Development and validation of a robust high-performance thin layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method for the analysis of Lovastatin in Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms

Hypercholesteromia is one of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease, causing high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. This has necessitated development of methods or substances which would reduce cholesterol uptake from the digestive tract or destroy cholesterol by enzymatic reactions. One of the practical approaches to protect the human body from high cholesterol levels is to inhibit the cholesterol-synthesizing ability of the organism. Lovastatin is a metabolite of mold fungi from the different genera. However, its presence has also been detected in fruiting bodies and submerged cultivated mycelia of some species of Higher Basidiomycetous fungus, especially in the species of genus Pleurotus – P. ostreatus and P. eryngii. We are screening Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms for identification of commercially recoverable quantities of lovastatin.  Since lovastatin quantification in a large number of fungal samples is required, a simple, rapid and accurate analytical method was required. Use of HPTLC for quantitative measurements of lovastatin in fungal biomass has not yet been reported. In the present study a simple, precise, specific and accurate TLC Densitometric method for estimation of lovastatin in Higher Basidiomycetous mushrooms was developed, validated and used for estimation of lovastatin content in the cultured mycelia of Pleurotus spp. The develop method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, spiking, robustness as per the ICH guidelines. The Rf and % recovery value for Lovastatin 0.52 and 99.15 respectively. Developed analytical methods showed good separation and recovery of Lovastatin

Mushroom cultivation: Substantial key to food security

The worldwide sustenance and wholesome security of the expanding population is a generous test, which searches for new harvest (better yield from conventional ones) as a wellspring of nourishment sustenance and recoveries from malnutrition and food scarcity. Alluding to it, mushrooms discover some help which can be developed even via landless individuals, that too on decaying material and could be a source for proteinaceous sustenance. Metric huge amounts of natural waste and buildups are created every year which can possibly be reused as a substrate for mushroom cultivation. Mushroom cultivation being an indoor movement, requires less work and benefit adventure gives abundant chances to jobless

Fungal diversity inhabited with trees and their conservation in Bukki Top in upper great Himalaya

This investigation was aimed to explore the biodiversity of upper great Himalayas range with special reference to the flora and its conservation. The natural landscape and high altitude meadows (Bugyal) enhanced the beauty of Uttarakhand. Bukki village and Bukki top one of the gorgeous region locate in Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand state, fall on the opposite side of the national highway NH-108 and connect the Gangotri Glacier via Harsil. The present article is the description of the flora of the Bukki region and, we tried to mainly focus on different fungus species and disease on trees, observed during the trek. Some important fungus species observed are Daldinia concentric, Trichaptum biforme, Fomes fomentarius and Daedalea quercina. We also describe each fungus attributes and habitat distribution description

Molecular taxonomy of Indopiptadenia oudhensis (Brandis) Brenan (Leguminosae - Mimosoideae) - A threatened endemic monotypic genus

Indopiptadenia oudhensis (Brandis) Brenan is a threatened and an endemic legume forest tree genus of tropical moist deciduous forest of lower foothills of Himalaya. As population status of the species is declining at alarming rate, molecular characterization and germplasm conservation is urgently needed. This is the first attempt to draw its phylogeny based on molecular level and evolutionary closeness with other legumes. Among three barcode genes i.e rbcL, matK and ITS, only rbcLaF-rbcLaR gave satisfactory amplification and proved that rbcL is still working well than other barcode genes and justifies the evolutionary affinities with other legume species. Based on nucleotide homeology, the species is closely related to Prosopis cineraria and demonstrated nucleotide variation at only one site (552; A>G). Based on rbcL gene sequences and phylogeny, its evolutionary linkages found similar to the species placed in subfamilies Mimosaoideae and Caesalpiniodeae. However, researchers working on legume phylogeny clearly mentioned that Indopiptadenia is a part of clade mimosoid of Caesalpinioideae based on morphology. Hence, Indopiptadenia oudhensis may be the connecting species between subfamilies Mimosaoideae and Caesalpiniodeae