Lebbeck Benth Research Articles

Inhibition of Spermatogenesis by Triterpenes of Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth Pods in Male Albino Rats

Aim : To evaluate the antifertility activity of triterpenes isolated from Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth pods in male albino rats. Methods : Oral administration of triterpenes isolated from Albizia lebbeck pods at the dose level of 50 mg/rat/day for 60 days. Testicular sperm count, epididymal sperm count and motility were assessed. Biochemical and histological analysis were performed in blood samples and reproductive organs. Results : Oral administration of triterpenes did not cause any significant change in the body weights but a significant reduction in the weight of reproductive organs i.e. testis, epididymides, seminal vesicle and ventral prostate were observed. Testicular sperm count, epididymal sperm count and motility were significantly reduced (p<0.001), when compared to controls. Arrest of spermatogenesis was noted as various stages of spermatogenesis showed depression. Production of primary spermatocytes (preleptotene and pachytene), secondary spermatocytes and step-19 spermatids declined by 57.80%, 57.46%, 58.14% and 55.89% respectively. The size of seminiferous tubules reduced by 20.09%. Cross sectional surface area of Sertoli cell as well as its counts were found to be reduced significantly (p<0.001). Leydig cell nuclear area and number of mature Leydig cells decreased by 51.66% and 52.48% respectively. Serum testosterone level showed significant reduction after triterpenes feeding (p<0.001). Biochemical parameters of tissues i.e. protein, sialic acid, glycogen, cholesterol content of testis and seminal vesicular fructose showed significant reduction (p<0.001). There were no significant changes in RBC and WBC count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood glucose, cholesterol, protein, triglycerides, phospolipids and HDL-cholesterol. Conclusion : Oral administration of triterpenes isolated from Albizia lebbeck pods causes spermatogenesis arrest in male albino rats.

Woody perennials on and as bunds in Vertisols

I .- An experiment was conducted during 1991-96 to identify suitable tree species to plant on farm bund and also to screen tree species for live bund on Vertisols. Among 7 tree species planted on farm bund, the maximum plant height was found with subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) (7.60 m), followed by siris (Albizzia lebbeck Benth.) (7.01 m) and the least in anjan (Hardwickia binata Roxb.) (4.20 m). The grain yield of arable crop, viz. sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] was highest (1,186 kglha) when it was grown with Hardwickia binata and minimum when it was grown with Leucaena leucocephala (425 kglha). In another study (1992-95).screening of 6 different tree species for live bund was taken up. Among the different tree species, the maximum green-biomass yield was recorded in Gliricidia maculata (H.B. &amp; K.) Steud. (45.64 qlha) and the minimum in Albizzia amara Boiv. (9.69 qlha). The grain yield of arable crop, viz. safflower (Cartharmus tinctorius L.), was highest when safflower was grown with Gliricidia as /. live bund (7.66 qlha) and the lowest with Leucaena leucocephala (3.87 qlha).

Micorrizas arbusculares no crescimento pós-transplantio de mudas de árvores em solo com excesso de metais pesados

Os efeitos adversos dos metais pesados para as diversas formas de vida dificultam a recuperação de solos contaminados por estes elementos. Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se os efeitos da inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares no crescimento e absorção de metais de mudas de cinco espécies arbóreas, transplantadas para misturas que continham diferentes proporções de um solo contaminado (PSC). Mudas de Senna multijuga (L.C. Rich.) Irwin et Barneby (cássia verrugosa), Luehea grandiflora Mart. et Zucc. (açoita-cavalo), Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (tamboril), Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (albizia) e Senna macranthera (Collard.) Irwin et Barneby (fedegoso), inoculadas e sem inoculação, foram transplantadas para as misturas de solos e desenvolvidas por 180 dias, no período de abril a novembro de 1996, em vasos, em casa de vegetação do Departamento de Ciência do Solo da UFLA, Lavras (MG). Verificou-se que a elevação na PSC na mistura reduziu o desenvolvimento das mudas e a colonização micorrízica (CM), sendo isto causado pela elevada absorção de metais pelas plantas, especiamente, de Cd e Zn. A inoculação favoreceu o crescimento das mudas após transplantio, sendo esse efeito mais evidente nas misturas de solo com baixa PSC. A CM foi reduzida de 70 a 90% no solo não contaminado para valores próximos de zero na mistura com alta PSC. Os níveis críticos de toxidez (redução de 10% na matéria seca das plantas inoculadas) dos metais no solo foram, em mg dm-3, de 83, 57, 153, 256 e 16, para o Zn, e de 1,3; 0,9; 0,8; 4,0 e 1,6, para Cd, para açoita-cavalo, cássia verrugosa, fedegoso, tamboril e albizia, respectivamente. Observando esses níveis críticos, as plantas não inoculadas apresentaram produção de matéria seca relativa, média para todas as espécies, de apenas 39%, evidenciando os benefícios da inoculação para o crescimento pós-transplantio das mudas. Esses benefícios relacionaram-se com menores teores de metais na parte aérea. Mesmo desconhecendo os mecanismos envolvidos nestas respostas, os resultados deste trabalho evidenciaram a importância das micorrizas arbusculares para o crescimento de mudas de árvores e para a recuperação de áreas tropicais contaminadas com metais pesados.

