Acanthus Ilicifolius Research Articles

Fraction distribution and bioavailability of soil heavy metals under different planting patterns in mangrove restoration wetlands in Jinjiang, Fujian, China

The mangrove restoration wetland project in Jinjiang Estuary, Fujian Province, was started in April 2014, and the wetland was restored using vegetation restoration technology. Prior to restoration, the area was a mix of Spartina alterniflora beaches, muddy beaches, and abandoned quarries, which were not environmentally robust. Six species of mangrove plants were used in the wetland, including Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia marina, Acanthus ilicifolius, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, and Rhizophora stylosa. The plants were planted according to three mixed patterns and three planting densities. Finally, the whole wetland was divided into 27 plots, and three plant-free control areas were set up in the area close to the vegetation area. In this study, 30 topsoil samples were collected (April 2019), fraction concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb), and their bioavailability and spatial distributions were determined, and the relationships between their fractions and planting patterns were analyzed. The results showed that among the nine planting patterns, the pattern “A-K-C, 0.5×0.5 m” was the most different from the other models, and the fraction of most heavy metals obtained the lowest value of soil metal content in this model. The secondary-phase fraction (SPF) of heavy metals, including acid-soluble, reducible, and oxidizable fractions, is considered to be a direct and potentially hazardous fraction to organisms. In this study, Cu, Zn, and Pb had the greatest SPFs among all the metals (35.29, 33.45, and 51.58%, respectively). Compared with the relevant results before restoration, it was found in after five years of mangrove restoration, the SPF of Cu, Cr, Zn and Pb decreased by 41.31, 22.89, 27.06, and 22.13%, respectively, indicating that the direct and potential toxicity of these four elements to the environment decreased. The risk of heavy metal release decreased from medium and high pollution levels to low pollution levels or even no pollution levels. For most metals, the fraction distributions were controlled by clay, silt, pH, and soil organic matter. The research methods and results can provide a theoretical and scientific basis for further study of wetland vegetation, and in addition, aid in selecting feasible restoration methods for further wetland restoration.

The complete chloroplast genome of Acanthus ilicifolius, an excellent mangrove plant

Acanthus ilicifolius is an excellent mangrove plant. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of A. ilicifolius, a salt tolerant plant of Acanthaceae, was generated. The length of chloroplast genome is 150,758 bp, in which the large-single copy region (LSC) is 82,963 bp, the small-single copy (SSC) region is 17,191 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions is 25,302 bp. The chloroplast genome contains 128 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 36 tRNAs genes, with a total GC content of 38%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that A. ilicifolius was closely related to A. ebracteatus, both species belonged to Acanthus genus.

Pemanfaatan ekstrak daun jeruju (<i>Acanthus ilicifolius</i>) sebagai bahan aktif krim anti acne

Jeruju (Acanthus ilicifolius) is abundant in mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia and has high antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the many uses of hazardous chemicals in anti-acne creams are the reason for the need of alternative natural ingredients for making anti-acne creams. So that in this study the use of jeruju leaf extract was added as an active ingredient of anti-acne cream. This research method was carried out by extracting the leaves of jeruju using ethanol solvent then made anti acne cream with extract concentrations of 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%. After that, sensory testing, TPC, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against acne-causing bacteria, namely Propionibacterium acne were carried out. The results of the antibacterial activity test of the four concentrations against P.acne produced inhibition zones with a range of values, namely 10.35-12.72 mm.. In testing the antioxidant activity, the best results were obtained at a concentration of 15% extract with an IC50 value of 98.80 ppm. From these results it can be concluded that jeruju is proven to inhibit P.acne bacteria, so that it has the potential to be used as an active ingredient in making anti-acne creams. Suggestions that can be given for further research are to make jeruju extract into a form that is more acceptable to consumers in terms of odor and color without reducing its content.

Ocean Currents Drove Genetic Structure of Seven Dominant Mangrove Species Along the Coastlines of Southern China.

