MEMECYLON SPECIES: A REVIEW OF TRADITIONAL INFORMATION AND TAXONOMIC DESCRIPTION

The present review is to avail the comprehensive information on taxonomy, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Indian Memecylon species. Memecylon is one of the complex genus of flowering plants and it is an important source of traditional medicine. Owing to complexity in morphological characters, identification of Memecylon species has become very difficult. Nomenclature status of most of the Indian Memecylon species is not clear. Phylogenetic studies report on this genus are also very few. Memecylon species reported having potential pharmacological activities. This background made us present a review on Indian Memecylon species. Information on this plant genus was searched using various electronic databases in reference to the terms Indian Memecylon species taxonomy, phylogeny, pharmacological activities and phytoconstituents along with Indian classical texts, journals, etc. There is a confusion regarding the taxonomic status of Memecylon malabaricum, M. amplexicaule, M. depressum, M. wightii. M. umbellatum and M. edule. Several chemical constituents like memecylaene, umbelactone, amyrin, sitosterol, tartaric acid, malicacid, oleanolicacid, ursolicacid and tannins, triterpenes, and flavonoids have been identified in this genus. The plant extracts of this genus have been demonstrated to have potential pharmacological activities. Some of the phytoconstituents are attributed to the pharmacological potential of this genus. Further, there is a need to validate its taxonomic status and pharmacological properties by using modern biological techniques. If future studies throw a light on these aspects, definitely it will help in developing a potential biopharmaceutical product. Keywords: Biological activities, Taxonomy, Memecylon species, Phylogen

Biochemical characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense isolates from India

The Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxyspoum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is a major biotic constraint for banana production. The characteristics of F. oxyspoum f. sp. cubense isolates were investigated using electrophoretic studies of isozyme and whole-cell protein. The morphological characteristics of the isolates were very similar to each other. All the Foc isolates were pathogenic to banana cultivar ‘Nanjangud Rasabale’ but they did not induce any disease symptoms on cultivar ‘Cavendish’. F.oxyspoum (Isolate 6) did not induce wilt symptoms on either ‘Nanjangud’ or ‘Cavendish’ cultivar. Isozyme banding patterns showed 46 scoreable markers and cluster analysis with UPGMA using genetic distance showed that the isolates belonged to three main groups. Group 1 contained isolates 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and isolate 3 and 6 were placed in group 2 and 3. Results indicated that the estimated intraspecific variation may be more pronounced with isozyme analysis than with protein markers. The levelof isozyme variability detected within F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense suggested that it is reliable, efficient and effective in determining genetic relationships among Foc isolates

Antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Indian medicinal plants against clinical and phytopathogenic bacteria

The ethnobotanical efficacy of Indian medicinal plants; Achyranthes aspera, Artemisia parviflora, Azadirachta indica, Calotropis gigantean, Lawsonia inermis, Mimosa pudica, Ixora coccinea, Parthenium hysterophorus and Chromolaena odorata were examined using agar disc diffusion method against clinical bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and phytopathogenic bacteria (Xanthomonas vesicatoria and Ralstonia solanacearum). Leaves were extracted using different solvents such as methanol, ethanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform. Among treatments, maximum in vitro inhibition was scored in methanol extracts of C. odorata which offered inhibition zone of 10, 9, 12 and 12 mm against E. coli, S. aureus, X. vesicatoria and R. solanaccearum, respectively, followed by chloroform extract of the same plant leaf with inhibition zone of 8, 4, 4 and 4 mm, respectively. A significant inhibition of E. coli was found in aqueous and in all tested solvent extracts of A. indica. In case of S. aureus, maximum inhibition of 8 mm was obtained in aqueous extracts of A. indica and 6 mm from methanol extract of L. inermis. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value for the clinicalbacteria ranged between 0.35 to 4.0 mg/ml and 0.25 to 4.0 mg/ml for phytopathogenic bacteria when tested with all four solvents extracts of C. odorata. Whereas, extracts of A. aspera, A. parviflora, C. gigantean, L. inermis, M. pudica and I. coccinea were found to be ineffective or showed poor inhibition on tested human and phytopathogenic bacteria

