Journal of Applied and Natural Science
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Chemical composition of essential oils of some common culinary spices and their antimicrobial activities
Get PDFAntimicrobial resistance is one of the top 10 global threats to public health. Natural products can be effectively used to prevent antimicrobial resistance. Spices are highly used food commodities. Their essential oils (EOs) possess excellent antimicrobial potential. Therefore, the present study aimed to extract oil from three commonly used spices and assess their antimicrobial activity.The EOs were extracted from cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Persel), cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) and trigonella (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and were characterized by GC-MS. Antimicrobial activities were screened against two Gram +ve bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC No. 737), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC No. 441); two Gram-ve bacterial strains, Escherichia coli (MTCC No. 443), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC No. 1688); and two fungal strains: Aspergillus oryzae(NCIM1008) and Fusarium oxysporum (MDU-4) via disc diffusion and broth dilution assays.The highest yield of EOs was obtained with trigonella (4.35 %), followed by cinnamon (2.75%) and cumin (1.53%). GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of various phytocompounds in different EOs. Antimicrobial results showed that cinnamon EO was the most active with the maximum zone of inhibition of 15.3±0.08 mm, 11.3±0.25 mm, and 13.1±0.14 mm against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and F. oxysporum, respectively. Cumin EOhas also shown promising antimicrobial activity with a zone of inhibition of 13.0±0.09 mm, 10.2±0.20 mm, and 11.4±0.08 mm against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and F. oxysporum. E. coli and F. oxysporum were the most sensitive microbial strains.Cinnamon EO exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity and, therefore, can be used as a natural antimicrobial herb after clinical trials.
Effectiveness of the Mentha spicata leaves in reducing testosterone levels and aggressive behaviour in female Wistar albino rats treated with testosterone propionate
Get PDFHigh testosterone hormone levels play an important role in exhibiting aggressive behaviour and several disorders in female rodents and women. The present study aimed to determine the protective role of the alcoholic extract of Mentha spicata leaves (MSL) in the reduction of the level of testosterone and aggressive behaviour of female rats that suffer from high levels of testosterone. A total of 30 female Wistar albino rats were divided into 6 Groups. Group 1: Control rats received sesame oil(0.5 ml). Group 2: Rats injected with testosterone propionate (TP) alone. Group 3: Rats received MSL alone (100 mg/kg) orally. Groups 4, 5, and 6: Rats received TP + MSL, 6mg/rat of TP followed by 200, 400, and 600 mg/rat, respectively) for 60 days. The testosterone, dopamine, and aggressive behaviour were measured using specialized ELISA test kits. The results showed that testosterone and dopamine levels in the serum had a significant decrease (P<0.05) (4.82 (ng/ml) in testosterone and 272.83 (pg/ml) in dopamine) in animals treated with MSL only compared to Group 2, which found a significant rise (p<0.05) (16.52 (ng/ml) in testosterone and 607.59 (pg/ml) in dopamine) in the levels of testosterone and dopamine. The results exhibited a significant rise (P<0.05) in the aggressive behaviour in Group 2 of rats compared to the control and other Groups. In comparison, aggressive behaviour was significantly decreased (P<0.05) (7.40 (ng/ml) in testosterone and 263.49 (ng/ml) in dopamine) in Groups 2, 4, 5, and 6. Thus, the study revealed the protective role of the alcoholic extract of MSL in reducing levels of testosterone and aggressive behaviour in female rats suffering from higher levels of testosterone.