Mangrove forest ecosystems, which provide important ecological services for marine environments and human activities, are being destroyed worldwide at an alarming rate. The objective of our study was to use molecular data and analytical techniques to separate the effects of historical and contemporary processes on the distribution of mangroves and patterns of population genetic differentiation. Seven mangrove species (Acanthus ilicifolius, Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Kandelia obovata, Lumnitzera racemosa, and Rhizophora stylosa), which are predominant along the coastlines of South China, were genotyped at nuclear (nSSR) and chloroplast (cpSSR) microsatellite markers. We estimated historical and contemporary gene flow, the genetic diversity and population structure of seven mangrove species in China. All of these seven species exhibited few haplotypes, low levels of genetic diversity (HE = 0.160–0.361, with the exception of K. obovata) and high levels of inbreeding (FIS = 0.104–0.637), which may be due to their marginal geographical distribution, human-driven and natural stressors on habitat loss and fragmentation. The distribution patterns of haplotypes and population genetic structures of seven mangrove species in China suggest historical connectivity between populations over a large geographic area. In contrast, significant genetic differentiation [FST = 0.165–0.629 (nSSR); GST = 0.173–0.923 (cpSSR)] indicates that populations of mangroves are isolated from one another with low levels of contemporary gene flow among populations. Our results suggest that populations of mangroves were historically more widely inter-connected and have recently been isolated, likely through a combination of ocean currents and human activities. In addition, genetic admixture in Beibu Gulf populations and populations surrounding Hainan Island and southern mainland China were attributed to asymmetric gene flow along prevailing oceanic currents in China in historical times. Even ocean currents promote genetic exchanges among mangrove populations, which are still unable to offset the effects of natural and anthropogenic fragmentation. The recent isolation and lack of gene flow among populations of mangroves may affect their long-term survival along the coastlines of South China. Our study enhances the understanding of oceanic currents contributing to population connectivity, and the effects of anthropogenic and natural habitat fragmentation on mangroves, thereby informing future conservation efforts and seascape genetics toward mangroves.

Bioaccumulation of potentially toxic elements in three mangrove species and human health risk due to their ethnobotanical uses.

The aim of thisstudy was to assess probabilistic human health risk due to ethnobotanical usage of Avicennia officinalis, Porteresia coarctata and Acanthus ilicifolius. The study was conductedat thetannery outfall near Sundarban (Ramsar wetland, India)mangrove ecosystem affected by potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). Totalmetal concentrations (mg kg-1) were considerably higher in the pollutedrhizosphere namely, Cd (1.05-1.97), Cu (36.3-38.6), Cr (144-184), Hg (0.04-0.19), Mn (163-184), Ni (37.7-46.4), Pb (20-36.6), and Zn (97-104). Ecological risk index indicated low to moderate ecological risk in this site, whereas the ecological risk factor showed high potential ecological risk due to Cd pollution. BCRSequential extraction of metals showed more exchangeable fraction of Cd (47-55%), Cr (9-13%), Hg (11-13%), and Pb (11-15%), at the polluted site. Mercury, though present in trace amount in sediment, showed the highest bioaccumulation in all the three plants. Among the toxic trio, Hg showed the highest bioaccumulation in A. officinalis, Cd in P. coarctata but Pb has the lowest bioaccumulation potential in all the three species. Occasional fruit consumption of A. officinalis and dermal application of leaf, bark of A. officinalis (antimicrobial), A. ilicifolius (anti-inflammatory, pain reliever when applied on wounds) indicated negligible human health risk. However, long-term consumption of P. coarctata (wild rice variety) seeds posed health risk (THQ>1) both in adults and children age groups. This study concludes that nature of ethnobotanical use and metal contamination levels of the mangroverhizosphere can impact human health. The transfer process of potentially toxic elements from rhizosphere to plants to human body should be considered while planing pollution mitigation measures. Graphical Abstract.

Plant species- and stage-specific differences in microbial decay of mangrove leaf litter: the older the better?

