Rishu Kalra - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Rishu Kalra
Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2021
Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of ... more Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of any country with pests, such as plant pathogens, weeds, insects, nematodes and animal, imposing a major threat to the overall productivity. Approximately 25% of the total crop production worldwide is damaged due to these weeds, animal and microbial pest attacks and thus application of agrochemicals to enhance crop productivity has become an integral part of agriculture practices. Beyond their desired activity these chemical pesticides have been associated with side effects that their direct impact on human health, soil and water quality and the residue having immensurable impact on the environment. Due to the severe side effects associated with synthetic pesticides, integrated pest management crop health practices have been developed to use biological products with allelopathic activity as pesticides. Here, we review lichen diversity, allelopathic potential from different lichen species ...
Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) is a well-known epiphytic lichen commonly used i... more Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) is a well-known epiphytic lichen commonly used in Indian spice mixtures and food preparations such as curries. This study is an attempt to find the best extraction methodology with respect to extractive yield, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of lichen P. furfuracea. Two phenolic compounds, atraric acid and olivetoric acid were isolated and quantified in their respective extracts with the aid of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The highest concentration of both the compounds, atraric acid (4.89 mg/g DW) and olivetoric acid (11.46 mg/g DW) were found in 70% methanol extract. A direct correlation was also observed between the concentrations of these compounds with the free radical scavenging potential of the extracts which might contribute towards the antioxidant potential of the extract. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy and HPLC analysis which was ...
Thousands of patients with dreadful diseases are treated every year with medicines obtained from ... more Thousands of patients with dreadful diseases are treated every year with medicines obtained from fungi. In fact, the medicinal value of fungal metabolites has been known for centuries. However, there has been an unprecedented change in the pattern and prevalence of mycotic infections in humans due to opportunistic and pathogenic fungi during the last 15–20 years. The increased use of aggressive and invasive monitoring technologies has resulted in the improved survival of patients with life-threatening fungal infections, but it has significantly increased the incidence of invasive fungal infections. Neurodegenerative diseases have debatably become one of the most dreaded diseases in elderly people, which is characterized by the aggregation of the misfolded proteins in the central nervous system. This serves as a common neuropathological hallmark for many neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, an involvement of the fungal proteins, DNA, and polysaccharide was found in the generation of...
National Academy Science Letters
Fungal endophytes of Plectranthus amboinicus L. were explored for their antifungal activity again... more Fungal endophytes of Plectranthus amboinicus L. were explored for their antifungal activity against phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and plant-growth-enhancing traits. Fungal isolates were genotyped using the ITS-rDNA regions. Chaetomium subglobosum exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition of 80% against phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in dual-culture bioassay carried out in czapek dox medium. Of the various plant-growth-enhancing traits evaluated in endophytic isolates, C. subglobosum was found to be positive for HCN, IAA, siderophore and ammonia production. None of the endophytic isolates were able to solubilise phosphate in in vitro conditions. IAA was produced by C. subglobosum, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum as characterised qualitatively by RP-HPLC. Highest quantity of IAA (97 ng/ml) was secreted by Fusarium oxysporum as detected through spectrophotometric analysis at 530 nm.
Frontiers in Chemistry
The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the ... more The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the environment has raised a strong interest in natural coloring alternatives. As a result the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin is rapidly increasing in the food, cosmetic and textile sectors. Natural colorants have the capacity to be used for a variety of industrial applications, for instance, as dyes for textile and non-textile substrates such as leather, paper, within paints and coatings, in cosmetics, and in food additives. Currently, pigments and colorants produced through plants and microbes are the primary source exploited by modern industries. Among the other non-conventional sources, filamentous fungi particularly ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi (mushrooms), and lichens (symbiotic association of a fungus with a green alga or cyanobacterium) are known to produce an extraordinary range of colors including several chemical classes of pigments such as melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, and quinines. This review seeks to emphasize the opportunity afforded by pigments naturally found in fungi as a viable green alternative to current sources. This review presents a comprehensive discussion on the capacity of fungal resources such as endophytes, halophytes, and fungi obtained from a range or sources such as soil, sediments, mangroves, and marine environments. A key driver of the interest in fungi as a source of pigments stems from environmental factors and discussion here will extend on the advancement of greener extraction techniques used for the extraction of intracellular and extracellular pigments. The search for compounds of interest requires a multidisciplinary approach and techniques such as metabolomics, metabolic engineering and biotechnological approaches that have potential to deal with various challenges faced by pigment industry.