Anti-oxidant and cytotoxic activity of Spirulina platensis ethanolic extract against Caco-2 and HepG2 cancer cell lines
Get PDFSpirulina platensis is blue-green algae received significant attention for its high nutritional value, it is a source of powerful antioxidants. The cytotoxicity of crude extract is not well recorded. The aim of current study to evaluate the cytotoxicity of S. platensis extracts on colon cancer (CaCo-2), hepatic cancer (HepG2) cell lines, normal fibroblast cells line (HdFn) and also antioxidant activity. The percent of 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity was determined for serial concentrations of extract ranging from 3.125 to 200 μg/ml. Cell lines were treated for 24 hours with different concentrations of extract ranging from 25 to 400 µg/ml. Cell viability testing using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay which determined how the extract affected caspase 9 activity. The results revealed that extract had moderate antioxidant activity, showing the DPPH scavenging activity reached 58% in a concentration of 200μg/ml, and IC50 was 95.84 μg/ml. The extract significantly decreased CaCo-2 cell viability with IC50 99.12 µg/ml, compared to HdFn viability with IC50 157.6 µg/ml. On CaCo-2 cells, the extract\u27s cytotoxicity was more evident (P< 0.05) than HdFn cells. The extract had more significant (P<0.05) cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines and also significantly decreased the viability of HepG2 cells with IC50 167.4 µg/ml, than the viability of HdFn with IC50 214.9 μg/ml. The extract revealed significantly higher (P< 0.05) cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells than the normal HdFn cells. This study concluded that the extract exerted a dose-dependent anti-proliferation effect on CaCo-2 cells and HepG2 cells by comparing them with HdFn cells
Compositional and shelf-life analysis of developed instant Indian recipe chilla mix from hull-less barley: A convenience food product
Get PDFBarley has a rich nutritional and therapeutic profile. In an era of life-style based silent pandemics, the need to bring on table the convenient food products with sensory and nutritional acceptability is necessary. Hence, the present study aimed to develop an instant chilla mix from a novel hull-less variety of barley (Hordeum vulgare) (PL891). Various random combinations of composite flour (barley flour (BF), rice flour (RF) and gram flour (GF)) were prepared namely T1 (100:00:00), T2 (70:15:15), T3 (60:30:10), T4 (33:33:33), and T5 (00:00:100). Other ingredients such as onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, coriander, and chilli were also added. Nutritional and sensory parameters at fresh, three, six and nine month of storage interval were also analyzed. The assessed parameters (%) were reported as moisture (6.91±0.02 to 10.21±0.09), ash (2.11±0.05 to 3.10±0.02), protein (7.59±0.05 to 24.50±0.06), fat (1.50±0.02 to 6.10±0.04), crude fiber (1.08±0.02 to 2.87±0.02), and total carbohydrates (58.21±0.10 to 75.27±0.07). All the blends varied significantly (p≥0.05) during storage in terms of moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrates, while a non-significant difference was noted in ash for all the treatments. Blending also affected the nutrient content of all the treatments significantly (P ≤ 0.05) depending upon the ratio of blending and composition of various ingredients in the product. The sensory attributes indicated that T2 blend with 70% PL891 hull-less barley flour was most acceptable. The developed product will be a nutritious substitute for chapati as barley is rich in numerous nutrients and have therapeutic potentials.
Variation among cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) genotypes for storage root yield, yield components and response to cassava mosaic disease at the advanced breeding stage
Get PDFCassava is a crucial starchy root crop cultivated worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas. Efforts have been made to improve its desirable characteristics to increase food and nutritional quality. However, the adoption of new cassava varieties can be influenced by their yield performance, which can be affected by cassava mosaic disease (CMD). The present study evaluated selected cassava genotypes\u27 performance across two years at the advanced breeding stage. Using a randomized complete block design with two replications, 16 genotypes, a yellow root variety (TMS07/0593) and a white root (TMS30572) as checks were evaluated for yield, yield-related traits and response to CMD. There were highly significant (P < 0.001) variations among the cassava genotypes for yield-related traits, but no genetic variation was reported for fresh and dry root yields. The effect of season and genotypes × season interaction on all traits was significant only for harvest index and percentage of survival plants, respectively. Only genotype UIC-17-2428 and the two national check varieties (TMS07/0593 and TMS30572) did not resist CMD completely. At harvest, genotype UIC-17-2031 had the highest fresh root yield (39.0 t/ha), dry root yield (10.5 t/ha), and harvest index (0.63). Genotype UIC-17-58 had the highest dry matter content (37.2%) at harvesting, followed by UIC-17-46 (36.4%) while genotype UIC-17-583 had the lowest value (22.8%). The genotypes evaluated have promising premium agronomic traits. To assess their stability, genotypes with outstanding dry root yield must be evaluated across multiple environments.