In vitro and In vivo micrografting of santalum album shoot tips

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate capacity of Hyptis suaveolens (H. suaveolens) methanol extract as an antioxidant to protect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress, hepatotoxicity in Albino Wistar rats and cytoprotective effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced cell death in HepG2 cell line.MethodsTwo different doses of methanol extract of H. suaveolens were evaluated for the hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Animals in Group I: served as control, group II: H. suaveolens (100 mL/kg b.w), group III: H. suaveolens (50 mL/kg b.w) + CCl4 (1 mg/kg), group IV: H. suaveolens (100 mL/kg b.w) + CCl4 (1 mL/kg) and group V: CCl4 (1 mL/kg). Histopathologic changes of liver were also evaluated. Cytotoxicity was also determined by 3, (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.ResultsOral sigle dose treatment of CCl4 produced a marked elevation in the serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Histopathological analysis of the liver of CCl4-induced rats revealed marked liver cell necrosis with inflammatory collections that were conformed to increase in the levels of SOD, GSH, GST, GR and LPO. Treatment with H2O2 significantly induced death of HepG2 cell. Pretreatment with H. suaveolens methanol extract inhibited or attenuated H2O2 induced cytotoxicity.ConclusionsThis study shows that H. suaveolens methanol extract can be proposed to protect the liver against CCl4-induced oxidative damage in rats and protect the cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. The hepatoprotective and cytoprotective effects might be correlated with its antioxidant and free radical scavenger effects

Establishing inoculum threshold levels for Bean common mosaic virus strain blackeye cowpea mosaic infection in cowpea seed

Bean common mosaic virus strain blackeye cowpea mosaic (BCMV-BlCM) is an important seed-borne virus infecting cowpea and is transmitted both by seeds and aphids. Infected cowpea seeds can act as primary source of inoculum for disease epidemics. Four field experiments were conducted during 2003 - 2006 to assess the role of different amounts of seed-borne inoculum in the dissemination of BCMVBlCM virus in cowpea under field conditions. The identity of BCMV-BlCM was confirmed by ELISA and IC-RT-PCR. Plants infected at an early growth stage appeared to serve as the primary source for subsequent virus spread by aphids. The mean disease incidence during four field experiments reached88-93% in plots sown with 10% infected seed. The disease incidence in plots sown with 5% infected seed recorded 46-63% while for plants raised from 3 and 2% BCMV-BlCM seed infection, disease incidence reached 32-49% and 17-23%, respectively. Mean yield losses in terms of seed yield per plant from four field experiments were 74 and 54% for initial seed infection of 10 and 5%, respectively. Seed infection of 2% BCMV-BlCM incidence resulted in an average of 24% mean seed yield loss/plant-1. The infection appeared to decrease the seed yield in terms of number and size. The BCMV incidence in harvested seed ranged from 0.3 - 19% for the different levels of initial seed infection. The field experiments demonstrated that sowing > 1% BCMV-BlCM infected seed can lead to significant losses in grain yield, while the spread of BCMV-BlCM infection resulting from sowing 1% infected seed did not significantly decrease seed yield. The role of establishing damage or inoculum thresholds from BCMVBlCM seed-borne infections is discussed in the present study.Keywords: Cowpea, potyvirus, seed-borne virus, thresholds, yield los

Machinability investigations of Inconel-800 super alloy under sustainable cooling conditions

With regard to the manufacturing of innovative hard-machining super alloys (i.e., Inconel-800), a potential alternative for improving the process is using a novel cutting fluid approach. Generally, the cutting fluids allow the maintenance of a better tool topography that can generate a superior surface quality of machined material. However, the chemical components of fluids involved in that process may produce harmful effects on human health and can trigger environmental concerns. By decreasing the cutting fluids amount while using sustainable methods (i.e., dry), Near Dry Machining (NDM) will be possible in order to resolve these problems. This paper discusses the features of two innovative techniques for machining an Inconel-800 superalloy by plain turning while considering some critical parameters such as the cutting force, surface characteristics (Ra), the tool wear rate, and chip morphology. The research findings highlight the near-dry machining process robustness over the dry machining routine while its great potential to resolve the heat transfer concerns in this manufacturing method was demonstrated. The results confirm other benefits of these methods (i.e., NDM) linked to the sustainability aspects in terms of the clean process, friendly environment, and permits as well as in terms of improving the manufacturing characteristics

Pursuing Authenticity From Process to Outcome in a Community-Based Participatory Research Study of Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Vulnerability in North Karnataka, India.