Leaf litter and its breakdown products represent an important input of organic matter and nutrients to mangrove sediments and adjacent coastal ecosystems. It is commonly assumed that old-grown stands with mature trees contribute more to the permanent sediment organic matter pool than younger stands. However, neither are interspecific differences in leaf decay rates taken into account in this assumption nor is our understanding of the underlying mechanisms or drivers of differences in leaf chemistry sufficient. This study examines the influence of different plant species and ontogenetic stage on the microbial decay of mangrove leaf litter. A litterbag experiment was conducted in the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, Malaysia, to monitor leaf litter mass loss, and changes in leaf litter chemistry and microbial enzyme activity. Four mangrove species of different morphologies were selected, namely the trees Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera parviflora, the fern Acrostichum aureum and the shrub Acanthus ilicifolius. Decay rates of mangrove leaf litter decreased from A. ilicifolius to R. apiculata to B. parviflora to A. aureum. Leaf litter mass, total phenolic content, protein precipitation capacity and phenol oxidase activity were found to decline rapidly during the early stage of decay. Leaf litter from immature plants differed from that of mature plants in total phenolic content, phenolic signature, protein precipitating capacity and protease activity. For R. apiculata, but not of the other species, leaf litter from immature plants decayed faster than the litter of mature plants. The findings of this study advance our understanding of the organic matter dynamics in mangrove stands of different compositions and ages and will, thus, prove useful in mangrove forest management.

Chemical Investigation of Marine-Derived Fungus Aspergillus flavipes for Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents.

The marine fungus, Aspergillus flavipes (MTCC 5220), was isolated from the pneumatophore of a mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius found in Goa, India. The crude extract of A. flavipes was found to show anti-inflammatory activity. It blocked interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated THP-1 cells with IC50 of 2.69±0.5 μM and 6.64±0.4 μM, respectively. The chemical investigation led to the isolation of optically inactive 4β-[(1E)-propen-1-yl]cyclopentane-1β,2β-diol (1) along with a new optically active diastereoisomeric compound, 4β-[(1E)-propen-1-yl]cyclopentane-1β,2α-diol (2). In addition, the fungus also produced known compounds (+)-terrein (3), butyrolactone I (4) and butyrolactone II (5) in high yields. Among these, (+)-terrein (3) exhibited IL-6 and TNF-α inhibition activity with IC50 of 8.5±0.68 μM and 15.76±0.18 μM, respectively, while butyrolactone I (4) exhibited IC50 of 12.03±0.85 μM (IL-6) and 43.29±0.76 μM (TNF-α) inhibition activity with low toxicity to host cells in LPS stimulated THP-1 cells. This is the first report of the isolation and characterization of 4β-[(1E)-propen-1-yl]cyclopentane-1β,2α-diol (2). The structures of all the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive detailed NMR spectroscopic data. Anti-inflammatory activity of the fungi A. flavipes is presented here for the first time, which was due to (+)-terrein and butyrolactone I, as the major constituents and they can be further explored in the therapeutic area.

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses of Two Acanthus Species to Tidal Flooding Stress.

The mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius and its relative, Acanthus mollis, have been previously proved to possess diverse pharmacological effects. Therefore, evaluating the differentially expressed proteins of these species under tidal flooding stress is essential to fully exploit and benefit from their medicinal values. The roots of A. ilicifolius and A. mollis were exposed to 6 h of flooding stress per day for 10 days. The dry weight, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, anatomical characteristics, carbon and energy levels, and two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS technology were used to reveal the divergent flooding resistant strategies. A. ilicifolius performed better under tidal flooding stress, which was reflected in the integrity of the morphological structure, more efficient use of carbon and energy, and a higher percentage of up-regulated proteins associated with carbon and energy metabolism. A. mollis could not survive in flooding conditions for a long time, as revealed by disrupting cell structures of the roots, less efficient use of carbon and energy, and a higher percentage of down-regulated proteins associated with carbon and energy metabolism. Energy provision and flux balance played a role in the flooding tolerance of A. ilicifolius and A. mollis.

