Fimbristylis Dichotoma Research Articles

Light Microscopic and Scanning Electron Microscopic Techniques to Characterize Nutlets of Some Indian Cyperoideae (Cyperaceae) and Their Taxonomic Significance.

In the present investigation, nutlet morphological and micro-morphological characters were analyzed using Light Microscope (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) in 38 taxa under 13 genera from the sub-family Cyperoideae of Cyperaceae to find out whether these characters are taxonomically important or not. Nutlet morphology and surface characters of the representative taxa from all the possible tribes under the sub-family Cyperoideae namely, Fuireneae, Cypereae, Cariceae, Abildgaardieae, Eleocharideae, Pseudoschoeneae, Schoenoplecteae, and Sclerieae were evaluated for their taxonomic significance. Cluster analysis was employed considering nutlet morphological characters to determine the overall similarity among the taxa based on 153 character states. Except in few specified cases, grouping of the taxa in the clusters is in accordance to the taxonomic treatments made by recent Cyperologists. Nutlets in the tribe Abildgaardieae showed maximum level of variability in size, shape, and surface ornamentation at the level of higher taxon, but showed specificity at the species level. Tuberculate, striate-reticulate, and transversely wavy ridged surface ornamentations were found in different species of Fimbristylis. Previously described cryptic variation, and effect of different ploidy level were not reflected in nutlet surface morphology and micromorphology in Fimbristylis dichotoma and F. ovata complexes which was previously made the taxa taxonomically very difficult. Serrulate anticlinal wall in F. bisumbellata was the most unique in Fimbristylis. Species under the megadiverse genus Carex representing the tribe Cariceae showed very unique type of surface ornamentation. Surface walls of all the studied species of Carex were characterized by polygonal epidermal cells with single conical silica body (2-3 per cell in C. speciosa) of variable length and sizes. Most interestingly, in C. nubigena, presence of the central silica body and peripheral satellites was not consistent. Based on the presence and absence, two different variants under the species were identified. In C. nubigena, when silica body was present, epidermal cells were characterized by central conical silica body surrounded by variable number of satellites. The present investigation first time reports this novel nutlet surface character in C. nubigena. Among the studied characters, length and height of conical, height of apex, and width of apex are variable among Carex species. On the other hand, exclusion of the genera Schoenoplectiella and Schoenoplectus from tribe Scirpeae s.l. and placement under the tribes Pseudoschoeneae and Schoenoplecteae (respectively) was also supported by the present investigation. The present study also confirms that nutlet morphological and micro-morphological characters are useful in identification and arrangement of different taxa under the subfamily Cyperoideae of Cyperaceae. Result of the present investigation was correlated and discussed in comparative manner with the treatments of the recent past.

Allelopathic Effects of Residues of Fimbristylis dichotoma Along with Manures and Fertilizers on the Weed Growth in Boro Rice

Currently, the rice-growing system seeks a biological solution to reduce the negative impacts of chemical herbicides because it is heavily reliant on these for weed control. This is where allelopathy comes in; it's a potential substitute for conventional weed management strategies in rice cultivation by making use of allelopathic plant residues. In the study we used Fimbristylis dichotoma residues with several organic sources of nutrient to measure the integrated effect of manures, fertilizers, and Fimbristylis dichotoma residues on weed growth in boro rice field. Two rice varieties viz., BRRI dhan29 and BRRI dhan89; and six treatments total viz., Control (T1), Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers (T2), Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @5 t ha-1 (T3), Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers (T4), Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @2.5 t ha-1 + 50% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers (T5) and Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @3.75 t ha-1 + 75% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers (T6) were taken. In the experiment, at 25 DAT (days after transplanting), BRRI dhan89 had the highest weed density (35.0) when no residue was applied, and BRRI dhan29 had the lowest (18.00) when 3 t ha-1 F. dichotoma residue with Tricho-compost @ 1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers were applied. At 55 DAT, BRRI dhan89 had the highest weed density (19.66) when no residue was administered, and the lowest (10.66) when 3 t ha-1 F. dichotoma residue was applied along with Tricho-compost @ 1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers. When it came to dry weight, at 25 DAT, BRRI dhan89 had the highest weed dry weight (3.76 g) when no residue was applied, and BRRI dhan29 had the lowest (1.72 g) when 3 t ha-1 F. dichotoma residue with Tricho-compost @1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers were applied. At 55 DAT, BRRI dhan89 had the highest weed dry weight (2.29 g) when no residue was sprayed, and the lowest (1.46 g) when 3 t ha-1 F. dichotoma residue with Tricho-compost @ 1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers were applied. The study's findings suggest that applying F. dichotoma residue and incorporating Tricho-compost @ 1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than the recommended amounts of inorganic fertilizers may be able to suppress the growth of weeds and could a package in biological weed control strategy.

