Applied Botany

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.

The major part of Eastern Ghats comes under the state of Tamil Nadu. It is spread over three States of India, namely Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The author had collected this species the first time in localities of Odamandurai odai, Karanthamalai hills, Dindigul district of Eastern Ghats, form the shady places and River margins. Recorded only from North of Tamil Nadu, the present collection assumes significance as the first report of an extended distribution to central Tamil Nadu.

An attempt has been made to determine a distribution pattern of watermoulds in slightly acidic (pH 6.5 – 7.0), near neutral (pH 7.0 – 7.5), slightly alkaline (pH 7.5 – 8.0) and moderately alkaline (pH 8.0 – 8.5) soils in Gorakhpur (India). The watermoulds, belonging to Saprolegniaceae and Blastocladiaceae families, have shown a variable occurrence in the soils of varying pH from slightly acidic to moderately alkaline. Pythiopsis cymosa has been classified under slightly acidic soil type whereas Allomyces arbuscula, Allomyces moniliformis and Allomyces javanicus, all belonging to family Blastocladiaceae, have been found to be distributed within slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.5 – 7.5) soils. Saprolegnia diclina and Saprolegnia ferax were restricted to neutral to slightly alkaline (7.0 – 8.0) soil pH whereas Achlya orion, Achlya diffusa and Brevilegnia spp. (unidentified species of Brevilegnia) have been classified as constant type. The present studies indicate Aphanomyces laevis to be characteristic of neutral to moderately alkaline (7.0 – 8.5 pH) soils and Brevilegnia bispora and Brevilegnia indica as slightly alkaline type (7.5 – 8.0 pH). In vitro variable pH experiments have shown that the watermoulds itself modify the pH of the medium and, then develop different stages of their life cycle or vice versa. Temperature has been found to modify the pH of pure water, pond water and soil-extract water and therefore, this distinctly identifies the importance of temperature in pH mediated distribution of watermoulds.

Antioxidant activity of petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol extracts of the root of mangrove herb Suaeda monaica have been tested using various antioxidant model system viz, DPPH, hydroxyl, superoxide, ABTS and reducing power. Methanol extract of Suaeda monaica is found to possess higher DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Ethanol and methanol extracts of Suaeda monaica exhibited highest superoxide and ABTS radical cation scavenging activity. Methanol extract of root of Suaeda monaica showed the highest reducing ability. This study indicates significant free radical scavenging potential of Suaeda monaica root which can be exploited for the treatment of various free radical mediated ailments.

Wetlands are the sites of natural succession and therefore contain all the groups of plant kingdom in a single place. The present paper encompasses the floristic account of Pteridophytes occur in wetland of Gorakhpur and adjacent districts of Uttar Pradesh. In this region, varies wetlands like Ramgarh Tal, Tura Nala, Salona Tal, Narya Tal, and Ratoi Tal and varies small water bodies. A total of 20 Pteridophytes species were recorded from the wetland.

Study on the relationship between alkaloid yield and it’s components will improve the efficiency of breeding programs to select the appropriate mutant with higher economy to fulfill the world demand for vincristine and vinblastine, with a view of it’s clinical importance. The comparative study on the morphometric variations on the mutants of C. roseus revealed that plant height and pollen diameter is positively correlated with each other through character correlation. The relative importance of each agronomical component in determining alkaloid yield in mutants of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. is achieved by partitioning into direct and indirect effects through path co-efficient analysis. The number of leaves and dry matter yield has direct effect on alkaloid yield with increased number of follicle/ plant. The increment in number of leaves/ plant resulted in increase dry matter yield with higher alkaloid yield. The vindoline, catharanthine and vincristine have direct effect but vinblastine pose indirect effect on alkaloid yield.