Evaluation of the agronomic performance of nerium genotypes (Nerium oleander L.) under the Eastern dry zone of Karnataka
Get PDFNerium oleander is a popular shrub because of its drought-tolerant capacity and least susceptibility to pests and diseases. Despite its widespread cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions, there has been a lack of information on the performance of different genotypes regarding growth and yield parameters. The present study aimed to assess the performance of ten different Nerium genotypes for growth and yield traits. Genotypes were procured from various nurseries in the suburbs of Bengaluru. The collection of genotypes was based on flower morphology, flower colour, the stature of plants, and leaf variegation. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used and 1.2 m × 1.2 m spacing was followed throughout January 2018 to April 2019. The observations were made every 60 days up to 300 DAP (Days After Planting), and there were notable variations in the growth and yield metrics of the genotypes. Five tagged plants in each replication were used to record all observations. Genotype BNC-1 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 1) recorded the highest value for plant height (107.33 cm), plant spread (1770.66 cm2), chlorophyll (1.16 mg/g) as well as yield of flower per plant and per hectare (1.85 kg and 12.73 t respectively) while genotype BNC-6 (Bengaluru Nerium Collection- 6) recorded the highest number of branches (45.00). The lowest flower yield per plant and hectare was observed in BNC-6 (0.32 kg and 2.26 t, respectively). In conclusion, genotype BNC-1 exhibits characteristics warranting its consideration for cultivation and inclusion in breeding programs aimed at varietal development.
Management strategy for leaf blight of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) in foothills of Nagaland
Get PDFCabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) is a major cole crop in India. Cabbage leaf blight caused by Alternaria sp. is one of the serious foliar diseases responsible for low production and productivity. The disease is challenging to manage alone with fungicides or bioagents. Hence, the present study was undertaken to manage the disease effectively by utilizing bioagents, fungicides, and their combinations. The field trial was carried out in the Horticultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland, during Rabi, 2022-2023 and in vitro evaluation of fungicides and bioagents conducted in the Department of Plant Pathology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema, Nagaland. Management of leaf blight of cabbage was conducted with seven treatments (T1-T7). Among the different treatments tested in field condition, the minimum severity of Alternaria leaf blight (37.69%) coupled with maximum yield (23.39 t/ha) with a higher-cost benefit ratio of 2.72 were recorded in T6 (seed treatment with captan @ 3 g/kg + four foliar sprays of azoxystrobin 4.8% + chlorothalonil @ 0.25%). Among the six treatments, In vitro evaluation of bioagents Trichoderma sp. (TTV-2; T5) showed maximum inhibition with 69.44%, followed by Bacillus subtilis (CRB-7; T6) with 31.11% inhibition and among the chemical fungicides, azoxystrobin (amistar) showed the highest inhibition of 76.67% as compared to control. These treatments can effectively manage cabbage leaf blight disease and ensure sustained yields, particularly in the foothills of Nagaland.
Synergistic effects of silicon and seaweed extract on growth and leaf nutrient content of papaya cv Red Lady
Get PDFSilicon is crucial in the process of absorbing and transporting nutrients to the plants, which in turn helps to decrease the toxicity of iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), and manganese (Mn). Plants can better endure drought and salt stress because it strengthens their tissues. Seaweed extracts serve as biostimulants and are considered vital nutrients for sustainable agriculture due to their organic nature and ability to decompose naturally. The present study aimed to compare the nutritional content and growth rate of papaya cv. Red Lady after being treated with silicon and seaweed extract. The papaya plants were moved to new spots 1.5m x 1.5m apart. A Factorial Randomised Block Design with nine treatments and three replications was used for the field experiments. At 6, 7, 8, and 9 months after replanting, silicon (potassium silicate at 0.3% and 0.5%) and seaweed extract at 3% and 5% were made through foliar application. The study showed that the plant\u27s height (278.66 cm), stem width (174.8 cm), number of leaves per plant (33.17), petiole length (127.3 cm), and leaf length (123 cm) were all higher in T8 (SE 5%+PS 0.5%) than in T7 (SE 5%+PS 0.3%) or T5 (SE 3%+PS 0.5%). A study of leaf minerals in synchrony showed that the highest levels of N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg were found in the leaves nine months after the crop was transplanted. Thus , using modest concentrations of silicon and seaweed extracts topically enhances growth, nutritional content in leaves, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, as well as Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV), collar rot, and anthracnose.
