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Quantitative
Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Catha edulis
- - Bouayed
J , Djilani A, Rammal H , Dicko A, Younos C and
Soulimani R
Polyphenols
play a key role in antioxidant activity of plants since
many researchers report that phenolics of plants provide
substantial antioxidant activity. In this context, the total
amount of phenolics and flavonoids in Catha edulis
were quantified. To study the total antioxidant activity
of C. edulis, Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity
(VCEAC) was evaluated. Furthermore, to confirm the antioxidant
activity of C. edulis under biological medium, the
cellular test using Dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH)
sensor of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) was employed. High
total antioxidant activity of C. edulis was found,
since on the one hand 1 g of dry C. edulis leaves
can provide antioxidants equivalent to 71.82 ± 3.25
mg of vitamin C; and on the other hand, the cellular test
of antioxidant activity reveals that C. edulis possesses
scavenger capacity for ROS.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Influence
of Various Inoculum Levels of Macrophomina Phaseolina
on Sprouting and Root Rot Disease Incidence in Mulberry
(Morus Spp.) - - N
B Chowdary and Govindaiah
Investigations
were carried out to understand the influence of various
inoculum levels of the pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina
on sprouting and root rot disease incidence of mulberry
under pot culture studies. The sprouting percentage drastically
reduced with increase in inoculum level in both soil conditions
(sterile and non-sterile). In general, it was found that
increased inoculum level reduced the sprouting of mulberry
cuttings both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions.
Under sterile soil conditions at inoculum level 10.0, 15.0
and 20.0% there was zero sprouting. Similarly, it was recorded
that an increase in inoculum level and days after plantation
increased the root rot disease incidence of mulberry saplings
both under sterile and non-sterile soil conditions. Under
sterile soil conditions, the 100% mean disease incidence
was recorded at inoculum levels of 10.0, 15.0, and 20.0%,
whereas decrease in disease incidence was recorded at inoculum
levels of 5.0 (69.19%), 3.0 (27.38%), 1.0 (18.47%) and 0.5%
(4.19%). Likewise, under non-sterile soil conditions, the
maximum mean disease incidence was at 20% (92.9%) inoculum
level followed by 15.0 (83.67%), 10.0 (81.71%), 5.0 (59.14%),
3.0 (21.0%), 1.0 (14.81%) and 0.5% (3.76%).
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Induction
and Proliferation of Callus Derived from Different Explants
of Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) Raeusch, a Woody Medicinal
Plant - - P
K Yadav , V Kashyap and D Yadav
Callus
induction was tried with explants such as nodes, internodes
and leaves of freshly obtained twigs of Flacourtia jangomas
with Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with different
concentration of growth hormones like 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic
acid (2, 4-D) and Benzylaminopurine (BAP). The MS medium
supplemented with 2, 4-D (2.0 mg/l) and BAP (0.5 mg/l) was
found to be the most suitable for callus initiation and
proliferation in case of nodes and internodes while for
leaves MS medium containing 2, 4-D (1.5 mg/l) and BAP (0.5
mg/l) was found to be the best. In case of nodes and internodes
percentage of callusing was maximum with media containing
2, 4-D (1.5 mg/l) and BAP (1.0 mg/l), while in case of leaves
percentage of callusing was maximum in the same media, which
was found suitable for initiation and proliferation.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Possible
Modulating Action of Plant Extract of Ocimum sanctum
L. Against Methyl Methanesulphonate and Cyclophosphamide
Induced Genotoxic Damage In Vitro - - Yasir
Hasan Siddique, Gulshan Ara, Tanveer Beg and Mohammad Afzal
Plants
are used as a good source of medicines by the pharmaceutical
industry. In the present study the action of Ocimum sanctum
L. infusion on chromosomal aberrations (CAs), mitotic
index (MI), Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs) and Replication
Index (RI) induced by Methyl Methanesulphonate (MMS) and
Cyclophosphamide (CP) was assessed on human lymphocytes
in vitro. The study was performed both in the absence
as well as presence of metabolic activation (S9 mix). The
infusion at dosages of 1.075 x 10 - 4, 2.127
x 10 - 4 and 3.15 x 10 - 4 g/ml culture
medium was given separately, along with 60 mM of
MMS and 0.16 mg/ml of CP, respectively. The used
dosage of plant infusions neither induced CAs and SCEs significantly
nor affected RI and MI both in the absence as well as presence
of metabolic activation (S9 mix). A dose dependent significant
decrease in the genotoxic damage was observed at all the
tested dosages of plant infusion when given along with 60
mM of MMS (without S9 mix) and 0.16 mg/ml
of CP (with S9 mix). The results indicate that plant infusion
per se does not have genotoxic activity but can modulate
the genotoxic activity of MMS and CP on human lymphocytes
in vitro.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Antibacterial
activity of Some Euphorbiaceae weeds Against Pathogens -
- Parmesha M, Raghavendra
S, Ramesh C K, Manjunatha K S and Prakash G
Antibacterial
studies were conducted by utilizing three species of weeds
belonging to Euphorbiaceae, such as Euphorbia hirta,
Euphorbia geniculata and Croton sparsiflorus. The
soxhlet extraction was done by using the solvent absolute
alcohol to obtain the whole plant extract. The extract was
dried and dissolved in alcohol and DMF at different concentrations
of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% along with control, which was devoid
of extract. The samples were observed for inhibition zone,
which were indicative of antibacterial property by plating
four pathogenic bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Proteus
species by well plate assay method. The results obtained
revealed antibacterial activity by all the plants. The degree
of antibacterial property varied between different plants
and also on the type of bacteria used for the experiment.
