Heavy Metal Accumulation in Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl. Transplanted at Kolkata City, West Bengal, India

A foliose lichen Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl., was transplanted at ten biomonitoring sites in Kolkata city of West Bengal for 30 days. Concentration of heavy metals Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe and Pb accumulated in lichen were determined. The result indicates an enhanced concentration of most of the metals in the transplanted samples than the control. Two heavy metals Cd and Pb were not detected in the samples, while Cr accumulated in lower (3.3±0.3 to 15.9±0.2 μg g-1) and Fe in higher concentrations (2958.2±0.9 to 4690.4±0.7 μg g-1). The concentration of Zn ranged from 47.1±0.6 to 114.0±0.5 μg g-1, Cu 3.4±0.3 to 38.7±0.6 μg g-1 and Ni 31.2±0.3 to 81.3±0.8 μg g-1. The lichen transplanted in the inner zone of the city with congested roads and heavy vehicular movements accumulated comparatively higher levels of most of the metals than at the sites situated in outer zone of the city. According to the concentration of heavy metals accumulated in lichen, it can be concluded that Jadabpur and Esplanade area are highly polluted, while BBD Bagh and Dum Dum Airport areas are less polluted

A comparison of metallic contents in lichen Pyxine subcinerea , its substratum and soil

Chromium, copper, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron and zinc contents of a lichen species ( Pyxine subcinerea Stirton) and mango bark collected from 12 sites in Haridwar city (Uttarakhand) were compared with soil, sampled from beneath the tree from which lichens were collected. The metal contents in lichen, bark and soil ranged from 1,573 to 18,793, 256 to 590 and 684 to 801 μg g-1, respectively. This clearly indicates that lichens accumulated higher amounts of metal compared to bark or soil. Statistical analysis revealed that metal concentration in lichens did not show significant linear correlation with the bark or soil. Pearsons correlation coefficients revealed negative correlation of Pb (r = −0.2245) and Ni (r = −0.0480) content between lichen and soil, which indicate direct atmospheric input of metals from ambient environment. Quantification and comparison of elemental concentration in lichens, its substratum and soil can provide valuable information about air quality in the collection area

Lichens to Biomonitor the Environment

X, 185 p. 40 illus., 32 illus. in color.online re

New monophyletic branches of the teloschistaceae (lichen-forming ascproved by three gene phylogenyomycota)

Seventeen robust monophyletic branches newly discovered in the phylogenetic tree of the Teloschistaceae after separate nrITS, nrLSU and mtSSU, as well as combined phylogenetic analysis are proposed to consider as the following separate genera: Dijigiella S. Y. Kondr. et L. Lo\u2032k\uf6s gen. nov. for the D. kaernefeltiana group, Elixjohnia S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Sirenophila jackelixii group, Fominiella S. Y. Kondr., D. Upreti et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the F. tenerifensis group; Gintarasiella S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for Caloplaca aggregata, Hanstrassia S. Y. Kondr. gen. nov. for the Elenkiniana lenae group, Harusavskia S. Y. Kondr. gen. nov. for H. elenkinianoides sp. n., Huriella S. Y. Kondr. et D. Upreti gen. nov. for H. loekoesiana sp. n., Ikaeria S. Y. Kondr., D. Upreti et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for Caloplaca aurantiellina, Klauderuiella S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Variospora thallincola group, Laundonia S. Y. Kondr., L. Lo\u2032k\uf6s et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Gyalolechia flavovirescens group, Lazarenkoiopsis S. Y. Kondr., L. Lo\u2032k\uf6s et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for Caloplaca ussuriensis, Nevilleiella S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Caloplaca marchantii group, Opeltia S. Y. Kondr. et L. Lo\u2032k\uf6s gen. nov. for the Caloplaca neobaltistanica group, Oxneriopsis S. Y. Kondr., D. Upreti et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Caloplaca oxneri group, Teuvoahtiana S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Caloplaca rugulosa group, Tomnashia S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur gen. nov. for the Polycauliona rosei group, and Xanthaptychia S. Y. Kondr. et S. Ravera gen. nov. for the Seirophora orientalis group. Hitherto missing molecular data on three gene sequences of the type species of the genera Seirophora and Sirenophila are completed within this study. Six new to science species (Dijigiella kaernefeltiana S. Y. Kondr. sp. n., D. subaggregata S. Y. Kondr. et K\ue4rnefelt sp. n., Fominiella tenerifensis S. Y. Kondr., K\ue4rnefelt, A. Thell et T. Feuerer sp. n., Hanstrassia jaeseounhurii S. Y. Kondr., Ch.-H. Park et L. Lo\u2032k\uf6s sp. n., Harusavskia elenkinianoides S. Y. Kondr., X. Y. Wang, S.-O. Oh et J.-S. Hur sp. n., Huriella loekoesiana S. Y. Kondr. et D. Upreti sp. n.) are described, compared with closely related taxa. A total of 34 new combinations for genera mentioned above are proposed

Composition and <i>in vitro</i> cytotoxic activities of essential oil of <i>Hedychium spicatum</i> from different geographical regions of western Himalaya by principal components analysis

<p>The rhizome of <i>Hedychium spicatum</i> has been widely used in traditional medicines. The present study deals with the evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of rhizome essential oils from four different regions of the Western Himalaya (India) along with comparative correlation analysis to characterise the bioactive cytotoxic component. The essential oils were coded as MHS-1, MHS-2, MHS-3 and MHS-4, and characterised using GC-FID and GC–MS. The main volatile compounds identified were 1,8-cineol, eudesmol, cubenol, spathulenol and α-cadinol. <i>In vitro</i> cytotoxic activities were assessed against human cancer cell lines such as, the lung (A549), colon (DLD-1, SW 620), breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), head and neck (FaDu), and cervix (HeLa). MHS-4 is significantly active in comparison to other samples against all cancer cell lines. Sample MHS-4 has major proportion of monoterpene alcohol mainly 1,8-cineol. Principal components analysis was performed for the experimental results and all four samples were clustered according to their percentage inhibition at different doses.</p