Secondary xylary features in proving truth/falsity of an alibi: examples of three important Indian commercial woods

Secondary xylary characters of wood are useful to identify a wood up to its generic or specific level and thus may prove or disprove the alibi of the retailers i.e., a wood is genuine or not. In the present study, 26 wood samples were collected from the local markets of Baruipur, Sealdah and Garia in Kolkata, West Bengal. Among them, 8 were sold as ‘Sandal wood’ (Santalum album), 4 as ‘Red Sanders’ (Pterocarpus santalinus) and 14 as ‘Sal wood’ (Shorea robusta). Results indicate that xylotomical features of most of the collected ‘sandal wood’ and ‘red sander’ samples did not match with the reference Santalum album and Pterocarpus santalinus samples whereas most of the collected ‘Sal wood’ samples from furniture shops matched with the reference samples of Shorea robusta. Present study successfully indicates that xylotomical investigations of commercial wood may establish the authenticity of wood of commerce

Taxonomic studies of Eulophid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) collected from Uttarakhand, India

A sound taxonomic knowledge base is a prerequisite for effective conservation, environment assessment, ecological research, management and sustainable use of biological resources. Parasitoids are the major component of the biocontrol, so the correct identification of the parasitoid is very important task. Eulophidae is a large family of the superfamily Chalcidoidea and comprises promising biocontrol agents for the control of insect pests causing harm to agricultural ecosystem. The present study has been done to provide the account and occurrence of 4 genera belonging to subfamily Entedoninae, Eulophinae and Tetrastichinae. Entedon costalis Dalman, Diglyphus horticola Khan, Hemiptarsenus varicornis (Girault), and Neotrichoporoides viridimaculatus (Fullaway) was collected from Uttarakhand (India) and described in detail with additional morphological characters that aids in clear identification of the parasitoids. Entedon costalis is recorded from this region with additional characters for identification

Anthocyanins: Plant-based flavonoid pigments with diverse biological activities

Anthocyanins are flavonoid containing polyphenolic phytochemicals. They are widely present in plants and accounts for different color shades displayed by the plant organs. A broad range of health-revitalizing effects is attributed to anthocyanins, constituting a vital part of the human diet. They are also accountable for ameliorating the detrimental effects of various lifestyle diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, neurological disorders, etc. These beneficial impacts highly depend on the bioavailability of anthocyanins, governed by their absorption and metabolism in the human body. The primary goal of this review is to summarize the latest anthocyanin knowledge while focusing on the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and various biological advantages with anti-cancer, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, cardiovascular protective, vision improvement, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects

PLC (ARDUINO) BASED SELF-SUSTAINING HYDROPONIC FODDER SYSTEM

In India only 4.9 % of cropped land area is utilized for cultivating fodder. India faces a deficit of 35.6% green fodder, 26% of dry fodder and 41% of concentrate feed ingredients.So our goal in this project is to develop a self-sustaining fodder system using basic PLC circuits and to operate it on renewable energy. Which in result will reduce the energy requirement, cost of production per kg, water and land requirements to operate the system along with the readyavailability of green fodder and negligible human interference

Depositional Environment of Mio-Pliocene Siwalik Sedimentary Strata from the Darjeeling Himalayan Foothills, India: A Palynological Approach.

