Nostoc muscorum required an active proline oxidase in order to assimilate exogenous proline as a source of fixed nitrogen. A mutant strain (Acr) resistant to growth inhibition by L‐azetidine‐2‐carboxylate (AC) was found to be deficient in proline oxidase activity, and to be a proline overaccumulator. Proline overaccumulation, resulting either from mutational acquisition of the Acr phenotype or from salinity‐inducible uptake of exogenous proline, conferred enhanced salinity tolerance in this cyanobacterium.

Background. Depression is a psychiatric disorder leading to anhedonia and lack of interest and motivation. Depressive symptoms are triggered by stressful life events, and patients with major depression are at significantly increased risk of attempting suicide. The crucial concern in depression treatment with antidepressant medications is that few weeks are required to show the therapeutic effect along with moderate side effects. The use of herbal medications is a new strategy for the treatment of depression which is often based on medicinal plants.Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. (family: Rutaceae) is reported to have several actions on the central nervous system producing beneficial effects in anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and convulsion. Thus, the current investigation designed to assess the antidepressant activity of the standardized hydroethanolic extract of Aegle marmelos (EAM) leaves in male rats exposed to the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) paradigm. Methods. Rats were divided in 5 groups. The control group was not subjected to experimental CUMS paradigm, while 4 other groups were subjected to CUMS paradigm to induce depression-like behaviour from day 1 to day 28. Following the CUMS paradigm, 4 groups were divided as CUMS disease control, CUMS+EAM (150 mg/kg, p.o.), CUMS+EAM (300 mg/kg, p.o.), and CUMS+imipramine (15 mg/kg, p.o.), and treatment was given for seven consecutive days to the respective groups (day 29 to day 35). Behavioural parameters such as open field test, forced swim test, sucrose feeding test, and tail suspension test on day 1, day 28, and day 35 were measured, and biochemical parameters such as plasma corticosterone level, serotonergic system (5-HT, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/5-HIAA), mitochondrial function, and proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were estimated in hippocampus (HIP) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions of the brain on day 35, after the behavioural observations. On the other hand, phytochemical profile of Aegle marmelos was done. Results. On day 35, EAM (300 mg/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time during the tail suspension test from 208.66 ± 4.72   s to 108.83 ± 4.81   s and forced swim test from 200.16 ± 4.12   s to 148.5 ± 4.58   s . It also enhanced the behavioural parameters in the open field test such as ambulation from 26.5 ± 2.14 to 56.5 ± 1.80 , rearing from 8.33 ± 0.71 to 19 ± 0.57 , time spent in centre from 9.16 ± 0.9 to 17.16 ± 0.79   s , total distance travelled from 2.36 ± 0.12 to 4.68 ± 0.10   m , and anhedonia in the sucrose feeding test from 109.33 ± 1.08 to 135.83 ± 3.91   mL . The stimulation of the HPA axis resulting elevated corticosterone level caused by CUMS was reduced by EAM (300 mg/kg) from 80.12 ± 2.020 to 48.25 ± 2.407   μ g / dL . Furthermore, EAM (300 mg/kg) increase CUMS-induced changes in serotonin (5-HT) level in HIP and PFC from 3.132 ± 0.09586 to 4.518 ± 0.1812 and 4.308 ± 0.1593 to 5.262 ± 0.1014   ng / mg protein, respectively. EAM (300 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the CUMS-induced changes in proinflammatory cytokine production and mitochondrial function in HIP and PFC. One group used to determine the acute toxicity as per OECD-23 standard protocol which resulted that 300 mg/kg EAM has no significant acute toxicity. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of standardized hydroalcoholic extract of AM was found 95.024 ± 2.431 and 36.820 ± 3.41 , respectively, and additional identification tests showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Conclusion. On the basis of findings, EAM can be inferred as a potential antidepressant-like effect of this plan in preclinical research.

SUMMARYSpontaneous mutation of the cyanohacterium Nostoc muscorum to a caesium resistant {Cs^-R) phenotype resulted in severe impairment of its nitrogenase activity, oxygenic photosynthesis, chlorophyll a content and osmotolerance. Among alkali cations only Cs^ or Rb^ restored these physiological processes to an almost normal level. Parent and mutant were similar wdth respect to Cs^ or Rb^ uptake and accumulation and also to regulation by NH^"^. The ions Na^ or K^, at much higher concentration, significantly influenced Cs^ uptake and accumulation in both the mutant and the parent. These findings have important implications for cyanobacteria growing in Cs^-poUuted habitats.

Background: Holoptelea integrifolia has been used for a long time in traditional medicine to cure inflammatory pain. The goal of the current research was to consider the anti-inflammatory activity and phytochemicals study of both the extracts of the stem bark of Holoptelea integrifolia. Methods: Anti-inflammatory potential was figure out in Carrageenan and Histamine models at 200 mg/kg doses. Apart from this, we have evaluated parameters like paw edema body weight, locomotor activity, hematological, biochemical assessment, etc. Results: Qualitative chemical test investigation of both the extracts of H. integrifolia stem bark acknowledge the presence of proteins, amino acids, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavenoids. The 200 mg/kg, p.o dose of the extract showed remarked (P < 0.05) dose-dependent inhibition of edema formation. Both the ethanolic extract (200 mg/ kg, b. w) and aqueous extract (200 mg/ kg, b. w) of H. integrifolia stem bark showed remarked anti-inflammatory properties in comparison to reference drug Ibuprofen. In the Carrageenan model, the ethanolic extract has good anti-inflammatory activity than the aqueous extract. So, the ethanolic extract of stem bark of H. integrifolia is used to combat inflammation alone or with other conventional anti-inflammatory agents to treat different inflammatory disorders. Conclusion: Taken together, these results support the traditional use of Holoptelea integrifolia as a potent anti-inflammatory agent that may be proposed for the treatment of inflammatory pain.

Objective. Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological illnesses defined by periodic seizures with or without loss of consciousness caused by aberrant neural activity. There are many allopathic medications available for the treatment of epilepsy such as phenytoin (PHY), but the side effects are a major concern. Therefore, the present study involved the evaluation of the pharmacological significance of Amaranthus viridis L. extract (EAV) in the management of strychnine (STR)-induced epilepsy. Method. STR (3.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected into male rats 30 minutes after the pre-treatment of a standard drug (PHY: 20 mg/kg) and the two doses of EAV (EAV-200 and EAV-400 mg/kg, p.o.) to the respective groups to cause the convulsions. The anti-convulsant effect of EAV-200 and EAV-400 against STR-induced convulsion in rats was investigated in terms of convulsion onset, duration of convulsions, number of convulsions, and convulsion score. Furthermore, the mitochondrial function and integrity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (PFC) were also estimated. Results. EAV-400 significantly increased the onset of convulsion from 61.67 ± 3.051 to 119.2 ± 2.738 and reduced the STR-induced duration of convulsions from 144.8 ± 3.582 to 69.17 ± 3.736 , number of convulsions from 4.000 ± 0.1592 to 1.533 ± 0.1542 , and convulsion score from 5.000 ± 0.3651 to 2.833 ± 0.3073 in rats. EAV-400 significantly attenuated the STR-induced decrease in the mitochondrial function and integrity of the rat PFC. In rats, EAV-400 significantly accelerated the onset of convulsions while decreasing the STR-induced duration, frequency, and score. Conclusion. Based on investigational findings, EAV-400 could be inferred to be a possible anti-epileptic option for the treatment of epilepsy of this plan in preclinical research.