Variants of Tribulus species – a scientific study through DNA RAPD – molecular characterization

Gokshura a well-known drug in Ayurveda which is extensively used in many disease conditions like dysuria, asthma, diabetes, cough, oedema, cardiac disorders etc. Tribulus terrestris (Family – Zygophyllaceae) is an official source of Gokshura as per API. Five species of genus Tribulus are found throughout India with a slight morphological difference. In this study, three different species of Tribulus genus from different regions were subjected for molecular characterization by RAPD method. Analysis showed that three different samples gave clearly similar banding pattern with each of the random primers used and 80% similarity between the three samples were observed when the results were subjected to band scoring and analysis with clustering. Even through the micromorpholgical observations showed differentiating characters in mature carpels and intrastaminal glands of the selected species

Thermoresponsive smart textile

52-65The developments in temperature-sensitive copolymers have been reviewed critically and an attempt has been made to synthesize a series of temperature-sensitive random linear and crosslinked copolymers of N-tert-butyl acrylamide (NTBA) and acrylamide (Am) in varying proportion from 80:20 mol % to 20:80 mol % with transition temperature varying between 2°C and 58°C. Linear copolymer with 40:60 feed ratio of NTBA and Am with actual incorporation of NTBA to the extent of 27 mol% was processed into mechanically strong films of 10-200 μm thickness. The transition temperatures of the crosslinked films are found to shift towards the lower temperature from 37°C (in linear copolymer) to ~ 22-25°C. In thin films of 10 μm, the swelling percentage increases to 4200 and the response time reduces to 5 min from 680% and 120 min respectively of the polymerized gel samples (2 mm disc) of the same composition. Reversible transition was also observed over repeated cycling. These copolymers were chemically integrated to the textile substrates for developing smart textile materials. Cotton yarns coated with this copolymer show a broad transition in the temperature range 15-30°C, and an equilibrium volumetric swelling of ~ 4500% in about 5 min and deswelling within 10 s. A model fabric, fabricated using the coated cotton yarns, exhibited temperature-responsive percentage cover (100% at 6°C and 43% above transition temperature)