Pinnata Seeds Research Articles

In vitro Antibacterial Activity of <i>Manilkara hexandra</i> (Sapotaceae) Seed Extracts and Violacein against Multidrug Resistant <i>Streptococcus mutans

Extracts of the Pongamia pinnata, Manilkara hexandra, and Pyrus pyrifolia seeds prepared by microwave assisted extraction method, and the violet pigment- violacein extracted from Chromobacterium violaceoum were screened for their antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans.M. hexandra extracts were able to inhibit both the test strains of S. mutans used in this study with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 600-800 µg/mL. These extracts exerted bactericidal action against S. mutans with minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 600-900 µg/mL. Acetone extract of M. hexandra seeds registered highest average total activity of 231.20 mL/g. Extraction efficiency was found to have a moderately good correlation with antibacterial activity. Violacein exerted bactericidal action with MIC and MBC of less than 2 µg/mL against both the strains.

Progeny evaluation of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata with comparison to bioproductivity and biodiesel parameters

Progeny studies of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata were carried with respect to bioproductivity, pod and seed characters which is one of the selection methods in tree improvement programmes. Variations in bioproductivity and biodiesel parameters of both the plants were compared every 6 months for 4 years of investigation and analyzed by analysis of variance and correlation coefficient by Pearson’s method using software Graphpad instat 3.06 (for Windows and Mac). P. pinnata has better germination rate (71.4 %), 100 pod weight (PW) (311.59 g) and 100 seed weight (SW) (173.46 g) as compared to J. curcas for germination rate (43.2 %), 100 PW (111.29 g) and 100 SW (67.46 g). P. pinnata has strong correlation for plant height to canopy growth (CG) (0.948), collar diameter (CD) (0.994), number of branches per plant (NBP) (0.995) and to number of leaves per branch (NLB) (0.862) as compared to J. curcas which showed good correlation among plant height to CG (0.976), CD (0.970), NBP (0.988), NLB (0.920) and to number of pods per branch (0.657). However, J. curcas depicted negative correlation for pod breadth to seed length (SL) (−0.447), seed breadth (−0.248) and to seed thickness (ST) (−0.364) and among the 100 PW to SL (−0.199), ST (−0.220) and to 100 SW (−0.704). About 4 kg of P. pinnata seeds were required for each liter of crude oil which yields 896 ml of biodiesel on transesterification as compared to 5.66 kg of J. curcas seeds for a liter of crude oil, producing about 663 ml of biodiesel. The quality of biodiesel meets the major specification of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for biodiesel. The crude glycerin and seed cake obtained as byproduct during biodiesel production were also measured which can be purified and used in composting, animal feeds, pharmaceuticals and cosmetic industries.

Enzymatic Production of Biodiesel from Millettia pinnata Seed Oil in Ionic Liquids

Millettia pinnata seed oil has been identified as a promising sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production. Oils extracted from the seeds grown in freshwater and seawater habitats showed no significant differences in their physico- chemical properties. The enzymatic methanolysis of the oil has been investigated in the ionic liquid (IL) (BMIm)(PF6 )( 1- butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) as com- pared to tert-butanol, catalyzed by Penicillium expansum lipase (PEL) and Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozym 435). Under optimal conditions, PEL induced much higher yields in the IL than in tert-butanol, while in the IL PEL- catalyzed conversions were higher than those catalyzed by Novozym 435. The catalytic processes were improved by recycling both the enzyme (Novozym 435) and the IL ((BMIm)(PF6)) and by searching for new enzymes and new ILs. The impact of ILs on biodiesel production has been discussed, and the interactions between the IL, the substrate, and the enzyme are believed to play an important role in governing the conversion.

Biochemical changes in the composition of developing seeds of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre

The biochemical changes occurring in developing Pongamia pinnata seeds were determined at an interval of three weeks from 30 weeks up to 42 weeks after flowering. Significant variation in total sugar, starch, lipid, protein and oil body associated protein contents was documented. The total carbon content decreased significantly, while nitrogen content increased. Significant variation in mineral nutrient content was also detected across all the stages of seed development. Oil body associated protein-specific band between 20 and 19kDa was prominently observed at later stages of seed development. Phytic acid content increased from 0.58 to 2.35%. Steady decrease in chlorophyll content from 0.175 to 0.013mgg−1 of seed dry wt. was observed. Electrical conductivity decreased during the seed development. The crude fibre content increased, while the ash content remained constant at all stages of seed maturity. Quantitative changes in amino acids during seed development were observed. Seeds harvested at 42 weeks after flowering had maximum physiological maturity with high oil content and seed reserve material. The base line data of pongamia seed development could be used in the furtherance of knowledge relating to molecular, physiological and genetic aspects regulating biosynthetic pathways of reserve materials.

Prevention of Arthritis Markers in Experimental Animal and Inflammation Signalling in Macrophage by Karanjin Isolated fromPongamia pinnataSeed Extract

Karanjin, the furanoflavonoid reported to possess gastroprotective and anti-diabetic properties, was investigated against experimental arthritis and its molecular signalling in inflammation was explored in macrophages. Karanjin was isolated from hexane extract of Pongamia pinnata seeds and was evaluated on arthritis markers in adjuvant induced arthritis model (AIA) in two doses (per oral; 10 mg/kg/day and 20 mg/kg/day). Karanjin dose dependently reduced collagen and cartilage breakdown markers viz. urinary hydroxyproline and glucosamine, respectively, serum lysosomal enzymes responsible for articular cartilage damage, and major proinflammatory cytokine TNFα, secreted by macrophages involved in articular inflammation and destruction. Karanjin also prevented joint damage as evidenced from arthritis score, radiographic and histopathological analysis. To delineate the molecular target of Karanjin, in vitro study on LPS induced macrophages were performed at calibrated non toxic doses (4 µg/mL and 6 µg/mL). Karanjin reduced TNFα production and also showed potent inhibitory effect on nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species production which is generally induced by TNFα from activated macrophages. NF-κB, the key regulator of TNFα signalling during inflammation was significantly suppressed by Karanjin. Our study for the first time highlights the anti-inflammatory role of Karanjin in experimental arthritis model as well as on macrophage signalling, thereby depicting its probable mechanism of action.

