d-glucose from dietary complex carbohydrates and delay glucose absorption, resulting in reduced postprandial plasma glucose levels and suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia. In recent years, many efforts have been made to identify effective α-glucosidase inhibitors from natural sources in order to develop a physiologic functional food or lead compounds for use against diabetes. Many α-glucosidase inhibitors that are phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids,anthocyanins, glycosides, phenolic compounds, and so on, have been isolated from plants. In the present review, we focus on the constituents isolated from different plants having α-glucosidase inhibitory potency along with IC50 values.

The triazole nucleus is one of the most important and well known heterocycles which is a common and integral feature of a variety of natural products and medicinal agents. Triazole nucleus is present as a core structural component in an array of drug categories such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiepileptic, antiviral, antineoplastic, antihypertensive, antimalarial, local anaesthetic, antianxiety, antidepressant, antihistaminic, antioxidant, antitubercular, anti-Parkinson's, antidiabetic, antiobesity and immunomodulatory agents, etc. The broad and potent activity of triazole and their derivatives has established them as pharmacologically significant scaffolds. The basic heterocyclic rings present in the various medicinal agents are 1,2,3-triazole and 1,2,4-triazole. A large volume of research has been carried out on triazole and their derivatives, which has proved the pharmacological importance of this heterocyclic nucleus. The present paper is an attempt to review the pharmacological activities reported for triazole derivatives in the current literature with an update of recent research findings on this nuclei.

The oldest remedies known to mankind are herbal medicines. India is known worldwide for its Ayurvedic treatment. Euphorbia hirta is often used traditionally for female disorders, respiratory ailments (cough, coryza, bronchitis, and asthma), worm infestations in children, dysentery, jaundice, pimples, gonorrhea, digestive problems, and tumors. It is reported to contain alkanes, triterpenes, phytosterols, tannins, polyphenols, and flavanoids. This review describes the medicinal properties, chemical constituents, and other important aspects of Euphorbia hirta.

Nature is still the main focus of scientific and technological research, particularly in nanotechnology and because of its remarkable properties; nanotechnology has acquired much interest in recent years. This review focuses on up-to-date overview of classification of nanoparticles, characterization, methods of preparation, characterization and application of nanoparticles. Initial section of the review gives insight on various techniques for the synthesis nanoparticles, encompassing both bottom-up and top-down approaches. Different methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles are discussed in details. Highlighting the importance of controlling shape, size, and composition to develop nanoparticles and enhance the properties of nanoparticles. These properties include enhanced surface area, unique optical, electronic, and magnetic characteristics, as well as improved mechanical properties. Understanding these attributes is essential for harnessing nanoparticles in different applications effectively. Broad spectrum of applications for nanoparticles is also discussed. Additionally, nanoparticles have found applications in catalysis, environmental remediation, and antimicrobial coatings, contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection. Overall, nanoparticles represent a progressive area of research with tremendous potential for innovation and societal impact. Our evaluation will serve as a solid reference, assisting the scientific community to comprehend the discussed topic better by showing the role of each technique in a comparable manner. As the field of nanoparticles is constantly evolving, this review incorporates the latest research, developments, and advancements up to the time of its publication. A comprehensive understanding of their properties, synthesis and applications is decisive for realizing the full potential of nanoparticles in various scientific and industrial domains.

In the current practices of anti-infective therapy, ciprofloxacin is a very popular fluoroquinolone having a broad spectrum of activity and diverse therapeutic prospects. The reasons for its wide use include multiresistant pathogens susceptible only to ciprofloxacin. The available clinical evidence suggests the potentially enhanced efficacy of this drug in the treatment of various community acquired and nosocomial infections, e.g. respiratory tract, urinary tract, and skin infections and sexually transmitted diseases. As compared to other agents of its class, the pharmacokinetic profile of ciprofloxacin demonstrates equivalent or greater bioavailability, higher plasma concentrations, and increased tissue penetration, as reflected in the greater volume of distribution. Various molecular modifications of this drug have been made to further improve its characteristics. Several methods of analytical determination of ciprofloxacin and its metabolites in biological fluids employing various techniques have been reported. The present article is focused on the synthetic development, pharmacotherapeutic, and analytical evaluation vistas of ciprofloxacin.

