Objectives This study hypothesized that to analyse the anti-inflammatory effect of triterpenoid compound betulin in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mice. Methods In this study, betulin was intraperitoneally administered in OVA-challenged and sensitized mice. The effect of betulin on inflammatory cells, lung function, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidants status, oxidative stress markers, serum IgE level and inflammatory cytokines status in BALF was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of tTG, TGF-β1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lung tissue was scrutinized by RT-qPCR analysis, and the expression of TREM-1, p-IκB-α and NF-κBp65 proteins in lung tissue was examined by western blot analysis. Key findings We found that the betulin treatment has effectively attenuated the proliferation of inflammatory cells, reduced the ROS generation, elevated the antioxidant enzymes and attenuated the level of oxidative markers in asthma induced mice. Moreover, reduced the level of serum IgE and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ. Betulin treatment down-regulated the expression of MMP-9, tTG and TGF-β1 genes; moreover, betulin treatment effectively down-regulated the TREM-1, p-IκB-α and NF-κBp65 proteins level in lung. Conclusion Betulin exhibited effective anti-asthmatic activity by attenuating the accumulation of inflammatory cells, expression of tTG, TGF-β1 and MMP-9 genes in lung tissue.

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-phthalate (DEHP) is the phthalate ester frequently utilized as a plasticizer, commonly found in cosmetics, packaging materials; moreover, it has carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on humans. In the current study, we isolated the soil bacterium Rhodococcus sp. PFS1 and to assess its DEHP degradation ability in various environmental conditions. The strain PFS1 was isolated from paddy field soil and identified by the 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. The strain PFS1 was examined for its biodegradation ability of DEHP at various pH, temperature, salt concentration, glucose concentration, and high and low concentrations of DEHP. Moreover, the biodegradation of DEHP at a contaminated soil environment by strain PFS1 was assessed. Further, the metabolic pathway of DEHP degradation by PFS1 was analyzed by HPLC-MS analysis. The results showed that the strain PFS1 effectively degraded the DEHP at neutral pH and temperature 30 °C; moreover, expressed excellent DEHP degradation at the high salt concentration (up to 50 g/L). The strain PFS1 was efficiently degraded the different tested phthalate esters (PAEs) up to 90%, significantly removed the DEHP contamination in soil along with native organisms which are present in soil up to 94.66%; nevertheless, the PFS1 alone degraded the DEHP up to 87.665% in sterilized soil. According to HPLC-MS analysis, DEHP was degraded into phthalate (PA) by PFS1 strain via mono(2ethylehxyl) phthalate (MEHP); then PA was utilized for cell growth. These results suggest that Rhodococcus sp. PFS1 has excellent potential to degrade DEHP at various environmental conditions especially in contaminated paddy field soil.

Chemical surfactants are non-biodegradable and harmful, thus researchers are looking for better alternatives. The present study aimed to isolate bioemulsifier producing bacteria from oil-contaminated sediments. Nearly, 19 morphologically distinct bacteria were isolated and screened for bioemulsifier producing potential. Based on the screening, one efficient isolate PHCS 7 was selected and further subjected to molecular identification. After characterization, the isolate was identified as Acinetobacter beijerinckii PHCS 7 and further employed for growth kinetic profiling and optimization of physical factors for bioemulsifier production. During 48hrs incubation, A. beijerinckii PHCS 7 showed 64.6% emulsification activity with 8.69g/L of cell biomass. Similarly, during the optimization study pH, 8 and temperature of 35°C favored 67.9% and 69.7% emulsification activity, respectively. The current research establishes a foundation for future research on cost-effective large-scale production.

The commercial use of bioemulsifiers on various fields still faces the hindrance mainly because of low productivity. Hence, the current study inclines to improve the synthesis of a bioemulsifier from a marine Acinetobacter beijerinckii PHCS 7, which was previously isolated from a sediment sample polluted with petroleum hydrocarbons and this study also reports on the stability of the extracted emulsifier. During the optimization of biotic and abiotic factors, the use of 1% of trehalose, 0.5% yeast extract, 0.5% coconut oil, 200 rpm agitation, 30 ppt salinity and 2% of inoculum size evidenced improved production of bioemulsifier. Large-scale emulsifier synthesis was carried out based on the optimised conditions, followed by diethyl ether extraction and the stability of the extracted bioemulsifier was characterized. The findings demonstrated that the extracted bioemulsifier was stable under wide range of extreme situations, including those involving temperature, pH, and salinity. The improved synthesis and physicochemical stability of a bioemulsifier from a marine A. beijerinckii PHCS 7 reveal the wide spectrum of its uses in both bioindustrial and environmental domains.