Pinus Roxburghii Research Articles

Assessment of population, habitat, and threats to Cycas pectinata Buch.-Ham. (Cycadaceae), a vulnerable cycad in Bhutan

Cycas pectinata Buch.-Ham. is an ancient gymnosperm that is now confined to pockets of habitats in the Indian subcontinent but was once widely distributed. Its decline is attributable to habitat loss, and has reached the point where C. pectinata is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in the IUCN Red List. C. pectinata is the only species of Cycas found in Bhutan, and in this biodiversity-rich area it is present as a relic of great scientific and conservation value because of its rarity and long evolutionary history. Although it is well known in India, it has not been studied in detail in Bhutan. This study assessed populations and threats to C. pectinata in two places in Bhutan. Field visits were made to document the distribution, habitats, and associated threats to the populations. Plants were observed growing in steep rugged terrain in the open Chir Pine forest. Populations are significantly threatened due to human activities such as habitat destruction and over collection as ornamental plant. Possible expansion of populations is naturally threatened by low seed production and by predators.

Novel Method for Extraction of Lignin Cellulose & Hemicellulose from Pinus roxburghii Needles

Lignocelluloses are becoming a major area of attraction for the researchers for their sustainability and cost effectiveness. The ease of functionalization of these matrices, remarkable physical and chemical properties, and tunable functional sites make them incredible materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery among other applications. The present study focuses on extracting biomaterials lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose from the Pinus roxburghii (PR) needles following a single source procedure. A green chemistry approach ensures minimum wastage with maximum output from the raw material.The Pinus roxburghii (PR) needles were collected from the local area, washed thoroughly, dried in the oven at 45°C for few days and grounded to powder. The PR powder was subjected to treatment with acetic acid: formic acid in the ratio of 1gm/10ml mixture at different concentration to study the yields, for 1hr at low temperature followed by 3hrs treatment at 110°C. The concentrated mother liquor thus obtained was filtered, diluted and left undisturbed for 48h. Lignin precipitates obtained were separated and dried in oven at 30°C. Subsequently, the residue from the extracted lignin was washed to neutralise the pH and dried in oven. By using 5% NaOH reflux treatment at 90-110°C for 3h, hemicellulose was recovered from the pre-treated pine needles mother liquor from which the lignin had been extracted. The mother liquor was treated with ethanol and acetic acid to precipitate hemicellulose in the freezer. The residue obtained after the removable of hemicellulose was washed again to and subsequently bleached to get cellulose. An excellent yield of the desired products was obtained. The extracted products were subjected to characterization studies namely FTIR and HRMS etc to get evidence for successful extraction. The analysis revealed that the PR leaves contained about 1.5wt% to 3.0wt% lignin, 15-30wt% hemicellulose and rest is cellulose.Further, aim is to use the extracted material to prepare the nano-hydrogels for the drug delivery and other applications.

Assessing the Best Fit Volume and Carbon Stock Equation of Pinus Roxburghii with Respect to Diameter at Breast Height Using Non-Destructive Method

Pinus roxburghii is dominant timber species in Nepal. However, there is not any model showing correlation of Diameter at breast height (DBH) with Volume and Carbon Stock. Therefore, this study was objectively conducted to show the correlation of diameter with volume and carbon stock. Gaumati community forest was selected as study site for this research. Total 214 sample trees were taken into account for the study. DBH classes were categorized into s 0-10, 11-20, 21-30, and 31-40, 41-50, and DBH > 50 cm to represent the most of the diameter classes. Height and DBH were measured using Clinometer and Diameter tape. Four types of models were developed for volume and carbon stock with DBH viz. linear, logarithmic, power, and exponential. The models were tested, out of which the power equation was found to be the most accurate for both carbon and volume calculations. Power volume and carbon stock equations are y = 0.00004 x2.8404 (y=volume, x=DBH) and y = 0.0125x2.8404 (y=carbon stock, x=DBH) respectively. The estimated values of R2, MAD, MSE, RMSE and AIC were 0.9817, 0.178, 0.093, 0.305 and -41.58 respectively for power volume model and these values of R2, MAD, MSE, RMSE and AIC were 0.9817, 21.92, 1379.01, 37.13 and 1194.18 respectively for carbon stock calculation. Study shows that, there is a strong correlation between DBH vs. volume and DBH vs. carbon stock. Thus, the volume equation and carbon stock equation will be useful for forest science to calculate the volume and carbon stock of standing plants.