Antidiabetic Potency of Jeruju (Acanthus ilicifolius L.) Ethanol Extract and Taurine on Histopathological Response of Mice Kidney (Mus musculus L.) Induced by Alloxan

Diabetes arises due to interference with the work of the pancreas in secreting the hormone insulin. The disease can cause a decrease in body immunity and complications of various vital organs such as the kidneys. Jeruju (Acanthus ilicifolius L.) leaf and taurine is reported to have antioxidant activity that is potential as antidiabetic agents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of jeruju and taurine on blood glucose levels and the ability to regenerate kidney organs damaged by alloxan induction. This study used a Completely Randomized Design with 5 treatment groups and 5 replications each. K1 group as a negative control (no treatment given), K2 group as a positive control (only induced by alloxan), group P1 induced alloxan and given 100% ethanol extract of jeruju leaf 22.4 mg/bw/day, group P2 induced alloxan and given alloxan 50% ethanol extract of jeruju leaf dose 22.4 mg/bw/day, group P3 was induced by alloxan and given a taurine dose of 15.6 mg/bw/day for 14 days. Data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by LSD at 5% of significant level. The results showed that the administration of jeruju extract and taurine affected the bodyweight of mice, and was significantly able to reduce blood glucose levels by 69.39% (P1), 67.06% (P2), 73.77% (P3), able to repair kidney damage after alloxan induction.

Reduksi Udema Kaki Mencit (Mus musculus) Terinduksi Karagenan Setelah Pemberian Ekstrak Daruju (Acanthus ilicifolius L.)

Acanthus ilicifolius L. is one of the mangrove plants that contain a lot of potential secondary metabolites of medicinal raw materials. People of Sambas Regency of West Kalimantan Province uses leaves extract daruju to overcome the pain in the stiff and swollen. The objective of this study was to know the antiinflammatory activity of leaves extract of daruju, in the form of edema reduction of mices feet induced carrageenan. The method used in the form of maceration and partition extraction followed by phytochemical test of crude extract and the fraction of result of partition. Furthermore, the crude extract and the fraction of the result of the partition were tested for the reduction of edema mices feet induced carrageenan. The results showed that ethyl acetate fraction had the best antiinflammatory activity because it was able to decrease the edema of mices feet by 75% at 750 mg / kg BW. Ethyl acetate fraction has the ability to reduce edema because it contains group compounds of flavonoid and terpenoid.

Heavy metal pollution assessment in a mangrove ecosystem scheduled as a community reserve

Heavy metal pollution is one of most toxic pollutions and cause serious threat to organisms as well as the environment. The tremendous increase in industrialization and other anthropogenic activities magnify the rate of heavy metal pollution. The present study reveals the heavy metal pollution assessment in Kadalundi Vallikunnu Community Reserve (KVCR), a scheduled community reserve of Kerala, India. The results from the study indicate that the heavy metal pollution index of KVCR was less because of the mangrove cover in this region. KVCR is endowed with different mangroves and it plays a significant role in controlling the heavy metal pollution and water quality. The higher Importance Value Index and Relative Importance Value Index was shown in the case of Avicennia officinalis, followed by Acanthus ilicifolius and the lowest values of these indices were observed in the case of Sonneratia alba. The less accumulation of heavy metals in the soil sediments was due to the potential of mangrove species for effective absorption of toxic metals from the soil sediments. Mangrove vegetation in the wetlands is potent phytoremediators and can play a significant role in phytoremediation of wetlands. The high BCF value of A. ilicifolius indicates its suitability for heavy metal remediation in wetlands. Eco restoration of heavy metal polluted wetlands using mangroves is a promising and sustainable solution for heavy metal pollution in such ecologically fragile areas.

Determination of In vitro Anti-diabetic and Antioxidant Enzyme Potentials of leaf Extract of Acanthus ilicifolius -Mangrove plant

Determination of In vitro Anti-diabetic and Antioxidant Enzyme Potentials of leaf Extract of Acanthus ilicifolius -Mangrove plant

Changing pollinator communities along a disturbance gradient in the Sundarbans mangrove forest: A case study on Acanthus ilicifolius and Avicennia officinalis

