The effect of pH, sucrose and ammonium sulphate concentrations on the production of nata-de-coco, a form of bacterial cellulose, by Acetobacter xylinum was studied. Comparisons for physical properties like thickness, wet weight, water-holding capacity (WHC), moisture content and hardness, a textural parameter were done on nata-de-coco grown in tender coconut water medium supplemented with varying concentrations of sucrose and ammonium sulphate at different pH values. The results were analysed by fitting a second-order polynomial regression equation. Response surface methodology was used to study the effect of the three variables. The study showed that A. xylinum could effectively use sucrose as the sole carbon source in coconut water medium and that cellulose production was more dependent on pH than either sucrose or ammonium sulphate concentrations. Maximum thickness of nata was obtained at pH 4.0 with 10% sucrose and 0.5% ammonium sulphate concentrations. These conditions also produced good quality nata-de-coco with a smooth surface and soft chewy texture. The study will enable efficient utilization of coconut water, a hitherto wasted byproduct of coconut industry and will also provide a new product dimension to the aggrieved coconut farmers who are not getting the right price for their product.

Introduction:The modulations of glucose-metabolizing enzyme activities play a vital rolein the depletion of energy metabolism and leads to inhibition of cancer growth.Objective:To find the effect of shorearobusta bark extract on glucose-metbolizing enzymes in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma rats.Materials and Methods:Biochemical evaluation of glucose metabolizing enzyme were done in before and after shorearobusta bark extract (500mg/kg) treatment in DEN induced rats.Results:A significant increasein the activities of the key glycolytic enzymes viz., hexokinase and phosphoglucoisomerase, with a significant decrease in the gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatasewere observed in HCC bearing rats, when compared with the control. Administration of shorearobusta extract caused a significant decrease in theactivities of glycolytic enzymes and an increase in the gluconeogenic enzymes activities to near normal values.Conclusion:The current findings suggest that the S. robusta extract has a definite modulating role on the key enzymes ofglucose-metabolism in HCC. The modulatory effect may be due to the phytoactive constituents present in the extract of S. robusta.SUMMARY Administration of shorea robusta bark extract caused a significant decrease in the activities of glycolytic enzymes and an increase in the gluconeogenic enzymes activities to near normal values. The S. robusta extract has modulatory activity on the carbohydrate metabolism in DEN-induced HCC bearing rats through a mechanism that which does not provoke any acute biochemical disturbances in the metabolic pathways of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The modulatory effect of S. robusta extract may be attributed to the presence of active compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. Abbreviations used: HCC: Hepatocellular Carcinoma, SRBE: Shorearobusta bark extract; HEX: Hexokinase; PGI: Phosphoglucoisomerase; DEN: Diethylnitrosamine.

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A fully validated and rapid RP-HPLC method suitable for the quantification of formoterol fumarate and glycopyrrolate combination is reported. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Sunsil C18 analytical column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µ particle size). The analytes were detected and quantified by photodiode array detector set at 289 nm. Calibration curves were constructed in the range of 4.8-14.4 µg/ mL (R 2 = 0.9997) with a limit of quantification of 0.279 µg/mL for formoterol fumarate and 9-27 µg/mL (R 2 = 0.9998) with a limit of quantification 0.239 µg/mL for glycopyrrolate. The method was validated aaccording to ICH guidelines. The developed and validated RP-HPLC method was sensitive, selective, robust, accurate and precise for the simultaneous estimation of formoterol fumarate and glycopyrrolate in quality control laboratories.