Use of Herbal Drugs in Local Health Traditions in Purnagiri Hills, District Champavat, Uttarakhand

The state Uttarakhand is rich with floral and faunal diversity including plants used by local inhabitance to cure health problems. Himalayan region always has been the treasure of herbs from ancient time. Himalayan herbs are highest in quality and potency. There are numbers of side effect are noted using allopathic medicines which leads towards reuse of medicinal plants available locally. Keeping this in view an attempt has been made to enumerate the common medicinal plants used in traditional therapeutic system of Uttarakhand, India. Results reveal that 29 plant species are used for primary healthcare.
 Purnagiri hills located in Champavat district of Uttarakhand is reservoir for a large number of medicinal herbs during the field survey large number of medicinal plants like Adina cordifolia (Roxb.) Hook. (Rubiaceae), Asparagus adscendence Roxb. (Liliaceae), Artemesia nilgirica (Clarke) Pamp. (Asteraceae), Berberis aristata DC. (Berberiridaceae), Colebrookea oppositefolia Sm. (Lamiaceae), Elephantopus scaber L (Asreraceae), Pinus longifolia Roxb. (Pinaceae), Tamarix gallica L. (Tamaraceae), Urtica dioica L. (Urtecaceae) and many more with their use in local health traditions by local habitants were recorded. One of the serious challenges to biodiversity and ecological functioning is climate change. Climate change and global warming are well known issue that has had an impact on the biodiversity. Second thing over exploitation of Himalayan forest leads these valuable herbs in endangered category. Some of the plants recorded are critically endangered and rare. We have to pay attention towards the conservation, cultivation of these herbs.

Ethnomedicinal plant use value in Lower Swat, Pakistan

Background: Plant-based traditional or folk medicines hold a great deal of promise as the foundation for medications for different diseases. Hence, the purpose of the present study is to document and preserve traditional knowledge among the people of Lower Swat. Methods: The field survey was conducted in 2018–2021, and 90 participants were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Information was collected predominantly from traditional practitioners, who are thought to have comparatively more knowledge and experience of using herbal medicine. During the discussions, notes were taken on the participants' demographics, plant names, plant parts used, and methods of herbal preparation. The collected data were analyzed through statistical indices in Microsoft Excel (2016). Results: It was found that 118 species represented by 107 genera and 62 different families were used for various medicinal purposes. Our findings depicted that herbs (57.5%) were the most commonly used as compared to trees and shrubs, while leaves (37.06%) were commonly used plant part for therapeutic purposes. Lamiaceae (16 species) was the most important family, followed by Rosaceae and Asteraceae (7 species each). Among the modes of preparation, decoction, drying, heating, and infusion were the applied approaches. The data was also analyzed by using qualitative indices such as relative frequency of citation (RFC), use report (UR), fidelity level (FL) and use value (UV). The highest RFC (0.96) was recorded for Mentha spicata and Foeniculum vulgare while the highest FL for Berberis lycium (78%) and, Ajuga bracteosa (70%). The highest UR (4) was recorded for Ajuga parviflora, Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana. The highest UV (0.50) was recorded for Ziziphus oxyphylla. Conclusions: The results of the present study reflect that medicinal plants are the most important source of health care in lower Swat. But in the absence of understanding and intuitive collective approaches, mainly therapeutic plants are overexploited in the area. There is a dire need for awareness about sustainable use of medicinal plants and threatened species in particular. Keywords: Lower Swat, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, traditional knowledge, mode of preparation, aliments.