Phytochemistry Reviews
Agarwood is a valuable oleoresin obtained from wounded tree of various genus of Thymelaeaceae fam... more Agarwood is a valuable oleoresin obtained from wounded tree of various genus of Thymelaeaceae family especially from Aquilaria species. Agarwood is regarded as most treasured non-timber forest product used in fragrances as well as medicines. Quality of agarwood plays an important role to define its commercial value. Different countries use different grading pattern to define the quality of agarwood. More than 250 compounds have been identified so far, mostly sesquiterpenoids, chromones and volatile aromatic compounds. GC-MS is the considered as a best method for the identification of chemical profile of the agarwood by various authors. Present review discusses the various methods used to determine quality of agarwood and chemical constituents of infected agarwood tree.
Frontiers in Microbiology
Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete f... more Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete fungi as a prolific pigment producer unfolds a novel way to obtain these pigments for various applications, including food, cosmetic, and medical use. The presence of very few natural red pigment alternatives in the market also attracts research and industry priorities to unearth novel and sustainable red pigment producers. The present work is an attempt to identify a novel source of red color obtained from endophytic fungi isolated from terrestrial and marine habitats. Based upon the fungal capacity for pigment production, seven isolates of endophytic fungi were recognized as prospective pigment producers. Out of all, fungal isolate CPE04 was selected based upon its capacity to produce profuse extracellular red pigment. The isolate was identified as Talaromyces assiutensis, employing morphological features and phylogenetic characterization by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. ...
Phytochemistry Reviews, 2017
Biocontrol Science and Technology, 2021
Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of ... more Agriculture development remains the most significant and integral part of the economic growth of any country with pests, such as plant pathogens, weeds, insects, nematodes and animal, imposing a major threat to the overall productivity. Approximately 25% of the total crop production worldwide is damaged due to these weeds, animal and microbial pest attacks and thus application of agrochemicals to enhance crop productivity has become an integral part of agriculture practices. Beyond their desired activity these chemical pesticides have been associated with side effects that their direct impact on human health, soil and water quality and the residue having immensurable impact on the environment. Due to the severe side effects associated with synthetic pesticides, integrated pest management crop health practices have been developed to use biological products with allelopathic activity as pesticides. Here, we review lichen diversity, allelopathic potential from different lichen species ...
Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) is a well-known epiphytic lichen commonly used i... more Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf (Parmeliaceae) is a well-known epiphytic lichen commonly used in Indian spice mixtures and food preparations such as curries. This study is an attempt to find the best extraction methodology with respect to extractive yield, total polyphenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content and antioxidant activities of lichen P. furfuracea. Two phenolic compounds, atraric acid and olivetoric acid were isolated and quantified in their respective extracts with the aid of reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The highest concentration of both the compounds, atraric acid (4.89 mg/g DW) and olivetoric acid (11.46 mg/g DW) were found in 70% methanol extract. A direct correlation was also observed between the concentrations of these compounds with the free radical scavenging potential of the extracts which might contribute towards the antioxidant potential of the extract. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy and HPLC analysis which was ...
Thousands of patients with dreadful diseases are treated every year with medicines obtained from ... more Thousands of patients with dreadful diseases are treated every year with medicines obtained from fungi. In fact, the medicinal value of fungal metabolites has been known for centuries. However, there has been an unprecedented change in the pattern and prevalence of mycotic infections in humans due to opportunistic and pathogenic fungi during the last 15–20 years. The increased use of aggressive and invasive monitoring technologies has resulted in the improved survival of patients with life-threatening fungal infections, but it has significantly increased the incidence of invasive fungal infections. Neurodegenerative diseases have debatably become one of the most dreaded diseases in elderly people, which is characterized by the aggregation of the misfolded proteins in the central nervous system. This serves as a common neuropathological hallmark for many neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, an involvement of the fungal proteins, DNA, and polysaccharide was found in the generation of...
