Effect of growth regulators on multiplication and alkaloid production of narcissus tazetta var. italicus in tissue culture

Two aspects of micropropagation of Narcissus tazetta, viz., contamination during initiation and multiplication were examined. A 30 min hot water treatment (HWT) of bulb segments at 40°C reduced contamination during initiation from 50% to less than 15%. After the HWT at 40°C, all explants survived and new shoot formation occurred in almost 100% of the explants, a noticeable increase relative to 70% in the nontreated control. The auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobezoic acid (TIBA) significantly (p < 0.01) increased shoot formation from twin scale explants. Fluridone, an inhibitor of strigolactone biosynthesis, increased shoot formation from scale explants a little. Newly formed shoots were rooted in vitro on medium with 0.5 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Plantlets with well-developed root and shoot systems were successfully acclimated (90%). They exhibited normal morphology and growth characteristics. Callus was initiated on different concentration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). In vitro tissues were screened for the production of alkaloids. In nondifferentiated callus, small amounts of galantamine occurred, which increased with tissue differentiation

Antibacterial Activity of Polygonum plebejum and Euphorbia hirta Against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The agar diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia hirta (EH) and Polygonum plebeium (PP) against S.aureus , B39. Ethyl acetate extract of Euphorbia hirta (EH) and Polygonum plebejum (PP),was the most effective solvent. MIC of plant extract Polygonum plebeium (PP) and Euphorbia hirta (EH) was 25mg/ ml. The antimicrobial activity of ethyl acetate extract of E. hirta (EH) and P. plebeium (PP) was more effective when incubated at 25°C for 10 min with MRSA, B39; pH 5 was more effective against MRSA, B39. Light condition for 24hr was effective against MRSA, B39; Static condition had slight effectiveness against MRSA, B39. Xylose exhibited the highest activity on MRSA, B39; no amino acids, metallic ions and vitamins were effective. Ethyl acetate extract of E. hirta (EH) was subjected to column chromatography and monitored with TLC, 5 spots were detected. Anti MRSA spots were identified as Hydroquinone and O-coumaric acid

Antileukemic α-pyrone derivatives from the endophytic fungus

Four new (-) and two known ( and ) α-pyrone derivatives have been isolated from , an endophytic fungus from , leaves. The isolated compounds were chemically identified to be 5-butyl-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyran-2-one (), 5-butyl-6-(hydroxymethyl)-4-methoxy-2-pyran-2-one (), 5-(1-hydroxybutyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyran-2-one (), 4-methoxy-6-methyl-5-(3-oxobutyl)-2-pyran-2-one (), 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyran-2-one (), and 5-[(2)-but-2-en-1-yl]-4-methoxy-6-methyl-2-pyran-2-one (). Compounds and showed moderate antileukemic activities against HL60 cells with IC values of 2.2 and 0.9 μM and against K562 cells with IC values of 4.5 and 1.5 μM, respectively