The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and a UNESCO world heritage site has been facing increasing pressure of habitat destruction. Yet, no study has been conducted to test how human disturbances are affecting plant-pollinator interactions in this unique ecosystem. Hence, we aimed to provide the first insight into the impact of habitat loss and human disturbances on the pollinator communities in the Sundarbans. We selected 12 sites in the North-Western region of the Sundarbans, along a gradient of decreasing habitat loss and human activities from forest fragments near human settlements to continuous pristine forest, where we studied insect pollinators of two mangrove plant species, Acanthus ilicifolius and Avicennia officinalis. Our results show that different pollinator groups responded to the disturbance gradient differently. For example, the abundance of Apis dorsata, one of the three local species of honey bees, increased gradually from the village area towards the deep pristine forest. On the other hand, A. cerana and A. florea were found in the village sites and completely absent in the deep forest. Although pollinator community composition changed along the disturbance gradient, their efficacy in pollination did not seem to be significantly affected. However, lower plant diversity and low understory plant cover in the forest patches nearby the village indicated that human disturbances not only affected pollinator community composition but also played a major negative role in the regeneration of the forest. Our study provides first insights into plant-pollinator interactions in the Sundarbans and demonstrates that more research is needed to imply conservation strategies for this unique habitat.

Ecosystem Carbon Stock of Selected Mangrove Forests of Vypin – Cochin Region, Southwest Coast of India

In a tropical coastal environment, mangrove ecosystems store large amount of atmospheric carbon in biomass and soil. West coast of India host 29% of the mangrove ecosystems of the country. Putting aside the few scientific studies about the Indian mangroves system, there exist gaps in our scientific knowledge of Blue Carbon domain. This study aims to quantify the ecosystem carbon stocks potential and community structure of mangrove vegetation/ ecosystem species of Vypin– Cochin, a coastal region of the Southwest coast of India. The information on species-specific carbon storage will benefit to choose best species in the afforestation and conservation initiatives. Distribution, community structure and carbon pools of above and below ground biomass of the study area were assessed. From the analysis, it is evident that the amount of carbon stored in mangroves varies according to species, functional attributes (basal area, DBH, mean height etc.) and region. Avicennia officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, Acanthus ilicifolius, Acrostichum aureum, Bruguiera cylindrica and Sonneratia caseolaris are the mangrove species observed from the study area. As per the community structure assessment, A. officinalis showed large number, frequency, density, and evenness. While considering biomass, R.mucronata species possess high value. The mean overall above ground biomass of the region was 69.55 ± 80.38 t ha−1. Ecosystem carbon stock of the area ranges from 17.7–138.8 with an average of 54.3 ± 36 t ha−1. Therefore, the findings described will serve as a baseline on carbon stock and mangrove stand structure of the region and their role in Blue Carbon dynamics of the Southwest Coast of India.

Mangrove Damage Evaluation using Two Species of Acanthus as a Biomonitoring Agent, Case Study: Segara Anakan Cilacap, Indonesia

Mangrove area continues to be decreased and lost in Indonesia due to human activities as well as natural disturbances. Segara Anakan is the largest mangrove ecosystem left in Java Island, where also in critical condition that mainly due to sedimentation and people use. This mangrove degradation can be evaluated by using mangrove understorey as a bioindicator. Acanthus genera are one of mangrove vegetation that can overgrow after mangrove degraded and canopy been opened. There are two species, which are Acanthus ilicifolius and Acanthus ebracteatus in Segara Anakan mangrove ecosystems. The survey method with purposive sampling was used in this study in 2010 and 2018. Ecological data were analyzed using PRIMER-E, mapping, and spatial analysis using Surfer and ArcView 3.2. The study shows two species of Acanthus were distributed aggregate, especially in the damaged mangrove that found a low density of mangrove in the sapling and tree category. The density of Acanthus has increased during one decade as well as its distribution than one decade before. Therefore, Acanthus can be used for biomonitoring agent of mangrove damage because of its specific characteristics and distribution.