The extracts of Euphorbia hirta showed maximum
antibacterial activity against a majority of the bacteria
tested compared to the other two plant species, while Croton
sparsiflorus was proved to be more effective against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa at specific concentration.
The results of the antibacterial activity of these common
weeds are discussed.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Efficiencies
of Alternate Carrier Electives for Rhizobium Biofertilizer
- - P
Sathiya Moorthi , M Deecaraman , S Periyar Selvam and P
T Kalaichelvan
The
study evaluated five different carrier formulations: pure
diatomaceous earth, diatomaceous earth with charcoal (8:2),
pure decomposed coir waste, diatomaceous earth with decomposed
coir waste (6:2) and lignite. The effectiveness of the alternate
carrier material was studied with one of the nitrogen-fixing
microorganism Rhizobium leguminosarum. Its efficacies
in plant growth were tested with three different leguminous
seeds like horse gram, black gram, and chickpea. In parallel,
the microbial sustenance of all the inoculums was monitored
by frequent serial dilution and plating techniques. The
nitrogenase activities of the carrier inoculum as well as
the treated soil were tested by gas chromatography after
60 days. The combination of diatomaceous earth with charcoal
in the ratio of (8:2) was found to be very highly competent
for Rhizobium. It is closely followed by pure decomposed
coir waste which gave highly satisfactory results in accordance
with the former combination. The combination of diatomaceous
earth with charcoal had shown 177.66 CFU, which was relatively
more than that of the other tried carrier material, i.e.,
lignite with 135 CFU and pure diatomaceous earth had shown
88.33 CFU which is least of all the carrier combination.
The nitrogenase activity was observed better in the combination
of diatomaceous earth with charcoal carrier-based biofertilizer
which was found to be 13.38 nmol whereas that of the lignite
carrier-based biofertilizer was found to be 8.37 nmol. The
pure coir had given relatively better result in nitrogenase
activity, i.e., about 5.851 nmol.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Comparative
Chicken Mortality Rates in Andassa Government Poultry Farm,
Northwest of Ethiopia - - Hailu
Mazengia and Tekeba Eshetie
The
overall rate of mortality in Rhode Island Red (RIR) and
Lohmann (LOH) white breeds of chicken in Andassa Government
Poultry farm from September 2005 to August 2006 were 28.9%
and 31.4% respectively. However, there was no significant
difference (p > 0.05, df = 1, c2
= 0.98) in the mortality rate between two breeds during
observation period. On the other hand, the mortality rate
of birds during dry season (14.7%) was lower than that of
the rate of mortality during wet (15.4%), and there was
a significant difference (p < 0.05, df = 1, c2
= 1.44) observed between seasons. The chicken mortality
of LOH is more than 1.79 times than that of RIR (OR = 1.79)
in dry season. Moreover, the mortality rate observed was
higher in LOH (18.7%) than RIR breed (11.4%) during wet
season. Similarly, there was also a significant difference
(P < 0.05, df = 1, c2 = 1.44)
in the mortality rate between RIR (17.5%) and LOH (12.7%)
in wet season. The mortality rate was 1.45 times higher
in RIR breeds (OR = 1.45) than LOH during wet season. The
age dependence mortality rate in the 1st week,
2-8 weeks, 9-20 weeks and above 20 weeks of age were 6.6%,
8.7%, 9.3% and 4.3% in RIR breeds and in LOH 7.8%, 7.4%,
13.8% and 2.4% respectively. There were significant variations
in the mortality rates observed among age groups of RIR
(P < 0.05, df = 3, c2 = 3.43)
and LOH breeds (P < 0.05, df = 3, c2
= 4.3). Significant difference (p < 0.05, df =
1, c2 = 1.56) in the mortality rate was
also observed in 2-8 weeks of age groups birds of LOH (13.8%)
and RIR (9.3%). However, the mortality rate declined in
both breeds above 5 months of age. Coccidiosis (10.2%) and
E. coli (7.3%) were found to cause maximum chicken
mortality in RIR chickens, whereas in LOH, cannibalism and
E. coli cause 8.2% and 6.7% mortality rates respectively.
Coccidiosis, E. coli, cannibalism and aflatoxicosis
caused maximum mortality rates during observation period
6.9%, 7%, 5.6% and 2.8% respectively.
©2008
The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
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