Community-based participatory research has been seen to hold great promise by researchers aiming to bridge research and action in global health programs and practice. However, there is still much debate around whether achieving authenticity in terms of in-depth collaboration between community and academic partners is possible while pursuing academic expectations for quality. This article describes the community-based methodology for a qualitative study to explore intimate partner violence and HIV/AIDS among women in sex work, or female sex workers, and their male partners in Karnataka, South India. Developed through collaborative processes, the study methodology followed an interpretive approach to qualitative inquiry, with three key components including long-term partnerships, knowledge exchange, and orientation toward action. We then discuss lessons learned on how to pursue authenticity in terms of truly collaborative processes with inherent value that also contribute to, rather than hinder, the instrumental goal of enhancing the quality and relevance of the research outcomes

TeV Scale Implications of Non Commutative Space time in Laboratory Frame with Polarized Beams

We analyze $e^{+}e^{-}\rightarrow \gamma\gamma$, $e^{-}\gamma \rightarrow e^{-}\gamma$ and $\gamma\gamma \rightarrow e^{+}e^{-}$ processes within the Seiberg-Witten expanded noncommutative scenario using polarized beams. With unpolarized beams the leading order effects of non commutativity starts from second order in non commutative(NC) parameter i.e. $O(\Theta^2)$, while with polarized beams these corrections appear at first order ($O(\Theta)$) in cross section. The corrections in Compton case can probe the magnetic component($\vec{\Theta}_B$) while in Pair production and Pair annihilation probe the electric component($\vec{\Theta}_E$) of NC parameter. We include the effects of earth rotation in our analysis. This study is done by investigating the effects of non commutativity on different time averaged cross section observables. The results which also depends on the position of the collider, can provide clear and distinct signatures of the model testable at the International Linear Collider(ILC).Comment: 22 pages, 19 figures, new comments and references added, few typos corrected, Published in JHE

Burden and predictors of hypertension in India: results of SEEK (Screening and Early Evaluation of Kidney Disease) study

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to investigate the burden and predictors of HTN in India. Methods: 6120 subjects participated in the Screening and Early Evaluation of Kidney disease (SEEK), a community-based screening program in 53 camps in 13 representative geographic locations in India. Of these, 5929 had recorded blood pressure (BP) measurements. Potential predictors of HTN were collected using a structured questionnaire for SEEK study. Results: HTN was observed in 43.5% of our cohort. After adjusting for center variation (p < 0.0001), predictors of a higher prevalence of HTN were older age ≥40 years (p < 0.0001), BMI of ≥ 23 Kg/M2 (p < 0.0004), larger waist circumference (p < 0.0001), working in sedentary occupation (p < 0.0001), having diabetes mellitus (p < 0.0001), having proteinuria (p < 0.0016), and increased serum creatinine (p < 0.0001). High school/some college education (p = 0.0016), versus less than 9th grade education, was related with lower prevalence of HTN. Of note, proteinuria and CKD were observed in 19% and 23.5% of HTN subjects. About half (54%) of the hypertensive subjects were aware of their hypertension status. Conclusions: HTN was common in this cohort from India. Older age, BMI ≥ 23 Kg/M2, waist circumference, sedentary occupation, education less, diabetes mellitus, presence of proteinuria, and raised serum creatinine were significant predictors of hypertension. Our data suggest that HTN is a major public health problem in India with low awareness, and requires aggressive community-based screening and education to improve health

Anisotropic diffusion of water molecules in hydroxyapatite nanopores

Funded by EPSRC Grant EP/K000128/1