Update Publishing (E-Journals)
Not a member yet
5528 research outputs found
Sort by
Walsura robusta Roxb. (Meliaceae), a little-known tree with a rich limonoid profile
Get PDFThe plant Walsura robusta Roxb. (Meliaceae) is a robust tree largely distributed in south-east Asia, including provinces of southern China. A few traditional usages of the plant have been mentioned, notably for the treatment of microbial infections. But experimental studies using different types of plant extracts only revealed modest antibacterial effects, and no major antiparasitic activity. Walsura robusta Roxb. is a rich source of secondary metabolites. Several series of limonoids have been isolated from the leaves or the fruits of the plant, such as walsuronoid A-I, walsurins A-E, walsunoids A-I, walrobsins A-R and other cedrelone- or dihydrocedrelone-type limonoids, in addition to a few other terpenoids. All information about Walsura robusta Roxb. have been collated in this brief review. The analysis underlines the presence of two limonoids endowed with significant anticancer activities, walsuronoid B and cedrelone. They both activate the production of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, modulate mitochondrial activities and induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Their molecular targets and mechanism of action are discussed. Walsura robusta Roxb. has a potential for the development of anticancer natural products. The use of the plant extracts could be further considered for the treatment of diseases with a cell proliferation component
Biocontrol of Pythium aphanidermatum causing soft rot in ginger with biosurfactant produced by a rhizospheric Bacillus species: Biocontrol of Pythium aphanidermatum with biosurfactant
No full textPlant growth-promoting rhizobacteria benefit plants by producing phytohormones and acquiring vital nutrients from soil. They also form a shield against potential phytopathogens with the production of antimicrobial compounds such as bacteriocin, biosurfactants etc. In the present study, among various rhizobacteria isolated from ginger rhizosphere, the isolate identified as Bacillus altitudinis VS7 that showed a potent biosurfactant producing ability in the preliminary tests was selected for the further study. Compositional analyses indicated that the biosurfactant produced by VS7 was a surfactin like compound, a cyclic lipopeptide. In both microtitre plate and mycelium growth inhibition studies, the biosurfactant showed dose dependent antagonistic activities against Pythium aphanidermatum that causes soft rot in ginger. Although there are reports of biocontrol activity of various rhizobacteria against soft rot in ginger, this is the firstinformation regarding biocontrol activity of a biosurfactant produced by the rhizobacterium B. altitudinis VS7 against P. aphanidermatum
An efficient protocol for mass multiplication of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban and determination of its phenolic content
Get PDFThe present study was focused on standardizing a protocol for callus induction as well as regeneration in Centella asiatica from leaf and stem as explants. Stem and leaf explants have been inoculated in B5 media supplemented with BAP (0.1-2.5 mg/l), kn (01-04 mg/l) and NAA (0.1-0.5 mg/l), 2, 4-D (0.2mg/l) for callus induction. The combination of BAP and NAA leads to the formation of green, brown, compact and friable calli while Kn and 2, 4-D induced brown calli. Highest shooting was obtained from BAP (1.5 mg/l) and NAA(0.5 mg/l).When the shoots were inoculated in half strength of B5 media fortified with 0.1 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l NAA showed cent percent rooting with the highest number of roots per shoot (11.05 cm) and maximum root length (1.86 cm). Stem showed the best explants for callus induction as compared to leaf explants. A low concentration of plant growth regulators was unable to induced callus response in leaf and stem explants. Phenolic content analysis showed that calluses contain more amounts of phenol (0.81 mg/gmdw) as compared to both leaf (0.63 mg/gmdw) and stem (0.59 mg/gmdw) explants
Cancer selective cytotoxicity of Sida acuta extracts on Artemia salina and human breast adenocarcinoma cells
Get PDFCancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The interests in the use of plants or plant-derived compounds are increasing recently due to their promising results in chemoprevention. The present study investigates the anti-cancer potentials of Sida acuta, a traditionally well-known medicinal plant. Accordingly, the methanol and aqueous extracts of S. acuta (SAM and SAA) were tested against Artemia salina nauplii for toxicity and on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines for cytotoxic and apoptotic properties. Both the extracts, SAM and SAA exhibited higher toxicity towards Artemia salina. Interestingly, the extracts exhibited minimal cytotoxicity in normal cells (VERO) than in human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). The highly active SAA successfully induced apoptosis in MDA MB 231 and MCF-7 cells showing 17.81% and 4.27% of late apoptotic cells and 27.14% and 37.32% of early apoptotic cells, respectively. Most of the drugs being developed from plant sources had landed successfully in clinical trials. In conclusion, the observations clearly suggest that SAA may have possible therapeutic potential against human breast cancer-derived diseases specifically against ER-positive breast cancer
Mutagenic potential of Gamma rays on Somatic cell division and morphological parameters in Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
Get PDFMutagenesis involving ionizing radiation has been widely used for alteration in genetic constituents to increase the variability at gene level in a very small fraction of time. But, attempts to induce genetic variability in fennel for agronomically important trait are very limited. Narrow genetic base is the main hindrance in handling the conventional breeding in Fennel . Thus, main idea of this study is to generate genetic variability in Ajmer fennel-2 variety of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. by using the most potent physical mutagen i.e. gamma rays. The seeds were exposed to different doses of gamma rays viz. 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25Kr, respectively, along with control to analyze the effect of gamma rays on meristematic root tips. Germination and survival percentage were significantly affected in response to ionizing potential of gamma rays and a dose dependent decline was observed in both the parameters. Plant height, shoots, root length and days of flowering were also affected by gamma rays and a considerable increment was achieved at lowest dose with respect to control. As the dose of gamma ray increases, the rate of Active Mitotic Index declines. The irradiated seeds show numerous chromosomal variations such as; scattering, stickiness, bridge formation etc which are computed in the form of Total Abnormality Percentage
