Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine is a premier institute located in Jammu under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Government of India and dedicated to the research of drug discovery..
Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. is a medicinal plant used to treat kidney, bladder stones and rheumatoid arthritis. The overexploitation of B. ciliata has subsequently led to a decline in its natural populations; therefore, there is an urgent need to propagate this important medicinal plant. This study developed an efficient and validated in vitro propagation system for B. ciliata using leaf segments. The combination of 4.43 µM BAP (6-benzylaminopurine) and 5.71 µM IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) in Gamborg’s B5 media was the most efficacious, producing multiple shoots (78.58 ± 0.49) with 94.82 ± 0.09
Metastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients and a major challenging aspect of cancer biology. Various adaptive molecular signaling pathways play a crucial role in cancer metastasis and later in the formation of secondary tumors. Aggressive cancer cells like triple negative breast cancer (TNBCs) are more inclined to undergo metastasis hence having a high recurrence rate and potential of micro-metastasis. Tumor cells in circulation known as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) offer an attractive drug target to treat metastatic disease. Cell cycle regulation and stress response of CTCs in blood has a crucial role in their survival and progression and thus may be considered therapeutically active hotspots. The cyclin D/cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) pathway regulates cell cycle checkpoints, a process that is frequently dysregulated in cancer cells. Selective CDK inhibitors can limit the phosphorylation of cell cycle regulatory proteins by inducing cell cycle phase arrest, and thus may be an effective therapeutic strategy for aggressive cancer cells in their dividing phase at the primary or secondary site. However, during the floating condition, cancer cells halt their multiplication process and proceed through the various steps of metastasis. Current study showed that a novel CDK inhibitor 4ab induced autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in agressive cancer cells grown under adherent and floating conditions resulting in paraptosis. Further, our results showed that 4ab efficiently induced cell death in aggressive cancer cells through ER stress-mediated activation of JNK signaling. Additionally, was observed that treatment of 4ab in tumor-bearing mice displayed a significant reduction in tumor burden and micro-metastasis. The outcome of these studies showed that 4ab can be a potential anti-tumor and anti-metastatic agent. Graphical representation of 4ab: image representing the effect of 4ab on death-inducing pathways in aggressive cancer cells. 4ab induces ER stress and activates autophagy leading to vacuolation of there by causing apoptosis in aggressive cancer cells.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global challenge in the treatment of infectious diseases. In 2024, the WHO updated the bacterial priority pathogens list, underscoring several high-priority resistant bacteria of major public health concern. Among these, Gram-negative bacteria are particularly prone to antibiotic resistance due to their complex outer membrane architecture. The reduced effectiveness of current therapies has resulted in an increasing global disease burden and mortality rates. Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes the upper respiratory tract and is frequently associated with secondary infections during viral pneumonia, contributing to increased complications. In the present study, we investigated the potentiality of plant-based Andrographolide and its derivatives. Initial screening identified four compounds along with the parent molecule (Andrographolide) that exhibited promising antipseudomonal activity, and among them, IIIM(ND)-RS03 demonstrated greater inhibitory activity, which was further supported by Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) profiling, which shows a markedly lower bacterial colony count compared with the remaining molecules. Time-kill kinetics analysis revealed the bactericidal nature of the potent molecule, along with noteworthy biofilm inhibition and disruption potential with respect to the untreated control. Mechanistic studies revealed pronounced morphological alterations in bacterial cells, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy analysis. Moreover, it can trigger multiple pathways that lead to cell death, including membrane disruption, increased permeability, reduction in intracellular ATP levels, and enhanced ROS generation. Taken together, the antibacterial activity as well as mechanistic insights, the present study underlines the potential of the selected molecule as a promising lead for the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents.
Microcrystalline K2SrP2O7 phosphors, synthesized both in pure form and with Eu3 & laquo; doping, were produced using a high-temperature solid-state reaction. Structural characterization through X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a stable crystalline phase, while SEM images showed particles with uniform morphology. In the Eu3 & laquo;-doped samples, photoluminescence spectra revealed intense, well-defined emissions, indicating effective energy transfer from the host lattice to the activator ions. Thermoluminescence analysis displayed clear glow curves with dose-dependent behavior, underscoring their suitability for radiation dosimetry. The optical properties were further interpreted using Judd-Ofelt theory and crystal field analysis, providing valuable understanding of the Eu3 & laquo; ion environment. These findings highlight K2SrP2O7: Eu3 & laquo; as a promising phosphor material suitable for use in both white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) and advanced photonic devices.
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) highlights the urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs to combat the increasing threat of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Therefore, discovering new sources of antimicrobial compounds is essential. In this context, a biologically active microbial strain designated as "S26-11" was isolated from a soil sample collected from Kargil, Ladakh, in the North-West (NW) Himalayas. Based on its morphology and 16 S rDNA phylogenetic analysis, the strain belongs to the genus Streptomyces. The 16 S rDNA showed the highest sequence similarity with Streptomyces pratensis (99.4%). Chemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract resulted in the purification and identification of an antimicrobial compound known as echinomycin. Notably, Streptomyces pratensis has not been previously reported to produce echinomycin. This strain could serve as a new source for the commercial production of echinomycin. Additionally, this study is the first to report echinomycin-mediated modulation of key genes associated with Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and pathogenicity. Furthermore, our findings indicate that piperine, when used as an adjuvant, modulates echinomycin activity by lowering its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and potentially limiting the emergence of resistant MRSA mutants, thereby suggesting a reduced risk of AMR development. Overall, these in vitro findings provide a strong rationale for further validation using clinical strains of S. aureus, detailed dose-response analysis, and in vivo studies to enhance quantitative resolution and assess the therapeutic relevance in clinical settings.
