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 IUP . 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 IUP . 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 IUP . 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 IUP . 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 IUP . 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 IUP . 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 1^st 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 IUP . All Rights Reserved.