Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of \u3cem\u3eMussaenda\u3c/em\u3e Species (Rubiaceae)

The genus Mussaenda is an important source of medicinal natural products, particularly iridoids, triterpenes and flavonoids. The purpose of this paper is to cover the more recent developments in the ethnobotany, pharmacology and phytochemistry of this genus. The species in which the largest number of compounds has been identified is Mussaenda pubescens. Pharmacological studies have also been made, however, of other species in this genus. These lesser known plants of the genus are described here according to their cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The information given here is intended to serve as a reference tool for practitioners in the fields of ethnopharmacology and natural products chemistry

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SULPHUR OXIDIZING BACTERIA

Sulphur oxidizing bacteria were isolated from different samples viz., paddy rhizosphere, pulse rhizosphere, sewage, biogas slurry, tannery effluent and mine soil. Out of the 28 isolates obtained, 14 were screened based on their efficacy to reduce the pH of the growth medium from 8.0 to 64 5.0. The selected isolates were characterized and related to the genus Thiobacillus

Simulating Root System Development of Short-duration Pigeonpea

Length and weight of pigeonpea roots were measured weekly in different soil layers and compared with estimates obtained from a root simulation model using daily climatic data, soil physico-chemical properties and dry matter allocation to roots. Daily moisture content and temperature at different soil depths were well simulated using sub-routines from the CERES-Maize model. Daily allocation of dry matter to roots was calculated from logistic functions fitted to the growth data for shoots and roots. Although root length and weight tended to be underestimated by the model, regressions between measured and simulated root growth were highly significant so that the model could, with a few modifications, be used to predict root system development

Within-Host Evolution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Four Cases of Acute Melioidosis

Little is currently known about bacterial pathogen evolution and adaptation within the host during acute infection. Previous studies of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiologic agent of melioidosis, have shown that this opportunistic pathogen mutates rapidly both in vitro and in vivo at tandemly repeated loci, making this organism a relevant model for studying short-term evolution. In the current study, B. pseudomallei isolates cultured from multiple body sites from four Thai patients with disseminated melioidosis were subjected to fine-scale genotyping using multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). In order to understand and model the in vivo variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) mutational process, we characterized the patterns and rates of mutations in vitro through parallel serial passage experiments of B. pseudomallei. Despite the short period of infection, substantial divergence from the putative founder genotype was observed in all four melioidosis cases. This study presents a paradigm for examining bacterial evolution over the short timescale of an acute infection. Further studies are required to determine whether the mutational process leads to phenotypic alterations that impact upon bacterial fitness in vivo. Our findings have important implications for future sampling strategies, since colonies in a single clinical sample may be genetically heterogeneous, and organisms in a culture taken late in the infective process may have undergone considerable genetic change compared with the founder inoculum

Information retrieval in electrochemistry using microcomputer

experiences gained in the intial stages of computerised handling and processing of electrochemical information using DATAWEALTH, a microcomputer of PSI Data Systems are presente

Isolation and characterization of sulphur oxidizing bacteria

Sulphur oxidizing bacteria were isolated from different samples viz., paddy rhizosphere, pulse rhizosphere, sewage, biogas slurry, tannery effluent and mine soil. Out of the 28 isolates obtained, 14 were screened based on their efficacy to reduce the pH of the growth medium from 8.0 to ≤ 5.0. The selected isolates were characterized and related to the genus Thiobacillus

Science in India - a profile based on India's publications as covered by science citation index 1989-1992

With a view to mapping scientific research in india, we have analysed papers originating in India and indexed in the CD-ROM version of Science Citation Index (SCI) in the four years 1989-1992. With more than 10000 papers in each year (more than 42000 papers in about 2300 journals indexed in SCI in the four years), India is the twelfth largest publishing nation, down from eighth in 1980. Italy, the Netherlands, Australia and spain have published more papers than India in journals indexed in SCI in 1992. Chemistry and physics account for the bulk of the papers, followed by engineering and clinical medicine. India's contribution to areas such as classical biology and agriculture is noy properly reflected in SCI, as many journals in which Indian scientists publish are not covered by SCI. Although most Indian papers appear in low impact journals, the number of papers appearing in leading journals of the world, especially in the areas of physics, chemistry and materials science is increasing, even if only marginally. Also, the number of papres appearing in foreign journals as a whole, as well as the average impact factor of journals in which Indian scientists have published their work, is increasing, reflecting the increasing awareness among Indian scientists for the need to publish in high-impact journals. While the slide from the eighth to the twelfth position - from 2.8% of the world literature to about 2.0% - should be of concern, the increasing use of high impact journals is a welcome trend. In this macrolevel analysis we have looked at India as a whole and have not attempted to analyse the data at lesser levels of aggregatio