Biosynthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Thunbergia erecta (Benth.) T. Anders plant extracts

The present study focuses on the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of Thunbergia erecta. Zinc nitrate hexahydrate (Zn (NO3)2.6H2O) solution was used as precursor to synthesize the nanoparticles. Five grams of plant materials (leaf, stem, root and flowers) were weighed and cut in to small pieces and boiled with deionised water in water bath at 50°C for about 30 min. The extracts were filtered and mixed with Zinc nitrate hexahydrate solution for the preparation of nanoparticles. Synthesis of nanoparticles were monitored by visual color change from colorless to yellow and characterized by UV-Visible double beam spectrophotometric analysis. The absorption peaks of leaf reaction medium was at 308 nm, stem and root reaction media were at 296 nm and flower reaction medium was at 302 nm as shown by the UV-Visible spectrophotometer. The results conclude that T. erecta could be exploited for green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles which can be used in the development of pharmaceutical products beneficial to the mankind

In vitro multiplication, micromorphological studies and ex vitro rooting of Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. – a rare medicinal plant

Hybanthus enneaspermus is a rare medicinal plant. We defined a protocol for micropropagation, exvitro rooting of cloned shoots and their acclimatization. Surface-sterilized nodal segments were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin (Kin). Medium supplemented with 1.5 mg L–1 BAP was found optimum for shoot induction from the explants and 6.4±0.69 shoots were regenerated from each node with 97% response. Shoots were further proliferated maximally (228±10.3 shoots per culture bottle with 7.5±0.43 cm length) on MS medium augmented with 1.0 mg L–1 each of BAP and Kin within 4–5 weeks. The shoots were rooted in vitro on half strength MS medium containing 2.0 mg L–1 indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). The cloned shoots were pulse-treated with 300 mg L–1 of IBA and cultured on soilrite® in a greenhouse. About 96% of the IBA-pulsed shoots rooted ex vitro in soilrite®, each shoot producing 12.5±0.54 roots with 5.1±0.62 cm length. The ex vitro rooted plantlets showed a better rate of survival (92%) in a field study than in vitro rooted plantlets (86%). A comparative foliar micromorphological study of H. enneaspermus was conducted to understand the micromorphological changes during plant developmental processes from in vitro to in vivo conditions in terms of variations in stomata, vein structures and spacing, and trichomes. This is the first report on ex vitro rooting in H. enneaspermus and the protocol can be exploited for conservation and large-scale propagation of this rare and medicinally important plant

Pasture Establishment and Sustainability in Arid Region of Rajasthan, India: Prospects and Constraints

Rajasthan is the largest state of India and covers nearly 10.4 per cent (342.65 lakh ha) of total geographical area of the country. About 65 per cent of its population is dependent on agriculture. According to livestock census-2007, Rajasthan ranks at the third place (56.663 million) in the country for total livestock population after Uttar Pradesh (60.272 million) and Andhra Pradesh (60.175 million). The large livestock population of the state shows importance of fodder in the state. Western part of Rajasthan state covers the area of the state towards western side of Aravali range of hills, which divides the state almost in two parts viz., eastern and western. The western part of the state is important for animal husbandry and forage management point of view. The reason is that this region is characterized as arid region and at many places in this region annual rainfall is below 250 mm. Many times droughts occur in this region and crop production for grain purpose does not become successful. So, farmers remain more dependent on animals than crops. Important animals in this region are cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and camels

Ethnobotany of Acacia jacquemontii Benth. - An Uncharted Tree of Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India

The present ethnobotanical study describes the traditional knowledge related to the use of Acacia jacquemontii and its derived products used by the tribes and communities reside in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, India. Acacia jacquemontii is a versatile tree suitable for afforestation, social and agroforestry. In addition to their normal utility in wood production, soil improvement, nitrogen fixation, these provide certain other products like fodder, fruits, gums, fibers and roofs. During the survey, it was noted that tree parts such as bark, roots and gum were commonly used by the tribals to cure various diseases and disorders. Indigenous healthcare practices, provide low cost alternatives in situation where modern health care services are not available or too expensive. This preliminary study about this unexplored tree would be valuable resource for humankind

