Pholidata articulata Lindl., An Orchid Used in Bone Jointing in Kumaun Region, Western Himalaya

Pholidata articulata Lindl., known locally as ‘Harjojan’ or bone jointer, is distributed commonly in moist ravines and river valleys up to 1600 m in the Kumaun Himalaya. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic plant. The whole plant is used in traditional medicine

Veterinary Ethnomedicinal Plants in Uttarakhand Himalayan Region, India

Drug research has enriched human life in many ways. The health care and resulting social and economic benefits of new drugs to society are most remarkable, are quite well recognized. Drug research has been the driving force for many basic scientific developments, such as that of many new synthetic methods, of the understanding of the physiology and pharmacology of biological systems and has contributed much too molecular recognition. The Uttarakhand Himalayas have a great wealth of medicinal plants and traditional medicinal knowledge. The medicinal plant that has been widely used as veterinary ethno-medicine in Uttarakhand region has been studied. These do not either occur elsewhere or have not so far been exploited commercially. Attempts have been made to explore the new possible species having medicinal importance especially for veterinary and to grow them in suitable areas so as to meet national industrial demands. The present paper deals with the traditional uses of 100 plant species employed in ethno-medicine and ethno-veterinary practice in Uttarakhand

Quantitative assessment and antibacterial activity of Origanum vulgare L.

Biodiversity, which twenty years ago was considered unimportant by most ecologists, has now been shown to impact significantly upon many aspects of ecosystem functioning. Diversity must now be added to the list of factors — including species composition, disturbance regime, soil type and climate — that influence ecosystem functioning. The recent knowledge of the importance of biodiversity highlights an under-appreciated truth — although society is dependent on natural and managed ecosystems for goods and services that are essential for human survival, we know all too little about how ecosystems work. Origanum vulgare L. is one of the important ethno medicinal plants, are found spread over to sub-temperate forest zone. They are of Ayurvedic importance and have trade value as well. Due to over exploitation and habitat degradation they are now turning into a rare species. Threat assessments of this species revealed that they are vulnerable in study area under reference. Their dominance too was found less as compare to other species. Their diversity profile in study areas also went down. Origanum vulgare L. has antimicrobial activities but Becillus subtillis, Pseudomonas aereuguinosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherchia coli bacteria were shown to be proactive. Due to fast growing urbanization of life, people are being attracted towards use of natural products and as such utility of such plants are gaining ground. Thus the need is to protect, promote and conserve such natural resources to have advantage of biodiversity conservation.Â

Ecological Studies of the River Krishna near Gadwal, Telangana with Reference to Water Quality

Ecological studies in the river Krishna have been studies for a period of two years (May 2015 to April 2017). Physico-chemical and phycological aspects have been investigated to assess the quality of water. The water was well oxygenated with an alkaline pH, organic matter, chlorides and nutrients were recorded at low concentrations. Diatoms constituted the dominant group of algae. Multiple regression analysis was employed to discover the relative importance of various physico-chemical variables on the abundance and distribution of algae. Mathematical equations were derived involving the physico-chemical variables for better prediction of algal number

Phytotoxic effect of the extracts of Parthenium hysterophorus L. on the germination, seedling growth and biomass of some agricultural crops

This study was conducted to assess the phytotoxic effect of invasive species: Parthenium hysterophorus L. on the germination, seedling length and biomass of Zea mays, Macrotyloma uniflorum and Triticum aestivum, in order to explore its potential as noxious species. In this study, the allelopathic substances were extracted with distilled water and methanol from the aerial and underground part of P. hysterophorus L. in different concentration (1, 100, 150, 400 mg mL–1). The results of the study revealed that the methanol fraction of roots at 400 mg mL-1 concentration had the highest phytotoxic activity as compared to the double distilled water extract. Germination (%) was observed to be maximum (90%) for Z. mays with double distilled water above ground part extract at 1 mg mL-1 and lowest (10%) for M. uniflorum L. in 400 mg mL-1 both aerial and underground plant extracts at the last day of measurement. Mean shoot and root length were observed highest (17.6cm and 6.1cm respectively) in Z. mays with aerial double distilled water extract at 1 mg mL-1 concentration and it was found lowest (3.2cm and 2.8cm) in M. uniflorum with underground part double distilled water extract at 400 mg mL-1. Biomass was recorded highest (1.97 g/100cm2) in Z. mays in aerial part extract and lowest (0.83 g/100 cm2) in horse gram in underground part extract at concentration of 400mg mL–1 with double distilled water extract. In methanol, both aerial and underground part extracts, the germination observed only at 1mg mL-1 concentration

Self-assembly of minimal peptoid sequences

Peptoids are biofunctional N-substituted glycine peptidomimics. Their self-assembly is of fundamental interest because they demonstrate alternatives to conventional peptide structures based on backbone chirality and beta-sheet hydrogen bonding. The search for self-assembling, water-soluble “minimal” sequences, be they peptide or peptidomimic, is a further challenge. Such sequences are highly desired for their compatibility with biomacromolecules and convenient synthesis for broader application. We report the self-assembly of a set of trimeric, water-soluble α-peptoids that exhibit a relatively low critical aggregation concentration (CAC ∼ 0.3 wt %). Cryo-EM and angle-resolved DLS show different sequence-dependent morphologies, namely uniform ca. 6 nm wide nanofibers, sheets, and clusters of globular assemblies. Absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopies indicate unique phenyl environments for π-interactions in the highly ordered nanofibers. Assembly of our peptoids takes place when the sequences are fully ionized, representing a departure from superficially similar amyloid-type hydrogen-bonded peptide nanostructures and expanding the horizons of assembly for sequence-specific bio- and biomimetic macromolecules