Plant and yeast consortium for efficient remediation of dyes and effluents: a biochemical and toxicological study.

Textile effluent carries a range of dyes that may be recalcitrant and resistant to biodegradation. A unique consortium of the Fimbristylis dichotoma and Saccharomyces cerevisiae is exploited for the biodegradation of an azo dye Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent. This consortium enhances the rate of biodegradation of Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent with an excellent rate of biodegradation of 92% for Rubine GFL and 68% for actual textile effluent when compared to the individual one within 96 h. Speedy decolorization of Rubine GFL and actual textile effluent was observed due to the induction of oxido-reductive enzymes of the FD-SC consortium. Along with the significant reduction in the values of COD, BOD, ADMI, TSS, and TDS with 70, 64, 65, 41, and 52%, respectively, in experimental sets treated with FD-SC consortium. The biodegradation of Rubine GFL was confirmed with UV-Vis spectroscopy at the preliminary level, and then, metabolites formed after degradation were detected and identified by FTIR, HPLC, and GC-MS techniques. Also, decolorization of the dye was observed in the sections of the root cortex of Fimbristylis dichotoma. The toxicity of dye and metabolites formed after degradation was assessed by seed germination and bacterial count assay, where increased germination % and bacterial count from31×107CFUsto 92 × 107 CFUs reflect the nontoxic nature of metabolites. Furthermore, the nontoxic nature of metabolites was confirmed by fish toxicity on Cirrhinus mrigala showed normal structures of fish gills and liver in the groups treated with FD-SC consortium proving the better tactic for biodegradation of dyes and textile effluent.

Integrated effect of manures and fertilizers with the allelopathy of Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) on the yield performance of rice

Allelopathy plays an important role in weed control and crop productivity. In light of these, an experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh under the Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (AEZ-9) during the period from July 2021-June, 2022 to assess the combined effect of Fimbristylis dichotoma residues with manures and fertilizers on rice yield performance in boro season. The experiment consisted two rice varieties viz., BRRI dhan29 and BRRI dhan89; and six treatments of the combination of residues with manures and fertilizers viz., Control; Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers; Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @5 t ha-1; Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers; Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @2.5 t ha-1 + 50% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers; Residues @ 3 t ha-1 + Tricho-compost @3.75 t ha-1 + 75% less than recommended doses of inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest grain yield was produced in T4 (Residues 3 t ha-1 +Trichocompost @1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended fertilizers treatment). From the above results it was found that the variety BRRI dhan29 and T4 (Residues 3 t ha-1 +Trichocompost @1.5 t ha-1 + 25% less than recommended fertilizers treatment) treatment exhibited the superior effect. The current study's findings indicate that the combination of manures and fertilizers increases yield and yield-contributing characteristics, and that Fimbristylis dichotoma residues have an herbicidal impact for inhibiting weed growth.

Assessment of combined effect of Eleocharis atropurpurea and Fimbristylis dichotoma residues on the yield performance of T. aman rice

The current agricultural system is seeking a biological solution to lesson hazardous impacts from the use of chemicals to control weeds in rice production. Plant allelopathy is one of the ways where allelopathic plant inhibits its surrounding plants by releasing allelopathic substances. The present experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from July to December 2019 to study the allelopathic effects of the and residues of Eleocharis atropurpureaandFimbristylisdichotomaonweedmanagementandtheyieldperformance of amanrice. The field experiment consisted of three rice varieties i.e BRRI dhan34, Nizershail and Kalozira and five treatments such as 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 t ha-1and farmer’s practices. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest grain yield (4.44 t ha-1)as well as the yield contributing character was recorded in Kalozira and the lowest grain yield (3.94 t ha-1) was obtained in the BBRI dhan34. The highest number of effective tillers hill-1, number of grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, grain and straw yields were observed when the residue of E.atropurpureaandF.dichotomawas applied at 3tha-1.Ricecultivarkalozira with the incorporation of E. atropurpurea and F. dichotoma residue at 3 t ha-1produced the highest grain yield (5.08 tha-1) and straw yield (6.77 tha-1). Results of this study indicate that E. atropurpureaand F. dichotomaresidue showed potentiality to inhibit weed growth and it has a significant effect on yield of amanrice.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant and Antifungal Activity of Methanolic Extract of Fimbristylis dichotoma and Fimbristylis miliacea