Effect of different stabilizers on the physiochemical and sensory characteristics of Sea buckthorn berry, Ready-to-serve (RTS) beverage
Get PDFIn the process of product development of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) Ready-To-Serve (RTS) beverages, it is commonly observed that sedimentation occurs prior to the pasteurization process and after pasteurization, that seems to be flocks formation. The present reSearch aimed to determine how stabilisers and concentration affect Sea buckthorn RTS\u27s turbidity, viscosity, and physical stability during storage. The utilisation of three stabilisers, namely Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) ,(GG) Guar Gum, and (XG) Xanthan Gum with various concentrations of were done on the basis of concentrations of CMC ranged from 0.35% to 0.47% , GG ranged from 0.05% to 0.2%, and concentrations of XG ranged from 0.1% to 0.56%. All used concentrations of stabilizers were within permissible limits as per Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) . Six key parameters were examined for stability: sedimentation, gel formation, turbidity, viscosity, physical stability, and sensory/organoleptic during storage period started 0 day to 24 days, room temperature. The present study revealed that Xanthan gum emerged as the most suitable stabiliser for Sea buckthorn RTS beverages compared to guar gum and carboxymethyl cellulose. A notable disparity was noted in the concentrations of stabilizers across varying concentrations. The utilization of a stabilizer did not yield any significant impact on the sensory parameters. Furthermore, total soluble solids (TSS), and pH had also been changed during storage. The addition of a 0.55% concentration of XG as a stabilizer to Cloudy Sea buckthorn juice resulted in the highest acceptance rating among the panellists, averaging at 7.81± 1.49 points. This formulation exhibited no precipitation in the RTS product under room-temperature storage.
Organic nutrient management affects growth and yield in strawberry plants (Fragaria× ananasa Duch.) cv. Flavia under Punjab conditions
Get PDFOrganic farming is an eco-friendly farming strategy involving balanced application of organic manures, biofertilizers and organic formulations to boost plant growth and yields. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of different organic sources of nutrients, alone or in combination, on the growth and yield attributes of the strawberry cultivar Flavia. The study comprised ten treatments and laid in a randomized block design (RBD). The results indicated that, compared with the control treatment (T10), all the treatments (T1 to T9) enhanced the growth and yield. The combination comprising 60% RDN – 30% through vermicompost (90 g/m2) + 30% through neem cake (45 g/m2) and biochar (800 g/m2) + Panchgavya + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM), each @ 50 mL/plant (T9), resulted in a significant increase in vegetative growth and yield attributes. The vegetative parameters included highest plant height (6.7 and 13.33 cm), plant spread in East-West direction (EW ) (15.87 and 24.63 cm), plant spread in North-South (NS) (14.00 and 25.59 cm), number of trifoliate leaves (5.97 and 17.40) at 45 and 90 days after planting (DAP), respectively and stem girth (3.41 cm). Similarly, this treatment combination also contributed to the maximum chlorophyll index (57.90 SPAD), leaf area (48.76 cm2), along with highest number of fruits per plant (28.14), average berry weight (16.53 g), yield per plant (447.88 g) and yield efficiency (0.47 kg/cm2), compared to the other treatment combinations and the control. These results offer practical guidance for sustainable strawberry cultivation and lay the groundwork for future research on organic nutrient management in various crops.