Surface design for immobilization of an antimicrobial peptide mimic for efficient anti‐biofouling

Microbial surface attachment negatively impacts a wide range of devices from water purification membranes to biomedical implants. Mimics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constituted from poly(N‐substituted glycine) "peptoids" are of great interest as they resist proteolysis and can inhibit a wide spectrum of microbes. We investigate how terminal modification of a peptoid AMP‐mimic and its surface immobilization affect antimicrobial activity. We also demonstrate a convenient surface modification scheme for enabling alkyne‐azide "click" coupling on amino‐functionalized surfaces. Our results verified that the N‐ and C‐terminal peptoid structures are not required for antimicrobial activity. Moreover, our peptoid immobilization density and choice of PEG tether resulted in a "volumetric" spatial separation between AMPs that, compared to past studies, enabled the highest AMP surface activity relative to bacterial attachment. Our analysis suggests the importance of spatial flexibility for membrane activity and that AMP separation may be a controlling parameter for optimizing surface anti‐biofouling

Correction to "self-assembly of minimal peptoid sequences"

It has come to our attention that some of our cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) images actually show ice contamination, (1) instead of the soft matter aggregates originally indicated in our publication. The images only relate to counterexample peptoid sequences that did not properly assemble (originally Figures 3D–K and S5E–G, I–M, and P). As such, our main finding of an ultrashort water-soluble tripeptoid assembling into ordered nanofibers is not changed. Our overall conclusions based on complementary cryo-EM, DLS, CAC, and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements are also unaffected. Nonetheless, the figures indicated and associated text require correction. In re-examining our cryo-EM data set, we found micrographs showing additional structures that are unlikely to be contaminants, which we previously took as less representative. Like the artifacts, the structures now identified are also irregular and consist of an ensemble of sizes centered around a mean. Incidentally, the mean sizes of these structures (50–250 nm in diameter, depending on sequence) fit better with our complementary DLS results—no agglomeration effect of individual 5–20 nm ice artifacts is needed anymore to reconcile the sizes measured by EM and DLS

Comparative evaluation of diode laser versus argon laser photocoagulation in patients with central serous retinopathy: A pilot, randomized controlled trial [ISRCTN84128484]

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of diode laser photocoagulation in patients with central serous retinopathy (CSR) and to compare it with the effects of argon green laser. METHODS: Thirty patients with type 1 unilateral CSR were enrolled and evaluated on parameters like best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, amsler grid for recording scotoma and metamorphopsia, contrast sensitivity using Cambridge low contrast gratings and fluorescein angiography to determine the site of leakage. Patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups according to the statistical random table using sequence generation. In Group 1 (n = 15), diode laser (810 nm) photocoagulation was performed at the site of leakage while in Group 2 (n = 15), eyes were treated with argon green laser (514 nm) using the same laser parameters. Patients were followed up at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after laser. RESULTS: The mean BCVA in group 1 improved from a pre-laser decimal value of 0.29 ± 0.14 to 0.84 ± 0.23 at 4 weeks and 1.06 ± 0.09 at 12 weeks following laser. In group 2, the same improved from 0.32 ± 0.16 to 0.67 ± 0.18 at 4 weeks and 0.98 ± 0.14 at 12 weeks following laser. The improvement in BCVA was significantly better in group 1 (p < 0.0001) at 4 weeks. At 4 weeks following laser, all the patients in group1 were free of scotoma while 6 patients in group 2 had residual scotoma (p < 0.05). The mean contrast sensitivity in group 1 improved from pre-laser value of 98.4 ± 24.77 to 231.33 ± 48.97 at 4 weeks and 306.00 ± 46.57 at 12 weeks following laser. In group 2, the same improved from 130.66 ± 31.95 to 190.66 ± 23.44 at 4 weeks and 215.33 ± 23.25 at 12 weeks. On comparative evaluation, a significantly better (p < 0.001) improvement was noted in group 1. CONCLUSION: Diode laser may be a better alternative to argon green laser whenever laser treatment becomes indicated in patients with central serous retinopathy in terms of faster visual rehabilitation and better contrast sensitivity. In addition, diode laser also has the well-recognized ergonomic and economic advantages

Allelopathic Effect of Echinochloa colona L. and Cyperus iria L. Weed Extracts on the Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Rice and Soyabean

The present study was undertaken to assess the allelopathic effect of Echinochloa colona L. and Cyperus iria L. in relation to the germination and primary growth of Oryza sativa L. (rice) and Glycine max L. (soyabean). Effects of dichloromethane (DCM) and double distilled water soluble (DDW) fractions of E. colona L. and C. iria L. root and aerial part extracts reduced germination and suppressed early seedling growth of rice and soyabean. With increase in extract concentration from 1 to 100 mg/mL, a gradual decrease in seed germination and seedling length occurred. The highest growth of G. max seedling was recorded in DDW fraction of E. colona aerial part extract at 1 mg/mL concentration with 94% germination and the lowest length was found in DCM fraction of C. iria root extract at 100 mg/mL concentration with 65% germination. In O. sativa, the highest length was noted at 1 mg/mL concentration in DDW fraction of E. colona aerial part extract with 82% germination and the lowest length was found in DCM fraction of C. iria and E. colona root extracts with germination 57% and 62%, respectively, at 100 mg/mL concentration. The results suggested that these weeds had good allelopathic potential which reduces germination and plant growth