Effect of Rhizobium inoculation on growth, modulation, and nitrogenase activity of some legume tree species

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of inoculation of Rhizobium suspension in Albizia procera (Roxb.) Benth, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth, and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit. seedlings grown in sterilized and non‐sterilized soil media. Control treatments were maintained by non‐inoculation. Inoculation response was observed strong in sterilized and modest in non‐sterilized soil when compared to respective control treatments. Increase in height was found 105.07%, 63.42%, and 109% higher in sterilized soil and 52.1%, 68.6%, and 95.8% in non‐sterilized soil for Albizia procera, Albizia lebbeck, and Leucaena leucocephala, respectively, after a period of 4 months. Nodule number increased up to 10.27 and 3.51 times in Albizia procera, 11.47 and 4.3 times in Albizia lebbeck, and 7.22 and 2.9 times in Leucaena leucocephala due to inoculation in sterilized and non‐sterilized soil media respectively. Significant increase in nodule dry weight and nitrogenase activity was also recorded in both sterilized and non‐sterilized soil for all the species tested. Nitrogenase activity per plant per hour was recorded 68.75,11.58, and 13 times higher in sterilized and 6.7,5.53, and 3.38 times higher in non‐sterilized soil over control for the species respectively after 4 months. In the tree species tested the inoculation of Rhizobium showed higher productivity, modulation and nitrogenase activity than control suggesting the idea that application of Rhizobium suspension greatly enhances plant growth, modulation, and nitrogenase activity.

Feed value of multipurpose fodder trees and shrubs in West Africa: edible forage production and nutritive value of Millettia thonningii and Albizia lebbeck

Millettia thonningii (Schum. & Thonn.) Bak., a nitrogen fixing shrub native to Africa and Albizia lebbeck Benth, were harvested at 0.50 m above ground level after one year of establishment to determine edible forage production. Harvests were made at the end of the main (April–August) and minor (September–November) wet, and dry (December–March) seasons for two years. Dry season edible forage samples were analyzed for concentrations of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), cellulose (CL), soluble phenolics (SOPH) and proanthocyanidins (PAs). In sacco dry matter (DM) and nitrogen (N) degradation and in vitro gas production (GP) characteristics were also determined on dry season edible forage samples. Edible forage production of M. thonningii was significantly lower than A. lebbeck during the wet seasons. Millettia thonningii had relatively lower CP and PAs, but higher NDF, ADF, ADL, CL and SOPH than A. lebbeck. In sacco DM and N degradation and in vitro GP parameters of M. thonningii were significantly lower than A. lebbeck. Parameters of in sacco DM degradation and in vitro GP were highly correlated. Millettia thonningii appeared to be of lower feed value than A. lebbeck based on edible forage production, chemical composition, in sacco DM and N degradation and in vitro GP characteristics.

Impact of tree coppicing on tree-crop competition in parkland and alley farming systems in semiarid Burkina Faso

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tree coppicing on tree-crop competition in farmed parkland and in alley farming, both in semiarid Burkina Faso.Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) was studied in the parklands, while neem,Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. (albizia) andLeucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (leucaena) were investigated in the alley farming system. The crop was sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) in both cases. Under non-coppiced neem trees in the parkland, the sorghum yield at 0–3 m distance from the tree (under the tree canopy) was 82% of open field yields at 6–9 m distance, but the difference was not significant (p=0.07). Close to trees (0–3 m distance) which had been coppiced before planting, the sorghum yield was 148% of open field yields. In alley farming, early coppicing was superior; sorghum yields were highest close to trees coppiced early and lowest close to trees coppiced late.