Leaf Morphological Variation of Acanthus in Some Estuarine Areas of Cilacap

Acanthus is the only genus of family Acanthaceae which occupies mangroves habitat. Despite the importance of Acanthus, collection, characterization and improvement of its germplasm is limited. Hence, this will hinder its effective conservation and utilization. Therefore, the objective of this research was to identify morphological variation of Acanthus in some estuarine areas of Cilacap Central java in relation to habitat. The method used in this study was survey with stratified sampling. The variables measured included, leaf shape, size, apex, base, margin, color and spine. The results of this study indicated that the different location affect some morphological characteristics. Most of the Acanthus population observed in this study have direction of stem axial spines facing upwards, green, inflorescences spika, petals large, light violet Similar to characters Acanthus ilicifolius has variations in leaf margin, leaf shape and size.

Chloroplast DNA phylogeography of the Holly mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius in the Indo-West Pacific

Acanthus ilicifolius is a widespread mangrove species in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP) with high ecological value. In this study, we analyzed the patterns of genetic variation in the species across its distribution range and assessed factors that may have influenced its genetic structure across the IWP using data from four chloroplast DNA fragments. Our results demonstrated high genetic diversity at the species level with little variation within populations, indicating restricted gene flow among A. ilicifolius populations. Strong genetic divergence was found between populations in the Indian Ocean and populations in the Pacific Ocean, likely due to the land barrier effect of the Malay Peninsula (or in the past, the Sundaland). Ecological niche modeling revealed no significant niche differentiation between the two groups, suggesting that ecological divergence was less responsible for the divergence of A. ilicifolius. Despite the ability for long-distance dispersal, genetic barriers identified within the Pacific Ocean suggested ocean currents to be a cryptic barrier for gene flow in this region. This study provides new insights into the historical population dynamics of mangrove species in the IWP region and is valuable for the long-term conservation of A. ilicifolius.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Acanthus ilicifolius in China.

Acanthus ilicifolius, also referred to as holly mangrove, usually grows in the coastal areas in southern China. It is not only a pioneer species of mangroves but also an important medicinal mangrove plant. In June 2019, leaf spots on A. ilicifolius with disease incidence of about 30 to 40% were observed in about 150 plants in a field located in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China. The disease mainly occurred on the leaf margins or tips. Initial symptoms of the disease were dark brown spots (5 to 9 mm) surrounded by a yellow halo, that expanded irregularly or semicircularly, until finally the leaves turned chlorotic and defoliated. Six samples of symptomatic leaves were excised, surface sterilized with 75% ethanol 30 s, 0.1% HgCl2 30 s, and rinsed three times with sterile water, and cut into small pieces (5 mm × 5 mm), placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C and darkness, and two isolates with different morphological characteristics were obtained after 3 days. For pathogenicity tests of the isolates, wounded and non-wounded leaves were inoculated. Fresh wounds were made with a sterile needle. Mycelial plugs from 8-day-old cultures of two isolates, ALY1 and ALY2, on PDA were inoculated on adaxial surface of wounded and non-wounded healthy young leaves of the A. ilicifolius seedlings (2 years old, 4 leaves per plant, 2 replicate plants per isolate), covered with wet cotton and kept in moist chambers at 25 ± 1°C, 80% relative humidity. Leaves inoculated with sterile PDA plugs were used as the control. After 3-5 days, the wounded and non-wounded leaves inoculated with ALY1 showed symptoms of leaf spots, similar to those observed in the field, while leaves inoculated with ALY2 and the control leaves remained symptomless. The pathogenicity tests were repeated three times under the same conditions and similar results were observed. ALY1 was confirmed as the pathogen causing the leaf spot. On PDA, ALY1 produced a gray to grayish brown colony. The conidia were obclavate to cylindrical, straight to slightly curved, pale brown, with 6 to 18 pseudosepta, 62.5 to 225.0×3.8 to 14.8 μm (n=17). According to the morphological characteristics, ALY1 was preliminarily identified as Corynespora cassiicola (Zhang et al.2018). For molecular identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the actin gene (ACT), the β-tubulin gene (TUB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1-α) of the three single-spore isolates from ALY1 (ALY1-1 to ALY1-3) were amplified and sequenced with primers ITS4/ITS5 (White et al.1990), ACT512F/ACT783R(Carbone and Kohn 1999), T1/T2 (Glass and Donaldson 1995), and EF1-728F/EF1-986R (O'Donnell et al.1998) respectively. The ITS region of ALY1 (-1, -2, -3) (GenBank accession number MN860006, -07, -08) was 99-100% identical (579/585, 586/586, 581/584 base pairs) to a corresponding ITS (MH255527) of C. cassiicola. Similarly, the ACT (MN887504, -05, -06), TUB2 (MN887507, -08, -09) and TEF1-α (MN887501, -02, -03) were 100% (342/342, 342/342, 342/342 base pairs), 100% (664/664, 662/662, 664/664 base pairs) and 100% (290/290, 290/290, 290/290 base pairs) to corresponding genes FJ853033, MH763700, and MK589886 sequences of C. cassiicola in GenBank, respectively. Phylogenetic tree generated with MEGA7 by the neighbor-joining analysis revealed that the isolate's ITS, ACT, TUB2 and TEF1-α sequences were grouped in the same clade to C. cassiicola. Based on both the morphological characteristics and sequences analyses, the pathogen causing leaf spot of A. ilicifolius was identified as C. cassiicola. This species had been reported on the A. ilicifolius in Guam America and Hong Kong China (Lu et al. 2000; Zhuang 2001; Dixon et al. 2009; Sumabat et al. 2018). The best of our knowledge, it is the first report of C. cassiicola causing leaf spot of A. ilicifolius in China. This disease may a potential threat to A. ilicifolius along the coastal regions of southern China.

