Expression of Epstein Barr Virus Encoded EBNA1 and LMP1 Oncoproteins in Nasopharyngeal Carcinomas from Northeast India

Borthakur, Parikhit,Kataki, Kangkana,Keppen, Chenole,Khamo, V.,Medhi, Subhash,Deka, Manab Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.7

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a malignancy arising from the epithelial lining of the nasopharynx, is distinct from others cancers in terms of its epidemiologic features. It is rare in most parts of the world except for a few regions with populations of Mongoloid origin. Objectives: To study the expression pattern of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) encoded oncoproteins EBNA1 and LMP1 in different histological types of NPC and to correlate expression patterns with sex, age and histological types. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NPC biopsy samples and tissues from 20 healthy controls were collected to study the expression level of EBNA1 and LMP1 using immunohistochemistry. Results: EBNA1 and LMP1 expression was found in 92.5% and 90% respectively, of the cases and none of the control specimens. The expression patterns of EBNA1 and LMP1 were determined to be statistically significant (p<0.05) when correlated with sex, age and histological distributions. Also immunohistochemistry was found to be a sensitive technique in the detection of EBV. Conclusions: The study reveals that the potent oncoproteins EBNA1 and LMP1 were over expressed in our population cohort. Our findings are to some extent inconsistent with earlier reports as our population showed a higher expression of both EBNA1 and LMP1 compared to other studies.

Analysis of the Bioactive Metabolites of the Endangered Mexican Lost Fungi Campanophyllum - A Report from India

( Madhusmita Borthakur ),( Arun Bahadur Gurung ),( Atanu Bhattacharjee ),( S. R. Joshi ) 한국균학회 2020 Mycobiology Vol.48 No.1

Meghalaya, (in India), in the region of the mega-biodiversity hotspots, is home to a plethora of wild mushrooms. The present study concerns the exploration of the order Agaricales, which includes rare gilled mushrooms considered endangered under IUCN A4c criteria, due to the declining habitat. Electron microscopy of the gill sections revealed an abundance of clamp connections, hyphal cell walls, cystidia, and basidia. This rare species which belongs to the family Cyphellaceae, exhibits morphological and molecular differences from the Cyphella spp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that it formed a clade under the genus Campanophyllum of the order Agaricales, confirmed by both Neighbor Joining (NJ) and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis. Being nutritionally potent along with its efficient antioxidant value, the fungal extract shows significant rise of two-fold in the antimicrobial activity along with the commercial antibiotics. The compound, Phenol, 2, 4-bis (1, 1-Dimethylethyl) (2, 4- DTBP) showed in ample range in the fungal extract along with aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpene, alcohol and volatile organic compounds on further characterization in GCMS. The present study indicates the endangered Campanophyllum proboscideum could be a rich source of natural antioxidants and an effective pharmaceutical agent.

The effects of pH, salinity, age of leaves, post-harvest storage duration, and psyllid infestation on nutritional qualities of giant leucaena fodder

Bageel Ahmed M.,Borthakur Dulal 한국작물학회 2022 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.25 No.4

Giant leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala subsp. glabrata) can be managed as a profusely branched bushy plant by repeated harvest of its foliage for use as fodder. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of soil pH and salinity, age of the leaves, post-harvest storage duration, and psyllid infection on the nutritional qualities of leucaena fodder. To determine the effects of soil pH and salinity on fodder quality, giant leucaena K636 plants were grown in large pots containing soils adjusted to different pH and salinity levels. The effects of age of the leaves, post-harvest storage duration and psyllid infection on fodder quality were studied using leucaena samples collected from Waimanalo Research Station. Among five pH levels tested, pH 6.0 was found to produce the highest amounts of protein and structural fibers in the foliage. Mimosine contents were highest at pH 6 and 7 and lowest at pH 5.0. The growth of giant leucaena was retarded and the nutritional quality were adversely affected under salinity conditions. Compared to young leaves, old leaves contained 18.5% less protein, 95% less mimosine, 30% less tannin and 40% more structural fibers. Post-harvest storage duration up to 72 h, at room temperature did not seem to affect protein, tannin and structural fiber contents of the foliage; however, mimosine content was reduced by 25%. These results will help to identify ideal soil pH, age of foliage, and post-harvest storage duration for obtaining high forage yield and nutritional quality for giant leucaena.

Antimicrobial activity and antioxidant properties of Brucea mollis Wall. ex Kurz: a medicinal plant of Northeast India

Das Prapty,Hasnu Sneha,Lahkar Lipika,Mahanta Saurov,Borthakur Sashin Kumar,Tanti Bhaben 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2021 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.21 No.4

Brucea mollis Wall. ex Kurz is a potent medicinal plant occurring on hill slopes of Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The species is popularly known to have antimalarial activity in traditional medicine by a few ethnic communities of Northeastern regions. In the present study, an attempt was made to study the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of B. mollis. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of plant extracts was screened by the disc diffusion method of Kirby-Bauer sensitivity test against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger. Among all the extracts (leaf ethanol, leaf methanol, callus ethanol, and callus methanol), the callus ethanol extracts was found to exhibit better antimicrobial activity against all the bacterial strains at 20 mg/ml concentration. Callus ethanol extracts exhibited maximum inhibition 17.33 ± 0.33 mm against B. subtilis. In case of antifungal activity, leaf methanol extracts exhibited 17.66 ± 0.33 mm against A. fumigatus and leaf ethanol extracts exhibited 18.33 ± 0.33 mm inhibition against A. niger at 20 mg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the both leaves and callus against the bacterial and fungal strains exhibited lowest 0.156 mg/ml MIC against (A) niger from leaf methanol extract; against (B) subtilis, S. aureus and A. fumigatus from callus ethanol extract and against S. marcescens from callus methanol extract. Moreover, DPPH, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay, total phenolic, and flavonoid content were investigated. Both the extracts showed antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner and ethanolic extract exhibited better antioxidant properties than methanolic extract.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Lipophillic Pigments of Fresh Green Tea Liquor

Jian-Liang Lu,Zhan-Bo Dong,Shun-Shun Pan,Chen Lin,Xin-Qiang Zheng,Borthakur Devajit,Yue-Rong Liang 한국식품과학회 2009 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.18 No.3

Changes in lipophillic pigments concentration and its relation to color of fresh green tea liquor during heat treatment were studied. The results showed liquor greenness decreased markedly with extension of incubation time at 55℃, while the brightness and yellowness changed a little. Significant increase in ‘a’ and ‘b’ values of tea liquor was observed at 95℃. Color change of liquor at 55℃ was accompanied by a decrease in the level of chlorophylls, lutein and neoxanthin, and an increase in the pheophytins and β-carotene levels. However, all pigments except β-carotene decreased with time extension at 95℃. Significant correlation was found between pigments and color difference index. The browning of fresh green tea liquor was attributed to vicissitudes of lipophillic pigments during heat treatment, especially to the change of chlorophylls/pheophytins ratio. Result also showed addition of Zn²? at 1.6 μ㏖/ℓ could partially alleviate the decrease in greenness during heat treatment.