Biology of extrafloral nectaries in Albizzia lebbeck (Mimosaceae)

The structure and ecology of extrafloral nectaries in Albizzia lebbeck Benth. were studied. Two flat non-porate nectaries are present on the adaxial surface of each rachis. The sub-secretory zone is parenchymatous and contains starch. Crystals of calcium oxalate of reversible nature and sclereids were observed in the nectaries. Upliftment of the cuticle occurs prior to the onset of secretion and nectar is released when the cuticle is ruptured. Xylem and phloem traces usually terminate at the base of the sub-secretory zone. However, phloem appears closer to the basal cell of the sub-secretory zone. Phenolic substances accumulate in the sub-secretory zone only during the post-secretory stage of the nectary. Secretory and sub-secretory zones are cut off from the nectary base due to the formation and activity of a phellogen-like tissue. Ants visit Albizzia and may play a role in plant defence.

Distribution of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in coal, lignite, and calcite mine spoils of India

We assessed vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi in coal, lignite, and calcite mine spoils. The level of VAM fungal infection and the population of VAM species in plants on the coal-waste sites were similar to those in plants on the calcite mine spoil. The plants on the coal-waste sites and their associated VAM fungi included Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. with Glomus heterosporum and Sclerocystis microcarpus and Euphorbia hirta L. with G. botryoides and G. ambisporum. The recently revegetated lignite mine spoil supported Eragrostis sp. with G. globiferum, while the oldest revegetated lignite mine spoil supported Cocos nucifera L. with Scutellospora aurigloba and G. aggregatum, and Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. with Scutellospora dipapillosa and G. tenue. In the calcite mine spoil, roots of Mukia maderaspatana (L.) M. Romer with Sclerocystis sinuosa, G. dimorphicum, G. heterosporum and G. ambisporum and Datura metal L. with G. pustulatum and G. pulvinatum were found. The level of VAM infection and the population of VAM species in the oldest revegetated site (lignite mine spoil) were comparable with those in the coal-waste and calcite mine-spoil sites.

The Use of Nitrogen‐15‐Depleted Ammonium Sulfate for Estimating Nitrogen Fixation by Leguminous Trees1

AbstractThe feasibility of using 15N‐depleted (NH4)2SO4for assessing biological N2fixation of leguminous trees was investigated. A slowgrowing species, lebbeck [Albizia lebbeck(L.) Benth], and a fastgrowing species, leucaena [Leucaena leucocephala(Lam.) de Wit] were inoculated with appropriate Rhizobiumstrains and grown under four different levels of N. Each week, 0, 5, 12.5, or 25 mg of 15N depleted (NH4)2SO4was applied to the upper chamber of the Leonard assembly. After 10 and 18 weeks growth for leucaena and lebbeck respectively, plants were separated into shoots, roots, and nodules for analysis. The atom% 15N in shoots and roots was linearly correlated to the amount of applied 15N‐depleted (NH4)2SO4. Significant differences in atom% 15N and percentage N derived from N2fixation were measured in lebbeck and leucaena when, respectively, more than 8.3 and 2.9% of the total N was derived from (NH4)2SO4. Nodules derived a larger portion of their total N from N2fixation than did the roots or shoots, indicating that most of the N present in the nodules was derived from N2fixation. Nodules of both species at the no N treatment showed slightly higher atom% 15N values than the 15N‐natural abundance level of atmospheric N2.

Sulphur amino acids and free amino acids in cotyledons of germinated seedlings ofAlbizzia lebbeck Benth exposed to different light intensities

Metabolism of sulphur amino acids and free amino acids has been studied in the cotyledons during germination ofAlbizzia lebbeck Benth seeds under different light intensities. Seeds ofA. lebbeck contain a large amount of sulphur amino acids which are rapidly utilised during early stages of germination A similarity in the distribution pattern of amino acids in cotyledon samples raised from different seed stocks is noticed. The level of amino acids was higher in the illuminated samples as compared to dark controls. The higher concentration of asparagine, and SAAII during the seedling growth with the increase in light intensities compared to dark-grown seedlings as well as initial seed sample may indicate the involvement of light-triggered reactions in the synthesis of these metabolites.