Ethnomedicinal and Economic uses of Gymnosperms by Gujjar Tribes of Outer Seraj Area, Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, Himalaya

The ethno-botanical data of total nine Gymnosperms belonging to three families were collected from the local people of the Karsog area and outer Seraj region of Himachal Pradesh. A complete list of the plants is given with their name, family and ethno botanical use, distribution and occurrence. Indigenous knowledge of local inhabitants about the use of native plants were collected during field trips through questionnaire The inhabitants of the area have to use the medicinal plants for various purposes and have for a long time been dependent on surrounding plant resources for their food, shelter, fodder’s, health, care and other cultural purposes. Pinus roxburghii, P. wallichiana, Cedrus deodara, Abies pindrow and Taxus wallichiana are prominent gymnosperms of outer Seraj region which are not only source of timber but also utilized as fuel wood and for medicinal purposes.

Population biology, ecological niche modelling of endangered and endemic Pittosporum eriocarpum Royle in Western Himalaya, India

Pittosporum eriocarpum, an endemic, endangered, and multipurpose tree of the Indian Himalayan Region, is found in restricted pockets. The available studies on the species reveals that the studies are mostly focused on taxonomy and ethnobotany/resource use patterns. Therefore, the present study assessed the populations; analyzed the physico-chemical properties of soil; developed Ecological Niche Model; and standardized seed germination protocol for conservation. Sixteen populations of P. eriocarpum were surveyed and sampled in Himachal Pradesh. The density of P. eriocarpum ranged from 10 to 40 Ind/ha, it was highest in the rocky habitat (15 Ind/ha) and west aspect (40 Ind/ha). Pinus roxburghii, Pistacia chinensis ssp. integerrima, Grewia optiva, Albizia lebbeck, Quercusoblongata and Bauhinia variegata were major associated trees. Soil was analysed for the physico-chemical properties. In most of the populations,P. eriocarpum was in the form of saplings and seedlings. P. eriocarpum density had a significant negative correlation with pH. To predict potentially suitable habitats for P. eriocarpum, species occurrence data, bio-climatic variables, and the maximum entropy distribution modelling approach were used. The model's results revealed that 9.37 % of Himachal Pradesh is appropriate for species reintroduction. Both GA3 and KNO3 were highly effective for increasing germination and decreasing MGT and played a significant role in the seed germination. Despite the high viability of seeds, species cannot regenerate and spread in their native environments. This might be a result of overexploitation, intensive grazing, and competition among associated species. For in-situ conservation, regular monitoring and complete habitat protection are recommended.

Biodiversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in the protected landscape of Nandhour, Uttarakhand, India

An appraisal of butterfly species composition in terms of comparative diversity richness in various habitat types was conducted in and around the Nandhour Wildlife Sanctuary of Terai Arc landscape in Uttarakhand. During the two years of survey period (March 2018–February 2020), a total of 89 species of butterflies belonging to families Nymphalidae 43 species, Pieridae 15 species, Lycaenidae 13 species, Hesperiidae eight species, Papilionidae seven species, and Riodinidae three species were recorded, of which 46 species represented new records for the Nandhour Landscape. Butterfly diversity and richness were highest in dense moist & open dry riverine forests and lowest in human settlements & agricultural land. No significant differences in the number of species were found in moist mixed deciduous forest, subtropical Chir Pine forest, moist Bhabar Sal forest, moist Shiwalik Sal forest, and plantation forest. Eight species are endemic to the Indian Himalayan Region.

