A Comparative Analysis of the Physico-Chemical Properties of Pectin Isolated from the Peels of Seven Different Citrus Fruits Khodidash Baraiya, Virendra Kumar Yadav, Nisha Choudhary, Daoud Ali, Daya Raiyani, Vibhakar A. Chowdhary, Sheena Alooparampil, Rohan V. Pandya, Dipak Kumar Sahoo, Ashish Patel, Jigna G. Tank Gels, 2023 In the present research work, pectin was isolated from the peels of seven citrus fruits (Citrus limon, Citrus limetta, Citrus sinensis, Citrus maxima, Citrus jambhiri, Citrus sudachi, and Citrus hystrix) for a comparison of its physicochemical parameters and its potential use as a thickening agent, gelling agent, and food ingredient in food industries. Among the seven citrus fruits, the maximum yield of pectin was observed from Citrus sudachi, and the minimum yield of pectin was observed from Citrus maxima. The quality of each pectin sample was compared by using parameters such as equivalent weight, anhydrouronic acid (AUA) content, methoxy content, and degree of esterification. It was observed that all seven pectin samples had a high value of equivalent weight (more than 1000), suggesting that all the pectin samples had a high content of non-esterified galacturonic acid in the molecular chains, which provides viscosity and water binding properties. The methoxy content and degree of esterification of all the pectins was lower than 50%, which suggests that it cannot easily disperse in water and can form gel only in presence of divalent cations. The AUA content of all isolated pectins samples was above 65%, which suggests that the pectin was pure and can be utilized as a food ingredient in domestic foods and food industries. From the FTIR analysis of pectin, it was observed that the bond pattern of Citrus maxima, Citrus jambhiri, and Citrus hystrix was similar. The bond pattern of Citrus limon, Citrus limetta, and Citrus sinensis was similar. However, the bond pattern of Citrus sudachi was different from that of all other citrus fruits. The difference in the bond pattern was due to the hydrophobic nature of pectin purified from Citrus limon, Citrus limetta, Citrus sudachi, and Citrus sinensis and the hydrophilic nature of pectin purified from Citrus maxima, Citrus jambhiri, and Citrus hystrix. Hence, hydrophobic pectin can be utilized in the preparation of hydrogels, nanofibers, food packaging material, polysoaps, drug delivery agents, and microparticulate materials, whereas hydrophilic pectin can be utilized for the preparation of gelling and thickening agents.
Larvicidal proficiency of volatile compounds present in Commiphora wightii gum extract against Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) Krupal Patel, Divya Akbari, Rohan V. Pandya, Jigneshkumar Trivedi, Vishal Mevada, Shivraj Gangadhar Wanale, Rajesh Patel, Virendra Kumar Yadav, Jigna G. Tank, Dipak Kumar Sahoo, Ashish Patel Frontiers in Plant Science, 2023 Aedes mosquitoes are the major cause of several vector-borne diseases in tropical and subtropical regions. Synthetic pesticides against these mosquitoes have certain limitations; hence, natural, eco-friendly, and safe larvicides obtained from plant resources are used to overcome these. In the present study, the larvicidal efficiency of Commiphora wightii against the fourth instar stage of the dengue fever mosquito Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) was studied. The gum resin of C. wightii was collected using the borehole tapping method, and hexane extracts in different concentrations were prepared. The fourth-instar larvae were exposed to the extracts, and percent mortality, as well as LC20, LC50, and LC90, was calculated. Volatile compounds of the hexane gum extract were analyzed by Headspace GC/MS, and the sequence of the acetylcholine, Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, and octopamine receptor subunit of A. aegypti was obtained. It was found that the hexane gum extract was toxic and lethal for larvae at different concentrations. Minimum mortality was observed at 164 µg mL−1 (10%/h), while maximum mortality was at 276 µg mL−1 (50%/h). The lethal concentrations LC20, LC50, and LC90 were 197.38 µg mL−1, 294.13 µg mL−1, and 540.15 µg mL−1, respectively. The GC/MS analysis confirmed the presence of diterpenes, monoterpenes, monoterpene alcohol, and sesquiterpenes in the gum samples, which are lethal for larvae due to their inhibitory activity on the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, GABA receptor, and octopamine receptor subunit. The use of commonly occurring plant gum for the control of mosquitoes was explored, and it was found that the gum of C. wightii had larvicidal activities and could be potentially insecticidal.
Acacia species.: A probable feedstock for biodiesel production Plant Archives, 2019
Changes in radical scavenging activity of normal, endoreduplicated and depolyploid root tip cells of Allium cepa Jigna G. Tank, Rohan V. Pandya, Vrinda S. Thaker Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2017 were depolyploidized by exogenous phytohormones. Further, free radical scavenging activity from normal, endoreduplicated and depolyploidized root tips cells was observed to understand the role of phytohormones. Elevated free radical scavenging potential was observed in endoreduplicated cells compared to normal and depolyploidized cells. Based on these results, it was concluded that endoreduplication and antioxidant pathways are linked with each other through phytohormonal activities. The concentration of auxin and cytokinin regulates the activity of ascorbate oxidase enzyme, which in turn maintains the concentration of AsA within the cell. AsA level directs the prolyl-hydroxylation process of cell division proteins in quiescent center cells either toward endoreduplication process or cell division process.
Salvadora persica: A potential source for treatment of hypercholesterolemia Plant Archives, 2017
Phytohormones in regulation of the cell division and endoreduplication process in the plant cell cycle Jigna G. Tank, Rohan V. Pandya, Vrinda S. Thaker Rsc Advances, 2014 The present review suggests the significance of various phytohormones in the regulation of cell division and the endoreduplication process in plant cells. Here, molecular pathways are designed that clearly elucidate the role of phytohormones in the regulation of the cell division and endoreduplication process. This determines the stages at which the cell division cycle diverts towards the endoreduplication process. Phytohormones manage the activity of CDK/CYC complexes and RBR proteins at various stages of the cell cycle by controlling the transcription and destruction of E2F proteins. For example, cytokinin stimulates the G1 phase by activating the CDKA/CYCD complex, ABA regulates the activity of CDKA in the G1 and G2 phase using CDK inhibitor proteins, GA stimulates activation of CDK/CYC complexes using CAKs, auxin regulates the progress of the cell cycle from the G1/S transition to the G2/M transition, JA regulates the signaling of GA using DELLA proteins and ethylene regulates the activity of CDK B. Hyperphosphorylation or hypophosphorylation of RBR protein by the CDK/CYC complex will determine whether the cell cycle shifts towards cell division or endoreduplication. The activity of the E2F transcription factors is most significant during these processes, which is in turn regulated by phytohormones. Accumulation of E2F A in the G1 phase will drive the cell cycle towards the S phase. E2FB will give a signal to the mitotic inducing factor CDKB/CYCD complex, which will lead the cell cycle towards mitosis. E2FB is a key target of auxin, in determining whether the cell with undergo mitosis or endoreduplication. Auxin also regulates the activity of E2FC using a RUB–cullin signaling pathway, whose over-expression leads the cell cycle towards the endocycling process.
