For UV irradiation, the prepared samples in solution form
were spread uniformly on a sterile oval aluminum plates
(diameter 15×15 cm) and then exposed to a UV light source
(253.7 nm; 30 W; lamp type G40T10; Sankyo-Denki Co.,
Tokyo, Japan) in a laminar flow cabinet at a distance of
30 cm from the surface (Pro-Lab, Stratford Upon Avon UK)
for a time period of 60 min. The wavelength of 253.7 nm is
routinely used in UV irradiation studies (Wallner-Pendleton
et al. 1994). The time period of exposure was based on
results of one of our earlier studies (Bhat and Karim
2008). On an average, the solution received a UV radiation
dose of 2.158 J/m2.