Carbon Sequestration in Pinus roxburghii. Sarg Forest on Two Different Aspects in Daman Hill, Nepal

Carbon Sequestration in Pinus roxburghii. Sarg Forest on Two Different Aspects in Daman Hill, Nepal

Ganoderma multistipitatum sp. nov. from Chir pine tree (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) in Pakistan

BackgroundGanoderma species are in state of flux in Pakistan as well as in the world. The diversity of this wood-inhabiting basidiomycete in Pakistan is still poorly known. A few species have been introduced from the country; even the country is rich with many Ganoderma species, which still need identification. MethodsGanoderma multistipitatum sp. nov. is described from Lahore, Punjab Pakistan by using the morpho-anatomical (via naked eye and compound microscope) characters and molecular data from the ITS regions of DNA. The specimens used in this study were collected from the Botanical Garden of Government College University Lahore. The G. multistipitatum sp. nov. is, to date, only known from Lahore on Chir pine tree. ResultsMorphologically, this species is characterized by laccate orange, brown basidiomata, maroon, brown multi stipitate, and anatomically by ellipsoid basidiospores (10.24–11.2 × 5.3–5.4 µm) and trimitic hyphal system. The G. multistipitatum sp. nov. is 21st species from the genus Ganoderma known from Pakistan. This new species is also described with photographs, line drawings and compared with nearby taxa of the phylogenetic tree constructed by software MEGA10. This species resembled with typical G. lucidum, but the ITS DNA sequences of this species were much far away from G. multistipitatum sp. nov. ones. ConclusionThe phylogeny based on ITS sequences supported this as a new distinct species, which finally compared with closely matrixed G. multipileum and related allies. The aim of this study was to introduce the new species from genus Ganoderma, which is a major contribution in biodiversity of the world.

Characterization of Forest Ecosystems in the Chure (Siwalik Hills) Landscape of Nepal Himalaya and Their Conservation Need

As a basic component of the forest ecosystem, the forest structure refers to the general distribution of plant species of different life forms and sizes. The characterization of forest structure is the key to understanding the vegetation history, present status, and future development trajectory of the forest ecosystems. The Chure region of Nepal covers about 12.78% of the country’s land area and extends east to west along the southern foothills. This biologically rich but geologically fragile region is home to many species and provides many ecosystem services to millions of people. The Chure landscape is severely suffered from anthropogenic disturbances including logging, grazing, fuelwood collection, solid waste disposal, encroachment, forest fire, and excavation of sand, gravel, and boulders. In this study, we aim to characterize the forest ecosystem types outside the protected areas in the Chure region of Nepal and analyze the threat and vulnerability of the landscape from the biodiversity point of view. We sampled 62 sites to study the dominant vegetation type, regeneration status, and major threats to the forest ecosystems. A distribution map of the forest ecosystem types in Chure was prepared. We identified 14 forest ecosystem types in Chure including seven new ones. The newly reported forest ecosystems are Hymenodictyon excelsum Forest, Syzygium cumini Forest, Terminalia anogeissiana Forest, Schima wallichii–Shorea robusta Forest, Pinus roxburghii–Shorea robusta Forest, Pinus roxburghii Forest, and Bamboo thickets. We conclude that intensified human activities including forest encroachment and deforestation are mainly responsible for the ecological imbalance in the Chure region. We emphasize an in-depth analysis of biophysical linkage and immediate conservation efforts for the restoration of the Chure landscape in Nepal.

Chir pine and banj oak responses to pre-monsoon drought across slope aspects and positions in Central Himalaya

