Fingerprinting of Sahaj Vati, additive for natural lovastatin production

The lovastatin has been used in hypercholesterolemia and heart diseases for therapeutic as well as preventative purposes and it is naturally obtained from filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus through biotechnological approach. The additives in fungal media which enhances the fungal growth should also increase the production of lovastatin. Finger printing of Sahaj Vati, a herbo-mineral formulation comprising mixture of Plumbago zeylanica, Curcuma longa, Shilajeet, Commiphora mukul and Clerodendrum phlomidis powder to be added in medium for fungal growth. The fungal growth activity of both batches of Sahaj Vati was tested for fungal isolate of A. flavus by contact measure through hyphal development restraint test utilizing Potato dextrose agar (PDA) and SMKY medium followed by chromatographic and different techniques for standardization. Sahaj Vati has lower antifungal index & increased the fungal biomass and separation of compound was higher in mobile phase Benzene: Ethyl acetate: Pyridine: 5:4.9:0.1 & Hexane: Chloroform: Pyridine: 2.7:1. Sahaj Vati increased the growth and biomass of A. flauvs which may be used for natural production of lovastatin

Hydrochemical Characterization of Some Stands of Isoetes dixitei in India

In the present study soil, water and plant samples were collected from seven different natural populations of I. dixitei which are found growing on the tablelands of Satara and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra, India. The collected soil and water samples have been analysed for the colour, texture, available plant nutrients, electrical conductivity, pH and BOD. The soil and water factors along with biotic factors are compared with the number of plants per m2, length of plants, number of leaves and roots per plant to understand the morphological diversity and biology within different populations of I. dixitei. The result of present analysis reveals that these ecological factors such as organic carbon, iron, phosphorus and potassium in soil and low pH of soil and water have positive relationship with the growth, robustness and diversity of I. dixitei. However, copper, zinc and electrical conductivity in the soil have negative significant role in influencing the plant characters. The role of manganese appears to be not significant. The biological factors play major role in controlling the diversity (number of plants per m2) of this taxon