We sought to identify the mechanisms that cause strongly fused individuals (those who have a powerful, visceral feeling of oneness with the group) to make extreme sacrifices for their group. A large multinational study revealed a widespread tendency for fused individuals to endorse making extreme sacrifices for their country. Nevertheless, when asked which of several groups they were most inclined to die for, most participants favored relatively small groups, such as family, over a large and extended group, such as country (Study 1). To integrate these findings, we proposed that a common mechanism accounts for the willingness of fused people to die for smaller and larger groups. Specifically, when fused people perceive that group members share core characteristics, they are more likely to project familial ties common in smaller groups onto the extended group, and this enhances willingness to fight and die for the larger group. Consistent with this, encouraging fused persons to focus on shared core characteristics of members of their country increased their endorsement of making extreme sacrifices for their country. This pattern emerged whether the core characteristics were biological (Studies 2 and 3) or psychological (Studies 4-6) and whether participants were from China, India, the United States, or Spain. Further, priming shared core values increased the perception of familial ties among fused group members, which, in turn, mediated the influence of fusion on endorsement of extreme sacrifices for the country (Study 5). Study 6 replicated this moderated mediation effect whether the core characteristics were positive or negative. Apparently, for strongly fused persons, recognizing that other group members share core characteristics makes extended groups seem "family like" and worth dying for.

Proteases are hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading proteins into small peptides and amino acids. They account for nearly 60% of the total industrial enzyme market. Proteases are extensively exploited commercially, in food, pharmaceutical, leather and detergent industry. Given their potential use, there has been renewed interest in the discovery of proteases with novel properties and a constant thrust to optimize the enzyme production. This review summarizes a fraction of the enormous reports available on various aspects of alkaline proteases. Diverse sources for isolation of alkaline protease producing microorganisms are reported. The various nutritional and environmental parameters affecting the production of alkaline proteases in submerged and solid state fermentation are described. The enzymatic and physicochemical properties of alkaline proteases from several microorganisms are discussed which can help to identify enzymes with high activity and stability over extreme pH and temperature, so that they can be developed for industrial applications.

AbstractThe study examines the problem of noise pollution in the wake of its ill effect on the life of the people. A crosssection survey of the population in Delhi State points out that main sources of noise pollution are loudspeakers and automobiles. However, female population is affected by religious noise a little more than male population. Major effects of noise pollution include interference with communication, sleeplessness, and reduced efficiency. The extreme effects e.g. deafness and mental breakdown neither is ruled out. Generally, a request to reduce or stop the noise is made out by the aggrieved party. However, complaints to the administration and police have also been accepted as a way of solving this menace. Public education appears to be the best method as suggested by the respondents. However, government and NGOs can play a significant role in this process.Key Words: PollutionHuman HealthNoise StandardsSocial and Religious CeremoniesNoise Effects Noise ReductionPublic Eduducation

Cow dung, an excreta of bovine animal, is a cheap and easily available bioresource on our planet. Many traditional uses of cow dung such as burning as fuel, mosquito repellent and as cleansing agent are already known in India. Cow dung harbours a diverse group of microorganisms that may be beneficial to humans due to their ability to produce a range of metabolites. Along with the production of novel chemicals, many cow dung microorganisms have shown natural ability to increase soil fertility through phosphate solubilisation. Nowadays, there is an increasing research interest in developing the applications of cow dung microorganisms for biofuel production and management of environmental pollutants. This review focuses on recent findings being made on cow dung that could be harnessed for usage in different areas such as medicine, agriculture and industry.

Microbes are unique creatures that adapt to varying lifestyles and environment resistance in extreme or adverse conditions. The genetic architecture of microbe may bear a significant signature not only in the sequences position, but also in the lifestyle to which it is adapted. It becomes a challenge for the society to find new chemical entities which can treat microbial infections. The present review aims to focus on account of important chemical moiety, that is, pyrimidine and its various derivatives as antimicrobial agents. In the current studies we represent more than 200 pyrimidines as antimicrobial agents with different mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted classes along with in vitro antimicrobial activities of pyrimidines derivatives which can facilitate the development of more potent and effective antimicrobial agents.

Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) is a medicinal plant traditionally used as an abortifacient and to treat constipation, oedema, bacterial infections, cancer and diabetes. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the plant showed the presence of large amounts of phenolics and flavonoids. Subsequent quantification showed the presence of 0.74% (m/m) phenolics (calculated as gallic acid) and 0.13% (m/m) flavonoids calculated as catechin equivalents per 100 g of fresh mass. The presence of phenolic compounds prompted us to evaluate its antioxidant activity. In the present study, methanolic fruit extract of C. colocynthis was screened to evaluate its free radical scavenging effect. The highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging ability of the fruit extract was observed at a concentration of 2500 microg mL(-1).

Pectinases are the growing enzymes of biotechnological sector, showing gradual increase in their market. They hold a leading position among the commercially produced industrial enzymes. These enzymes are ecofriendly tool of nature that are being used extensively in various industries like wine industry; food industry; paper industry for bleaching of pulp and waste paper recycling; in the processing of fruit-vegetables, tea-coffee, animal feed; extraction of vegetable oil and scouring of plant fibres. Moreover, enzymatic catalysis is preferred over other chemical methods, since it is more specific, less aggressive and saves energy. This is the review which covers the information available on the applicability potential of this group of enzymes in various sectors.

Heterocycles bearing nitrogen, sulphur and thiazole moieties constitute the core structure of a number of biologically interesting compounds. Benzothiazole, a group of xenobiotic compounds containing a benzene ring fused with a thiazole ring, are used worldwide for a variety of therapeutic applications. Benzothiazole and their heterocyclic derivatives represent an important class of compounds possessing a wide spectrum of biological activities. The myriad spectrum of medicinal properties associated with benzothiazole related drugs has encouraged the medicinal chemists to synthesize a large number of novel therapeutic agents. Several analogues containing benzothiazole ring system exhibit significant antitumour, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antiviral, antioxidant, antitubercular, antimalarial, antiasthmatic, anthelmintic, photosensitizing, diuretic, analgesic and other activities. This article is an attempt to present the research work reported in recent scientific literature on different pharmacological activities of benzothiazole compounds.

Purpose The study has a two‐fold purpose: to investigate whether some specific characteristics of hotels affect organisational performance in the hotel industry in India; and to investigate whether some HRM systems affect organisational performance in the hotel industry in India. Design/methodology/approach A total of 439 hotels, ranging from three‐star to five‐star deluxe, responded to a self‐administered questionnaire that measured 27 HRM practices, five organisational performance variables, and ten demographic variables. Factor analysis was performed to identify HRM systems, one‐way ANOVA was employed to test the association of the demographic variables with organisational performance, and correlation analysis was used to test the relation between HRM systems and organisational performance. Findings The results indicate that hotel performance is positively associated with hotel category and type of hotel (chain or individual). Furthermore, hotel performance is positively related to the HRM systems of recruitment and selection, manpower planning, job design, training and development, quality circle, and pay systems. Research limitations/implications Single respondent bias may have occurred because a single respondent from each organisation provided information on HRM practices and perceived measures of organisational performance. The sample was drawn from the population of best performing hotels in India, so is not representative of the hotel industry in India. Practical implications If hotels are to achieve higher performance levels, they should preferably belong to a chain and increase their category, and management should focus on “best” HRM practices indicated in the study. Originality/value The study makes a modest attempt to add information to the very little empirical knowledge available referring to the link between HRM and performance in the hotel industry.

