ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPIC STUDY FOR THE ANTIBACTERIAL STUDY OF GARCINIA XANTHOCHYMUS HOOK. F. LEAF EXTRACT

Objective: The present study was undertaken to study the antibacterial effect of Garcinia xanthochymus Hook. f. (Clusiaceae), leaf extract against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using atomic force microscope.Methods: Antibacterial study was done by disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration. Atomic force microscopy study was carried to find out morphological changes in bacterial cells.Results: Among the tested extracts (petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol), methanol extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration varied from 25 to 50 µg/ml. The atomic force microscope was used to study the morphological alterations induced by the leaf extracts in S. aureus, B. cereus and E. coli. Reduction in the cell size, the formation of clusters, indicating the maximum damage in S. aureus when treated with leaf methanol extract, whereas cell rupture and surface roughness were observed in B. cereus and E. coli. P. aeruginosa was susceptible to leaf extracts of G. xanthochymus.Conclusion: The methanol extract of Garcinia xanthochymus leaf extract was found to be the most effective antibacterial property against S. aureus, B. cereus and E. coli.Â

Regeneration of Andrographis paniculata Nees: Analysis of genetic fidelity and andrographolide content in micropropagated plants

Andrographis paniculata Nees is a valuable medicinal plant which yields the therapeutic compound andrographolide. The objective of the present study was to develop reliable in vitro propagation techniques in this plant species. The efficiency of shoot regeneration in A. paniculata was tested on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), thidiazuron (TDZ), kinetin (Kn) and 2-isopentenyl adenine (2-iP) at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 μM and BAP (1.0 μM) in combination with other cytokinins like TDZ, Kn and 2-iP (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 μM) by using nodal explants. Maximum number of 39 shoots per explant was recorded on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.0 μM) and Kn (5.0 μM). An anatomical study confirmed shoot regeneration via direct organogenesis. Regenerated shoots were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3- acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 μM for the induction of roots. Cent percent shoots developed roots after transfer to half strength MS medium supplemented with IBA (2.0 μM). The rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and established in soil. Randomly amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (RAPD) analysis was carried out to check for possible genetic alterations in regenerated plants and the results revealed that the recovered plants did not exhibit any type of polymorphism. The andrographolide content was determined in regenerated plants using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and regenerated plants had considerable amount of andrographolide, so regenerated plants could be used as raw material for andrographolide extraction.Keywords: Andrographis paniculata, andrographolide, nodal culture, micropropagatio

Bioreactor systems for micropropagation of plants: present scenario and future prospects

Plant micropropagation has been adapted in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and other related fields for large-scale production of elite plants. The use of liquid media and adoption of bioreactors have escalated the production of healthy plants. Several liquid-phase, gas-phase, temporary immersion, and other modified bioreactors have been used for plant propagation. The design, principle, operational mode, merits, and demerits of various bioreactors used for the regeneration of propagules, such as bulblets, cormlets, rhizomes, microtubers, shoots (subsequent rooting), and somatic embryos, are discussed here. In addition, various parameters that affect plant regeneration are discussed with suitable examples

Short Communication - Methyl jasmonate induced overproduction of eleutherosides in somatic embryos of Eleutherococcus senticosus cultured in bioreactors

This study was concentrated on the production of eleutherosides and chlorogenic acid in embryogenic suspension cultures of Eleutherococcus senticosus by exposing them to different concentrations (50-400 \u3bcM) of methyl jasmonate (MJ) during the culture period. In the bioreactor cultures, eleutheroside content increased significantly by elicitation of MJ, however, the fresh weight, dry weight and growth ratio of embryos was strongly inhibited by increasing MJ concentrations. The highest total eleutheroside (7.3 fold increment) and chlorogenic acid (3.9 fold increment) yield was obtained with 200 \u3bcM MJ treatment. There was 1.4, 3.4 and 14.9 fold increase in the eleutheroside B, E, and E1 production respectively with such elicitation treatment. These results suggest that MJ elicitation is beneficial for eleutheroside accumulation in the embryogenic cell suspension cultures

Analysis of genetic diversity among Indian niger [ Guizotia abyssinica (L. f.) Cass.] cultivars based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to estimate genetic diversity among 18 cultivars of niger from India. Total genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to RAPD analysis using 80 arbitrary 10-mer primers; 17 primers were selected, which yielded a total of 124 bands, 41.20% of them polymorphic. None of the primers produced unique banding pattern for each cultivar. RAPD data were used to calculate a Squared-Euclidean Distance matrix which revealed a minimum genetic distance between cultivars JNC-6 and N-48 and a maximum distance between IGP-76 and JN-30. Based on the distance matrix, a cluster analysis was done using a minimum variance algorithm. The dendrogram generated, based on Ward\u2019s method, grouped 18 niger cultivars into two major clusters. The first cluster consisted of early maturing cultivars (e.g. N-129 and N-134; 80-90 days), and the second of late maturing cultivars (e.g. GA-8 and GA-9; 135-145 days). The present study shows that there is high diversity among the niger cultivars tested and indicates the potential of RAPD markers for identification and maintenance of niger germplasm for crop improvement purposes

