Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is the only available remedial measure to treat HIV infected patients, as recognized by the WHO. However, it is associated with toxicity (nephrotoxicity), high cost and most preferably drug resistance in the first-line treatment. Wherefore, potential and novel natural source is the only option for the modern world to challenge this global issue. In recent years, sulfated polysaccharide from marine macroalgae shown to be biologically active as anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antitumor, immunomodulatory and antiviral agents. As a direct inhibitor of HIV including other retroviruses, it is considered as a “new generation antiretroviral drug”. In our present study, Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide has been extracted from two different macroalgae Dictyota bartayesiana (DD) and Turbinaria decurrens (TD) based on hot water extraction method and further confirmed by FT-IR and RP-HPLC methods. Both the crude and purified fucoidan samples were evaluated for anti-HIV activity after ion exchange chromatography purification. The maximum inhibitory activity of crude and purified fucoidan samples are 90.5% and 89% in the fucoidan extracts of DD. Whereas, it was 89.7% and 92% in the fucoidan extracts of TD. Simultaneously, the IC 50 values were determined and recorded as 1.56 µg/ml and 57.6 ng/ml in both the crude and purified fucoidan extracts of DD respectively. Similarly, for TD, it was 3 µg/ml and 131.7 ng/ml in the fucoidan extracts of TD. Therefore, further extensive research work is the most needful to fill the gaps to develop this sulfated polysaccharide as a potential drug for the treatment of HIV patients.

Plastic (polyethylene) pollution is a severe cause of deterioration of a healthy environment. For example, ingestion of plastics in the animal gut, clogging of water canals and retarded solid waste management. Many conventional methods of polyethylene degradation include UV photooxidation, thermal oxidation, incineration, chemical oxidation and landfill are being practiced. However, these methods are not feasible, costlier and not a complete solution for this global issue. Therefore, plausible, alternative solution for this issue is biodegradation. Microbes such as bacteria, fungi and algae are involved in polyethylene degradation in its natural habitat. Among them, algae were given very less importance. In our present study, a potential microalga, morphologically identified as Uronema africanum Borge, isolated from a waste plastic bag collected from a domestic waste dumping site in a freshwater lake. This microalga was further treated with the LDPE sheet in BBM culture medium. Based on the results obtained from light microscopy, dark field microscopy, GC–MS, FT-IR, SEM and AFM, it was concluded that the microalga has initiated degradation of LDPE sheet within 30 days of incubation. Concurrently, the configuration of corrosions, abrasions, grooves and ridges were found similar with the morphological features of the microalga. For example, the configuration of the radial disc-like attachment structure of the microalga was found corresponding to the abrasions on the surface of LDPE sheet at an average size of 20–30 µm in diameter. Whereas, the configuration of ridges and grooves were found similar with the filamentous nature of the microalga (10–15 µm width). This is a hitherto report on the biodegradation of LDPE sheet by the microalga Uronema africanum Borge.

Keywords: Polyethylene; Biodegradation; Microalgae; SEM IntroductionPlastics (Polyethylene) are the synthetic organic polymers which are commonly produced from high density polyethylene, one of the petroleum derived product. The plastic carrier bags are routinely used for carrying groceries, clothing and other merchandises [1]. It was from late 1970s that the plastic carrier bags have become a common element in our day to day life in this globalized world. The increasing use of plastics, particularly packaging has become a significant source for environmental pollution and creating problems in solid waste management as well as lethal to wild life and human being due to its non-degradability in nature.It is estimated that around 500 billion plastic bags are being used every year worldwide. This widespread utilization is attributed to their cheapness and convenience to use. The vast majority of these bags are discarded as wastes usually after a single use. It has been revealed that after their entry into environment, plastic bags can persist up to 1000 years without being decomposed. Accumulation of plastic bag wastes causes environmental pollution that can be manifested in number of ways. Biological degradation is an attractive, recent and alternative approach to plastic waste management, which is generally a cheaper process, potentially much more efficient and does not produce any hazardous compounds, as in the case of conventional degradation [2]. Additionally, the microbial degradation of polyethylene sheets may yield commercial end products from their biomass [3].There are only three degradative methods including landfill, incineration and recycling are being followed on large scale basis. In the case of direct incineration, the plastics emit poisonous gases such as dioxins, carbon mono-oxide, NO x , SO x and heavy metals [4] in to the atmospheric air. However, as a result the remnants after these treatments causing severe damages to the environment. Landfill AbstractConventional methods of polyethylene degradation including incineration, landfill and chemical treatment are lethal to the neighboring environment by causing hazardous effects on living organisms. A better solution for the complete degradation of polyethylene has not yet been formulated. However, to solve this global issue biological mode of polyethylene degradation may be evaluated and developed in the upcoming future. In this research investigation, microalgae like green algae, blue-green algae and diatoms were isolated from the domestic polyethylene bags dumped in the suburban water bodies and studied for its potency on deterioration of polyethylene. The dumped waste polyethylene bags were collected from three different sites of (Maduravoyal, Vanagaram and Poonamallee) Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Colonized mat of microalgae were isolated from the polyethylene sheets and the most dominant three different groups of microalgae were selected for the biological treatment of LD (low density) and HD (high density) polyethylene sheets. The most dom...

The use of chemical advances to mechanical research, improvement, and assembling has turned into a critical field. Since the creation of rough rennet in 1874, a few catalysts have been marketed, and utilized for restorative, supplementary, and different applications. Late headways in biotechnology now enable organizations to create more secure and more affordable chemicals with upgraded intensity and specificity. Cancer prevention agent catalysts are developing as another expansion to the pool of modern chemicals and are outperforming every single other compound as far as the volume of research and creation. In the 1990s, a cell reinforcement chemical-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was brought into the market. In spite of the fact that the catalyst at first demonstrated extraordinary guarantee in restorative applications, it didn't perform up to desires. Therefore, its utilization was restricted to nontranquilize applications in people and medication applications in creatures. This survey compresses the ascent and fall of SOD at the mechanical level, the purposes behind this, and potential future push territories that should be tended to. The audit likewise concentrates on other modernly significant parts of SOD, for example, mechanical significance, catalyst designing, generation procedures, and process streamlining and scale-up.

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