In comparison to rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors have advantages such as quick charging and high power density. This review is focused on the progress in the development of electrode materials for supercapacitors using composite materials based on conducting polymers, graphene, metal oxide nanoparticles/nanofibres, and CNTs. Moreover, we investigated different types of ESDs as well as their electrochemical energy storage mechanisms and kinetic aspects. We have also discussed the classification of different types of SCs; advantages and drawbacks of SCs and other ESDs; and the use of nanofibres, carbon, CNTs, graphene, metal oxide-nanofibres, and conducting polymers as electrode materials for SCs. Furthermore, modifications in the development of different types of SCs such as pseudo-capacitors, hybrid capacitors, and electrical double-layer capacitors are discussed in detail; both electrolyte-based and electrolyte-free supercapacitors are taken into consideration. This review will help in designing and fabricating high-performance supercapacitors with high energy density and power output, which will act as an alternative to Li-ion batteries in the future.

bioimaging and drug delivery studies. Although more cytotoxicity studies of carbon dots are needed, the data above suggest a bright future for carbon dots in drug delivery and bioimaging studies.

Development of an effective plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) inoculant necessitates the presence of a diverse set of traits that can help its colonization of the rhizosphere and survival under varying environmental conditions. In our investigation, a set of 100 bacterial isolates from the rhizosphere of wheat plants were screened initially on the basis of a seed germination assay; ten bacterial isolates (AW1–AW10) were selected. These isolates were then tested in vitro for specific PGPR traits, such as the production of IAA, siderophore, ammonia, HCN, P solubilization, ACC deaminase activity, acetylene reduction assay and antifungal activity. Of the ten isolates, AW5 was found to be promising for all PGP attributes. An experiment undertaken in the controlled conditions of the National Phytotron Facility revealed the potential of three isolates (AW1, AW5 and AW7) in enhancing the growth parameters of wheat plants. Characterization of these isolates using polyphasic approaches involving both phenotypic and genotypic attributes led to their identification as Bacillus sp. (AW1), Providencia sp. (AW5), and Brevundimonas diminuta (AW7), respectively. These strains could prove effective PGPR inoculants as they possess a number of traits useful for their establishment and proliferation in soil. The genus Providencia is reported for the first time for its PGP potential, using cultural as well as functional attributes to show its suitability as an inoculant for wheat crop.

In this study a simple protocol was developed for purifying phycocyanin (PC) from Spirulina platensis (CCC540) by using ammonium sulphate precipitation, followed by a single step chromatography by using DEAE-Cellulose-11 and acetate buffer. Precipitation with 65 % ammonium sulphate resulted in 80 % recovery of phycocyanin with purity of 1.5 (A620/A280). Thro1ugh chromatography an 80 % recovery of phycocyanin with a purity of 4.5 (A620/A280) was achieved. In SDS_PAGE analysis, the purified PC showed the presence of two subunit α (16 kD) and β (17 kD).

Background. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are storage materials that accumulate by various bacteria as energy and carbon reserve materials. They are biodegradable, environmentally friendly, and also biocompatible bioplastics. Unlike petrochemical-based plastics that take several decades to fully degrade, PHAs can be completely degraded within a year by variety of microorganisms into CO2 and water. In the present study, we aim to utilize pulp, paper, and cardboard industry sludge and waste water for the isolation and screening of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) accumulating bacteria and production of cost-effective PHB using cardboard industry waste water. Results. A total of 42 isolates showed black-blue coloration when stained with Sudan black B, a preliminary screening agent for lipophilic compounds, and a total of 15 isolates showed positive result with Nile blue A staining, a more specific dye for PHA granules. The isolates NAP11 and NAC1 showed maximum PHA production 79.27% and 77.63% with polymer concentration of 5.236 g/L and 4.042 g/L with cardboard industry waste water. Both of the selected isolates, NAP11 and NAC1, were classified up to genus level by studying their morphological and biochemical characteristics and were found to be Enterococcus sp., Brevundimonas sp. and, respectively. Conclusion. The isolates Enterococcus sp. NAP11 and Brevundimonas sp. NAC1 can be considered as good candidates for industrial production of PHB from cardboard industry waste water. We are reporting for the first time the use of cardboard industry waste water as a cultivation medium for the PHB production.

Very few techniques exist for reliability evaluation of communication systems where links as well as nodes have certain probability of failure. This correspondence describes a technique by which the reliability expression for such a system can be conveniently derived. It is also shown that using the concept of this correspondence, it is possible to extend all the existing reliability-evaluation algorithms to communication systems with little effort.