The difference in maintaining a safety margin with regard to hydraulic conductance between pine and oak species influences their distribution in a region. Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) are the principal species of Central Himalayan forests between 1000 and 2000m elevations. Nearly 80% of annual precipitation of ~ 1400mm in the region occurs during monsoon, from mid-June to September, whereafter droughts of varying length and intensity are common. The main objective of the study is to find out the responses of these two evergreen tree species to pre-monsoon (March to mid-June) water stress and topographical heterogeneity that occur in Central Himalaya. We measured soil and tree water potential and osmotic adjustment across five seasons on three slope positions, namely, hill base, mid-slope, and hill top, on north and south slope aspects. Chir pine showed an early response to pre-monsoon drought by restraining daily change in Ψ to 0.89MPa, while predawn Ψ (ΨPD) was still moderate (isohydric tendency). In contrast, the daily reduction in Ψ of banj oak kept on increasing up to 1.49MPa, despite severely low ΨPD (anisohydric tendency). In both tree species, Ψ was invariably lower on south aspect than north aspect and declined from hill base to hill top. Such responses to slope aspect and position, however, were relatively less apparent in chir pine, which tended to maintain a wide safety margin when under stress. As for soil Ψ, banj oak site retained monsoon rainwater more effectively than chir pine.

Structure and Composition of Vegetation and Status of Invasion in Different Forest Types of Western Himalaya

Present study deals with qualitative and quantitative assessment of vegetation in four most dominated forest types of western Himalaya, Sal (Shorea robusta) forest, Chir-Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest, Banj-oak (Quercus leucotrichophora), and Deodar forest (Cedrus deodara) between 600 to 2100 m asl elevation. These forests serve the lifeline for local communities for their daily sustenance. A total of 336 species belonging to 277 genera and 98 families were recoded from study area. Total basal cover (TBC) ranged between 24.05 to 35.15 m² ha^-1, Tree density ranged from 472 to 1068, shrub’s density varied between 1930 to 4080 whereas herbs ranged from 53600 to 80008 individual per hectare. Maximum tree density was recorded (1068 ind. ha^-1) at the oak stand and minimum (472 ind. ha^-1) recorded at the Sal forest. Species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and TBC increase from Sal to oak forest. It was observed that temperate oak forests in study area comprised higher diversity and species richness at tree, shrub and herb layer, Sal forest depicted higher regeneration. Major invasive species in study area were Lantana camara, Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides and Parthenium hysterophorous. In present study, Ageratina adenophora recorded an elevation of about 2100m asl, which is the alarming sign for local biodiversity and may cause a serious threat to Himalayan biodiversity.

Role of Plants for Evaluation of Air Pollution Tolerance Index on the Basis of Some Biochemical Parameters: A Concise Review

Several common plants such as, Mangifera indica, Pinus roxburghii, Thuja occidentalis, Tamarindus indica, Cassia fistula, Dalbergia sissoo, Quercus sp., Bauhinia recemosa etc. are available to absorb various pollutant gases. Plant leaves are the ideal indicator to measure the degree of air pollution and most plant have exhibited various physiological changes before showing any visible symptom in the leaves. Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) is a simple and efficient method for identifying plant species that can tolerate air pollution. It only requires four different types of leaf biochemical parameters, including the pH of plant leaf extract, the relative water content of the leaf, ascorbic acid, and the total chlorophyll content of the leaf. The amount of plant susceptibility to air pollution was assessed using the APTI score. Higher APTI-valued plants are extremely beneficial as a bio-monitoring tool for improving the atmosphere. For plantation programmes in newly constructed urbanized areas and avenues to produce pollution-free green environments, plant species with higher APTI values can be prioritized.

Soil Carbon Fluxes and Sensitivity Analysis – A Study in Pinus roxburghii Forest

The predicted increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) level is responsive to altering the future climate, and a small change in the soil carbon may significantly affect the forest carbon cycle and climate system. Soil respiration (SR) and its influencing factors like soil temperature (ST), soil water content (SWC) and surface litter-fall were measured monthly over one year in a sub-tropical Pine (Pinus roxburghii) forest of Bhaktapur district located in central Nepal to determine the SR of the forest and, its variations and sensitivity. The results showed that SR varied to the changes in ST by an exponential significant positive correlation between them. The optimum SR was observed between 10 and 22ºC, and the highest SR were obtained above ST at 20ºC. The temperature sensitivity value of SR (Q10) was estimated at Q10 = 2.13. The significant exponential curve represented the effect of SWC on SR. The higher SR rate was mostly measured between 10 and 25% SWC. The monthly and seasonal variations of the SR rate were consistent with the ST, SWC and litter-fall variations. The study showed that the combined effect of temperature and precipitation might be the major cause of SR variations; however, ST is adequate for increasing SR. Hence, the warming further enhances carbon emission from the forest floor and inversely increases carbon to contribute to climatic change through this pine-dominated forest stand structure.

