Analysis of Inter-Species Relationships of \u3cem\u3eOcimum\u3c/em\u3e Species Using RAPD Markers

Genetic interrelationship of seven Ocimum species was estimated using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The 15 selected RAPD primers out of 2 primers were amplified in all Ocimum species. O. basilicum has very close similarity (89%) with O. tenuiflorum and another two species of O. gratissimum and O. micranthum. Our results suggested that genetic relationships in Ocimum species using RAPD banding data may be useful for plant improvement and an efficient way to conserve genetic resources of Ocimum species, in addition to their effective medicinal uses

Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration of \u3cem\u3eVigna mungo\u3c/em\u3e (L.) Hepper via Half Seed Explant

The present study optimized the regeneration protocol by using half seed explant in Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper organogenesis. Half seed explants were inoculated onto B5 medium supplemented with kinetin (4.7 μM to 23.5 μM), 6- benzyladenine (4.4 μM to 22.2 μM), naphthaleneacetic acid (5.4 μM to 27.0 μM), indolebutyric acid (4.9 μM to 24.5 μM) and 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (4.5 μM to 22.5 μM). Callus initiation was observed in all media evaluated and the highest cell proliferation was obtained from explants cultivated in the presence of 13.3 μM BAP and 13.5 μM 2,4-D. Shoot induction was obtained from callus induced on 13.3 μM BAP and 13.5 μ 2,4-D at 6 weeks after transferring the callus to a B5 medium supplemented with 13.3 μM BAP. Roots were induced from shoots on B5 media with indolebutyric acid (IBA, 14.7 μM) and then regenerated plants were hardened and acclimated in greenhouse conditions

Studies on \u3cem\u3eIn Vitro\u3c/em\u3e Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanol Extract of \u3cem\u3eRauvolfia tetraphylla\u3c/em\u3e

The antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract obtained from Rauvolfia tetraphylla was tested against bacterial species of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus lactis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, and fungal species of Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria helianthii, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium spp. Better antimicrobial activity was observed when the extracts showed maximum activity against E. coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Alcaligenes faecalis. Among different fungi tested, A. niger and Penicillium spp were found to be more sensitive to crude extract when compared to others

Production of Phenylacetylcarbinol in a Stand Still Condition Using Two Phase System by Applying Yeast Cells Capable of Fermenting Dried Ephedra Extract and Molass as Biocatalysts

Microbial Biotransformation of benzaldehyde to L Phenylacetylcarbinol (L-PAC) as a key intermediate for L-ephedrine synthesis has been evaluated using immobilized Hansenula polymorpha. The cultivation of 10 ml Hansenula anomala inoculum for 48 h in the cultivation medium with glucose as a sole carbon source resulted in the highest ethanol concentration of 10.6 ± 0.53 g/l. This was followed by Hansenula polymorpha (4.06 ± 0.20 g/l) and Brettanomyces lambicus (2.94 ± 0.15 g/l), respectively. The cultivation using 100 ml dried Ephedra  extract and molass in 1:1 ratio as a sole carbon source showed that microbes with ability to consume glucose, fructose and sucrose released high level of ethanol (g/l) included Hansenula polymorpha (43.4 ± 4.0), (41.8 ± 1.2) and Hansenula anomala (38.1 ± 2.5). A biotransformation experiment was conducted using wet biomass of 3.06 g/l dry biomass equivalent from the medium with dried Ephedra extract and molass in 1:1 ratio as carbon source. After the two phase system was stood aside for 24 h, Hansenula polymorpha generated an overall R-phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) concentration of 3.97 and 3.72 mM at 4 OC and 35OC which was followed by Hansenula polymorpha (3.04 and 3.73 mM), Brettanomyces lambicus (1.24 and 2.98 mM) as well as Hansenula anomala (0.86 and 0.07 mM)

Phytochemical based strategies for pathogen control and Antioxidant Capacities of Rauwolfia serpentina Extracts

Rauwolfia serpentina (Apocynaceae) is used among rural Indian communities to treat arthritis, skin cancer, burns, eczema, psoriasis, digestive problems, high blood pressure, sedative and diabetes, despite very little supporting scientific evidence. Due to increased interest by both the scientific community and industry regarding the medicinal uses of this plant species, we identified, quantified and compared the phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacities of extracts of Rauwolfia serpentina. Apart from extensively characterizing this medicinal plant with regards to its organic acid, polyphenols/phenolic acid, alcohol, aldehyde, ketone, alkane, pyrimidine, indole, alkaloid, phytosterol, fatty acid and dicarboxylic acid contents and antioxidant capacities, we describe a modified extraction procedure for the purpose of general phytochemical characterization, and compare this to a aqueous ethanol extraction technique. From the results it is clear that Rauwolfia serpentina contains a variety of compounds with confirmed antioxidant capacity and other putative health benefits relating to the prevention or treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and hypertension. The results also indicate that separate extractions of the Leaf extracts, better serve for general phytochemical characterization purposes, hence justifying its use for biological in vivo efficacy studies

Phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity of extract from the leaves of Ocimum basilicum

Ocimum basilicum leaf extracts of were investigated for phytochemical constituent and antioxidant activity. Tests for tannins, steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were positive in both ethanolic and aqueous extracts. The ethanolic extract of O. basilicum had a DPPH scavenging activity of 85.2% at 250μg/ml and a reductive potential of 0.79 at 100 μg/ml. These values were comparable with those of gallic acid, 91.1% at 250 μg/ml and ascorbic acid, 0.76 at 60 μg/ml as standards for DPPH scavenging activity and reductive potential, respectively. These findings suggest that the rich phytochemical content of O. basilicum and its good antioxidant activity may be responsible for its popular and wide traditional use

Micropropagation and conservation of selected endangered anticancer medicinal plants from the Western Ghats of India

Globally, cancer is a constant battle which severely affects the human population. The major limitations of the anticancer drugs are the deleterious side effects on the quality of life. Plants play a vital role in curing many diseases with minimal or no side effects. Phytocompounds derived from various medicinal plants serve as the best source of drugs to treat cancer. The global demand for phytomedicines is mostly reached by the medicinal herbs from the tropical nations of the world even though many plant species are threatened with extinction. India is one of the mega diverse countries of the world due to its ecological habitats, latitudinal variation, and diverse climatic range. Western Ghats of India is one of the most important depositories of endemic herbs. It is found along the stretch of south western part of India and constitutes rain forest with more than 4000 diverse medicinal plant species. In recent times, many of these therapeutically valued herbs have become endangered and are being included under the red-listed plant category in this region. Due to a sharp rise in the demand for plant-based products, this rich collection is diminishing at an alarming rate that eventually triggered dangerous to biodiversity. Thus, conservation of the endangered medicinal plants has become a matter of importance. The conservation by using only in situ approaches may not be sufficient enough to safeguard such a huge bio-resource of endangered medicinal plants. Hence, the use of biotechnological methods would be vital to complement the ex vitro protection programs and help to reestablish endangered plant species. In this backdrop, the key tools of biotechnology that could assist plant conservation were developed in terms of in vitro regeneration, seed banking, DNA storage, pollen storage, germplasm storage, gene bank (field gene banking), tissue bank, and cryopreservation. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to critically review major endangered medicinal plants that possess anticancer compounds and their conservation aspects by integrating various biotechnological tool