Pharmacological properties of some mangrove sediment-associated bacillus isolates.

Mangrove sediment-associated bacteria are of significantly important in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals as new promising sources of biologically active pharmacophores due to the extreme conditions, such as high salt concentration and soil anoxia. The sediment bacteria associated with Acanthus ilicifolius and Avicennia officinalis collected from the Mangalavanam mangrove ecosystem of the Kerala State of India were evaluated using various in vitro models for the assessment of their pharmacological properties. The bacteria exhibiting significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were isolated, identified, and characterized by the integrated microbiological, biochemical, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Among the varied bacteria isolated from mangrove sediments, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MBMS5 (GenBank accession number MK765025) exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic bacteria, such as Aeromonas caviae, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The extracellular extracts of B. amyloliquefaciens MBMS5 exhibited potential antioxidant activity against free radical species coupled with anti-inflammatory property as displayed by the attenuation activity against pro-inflammatory 5-lipoxygenase.

Organic Extracts of Asian Plants Potentially Support Thrombolysis in Varied BMI Groups

A number of plant-derived drugs have been prescribed for treating atherothrombotic disorders such as myocardial or cerebral infarction. Therefore, this study investigated the individual and combined antithrombotic effects of six Asian plants on individuals with various BMIs. Venous blood drawn from healthy volunteers was allowed to form clots and treated with six organic fractions of Ophiorrhiza harrisiana Heyne, Haldina cordifolia (Roxb.) Ridsdale, Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk, Syzygium operculatum L., Lantana camara L., and Acanthus ilicifolius Linn. using the clot-lysis method. The weight of the clot before and after treatment provided the percentage of clot lysis. Variations in clot lysis in different BMI groups were assessed. A. ilicifolius induced the most thrombolytic activity, whereas L. camara showed slightly lower thrombolytic activity. The maximum clot-lysis activity was primarily observed in different fractions of O. harrisana, H. cordifolia, E. alba, S. operculatum, and A. ilicifolius. However, chloroform fractions of all plants except O. harrisana and L. camara showed maximum activity in individual plants. O. harrisana, H. cordifolia, E. alba, S. operculatum, L. camara, and A. ilicifolius showed the highest significant (P < 0.5 and P < 0.001) clotlysis activity viz., 46.60±0.79% (ethyl acetate), 55.40±1.023% (chloroform), 48.86±1.35% (CCl4 ), 44.89±1.76% (chloroform), 29.17±1.12% (ethanol), and 56.318±1.64% (chloroform). Obtained results were verified by ligandreceptor interaction through in silico approach. In conclusion, H. cordifolia, E. alba, and A. ilicifolius demonstrated promising thrombolytic effects; therefore, it is recommended that they be studied further for their therapeutic potential.