INVESTIGATION ON PHYSICO-CHEMICAL, MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF EXTRACTED NOVEL PINUS ROXBURGHII FIBER

ABSTRACT The adverse environmental effects of synthetic fibers have forced researchers to use natural fibers in composite preparation. Pinus Roxburghii Needles (PRNs) are widely available in the hilly region of Uttarakhand state, India. Utilizing the fiber extracted from PRNs as reinforcement in bio-composite preparation can reduce synthetic fiber and emphasize the use of natural resources. In this study, we extract the Pinus Roxburghii Fibers (PRFs) from PRNs using the water retting method. Their physical, chemical, thermal, and morphological aspects were investigated and reported. The average diameter and density of the extracted PRFs were obtained as 145 ± 17.36 µm and 1020 ± 20.27 kg/m3, respectively. The chemical analysis revealed that the extracted PRFs contain 58.30% cellulose content. Thermal stability and maximum degradation temperature of the extracted PRFs were assessed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and found to be 225°C and 355.84°C, respectively. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) were used to study the surface morphology and surface roughness of PRFs, respectively. Further, the FTIR analysis of the extracted PRFs confirmed the presence of different functional groups of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The crystallinity index (43.52%) and crystal size (4.03 nm) of the extracted PRFs were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis.

Mapping and Monitoring Forest Landscape Restoration Using Landsat-8 Images

In the context of the Bonn Challenge, Pakistan started Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in 2014. This study assessed growth performance and the survival rate of young plantations and developed linear regression models by using Landsat-8 data. The results showed that fast-growing species such as Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Robinia pseudoacacia have shown a good growth rate as compared to Pinus roxburghii and Cedrus deodara. Landsat-8 vegetation indices include Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Difference Vegetation Index (DVI), and Green Normalized Vegetation Index (GNDVI), which were correlated with volume (m3). RVI has the highest correlation with R2 value of 0.88 followed by NDVI, SAVI, and GDVI with R2 value of 0.83. Stepwise linear regression (SLR) showed that MASVI and SAVI have a strong significant relationship with volume compared to the rest of the indices. The simple linear regression model of RVI and volume has the lowest RMSE (1.19 m3/ha) and is considered the best for plantation mapping. The temporal assessment of afforestation (2013-2018) by Landsat-8 images showed that the plantation was successful in the sampled sites. The RVI differencing and threshold measured area under vegetation was 7,309.7 ha in 2013 and was increased to 9,224.9 ha in 2018. The study suggested that Landsat-8 data have the potential for monitoring FLR activities and can be enhanced further when combined with other datasets.

Diversity of Wild Edible Plants in the Kotla Valley in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India

The current study focuses on the variety of wild edible plants that the locals of Uttarakhand,India’s Kotla valley Barkot (Uttarakashi) consume. During a field survey, local informantsprovided all of the information. The informants included laborers in the fields, priests,physicians, and birth attendants older than 55, to repeatedly verify the validity of theinformation gathered from the research area. There were 64 wild edible plant species in total,with 56 genera and 39 families represented. There were 22 kinds of shrubs, 20 species oftrees, 17 species of herbs, and 5 species of climbers that were edible. 49% of the species wereused for foraging edible wild fruits, 26% for leaves, 13% for seeds, 7% for roots, and 6% forflowers. The most widespread species included Ficus species, Elaeagnus umbellata, Morusserrata, Amaranthus caudatus, Berberis aristata, Myrica esculenta, Pinus roxburghii, Prunuscerasoides, Pyracantha crenulata, Pyrus pashia, Rhododendron arboretum, Rubia manjith,and Rubus spp. The importance of wild edible plants in supplying stable and supplementarysustenance cannot be overstated.