Fimbristylis genus had commonly found as a dominant weed in the rice fields. The sedges have been identified as one of the invasive weed in the world and their undesirable presence disturb the growth of the crop. The presence of secondary metabolites, on the other hand, revealed that this plant is capable of a wide range of biological activities. Therefore, this study focused on the phytochemistry, antioxidant and antifungal properties of 2 weeds in the genus Fimbristylis. The methanol extracts of 2 species; Fimbristylis miliacea and Fimbristylis dichotoma were screened for phytochemical, antioxidant and antifungal activity. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of saponin, terpenoid, phenolic and flavonoid. Antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The extracts have significant antioxidant activity with values of IC50 = 250.67 μg/ml (F. miliacea) and 213.72 μg/ml (F. dichotoma). Antifungal activity was validated by dual culture test; minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) using crude methanol extract 10mg/mL. The percentage of inhibition radial growth (PIRG) value by dual culture test against Colletotrichum spp for F. miliacea was 42.67%, and F. dichotoma was 38.33%. For MIC and MFC test, the lowest values against the plant pathogenic fungi showed at 1.25 mg/mL and 2.5 mg/mL. From the results, it showed that these extracts have the potential to be develop as natural products in integrated control strategies.

Fimbristylis dichotoma (tall fringe rush)

Fimbristylis dichotoma (tall fringe rush)

Effects of mulching on the weed community and grain yield of upland rice cultivars

This study evaluated the effects of mulching on upland rice cultivars Comecru and Cambará and the weed community under four amounts of babassou (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng.) straw mulching namely: 0, 15, 20, 25 t ha-1 with a view to control weeds. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme with four replications. The rice plant height, percentage of fertile panicles, number of spikelets per panicle, weight of 100 grains and grain yield were assessed. We also assessed the weed community by computing the following phytosociological parameters: density, frequency and the importance value index (IVI) of each species. Babassou straw mulching reduced weed density and dry mass between rows of upland rice cultivars and increased the rice yield. The weed species with the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) in the treatments with no mulching were Cyperus iria, Fimbristylis dichotoma and Digitaria ciliaris. Rice grain yield was increased with the increase in the amount of straw. Comecru cv. had the highest suppressive effect on weeds with significantly higher grain yield (1,214.85 kg-1) than Cambará cv. (878.72 kg ha-1). We conclude that the higher amounts (20 and 25 t ha-1) of babassou straw mulching suppressed weeds, providing less competition with the rice cultivars, which resulted in an increase in the number of rice panicles, weight of 100 grains, spikelet fertility and grain yield in both rice cultivars

Construction and implementation of floating wetpark as effective constructed wetland for industrial textile wastewater treatment

Fimbristylis dichotoma, Ipomoea aquatica, Pluchea tomentosa and their co-plantation (consortium FIP) autonomously degrade Orange 3R. Consortium FIP showed 84% removal of Orange 3R within 48 h, which is a higher dye elimination rate than individual plant systems. Oxidoreductase enzymes like tyrosinase (76%), varatryal alcohol oxidase (85%), lignin peroxidase (150%), riboflavin reductase (151%), laccase (171%), NADH-DCIP reductase (11%) and azo reductase (241%) were expressed in consortia FIP during Orange 3R degradation. UV–vis spectroscopy, enzyme activities, HPTLC, FTIR and GC-MS confirmed mineralization of Orange 3R into its metabolites. Microscopic investigation of root tissue revealed the harsh effect of dye on root tissues. Toxicity assessment on the HepG2 cell line demonstrated the toxic nature of Orange 3R, which gets reduced after phyto-treatment with consortia FIP. Floating wetpark of consortia FIP was found more efficient for the treatment of industrial textile waste and accomplished 87%, 86%, 75%, 49% and 46% removal of COD, BOD, color, TSS and TDS of effluent.