Knowledge, attitude and practice of self medication among the staff-members of Charotar University of Science and Technology: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self Medication among the Staff-members
No full textSelf-medication raises its occurrence in many situations in our everyday lives, which is an inappropriate and harmful practice. A research framework was conducted to evaluate the awareness, attitude and practice of self-medication among the CHARUSAT University staff members. Among the staff members, a pre-validated questionnaire was circulated. Using Microsoft Excel, information was gathered and evaluated and the results were represented as numbers and percentages. A total of 136 staff-members voluntarily took part in the study. We found that source of information of the drugs used for self-medication were “previous prescription (77.7%)” and the source of drugs was “medical store (78.8%)”. Only (34.3%) staff-members accepted the fact that they always visited a qualified practitioner whenever they got sick. Most of the staff-members took self-medication for headache (73.5%) followed by cough, cold, sore throat (73.5%) and fever (56.6%). Out of total 136 staff-members, most of them took Analgesics (61.8%) as self-medication followed by lozenges (66.2%). For almost 66.9 % of university staff members, self-medication was common. They provided a reason that “no need to visit a doctor for minor illnesses”. 73.5 % of the population has taken cough and cold preparations as self-medication
Withaferin A – A natural multifaceted therapeutic compound
Get PDFCOVID 19, which has lead to the death of millions of people, is still spreading worldwide. The development of any new drug after proper trial is much time consuming. This present global pandemic situation has lead the researchers around the world to run behind various existing antiviral and immunomodulatory natural compounds to overcome this contagious disease. Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) that is being used in Ayurvedic medicine for several ailments since several years is also said to pocess anti viral activity. Thus many of its metabolites are being studied individually for its efficacy against the dreadful disease. Withaferin A, a steroidal lactone from ashwagandha is one such prime metabolite which beyond acting as an antioxidant or antimicrobial agent, is also said to pocess anti-inflammatory to anti carcinogenic properties. Thus because of its wide spectrum of medicinal properties it has now become an attractive drug candidate for several preclinical studies. This increase in the demand for withaferin A has chanelled its way towards in vitro propagation of the plant Withania somnifera and trials on various strategies to increase the yield in terms of plant biomass as well as the withaferin content in the plants thus making it a better alternative to field grown plants. Thus this article reviews in depth on the important medicinal properties of withaferin A, its demand in Ayurveda industry and the in vitro strategies being carried out to overcome the demand
Impact of tannery effluent on Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench
Get PDFThe present study is aimed to investigate the effect of tannery effluent on different varieties of Sorghum bicolor. The disparate concentrations of tannery effluent viz., 5, 25, 50, 75 and 100% were tested for its impacts on six varieties of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (TNAU CO 5, TNAU CO 30, CO (S) 28, BSR 1, K Tall and Paiyur 1). The experimentation was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications. The impact of tannery effluent on the germination percentage, shoot length (cm), root length (cm), seedling weight (g), vigour index, tolerance index and phytotoxicity were recorded. The outcome revealed that the parameters escalated in 5% effluent concentration and declined after 25% concentration of tannery effluent
Onion cultivation approach by custom-made outdoor hydroponics: A very first attempt in Bangladesh
Get PDFOnion is one of the most important economic crops in the world for growing, trading and consuming. But its production rate is lower in Bangladesh due to insufficient farmlands and alternative production systems. So, onion cultivation hydroponically would be a potential consideration in Bangladesh. In this experiment, onions were grown in custom-made outdoor hydroponics using ground water of Barishal, Kirtankhola River water and deionized water as treatments to check their performances for future use. Ground water demonstrated best performances and the average yields of ground water were more than half of land based yields. Besides, only plant growth was normal in ground water treatments throughout the experiment. Finally, the authors concluded that onion production is possible hydroponically in Bangladesh and to minimize the need of commercial fertilizers; the ground water of Barishal is recommended
Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase expression and pyranocoumarin accumulation in Angelica gigas plantlets exposed to light-emitting diodes
Get PDFAngelica gigas (Dang Gui) is an important medicinal plant. In this study, we examined the accumulation of pyranocoumarin (decursin and decursinol angelate) and the expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in Korean angelica plantlet grown under different light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (red, orange, green, blue, and white). Three weeks after LED exposure (WAE), the transcript levels of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase mRNA in seedlings grown under orange LEDs were 4-, 18-, and 7-fold higher than those in seedlings grown under green, blue, and white LEDs, respectively. The decursinol angelate content was almost double than the decursin content. The highest levels of decursin (3.2 mg/g dry weight) and decursinol angelate (6 mg/g dry weight) were detected in plants grown under orange LEDs, at 2 WAE. Therefore, we suggest that orange LEDs may affect decursin and decursinol angelate accumulation. The findings of this study could help to determine an effective strategy for producing secondary metabolites in A. gigas using LED technology