Airspora constitutes fungal spores, pollen, bacteria, hyphal fragments, insect’s scales, etc. Some of them are toxic and causing serious health hazards in human being, as well due to their higher concentration in the air creates environmental pollution. Among them fungal forms were taken into consideration to find out the status of various types of allergic and pathogenic spores at various places and their role in causing health hazards to plants and human beings. In vegetables and fruit market, airspora contain mostly fungal spores which are known to cause the diseases to vegetables and fruits and various allergies to human beings. The present aerobiological investigation was carried out by using Rotorod air Sampler for the period of one year. Total 17 fungal forms were recorded during the study period. Aspergillus (12.2%), Rhizopus (8.3%), Exosporium (7.7%), Sporidesmium (6.8%) and Curvularia (5.7%) were recorded as the predominant forms whereas Alternaria, Bispora, Heterosporium, etc. were found with comparatively less concentration. It was observed the concentration of the spores in the air varies from season to season probably due to variation in meteorological parameters. The dominance of name of the fungi in the air of vegetables and fruit market indicates their possible role in the damage of vegetables and fruits. The vegetables and fruit market environment had higher population of Aspergillus and Penicillium indicating possible source of contamination. Fungal spores are one of the chief components of aeromycoflora known to induce various allergic disorders in human beings.

Biochemical studies of the individual plant parts is a necessary prerequisite in order to evaluate their importance in the over all metabolism of the plant .The use of traditional medicines and medicinal plants in most developing countries, is basis for the maintenance of good health. Laboratory evaluations were made to assess the phytochemical screening and quantification of primary metabolites in Withania somnifera and Sida cordifolia. It contains higher soluble sugars in leaves, starch in stem, lipid in stem, phenol in leaves as compared to other parts of the plant. Cellular damage or oxidative injury arising from free radicals or reactive oxygen species (ROS) now appears to be the fundamental mechanism underlying a number of human neurodegenerative disorders.

Zn-contaminated soils were rated for various levels of available (DTPA extractable) Zn viz. 0.42, 2.8, 4.5, 9.6 and 26.3 ppm and used to grow wheat (Tritium aestivum Linn.) plants. Effect of these soils on growth (length and dry matter production), visible symptoms of toxicity and biochemical constituents (protein, pigments and sugar contents and catalase activity) of wheat were evaluated. Plants grown at high Zn-contaminated soil (26.3 ppm) had visible symptoms of toxicity such as decreased growth, chlorosis and tip burning of young leaves and reduced leaf lamina. Length and dry matter yield of wheat were increased maximum at 4.5 ppm available Zn in soil. Pigment, sugar and protein contents were also stimulated upto 4.5 ppm of available Zn, whereas these values decreased with increase in Zn levels in soil. Antioxidative defense systems with respect to carotenoids and protein contents and catalase activity favoured the dry weight production in wheat which were grown at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil. Study revealed the tolerance of wheat found maximum at 4.5 ppm of available Zn in soil, where as tissue concentrations of root and shoot were 30.6 and 35.6 µg Zn g-1 of dry weight, respectively. High Zn concentrations (9.6 and 26.3 ppm) were not stimulatory to the wheat growth reduced biochemical constituents in cells and produced visible symptoms of toxicity in wheat.

This experiment was conducted in a controlled environment, to evaluate the effects of Pre-treatment salts different on the characteristics of seeds cannabis (Cannabis sativa) implemented. Experiment was carried out as completely randomized design with 4 replications. Pre-treatment included: potassium nitrate (1%), potassium phosphate (1%), sodium chloride (1%) and distilled water which was the control experiment. Seeds were submerged for 72 hours with aeration in treatments then seeds dried and number of 50 seeds was on filter paper 30 x 30 towel method. The results indicated in the pre-treatments, most positive effect on the germination coefficient of cannabis plant was potassium phosphate, in other words, the seeds in less time, had the highest percentage of germination. Potassium phosphate and sodium chloride treatments in cannabis have a positive effect on root length and shoot length. The coefficient correlation plant cannabis showed that the number of normal seedling with root length (r=0/683**) and shoot length (r=0/643**) was significant positive correlation, and significant negative correlation with the number of abnormal seedlings, and not significant correlation have with other traits. According to results, the pre-treatment for 72 h with potassium phosphate 1% Seeds Cannabis recommended.