Assessment of anti bacterial screening of Pongamia pinnata stem against bacterial species: An In-vitro approach

Numerous studies have shown that aromatic and medicinal plants are sources of diverse nutrient and non-nutrient molecules which protect the human body against various pathogens. Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and a large number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources. Herbal medicine is the oldest known healthcare system known to mankind. India has rich medicinal plants of nearly 7500 species. Many medicinal plants were with a long history of use in folk medicine against a variety of diseases. Recently, many researchers have taken a great interest on medicinal plants for their phytochemical constituents and biological activities including anti microbial activity. The anti bacterial activity of the ethanolic crude stem extract of Pongamia pinnata against four bacterial species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli) was investigated, using agar diffusion technique. At concentrations ranging from 10-40 mg/mL, the ethanolic crude extract showed activity against the four bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and E. coli) from 2 mm-20 mm, after 24 hours incubation. The present study showed the effectiveness of the crude plant extract against the tested bacterial strains and indicates the potential use of the extract as anti bacterial agent for the control of infectious diseases. Keywords:  Pongamia pinnata, anti bacterial activity, agar diffusion technique, bacterial strains, chloramphenicol

Assessment of anti-oxidant activity of Ficus benghalensis leaves: an In-vitro design

Background: Medicinal plants represent a rich source of natural anti-oxidants. The traditional medicine involves the use of different plant extracts of bioactive constituents. Ficus benghalensis is a large evergreen tree found throughout India. It is commonly called Banyan tree. It is used in traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda and homoeopathy. Ficus is a huge tropical deciduous or evergreen tree with more than 800 species. Objective: Anti-oxidant effect of ethnomedicinal important plant species Ficus benghalensis (Family-Moraceae) was screened. The aim of this study was to assess the in-vitro potential of methanolic extract of Ficus benghalensis leaves as a natural anti-oxidant. Method: Assessment of in vitro anti-oxidant activity of methanolic leaves extract of Ficus benghalensis was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Results: The methanolic extract of Ficus benghalensis leaves demonstrates a remarkable amount of phenolic content (54 μg/ml of GAE/100gm of extract) by using Folin-ciocalteu reagent. In-vitro anti-oxidant activity of methanolic leaves extract of Ficus benghalensis was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, which showed significant anti-oxidant activity compared to standard anti-oxidant (ascorbic acid). A direct correlation between total phenol and anti-oxidant activity indicates polyphenols are the main anti-oxidants. Conclusion: These findings suggest the excellent medicinal bio-activity of Ficus benghalensis and explain the popularity of this plant in the folk medicine as a remedy for different disorders, thus supporting its folklore application as preventive remedy as an anti-oxidant. The present study shows that Ficus benghalensis leaves have radical scavenging activity and can be considered as good sources of natural anti-oxidants for medicinal and commercial uses. Keywords: Ficus benghalensis, anti-oxidant, DPPH scavenging activity, Folin-ciocalteu reagent

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of phytoene desaturase in pigeonpea and groundnut

The CRISPR/Cas9 technology, renowned for its ability to induce precise genetic alterations in various crop species, has encountered challenges in its application to grain legume crops such as pigeonpea and groundnut. Despite attempts at gene editing in groundnut, the low rates of transformation and editing have impeded its widespread adoption in producing genetically modified plants. This study seeks to establish an effective CRISPR/Cas9 system in pigeonpea and groundnut through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, with a focus on targeting the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene. The PDS gene is pivotal in carotenoid biosynthesis, and its disruption leads to albino phenotypes and dwarfism. Two constructs (one each for pigeonpea and groundnut) were developed for the PDS gene, and transformation was carried out using different explants (leaf petiolar tissue for pigeonpea and cotyledonary nodes for groundnut). By adjusting the composition of the growth media and refining Agrobacterium infection techniques, transformation efficiencies of 15.2% in pigeonpea and 20% in groundnut were achieved. Mutation in PDS resulted in albino phenotype, with editing efficiencies ranging from 4 to 6%. Sequence analysis uncovered a nucleotide deletion (A) in pigeonpea and an A insertion in groundnut, leading to a premature stop codon and, thereby, an albino phenotype. This research offers a significant foundation for the swift assessment and enhancement of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing technologies in legume crops