Applied Botany

Pesticides or agro-chemicals play a pivot in controlling pests on agricultural and horticultural crops. SEVIN 50% W.D.P. based on carbaryl. 1. Naphthylmethyl carbamate, is a broad spectrum pesticide for control of pests on fruits, vegetables, forage, cotton and other crops, as well as poultry and pets. In order to know the extent of toxicity five different concentrations of the toxicant ( Sevin) are taken – LC0 (2.13 ml. l-1)) , LC10 (2.54 ml. l-1) ), LC50 (3.01 ml. l-1) , LC90 (3.25ml. l-1) , LC100 (3.35 ml. l-1) . Uni -algal, axenic culture of Anabaena cylindrica, Lemm. was inoculated and the survival percentage was determined. The ( LC10 ,LC50 , LC90) three lethal concentrations were chosen to study the differential effects of different concentrations of the pesticide (Sevin) on the blue-green alga, Anabaena cylindrica, Lemm. The changes in the ATPase activity (?g ip liberated hr -1 50 ml culture) of the alga Anabaena cylindrica, exposed to different concentrations of the pesticide, Sevin, at different days of exposure and recovery. The enzyme activity values were far less than the control value and even less than the inoculation day value, except the 3rd day of exposure. No significant recovery was marked, indicating total destruction of the enzyme system in the exposed alga. The percent change in ATPase activity showed non-significant negative correlation with the exposure period in conc. A and B. However, in conc. C, a negative significant (r= -0.974; p < 0.01) correlation was marked. The ATPase activity increased in Conc. A (2.5 ml l -1) up to 12th day of exposure, when compared to the control value and then the enzyme activity decreased. With the increase in pesticide concentration and exposure period, the enzyme activity significantly declined, when compared to the control value. A maximum of 93.5% and 99.1% decrease was recorded on 15th day of exposure and 15th day of recovery in conc. C.

A laboratory investigation was undertaken to explore the production of cellulase enzyme complex and xylanase enzyme in the Boletus edulis, Ganodrema tsugae and Micoporus xanthopus. The result of the study revealed that the exo-B 1,4 glucanase activity, endo B-1,4 glucanase basidiocarp of mushrooms, viz., activity, B-glucosidase activity and xylanase activity were very much pronounced in Ganoderma tsugae (1.791 Umg-1 1.864 Umg-1,1.127 IUmg-1 and 0.142 IUmg-1 enzyme protien) than Boletus edulis (0.555 Umg-1,1.05 Umg-1,0.683 IUmg-1 and 0.063 IUmg-1 enzyme protein)and Microporus xanthopus (1.142Umg-1,1.503 Umg-1, 0.623 IUmg-1& 0.038 IUmg-1 enzyme protein).

Of the 2,900 species of flowering plants in Kotagiri hill of Nilgiri biosphere reserve in Southern India, 126 species from 37 families are endemic, they are listed by plant species.

Abstract: Introduction and objective. The scientific assessment of medicinal plants used in the preparation of folk remedies has contributed modern medicine with effective pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diseases. Objective. The 50% ethonolic extract of solanum xanthocarpum (Solanaceae) whole plant was explored for its hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects on RIF+INH (50 mg/kg) induced acute liver damage in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods. The Whole plant (SX) were further subjected to various phytochemical study and the studies conclude the presence of alkaloids, flavanoids, glycosides, protein & amino acid etc. Hepatoprotection activity was measured by using enzymatic (serum glutamate oxalate transaminase and serum Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (SGOT and SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin and non enzymatic parameters (GSH, LPO, SOD, CAT) produced significantly increased and decreases serum level in a dose dependant manner. Results. The Whole plant extract SX at the doses of (125 mg/kg &250 mg/Kg) significant liver protective effect by decreasing the serum enzymatic and non enzymatic parameters, although Histopathological profile of liver at dose level 125 mg/kg showing hepatic cells with well preserved cytoplasm prominent nucleus, some of central vein and sinusoids exhibited congestion. At the same time fourth group test dose at 250 mg/kg showing well brought out central vein, hepatic cell with well preserved cytoplasm prominent nucleus. Conclusion. These all result recommended that 50% ethonolic extract of whole plant of Solanum xanthocarpum posses significant hepatoprotective activity. Key words: Solanum xanthocarpum, RIF+INH, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Total billirubin.