Biogenesis of silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Turnera ulmifolia Linn. and screening of their antimicrobial activity

Development of nontoxic and clean techniques for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Turnera ulmifolia plant leaf extract was studied in present investigation. The synthesized nanoparticles were confirmed by color changes from pale green to reddish brown and characterized by UV-Visible spectrophotometer. A peak between 415 nm to 425 nm was obtained on spectrometer characterized the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles also showed antibacterial activity against four disease causing microorganisms

Root cultures and in vitro production of alkannin in arnebia hispidissima (lehm). dc

ABSTRACT Alkannin, a red-purple dye and bioactive compound found in the roots of Arnebia hispidissima. It has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and also used in cosmetic and textile industries. The present communication demonstrates the establishment of root cultures of A. hispidissima with the aim of optimizing the production of alkannin. The maximum number of adventitious roots (4.2 per culture bottle) could be initiated from the in vitro regenerated shoots on half strength MS medium containing 1.0 mg L -1 Indole-3 butyric acid (IBA). Highest alkannin content and profuse rooting was also recorded on this media combination. Production of alkannin was influenced by the different culture media. The present investigation may be applicable in designing systems for the large-scale cultivation of A. hispidissima roots for the production of alkannin.

Stings of the missing string: missing Copper T thread

Background: Missing CuT thread is a worrisome complaint for a woman. The string may be curled in or the Cu T might have expelled or migrated.Methods: It was a retrospective study. Authors collected the data between January 2017 to December 2017. Data was collected from OPD, OT register and Indoor patient record file. The objective was to ascertain the symptomatology, type of insertion, investigations and mode of retrieval of CuT.Results: There were 63 cases of missing CuT thread, out of which, 42 were postpartum. 33 patients were asymptomatic. Irregular vaginal bleeding (19 patients) was commonest complaint, followed by abdominal pain (10 patients). Pregnancy was detected in one patient. Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) detected intrauterine location of CuT in 60 cases. X-ray abdomen erect was needed in 3 cases, which detected intra-abdominal migration of CuT in two cases. CuT was expelled in third case. In 31 patients, CuT was removed by artery forceps in OPD. In 17 cases, hysteroscopic Copper T removal was needed. Two cases with migrated CuT underwent laparoscopy for retrieval of CuT. One patient had to be converted to laparotomy to rule out bowel injury.Conclusions: Missing CuT thread is commonest with postpartum IUCD. TVS should be first investigation in missing CuT thread. X-ray abdomen is needed only if CuT is not visualized on TVS. Hysteroscopy can be used in patients where CuT retrieval with artery forceps fails. Laparoscopy and laparotomy may be required in migrated CuT cases

Hysteroscopy: an effective tool in post-menopausal bleeding

Background: Postmenopausal bleeding is a condition where endometrial carcinoma is to be ruled out. Traditionally, D and C is the preferred method for diagnosis in such condition. Other diagnostic modalities like trans vaginal ultrasonography (TVS) and hysteroscopy are being used for diagnosis in the cases of PMB. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and accuracy of TVS and hysteroscopy in women with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB).Methods: One hundred postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding underwent TVS and hysteroscopy. Endometrial tissue was obtained by curettage and sent for histopathology examination. The results of TVS and Hysteroscopy were compared against HP report.Results: Hysteroscopy was successful in 98 patients. Endometrial histopathology revealed proliferative, secretory and atrophic endometrium in 26, 7 and 23 patients respectively. Polyp was diagnosed in 13 patients. Endometrial hyperplasia was detected in 11 patients and endometrial malignancy in 14 patients. All patients with endometrial hyperplasia and malignancy had ET (endometrial thickness) more than 4 mm, except one patient with endometrial malignancy who had 4 mm ET. The sensitivity and specificity of TVS for suspecting endometrial pathology at ET 4mm were 93% and 69.6%, respectively. Hysteroscopy had sensitivity of 95.2%, specificity of 92.8%, with diagnostic accuracy of 93.8%.Conclusions: Hysteroscopy was found to be the more sensitive and specific than Transvaginal sonography for diagnosing endometrial pathologies. Hysteroscopy is safe and effective for detecting endometrial pathologies in patients with PMB