Influence of vegetation types on soil physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass and stoichiometry in the central Himalaya

Soil physical and chemical properties and microbial biomass dynamics are significantly related to vegetation types. However, how different vegetation types influence the soil and microbial dynamics remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study is to assess the influence of vegetation types on soil physical properties (bulk density (BD), porosity, moisture, texture, and water holding capacity), chemical properties (soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), and SOC, TN and TP stocks), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and stocks as well as soil and microbial biomass C: N: P stoichiometry within three soil depth (0–10 cm, 10–30 cm and 30–60 cm) in central Himalaya. Five vegetation types, namely oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) forest, Chir-pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) forest, deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don) forest, Sal (Shorea robusta (Roth) forest) and one was abandoned agricultural land was selected for the present study. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship among physical, chemical, and microbial characteristics and stoichiometry. ANOVA revealed significant differences in soil physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass, and stoichiometry due to vegetation types (P < 0.001), soil depths (P < 0.001), and vegetation types × soil depth interaction (P < 0.001). The results showed that the SOC, TN, TP, MBC, MBN, and MBP contents decreased with soil depths. MBC, MBN, and MBP contents were significantly and positively related to SOC, TN, and TP contents. Oak and deodar forests had the highest, SOC, TN, TP, MBC, MBN, and MBP contents, compared with other vegetation types. Sal forest soil (0–10 cm) had the highest SOC: TN, and SOC: TP ratios. Different vegetation types have different soil properties and stoichiometry, implying their different soil C, N, and P stocks. Thus our findings can help in developing a promising guideline for sustainable management strategies and soil management in long run.

In Vitro Anti-Colorectal Cancer and Anti-Microbial Effects of Pinus roxburghii and Nauplius graveolens Extracts Modulated by Apoptotic Gene Expression

The use of phytochemicals is gaining increasing attention for treating cancer morbidity with minimal burden side effects. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of Pinus roxburghii branch (P. roxburghii) and Nauplius graveolens (N. graveolens) extracts in vitro. Cell viability was estimated using MTT assay. DNA fragmentation was determined to detect apoptotic pathway initiation. Mechanistically, the apoptotic pathway was tracked by estimating the relative mRNA expression levels of the Bcl-2, Bax, Cas3, NF-κB, and PI3k genes by qRT-PCR. P. roxburghii exhibited moderate antioxidant activity, while N. graveolens possessed highly significant (p &lt; 0.05) scavenging activity against DPPH and ABTS assays. HPLC analysis demonstrated that catechin and chlorogenic acid were the predominant polyphenolic compounds in P. roxburghii and N. graveolens, respectively. The P. roxburghii and N. graveolens extracts inhibited the viability of HCT-116 cells with IC50 values of 30.6 µg mL−1 and 26.5 µg mL−1, respectively. DNA fragmentation analysis showed that the proposed extracts induced apoptosis in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, the IC50 doses of the selected extracts significantly (p &lt; 0.05) upregulated Bax and cleaved Cas-3, and downregulated Bcl-2, NF-κB, and PI3k genes versus the GAPDH gene as a housekeeping gene in comparison to the control group. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was raised upon treatment. The mentioned extracts exhibited antimicrobial action against all tested bacteria and fungi. The highest antibacterial effect was recorded against E. coli, with inhibition zones of 12.0 and 11.2 mm for P. roxburghii and N. graveolens, respectively. On the other hand, the highest antifungal action was registered for Penicillium verrucosum and A. niger, with inhibition zones of 9.8 and 9.2 mm for the tested extracts, respectively. In conclusion, the outcomes of this study indicate that P. roxburghii and N. graveolens extracts could potentially be used as anticancer, antibacterial, and antifungal agents.