Glyphosate-remediation potential of selected plant species in artificial wetlands

Glyphosate is a systemic herbicide with an important environmental impact due to its adverse effect on non-target organisms. Its removal can be accomplished by wild (native) plants which, together with their associated microbiota, have acquired tolerance against glyphosate or are able to degrade it. Little is known, however, about these plants' potential for glyphosate remediation and the role that plant-microbe interactions play in this process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate plant species from locations with a history of glyphosate exposure – drainage ditches of banana plantations (Musa sp.), or riparian areas - to determine which, in combination with their microbiota, promote the removal of glyphosate. Five plant species were selected to evaluate their response to inundated growing conditions and exposure to 20 mg glyphosate acid equivalent/L for 47 days. Parameters affecting plant growth and glyphosate removal were recorded. Rhizosphere bacterial strains were identified and their tolerance to different glyphosate concentrations determined. Also, the activity of 19 rhizospheric enzymes associated with the phosphorus, carbon and nitrogen cycles were analyzed. Glyphosate-treated Panicum maximum exhibited the highest removal efficiency (87%), followed by Typha domingensis and Heliconia latispatha. All plants were associated with glyphosate-tolerant bacteria, and in the cases of Xanthosoma sagittifolium and Fimbristylis dichotoma, strains were recovered that even succeeded in growing in a medium containing 40 g glyphosate ae/L. Processes involved in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus metabolism in the rhizosphere were affected by glyphosate exposure, and the importance of plant-microbe-substrate interactions in the elimination of glyphosate was evinced. Although all plants contributed to the removal of glyphosate, their use in phytoremediation projects will depend on the location and nature of the environmental problem to be resolved.

Diversity and Potential of Herb Vegetation in Forest Area With Special Purpose (KHDTK) Kaliurang Yogyakarta as Medicines

Information on the diversity of plants, especially herbs and their potential as medicines is not widely known. This study aims to determine the diversity of herbs and their potential as medicines in the research forest area of Mount Merapi, KHDTK Kaliurang, Yogyakarta. The study in three areas found 27 species herbs with Centhoteca lappacea (L) Desv had the highest average Important Value Index (79.26 %) and Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl as the lowest (2.66 %). The Diversity Index (H’) of herbs in KHDTK Kaliurang is low (0.58-0.78). Its use and potential as medicines are found in 21 out of 27 herbs species. These herbs have been widely used for traditional medicine in many countries and further research also show the potential of these herbs for various diseases such as treatment of wounds, urinary problem, fever, diarrhea, anti-oxidant, diabetes, and cancer. Results of this study are expected to provide information on the potential of herbs for traditional and modern medicine. Furthermore, information on the diversity of these herbs can also complement the type of plants in the Mount Merapi region and increasing awareness on the importance of supporting efffort to utilize and preserve the herbs of the Merapi Mountain region, especially in the KHDTK Kaliurang.

Diversity and Potential of Herb Vegetation in Forest Area With Special Purpose (KHDTK) Kaliurang Yogyakarta as Medicines

Information on the diversity of plants, especially herbs and their potential as medicines is not widely known. This study aims to determine the diversity of herbs and their potential as medicines in the research forest area of Mount Merapi, KHDTK Kaliurang, Yogyakarta. The study in three areas found 27 species herbs with Centhoteca lappacea (L) Desv had the highest average Important Value Index (79.26 %) and Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl as the lowest (2.66 %). The Diversity Index (H’) of herbs in KHDTK Kaliurang is low (0.58-0.78). Its use and potential as medicines are found in 21 out of 27 herbs species. These herbs have been widely used for traditional medicine in many countries and further research also show the potential of these herbs for various diseases such as treatment of wounds, urinary problem, fever, diarrhea, anti-oxidant, diabetes, and cancer. Results of this study are expected to provide information on the potential of herbs for traditional and modern medicine. Furthermore, information on the diversity of these herbs can also complement the type of plants in the Mount Merapi region and increasing awareness on the importance of supporting efffort to utilize and preserve the herbs of the Merapi Mountain region, especially in the KHDTK Kaliurang. Keywords: diversity, herb, medicine, conservation, KHDTK Kaliurang