Medicinal Plants Used by the Tay Ethnic Group, Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Tay ethnic group in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam has been carried out in the present study, especially in the region of Định Hoá, Phú Lương, and Võ Nhai districts. The ethnobotanical survey was conducted between 2018 and 2021 and a catalog of the medicinal plant used by the Tay ethnic group is prepared. The results of the current survey revealed that the plants used by Tay ethnic group consist of 321 species belonging to 253 genera and 103 botanical families. Majority of the plants belonging the family Euphorbiaceae (20 species), Asteraceae (19 species), Acanthaceae and Rutaceae (13 species each), Fabaceae (12 species), and Poaceae (11 species). Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (48.0%) in the preparation of medicines. The most frequent preparation method was decoction (47.7%), followed by crushing (29.9%), sauna (18.0), pickle wine (11.8%), and raw (5.6%). The major plant used by Tay ethnic people were Schefflera heptaphylla (L.) Frodin and Plantago major L., (2); Elephantopus scaber L. and Achyranthes aspera L.; Streblus asper Lour. We also carried out screening of some of the medicinal plant extracts for their biological activities especially the inhibition of cancer cell lines

Phytochemicals and Biological Activity of Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile)

Many underutilized tree species are good sources of food, fodder and possible therapeutic agents. Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile belongs to the Zygophyllaceae family and is popularly known as “desert date”, reflecting its edible fruits. This tree grows naturally in Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Local inhabitants use fruits, leaves, roots, stem and root bark of the species for the treatment of various ailments. Several research studies demonstrate that extracts and phytochemicals isolated from desert date display antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and molluscicidal activities. Mesocarp of fruits, seeds, leaves, stem and root bark are rich sources of saponins. These tissues are also rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids and polysterols. Some constituents show antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic properties. The objective of this review is to summarize studies on diverse bioactive compounds and the beneficial properties of B. aegyptiaca

<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">In vitro</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB"> production of haploids <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">via</i> parthenogenesis in culinary melon (<i>Cucumis melo</i> var. <i>acidulus</i>)</span>

495-497Parthenogenetic haploid embryos were induced in culinary melon (Cucumis melo var. acidulus) after pollination with gamma irradiated (250 Gy) pollen. Globular to cotyledonary embryos were observed in the fruit harvested 3 wk after pollination. Embryo rescue and plant regeneration was achieved by culturing cotyledonary embryos on E20A medium. Ploidy analysis of regenerates revealed that the plantlets formed were haploids (n=12).<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic"></b

Nutritional Composition and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of Seed Kernel and Seed Oil of <i>Balanites roxburghii</i>: An Underutilized Species

The seed kernel of Balanites roxburghii Planch., an underutilized species, yields a substantial amount of oil and has an impressive fatty acid profile. Both seed cake and seed oil have the potential to be rich nutritive sources. With this view, in the present study, nutritive profiling of seed kernel and seed oil including HPLC quantification of tocopherols and phytosterols has been done. Further, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activities of seed kernel and oil have also been analyzed. The seed kernel showed good proximate composition with 43.20% of oil and 10.96% of protein with a good amount of macro- and microelements. The seed oil possesses 5.36 mg/kg of carotenoids and 7.29, 1.79, and 0.72 mg/100 g of α, β + γ (together), and δ-tocopherols, respectively. The β-Sitosterol is the major phytosterol in the oil with 126.90 mg/100 g oil followed by stigmasterol and campesterol together (40.78 mg/100 g oil). It is also rich in squalene (17.45 mg/100 g oil). Oleic acid (56.38%), linoleic acid (18.77%), and palmitic acid (17.79%) were found to be the major fatty acids. Seed cake and seed oil possess significant antioxidant activities with 2.72 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 8.90 mg GAE/100 g total phenolic content, respectively. Even though seed kernels contain some amount of anti-nutritional factors, they can be minimized by practicing appropriate food processing techniques. Considering all these facts, such as availability, good quality oil, proteins, and elemental composition, seeds of B. roxburghii could be considered a reliable food source to increase the food base of people and to get a variety of nutrients