A rich and diverse palynoassemblage recovered from the Churanthi River section (26°53' 59.3" N, 88°34' 17.2" E), Darjeeling foothills Eastern Himalaya, has yielded 87 species assigned to 69 genera. The palynoassemblage is rich in angiosperm taxa (45.63%) followed by gymnosperms (0.45%), pteridophytes (18.49%) and fungal remains (23.88%). Based on their nearest living relatives, a wet evergreen to semi-evergreen forest under a humid tropical to sub-tropical environment during the Mio-Pliocene age has been suggested. A lot of angiosperms such as Palaeosantalaceaepites, Araliaceoipollenites, Malvacearampollis, Zonocostites, Neocouperipollis, Dicolpopollis, Palmidites, Palmaepollenites, isolated salt glands of mangrove plant leaves (Heliospermopsis) and Mediaverrunites type of fungal spores, along with ichnofossils like Planolites, Palaeophycus, Skolithos, Rosselia, Ophiomorpha and Teichichnus associated with rippled mudstone-siltstone suggest an environment strongly influenced by brackish water. Primary sedimentary structures in the associated strata indicate strong wave agitation common in shallow marine setting. Some high elevation components (5.14%) such as Alnipollenites, cf. Corylus (Betulaceae), Juglanspollenites, Engelhardtioipollenites (Juglandaceae), Quercoides, Cupuliferoidaepollenites, Lithocarpus, Castanopsis (Fagaceae), Abietineaepollenites (Pinaceae) represent hinterland vegetation possibly transported to the prograding deltaic coastline by the rivers. Reworked palynotaxa (Striatopodocarpites sp., Striatites sp., Faunipollenites sp., Circumstriatites sp., Crescentipollenites sp., Cuneatisporites sp., Parasaccites sp., Scheuringipollenites sp., Rhizomaspora sp., Marsupipollenites sp., Lophotriletes sp.) of Permian age have also been recorded in the palynoassemblage (11.55%) indicating the abundance of Permian Gondwana strata in the source area

Cytotoxicity Screening of Selected Indian Medicinal Plants using Brine-Shrimp Lethality Bioassay

ABSTRACT In the present work, ethanolic extracts of fourteen Indian medicinal plants viz. Acorus calamus (Araceae) stem, Asparagus racemosus (Asparagaceae) root, Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae) leaves and fruits, Cassia fistula (Fabaceae) fruits, Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) leaves, Holarrhena antidysenterica (Apocynaceae) bark, Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae) bark, Ocimum sanctum (Lamiaceae) leaves, Piper longum (Piperaceae) leaves, Sapindus trifoliatus (Sapindaceae) fruits, Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae) bark, Terminalia bellerica (Combretaceae) fruits, Terminalia chebula (Combretaceae) fruits and Withania somnifera (Solanaceae) roots were tested for brine shrimp lethality in order to detect potential sources of novel cytotoxic, antitumor and pesticidal compounds. Amongst tested extracts, ethanolic extracts of Piper longum, Holarrhena antidysenterica and Terminalia chebula showed most potent cytotoxic activity with LC 50 of 10, 104 and 107 μg/mL respectively

Depositional Environment of Mio-Pliocene Siwalik Sedimentary Strata from the Darjeeling Himalayan Foothills, India: A Palynological Approach - Fig 7

<p>Photomicrographs of fungal spores recovered from the Siwalik succession:A, B, F. <i>Hypoxylonites</i> sp.C, G. <i>Inapertisporites elongates</i>. D, J, K, L, O, T. <i>Inapertisporites</i> sp.E. <i>Inapertisporites ovalis</i>.H. <i>Inapertisporites solidus</i>. I. <i>Inapertisporites kedvesii</i>.M, N. <i>Inapertisporites nodulus</i>.P. <i>Monoporisporites</i> sp. Q, W, X. <i>Pluricellaesporites</i> sp. R. <i>Dyadosporites dyadosporus</i>.S. <i>Dyadosporites</i> sp.U. <i>Multicellaesporites ellipticus</i>. V. <i>Dyadosporites elsikii</i>. Y, Z. <i>Microsporonite</i>s sp.A1. <i>Mediaverrunites</i> sp.B1, C1. Unidentified.</p

Trace fossils and sedimentary structures from Churanthi River section.

<p>A. Bioturbated ripple laminated silt-claystone. (<i>Planolites</i> marked by black arrows and <i>Skolithos</i> marked by red arrows). B. <i>Palaeophycus</i>; C. Low-angled cross stratifications and plane parallel strata; D. <i>Rosselia</i>, sectional view: funnel shaped burrow, occurring in very fine grained sandstone (F5), 318 m north of measured section; E. <i>Rosselia</i>, bedding plane view: (Note the concentric rings around sandy core).</p

Detailed map of the Siwalik rocks of the study area around Churanthi River, showing the bedding plane orientations and fossil locality.

<p>The detailed sedimentological log (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0150168#pone.0150168.g002" target="_blank">Fig 2A</a>) was measured along the red line.</p