Keanekaragaman Vegetasi Hutan Mangrove Sebagai Bahan Pengayaan Mata Kuliah Ekologi Lahan Basah

One of the habitats in the wetlands is the Ecosystem of Mangrove which has a diversity of flora and fauna. This study aims to describe the diversity of vegetation in the mangrove forest area of Sungai Rasau Village, Tanah Laut Regency and obtain valid and practical handout teaching materials. The research method used is descriptive method and development research. The main subjects of this study were 2 experts and 5 students as test subjects. Data were analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the tree vegetation of Sonneratia alba, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Heritiera littoralis, Avicennia marina, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizopora apiculata, Rhizopora mucronata, Nypa fruticans, Sonneratia caseolaris with a diversity index of 1,848 (medium). Shrubs and herbs, Derris trifociata Acanthus ilicifolius L, Pluchea indica L, Galinsoga parviflora, Cyperus kyllinga, and Fimbristylis dichotoma have moderate diversity index (H'=1.662). The handout developed "Diversity of Mangrove Vegetation in Sungai Rasau Village, Tanah Laut Regency" as Enrichment Material for Wetland Ecology Courses has very valid criteria with very good legibility tests.

Eco-electrogenic treatment of dyestuff wastewater using constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell system with an evaluation of electrode-enriched microbial community structures

This work studied eco-electrogenic treatment of real dyestuff wastewater along with characterization of electrode-enriched microbial community structures in Fimbristylis dichotoma planted closed-circuit constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) system. The CW-MFC-2 (experimental system) achieved 82.2 ± 1.7% ADMI removal and 70 ± 2% COD reduction; that were found to be 9% and 7.4% higher than the standalone constructed wetland (CW) system (bioremediation control) respectively. Likewise, the CW-MFC-2 system achieved maximum power density of 198.8 mW/m2, which was 85.6 ± 2.47% higher than the CW-MFC-1 system (eco-electricity control). Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays revealed significant down-regulation of hepatic oxidative stress response biomarker genes in Oreochromis niloticus exposed to CW-MFC-2 system treated dyestuff wastewater as compared with untreated wastewater. The biofilms associated with the anode and cathode of the CW-MFC-2 system exhibited selective enrichment of electrochemically active and dye degrading microbial communities.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF CAMBODIAN CYPERACEAE

To date, there are very few sequence data for Cyperaceae from mainland Southeast Asia. The aim of the present study was to contribute nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of selected species of Cambodian Cyperaceae to the overall phylogeny of the family. We generated ITS sequences of 38 accessions representing 26 species from Cambodia and used these sequences for phylogenetic analysis together with similar sequences from the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank. Our results corroborate recent phylogenetic work in the family and largely confirm established tribal relationships. The backbone of the phylogenetic tree of species-rich genera that have undergone rapid radiations is often weakly resolved (e.g. in Fimbristylis and in the C4 clade of Cyperus). Cryptic variation was revealed in the taxonomically difficult group of Fimbristylis dichotoma, with samples of this taxon appearing in two distinct clades within Fimbristylis. Further addition of geographically spread accessions of taxa will improve our understanding of the complex biogeographical history of the genera in the family. Eleocharis koyamae Tremetsb. & D.A.Simpson is proposed as a new name for E. macrorrhiza T. Koyama.

Distribution and stress tolerance of Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. podocarpa (Cyperaceae) growing in highly acidic solfatara fields

AbstractSolfatara fields, areas surrounding fumaroles (volcanic vents) near the hot springs or volcanoes, are characterized by severe environmental conditions such as low soil pH and high aluminum contents. Fimbristylis dichotoma subsp. podocarpa is an endangered plant distributed in solfatara fields of Kyushu, western Japan. This species is known to form stands in sites closed to fumaroles where another solfatara plant Miscanthus sinensis do not colonize. We conducted field survey and culture experiments to test the hypothesis that F. dichotoma has higher tolerance to low pH and high aluminum conditions than M. sinensis, which corresponds to the distribution pattern of the two species. In the study site of Myoban Hot Spring, Oita Prefecture, rhizosphere soils of F. dichotoma showed lower pH and higher aluminum contents than those of M. sinensis. The culture experiment showed that germination of F. dichotoma was not inhibited even at pH 2, whereas significant decline in germination (%) was observed in M. sinensis. However, because of the low germination (%) of F. dichotoma, the values of the two species were similar at pH 2. In the pot culture, seedling growth of M. sinensis was suppressed at the aluminum concentrations tested (400 mg AlCl3 L−1). Conversely, no significant decline in the seedling growth was observed in F. dichotoma at the same aluminum levels. Considering soil conditions in the field, we concluded that that the difference in the tolerance to aluminum between the two species played a significant role in determining their distribution pattern.