Temperature influences the life cycle of fruit plant in a variety of manners. Adverse effect of high temperature has been noted during both vegetative and reproductive growth stages in various fruit crops. The best responses for every plant either for vegetative growth or for its reproductive potentials are obtained in the cardinal temperature ranges, which includes minimum, maximum and optimum. The adverse effect of temperature on fruit plants occurs when crosses its limits. These effects are either due to direct injuries or due the reduced activity of enzymes and disturbed metabolic processes.

Plants are utilized as therapeutic agents since time immemorial in both organized (Ayurveda, Unani) and unorganized (folk, tribal, native) form. The ethanolic fruit extract of Cucumis trigonus Roxb of family Cucurbitaceae was used to treat the urolithiasis induced by ethylene glycol. On this course, the extract also repairs the changes that happened in the biochemical parameters urea, uric acid and creatinine in serum and urine of the urolithiatic rats. The ethanol extract (150 mg / kg b.w.) reduced the levels of elevated biochemical parameters in serum and urine significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the toxic groups. The results shown by the ethanol extract (150 mg / kg b.w.) was compared to standard thiazide drug treated group showing no significant difference (p<0.05) and thus exhibited potent antiurolithiatic activity.

Oxidative stress is one of the most popular terms in biomedicine. Oxidative Stress is a general term used to describe the steady state level of oxidative damage in a cell, tissue, or organ, results from an imbalance between radical-generating and radical scavenging systems, i.e. increased free radical production or reduced activity of antioxidant defenses or both. A great number of aromatic, medicinal, spice and other plants contain chemical compounds exhibiting antioxidant properties. In the present study the antioxidant activity and radical scavenging activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Allium sativum Linn. traditionally used by Indian population as folk remedies was evaluated.

Different varieties of groundnut, soybean, sesame, safflower and sunflower were collected from different parts of store houses and market places of Marathwada region of Maharashtra state. By using different agar media mycoflora associated with these oilseed varieties was isolated. It was found that, Ghungru variety of groundnut, KSL-441 variety of soybean, Se1B variety of sesame, Bhima variety of safflower and Kargil variety of sunflower showed maximum incidence of fungi. Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium oxysporum and Macrophomina phaseolina showed minimum growth in presence of Trichoderma harzianum. Growth of Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium chrysogenum and Curvularia lunata was retarded due to Trichoderma viride.

A watermould, isolated from the water samples taken from a ditch near the Botany Department in the campus of M.G. Postgraduate College, Gorakhpur (India), has been identified to be an oömycete having unusual affinities with other groups. The life cycle studies have shown certain typical features and indicated this member to be quite different from the existing seventeen genera of Saprolegniaceae. A stability of the characteristic features has been observed under variable cultural conditions with ± 5% variations.

Holigarna species are medicinal plants that widely used in India but the exactly active component and medicinal activity such as anticancer activity is not well known. In the present study total polyphenols, antioxidants, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of the water and methanolic bark extracts of Holigarna arnottiana and H. ferruginea were analysed by standard protocols. In methanol higher yield extract was obtained when compared to aqueous in both plant species. The antioxidant activity of the bark extracts of two species of Holigarna was found to be in the range of 685 to 1397 mM Fe (II)/g raw material in aqueous and methanolic extract. The results also proved that antioxidant activity is related to plant constituents including polyphenol content in the extract. The methanolic extract showed a good antibacterial activity compared to aqueous extract over Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus, as these pathogens can be controlled using bark extract of both the plants. The methanolic bark extracts exhibited antifungal activity against tested both fungal pathogens.The cell lines treated with methanolic extract possessed higher percentage of cell viability compared to aqueous extracts in both the plant species. Up to 50µg/mL of methanolic bark extract, the viability is above 60% then it decreases and inhibition increases and thereby proved its anticancer activity.