A Review on the diversity of Melon

The species Cucumis melo L. (melon) is a polymorphic taxon encompassing many botanical and horticultural varieties. Melon fruits exhibit substantial variability in their form, shape, skin characters, flesh color, flesh thickness, sweetness, seed cavity, seed size, etc., which reflects in the market value of melon. This existing diversity in melon germplasm leads botanists to propose different classifications at the specific and infraspecific levels. The majority of classifications are based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphologic traits such as flower and fruit characteristics (sex expression, fruit size and shape, fruit skin color, pH, flesh color, taste, aroma, sugar composition, seed size, and shape) were used in the past centuries for melon diversity analysis. Later on, scientists correlate these phenotypic and biochemical traits (Total Soluble Solids, Ascorbic acid content, Titratable acidity, etc.) with genotypic variability by molecular tools. Molecular tools generally used for melon diversity analysis are RAPD, RFLP, AFLP, SSR markers, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP). This article emphasizes the progress of studies in the species Cucumis melo L. and its varieties since 1753. Particular attention has been paid to collect data regarding different horticultural groups of the species, and a recent infraspecific classification of the species has also been outlined. Even though the modern molecular techniques provide new insight to melon classification still there is an existing disparity in these classifications, which could be visible to the scientific world

QUANTIFICATION OF SEED OIL AND EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES IN THE WILD AND CULTIVATED SPECIES OF SESAMUM L. (PEDALIACEAE)

Objective: Seed oil quantity and sesamin concentration in the wild and cultivated species of Sesamum from Kerala viz., Sesamum indicum, S. malabaricum, S. radiatum, S. laciniatum, S. prostratum and S. alatum were estimated in comparison with the commercially released variety, S. indicum var. CO1, along with the antioxidant properties of the species.Methods: The seed oil extract in petroleum ether was assayed to determine sesamin concentration through High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Free radical scavenging and reducing power activities of the oil were assessed by following standard procedures.Results: The percentage of oil content was high (49.62%) in the cultivated species, compared to the wild taxa (23.25%). The concentration of sesamin was high in S. radiatum (6.52 mg/ g) at a retention time of 31 min. The study noticed high antioxidant activity of the seed oil of the wild species, S. radiatum and S. malabaricum, which was at par with that of the cultivated species, S. indicum.Conclusion: The antioxidant assays indicates that the species of Sesamum as a natural source of antioxidant. This property prevalent in the wild species can be of immense use in the manufacturing of therapeutic as well as pharmaceutical combinations such as anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory- drugs.Â

NEUTRACUETICAL EVALUATION OF BOERHAVIA DIFFUSA L.

Objective: Boerhavia diffusa a tropical herb has been a subject of keen interest in phytochemical and pharmacological research due to its excellent medicinal values. The stress and need for quality control and standardisation of medicinal preparations from plants is gaining more importance today in view of the commercialization of drug formulations.Methods: WHO recommends various physicochemical, proximate and nutritive standards so that uniformity in composition and effectiveness is maintained? All the analysis was done using standard protocols.Results: The nutraceutical evaluation of the plant gives an insight into its value as a medicinal as well as highly nutritious one, safe for consumption both as a medicine and as a natural source for antioxidant activities.Conclusion: Thus the present finding suggests that B. diffusa have a promising potential not only to cure ailments but to maintain a healthy life

Partial sequencing of the bottle gourd genome reveals markers useful for phylogenetic analysis and breeding

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bottle gourd [<it>Lagenaria siceraria </it>(Mol.) Standl.] is an important cucurbit crop worldwide. Archaeological research indicates that bottle gourd was domesticated more than 10,000 years ago, making it one of the earliest plants cultivated by man. In spite of its widespread importance and long history of cultivation almost nothing has been known about the genome of this species thus far.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report here the partial sequencing of bottle gourd genome using the 454 GS-FLX Titanium sequencing platform. A total of 150,253 sequence reads, which were assembled into 3,994 contigs and 82,522 singletons were generated. The total length of the non-redundant singletons/assemblies is 32 Mb, theoretically covering ~ 10% of the bottle gourd genome. Functional annotation of the sequences revealed a broad range of functional types, covering all the three top-level ontologies. Comparison of the gene sequences between bottle gourd and the model cucurbit cucumber (<it>Cucumis sativus</it>) revealed a 90% sequence similarity on average. Using the sequence information, 4395 microsatellite-containing sequences were identified and 400 SSR markers were developed, of which 94% amplified bands of anticipated sizes. Transferability of these markers to four other cucurbit species showed obvious decline with increasing phylogenetic distance. From analyzing polymorphisms of a subset of 14 SSR markers assayed on 44 representative China bottle gourd varieties/landraces, a principal coordinates (PCo) analysis output and a UPGMA-based dendrogram were constructed. Bottle gourd accessions tended to group by fruit shape rather than geographic origin, although in certain subclades the lines from the same or close origin did tend to cluster.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work provides an initial basis for genome characterization, gene isolation and comparative genomics analysis in bottle gourd. The SSR markers developed would facilitate marker assisted breeding schemes for efficient introduction of desired traits.</p

Not Available

Not AvailableNot AvailableNot Availabl

ANTI NS3 HCV ACTIVITY OF BOERHAVIA DIFFUSA L.: AN IN SILICO ANALYSIS

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases and a leading cause of liver transplantation. There is no unique drug which is uniformly effective against all HCV genotypes. The NS3 HCV protease is essential for the replication of viral RNA. By inhibiting the function of NS3 protease, replication of the viral RNA of HCV can be stopped. This communication reports on the identification and docking efficiency of the active                                                                                                              principle obtained from Boerhavia diffusa, an Indian herb used by ethnic practitioners to treat hepatic diseases.Methods: An in silico docking study was carried out to evaluate the inhibitory potential of bioactive compounds of the plant B. diffusa against HCV NS3 protease by using Discovery studio 4.0. All the ligands were analyzed for Lipinski's rule of five and ADME properties.Results: Phthalic acid, caffeoyltartaric acid, propionic acid, quercetin, 3,5,7,2,5 penta hydroxyl flavones, silanamine and beta-sitosterol significantly bind with HCV NS3 protease with good binding energies -290.59, -246.93, -172.45, -97.37, -94.79, -50.04 and -21.80 Kcal/mol respectively. All these compounds passed Lipinskis rule of five and ADME/T analysis of these compounds showed that they were less toxic and non-mutagenic.Conclusion: The in silico analyses establishes that active principles in B. diffusa inhibit viral replication. In vivo validation of this finding is suggested to optimize their formulation and concentration to develop potential chemical entities for the treatment of HCV infection