Weed management in organically grown scented rice

A field experiment on evaluation of weed management practices in scented rice under organic production system was conducted during 2017–18 at All India Coordinated Research Project on Farming System, College of Agriculture, Rewa (M.P.). Fimbristylis dichotoma was the most dominating weed in rice field followed by Jussia suffurusticosa. Incorporation of mustard oil cake at 5 t/ha along with one hand weeding gave maximum weed control efficiency (68%). Growth and development of rice was better with incorporation of mustard oil cake 15 days before sowing 5 t/ha + 1 hand weeding (HW) followed by two HW at 20 and 40 days after transplanting (DAT) and locally available weed mulch Saccharum spontaneam at 3 t/ha + 1 hand weeding. These treatments gave 34 to 56% higher grain yield as compared to farmer's practice of weed control as mulching with mango leaves. Net profit of ‘ 62061/ha was maximum in mulching with locally available weeds + 1 hand weeding followed by ‘ 56695/ha in two HW at 20 and 40 DAT.

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SEMI-ARID REGION

Objective: Infections caused by microorganisms that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics have become a major nuisance globally. The problem of microbial resistance is increasing rapidly, and therefore there is an urgent need to develop novel antimicrobial agents from a natural source. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of aerial part of Alysicarpus procumbens, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Saccharum spontaneum, Suaeda nigra, and Typha angustifolia against pathogenic microorganisms.Methods: The extraction was done by individual cold percolation method using five solvents of different polarity, viz., petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, and water (aqueous). The antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion method against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.Results: All the plant solvent extracts showed varied level of antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms. All extracts of five plants showed better antibacterial activity than antifungal activity; Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: The polarity of solvent greatly influences extractive yield and antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants. The best activity was shown by solvent extracts of S. nigra. Hence, it can be considered as good source of antimicrobial agents.

Phytobeds with Fimbristylis dichotoma and Ammannia baccifera for treatment of real textile effluent: An in situ treatment, anatomical studies and toxicity evaluation

Fimbristylis dichotoma, Ammannia baccifera and their co-plantation consortium FA independently degraded Methyl Orange, simulated dye mixture and real textile effluent. Wild plants of F. dichotoma and A. baccifera with equal biomass showed 91% and 89% decolorization of Methyl Orange within 60h at a concentration of 50ppm, while 95% dye removal was achieved by consortium FA within 48h. Floating phyto-beds with co-plantation (F. dichotoma and A. baccifera) for the treatment of real textile effluent in a constructed wetland was observed to be more efficient and achieved 79%, 72%, 77%, 66% and 56% reductions in ADMI color value, COD, BOD, TDS and TSS of textile effluent, respectively. HPTLC, GC-MS, FTIR, UV–vis spectroscopy and activated oxido-reductive enzyme activities confirmed the phytotrasformation of parent dye in to new metabolites. T-RFLP analysis of rhizospheric bacteria of F. dichotoma, A. baccifera and consortium FA revealed the presence of 88, 98 and 223 genera which could have been involved in dye removal. Toxicity evaluation of products formed after phytotransformation of Methyl Orange by consortium FA on bivalves Lamellidens marginalis revealed less damage of the gills architecture when analyzed histologically. Toxicity measurement by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique revealed bivalve DNA banding pattern in treated Methyl Orange sample suggesting less toxic nature of phytotransformed dye products.

Evaluation of in Vitro Antioxidant Properties of Solvent Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants and Their Synergistic Efficacy

ABSTRACTAntioxidant activities of aerial parts of solvent extracts of Alysicarpus procumbens, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Saccharum spontaneum, Suaeda nigra, and Typha angustifolia were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) superoxide anion radical, 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethyl) benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free-radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Solvent extracts of these plants showed different levels of antioxidant activity that were closely related to the total phenolic content; the methanol extracts exhibited synergistic antioxidant activity, however not different from that of individual extracts.