National Academy Science Letters
Fungal endophytes of Plectranthus amboinicus L. were explored for their antifungal activity again... more Fungal endophytes of Plectranthus amboinicus L. were explored for their antifungal activity against phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and plant-growth-enhancing traits. Fungal isolates were genotyped using the ITS-rDNA regions. Chaetomium subglobosum exhibited the highest mycelial growth inhibition of 80% against phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in dual-culture bioassay carried out in czapek dox medium. Of the various plant-growth-enhancing traits evaluated in endophytic isolates, C. subglobosum was found to be positive for HCN, IAA, siderophore and ammonia production. None of the endophytic isolates were able to solubilise phosphate in in vitro conditions. IAA was produced by C. subglobosum, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum as characterised qualitatively by RP-HPLC. Highest quantity of IAA (97 ng/ml) was secreted by Fusarium oxysporum as detected through spectrophotometric analysis at 530 nm.
Frontiers in Chemistry
The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the ... more The growing concern over the harmful effects of synthetic colorants on both the consumer and the environment has raised a strong interest in natural coloring alternatives. As a result the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin is rapidly increasing in the food, cosmetic and textile sectors. Natural colorants have the capacity to be used for a variety of industrial applications, for instance, as dyes for textile and non-textile substrates such as leather, paper, within paints and coatings, in cosmetics, and in food additives. Currently, pigments and colorants produced through plants and microbes are the primary source exploited by modern industries. Among the other non-conventional sources, filamentous fungi particularly ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi (mushrooms), and lichens (symbiotic association of a fungus with a green alga or cyanobacterium) are known to produce an extraordinary range of colors including several chemical classes of pigments such as melanins, azaphilones, flavins, phenazines, and quinines. This review seeks to emphasize the opportunity afforded by pigments naturally found in fungi as a viable green alternative to current sources. This review presents a comprehensive discussion on the capacity of fungal resources such as endophytes, halophytes, and fungi obtained from a range or sources such as soil, sediments, mangroves, and marine environments. A key driver of the interest in fungi as a source of pigments stems from environmental factors and discussion here will extend on the advancement of greener extraction techniques used for the extraction of intracellular and extracellular pigments. The search for compounds of interest requires a multidisciplinary approach and techniques such as metabolomics, metabolic engineering and biotechnological approaches that have potential to deal with various challenges faced by pigment industry.
Phytochemistry Reviews
Agarwood is a valuable oleoresin obtained from wounded tree of various genus of Thymelaeaceae fam... more Agarwood is a valuable oleoresin obtained from wounded tree of various genus of Thymelaeaceae family especially from Aquilaria species. Agarwood is regarded as most treasured non-timber forest product used in fragrances as well as medicines. Quality of agarwood plays an important role to define its commercial value. Different countries use different grading pattern to define the quality of agarwood. More than 250 compounds have been identified so far, mostly sesquiterpenoids, chromones and volatile aromatic compounds. GC-MS is the considered as a best method for the identification of chemical profile of the agarwood by various authors. Present review discusses the various methods used to determine quality of agarwood and chemical constituents of infected agarwood tree.
Frontiers in Microbiology
Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete f... more Considering the worldwide demand for colorants of natural origin, the utilization of ascomycete fungi as a prolific pigment producer unfolds a novel way to obtain these pigments for various applications, including food, cosmetic, and medical use. The presence of very few natural red pigment alternatives in the market also attracts research and industry priorities to unearth novel and sustainable red pigment producers. The present work is an attempt to identify a novel source of red color obtained from endophytic fungi isolated from terrestrial and marine habitats. Based upon the fungal capacity for pigment production, seven isolates of endophytic fungi were recognized as prospective pigment producers. Out of all, fungal isolate CPE04 was selected based upon its capacity to produce profuse extracellular red pigment. The isolate was identified as Talaromyces assiutensis, employing morphological features and phylogenetic characterization by internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. ...
Phytochemistry Reviews, 2017