Traditional Tribal Knowledge and Status of Some Rare and Endemic Medicinal Plants of North Cachar Hills District of Assam, Northeast India

An ethnobotanical survey carried out in the district of North Cachar hills, Assam, North East India during the period of February 2006 – November 2006, has revealed 34 species of plants to be threatened in several parts of the country, and in the district itself. More than 6 species of plants are included in the red Data Book of Indian Plants, 5 numbers of species have already been included in the Red Data List of the IUCN. 13 species documented in the present paper have not been reported about its threat status earlier, but are now threatened in the district. These plants are used in various ways such as, medicinal, wild edibles, ornamentals, building materials and other miscellaneous uses in their daily life. Because of the declining population of species like, Taxus baccata, Renanthera inschootiana, Swertia chirata etc., the area warrants conservation in order to preserve them from extinction. The present paper documents on the botanical name, parts used, local name, and also compares the threat status relative to other regions of the country as per IUCN Guidelines

Some Superstitious Botanical Folklore of Different Tribes of North Cachar Hills, Assam (Northeast India)

The district of North Cachar Hills of Assam, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world is endowed with different tribes each with their own traditions, customs and method of healing. Northeast India has been a paradise for ethnobotanical research but the district of N.C.Hills, with its vast ethnobotanical wealth is virtually unexplored. The present study documents for the first time, the superstitious folkloric uses of plants to treat ailments among the different tribes. 16 species of plants has been identified with details on its method of use, disease, parts used, local name and growth forms. The study was conducted through informal interviews after prior informed consent. The study reflects a rich traditional knowledge base of the tribe on ethnomedicine with immense potential for a more detailed study with emphasis on its pharmacological aspects

IMAGE-BASED PARKING SECURITY SYSTEM

This project proposes a smart solution or protocol that is generic to overcome vehicle theft issues, which can be implemented at any parking areas especially that are located outdoors. This proposed solution is known as Image-based Parking Security System. The problem of vehicle theft can occur at any location, but this project specifically focuses on vehicles that are parked in outdoor parking spaces. Vehicle theft in such location occurs as a result of a manually operated monitoring system, which requires someone to guard the entrance and exit gates. It also can occur due to no security protocol for vehicle theft being implemented at all. The smart solution this project proposes is considered smart because it solely depends on a machine to do the monitoring management at the entrance and exit gates of a parking place. This proposed system will utilize deep learning technology. This technology is chosen to create a system that could detect and recognise the license plate of the vehicle

An antioxidant extract of tropical lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7.

This report highlights the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant potential and anticancer activity against breast carcinoma of 70% methanolic extract of lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum (PRME). Phytochemical analysis of PRME confirms the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and ascorbic acid; among which alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids are found in abundant amount. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of PRME revealed the presence of catechin, purpurin, tannic acid and reserpine. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by nine separate methods. PRME showed excellent hydroxyl and hypochlorous radical scavenging as well as moderate DPPH, superoxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity of PRME was tested against breast carcinoma (MCF-7), lung carcinoma (A549) and normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) using WST-1 method. PRME was found cytotoxic against MCF-7 cells with an IC50 value 130.03 ± 3.11 µg/ml while negligible cytotoxicity was observed on A549 and WI-38 cells. Further flow cytometric study showed that PRME halted the MCF-7 cells in S and G2/M phases and induces apoptosis in dose as well as time dependent manner. Cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulation of cyclin B1, Cdk-2 and Cdc25C as well as slight decrease in the expression of Cdk-1 and cyclin A1 with subsequent upregulation of p53 and p21. Moreover PRME induced Bax and inhibited Bcl-2 expression, which results in increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase cascade. This ultimately leads to PARP degradation and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. It can be hypothesised from the current study that the antioxidant and anticancer potential of the PRME may reside in the phytoconstitutents present in it and therefore, PRME may be used as a possible source of natural antioxidant that may be developed to an anticancer agent

Reactive Oxygen species scavenging activity of PRME and the reference compounds.

<p>(A) Hydroxyl radical inhibition, (B) hypochlorous radical scavenging, (C) superoxide radical inhibition, (D) singlet oxygen radical scavenging. The results are mean ± S.D. of six parallel measurements. **p<0.01 and ***p<0.001 vs. 0 µg/ml.</p

Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and IC₅₀ values of the lichen extract (PRME) and standard compounds for ROS and RNS scavenging.

<p>₅₀ values of all activities are determined in µg/ml. Data expressed as mean ± S.D (n = 6). EDTA represents Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid.^# IC</p><p> p<0.001.</p