The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculations and cotyledon removal on early seedling growth of Pongamia pinnata

Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre, a fast-growing oil-seed-producing tree legume, has the ability to grow on wastelands. It can be utilized for biofuel plantation on such lands. The preconditioning of young seedlings during the early stage of development with efficient arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) confers several benefits enhancing the possibility of their establishment in fields after outplanting from nurseries. However, before recommending these fungi for inoculation, the suitable AMF species must be identified. Therefore, to determine the potential AMF species, 9 purified fungi (isolated from different sites) were tested for their growth promotion activity. The inoculated fungi were not able to increase seedling growth. Some fungi reduced growth, which was attributed to more utilization of carbon by fungal symbiont. Development of fine roots was delayed up to 30 days after sowing and hence their colonization by AMF inoculants. This could be due to the large amount of nutrients stored in cotyledons of large P. pinnata seeds. Removal of cotyledons significantly reduced seedling growth and plants showed some extent of dependency on AMF inoculants. Thus, it was concluded that AMF inoculations should enhance biomass of P. pinnata only after depletion of metabolic reserves in its cotyledons and such mycorrhizal seedlings can be utilized for biofuel plantation.

Effect of organic seed pelleting on seed storability and quality seedling production in biofuel tree species

Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata are the promising biofuel species worldwide that contained 35 to 45% seed oil, respectively. Due to the reason of high oil content of these seeds are liable to getting easily deteriorated by fungal and insects during storage and that could hold the limitation of spreading through afforestation. To resolve this problem, the present study was carried out with J. curcas and P. pinnata seeds pelleted with leaf powders of Azadirachta indica, P. pinnata and Adhatoda vasica in order to study the effects of botanical pelleting storability and production of quality seedlings at nursery. This experiment was conducted at Department of Seed Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India during 2009 to 2010. The results revealed that J. curcas and P. pinnata seeds pelleted with pungam and neem leaf powder showed the maximum germination percentage and growth characters at nursery, respectively. From the study, it was also observed thatJatropha seeds pelleted with pungam leaf powder recorded 169% higher germination and P. pinnata seeds pelleted with A. indica leaf powder registered 92% higher germination than control after 9 months of storage. We conclude from this study that, botanical leaf powder seed pelleting not only improve the longevity of seeds through protecting the seeds from fungal and insect attack but also improve the seed and soil relationships through enriching the rhizosphere region of seed to produce better growth and development. Key words: Jatropha, pungam, leaf powder pelleting, seed storage, growth, development.

Chemical Transformation of Triglycerides of Fatty Acid of Pongamia pinnata Seed to Fatty Acid Methyl Esters by Microwave Irradiation

This work was done to study microwave assisted transesterification of Pongamia pinnata seed oil carried out for the production of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME, biodiesel). The experiments were carried out using methyl alcohol and two different alkali catalysts i.e., potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The experiments were carried out at 1:6 oil/alcohol molar ratio and 60 EšC reaction temperature. The effect of catalyst concentration and reaction time on the yield and quality of biodiesel (FAME) was studied. The result of the study suggested that 0.5% sodium hydroxide and 1.0% potassium hydroxide catalyst concentration were optimum for biodiesel production from P. pinnata oil under microwave heating. There was a significant reduction in reaction time for microwave assisted transesterification as compared to conventional heating.

Selenium hyperaccumulator plants Stanleya pinnata and Astragalus bisulcatus are colonized by Se-resistant, Se-excluding wasp and beetle seed herbivores.

Selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator plants can concentrate the toxic element Se up to 1% of shoot (DW) which is known to protect hyperaccumulator plants from generalist herbivores. There is evidence for Se-resistant insect herbivores capable of feeding upon hyperaccumulators. In this study, resistance to Se was investigated in seed chalcids and seed beetles found consuming seeds inside pods of Se-hyperaccumulator species Astragalus bisulcatus and Stanleya pinnata. Selenium accumulation, localization and speciation were determined in seeds collected from hyperaccumulators in a seleniferous habitat and in seed herbivores. Astragalus bisulcatus seeds were consumed by seed beetle larvae (Acanthoscelides fraterculus Horn, Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and seed chalcid larvae (Bruchophagus mexicanus, Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). Stanleya pinnata seeds were consumed by an unidentified seed chalcid larva. Micro X-ray absorption near-edge structure (µXANES) and micro-X-Ray Fluorescence mapping (µXRF) demonstrated Se was mostly organic C-Se-C forms in seeds of both hyperaccumulators, and S. pinnata seeds contained ∼24% elemental Se. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry of Se-compounds in S. pinnata seeds detected the C-Se-C compound seleno-cystathionine while previous studies of A. bisulcatus seeds detected the C-Se-C compounds methyl-selenocysteine and γ-glutamyl-methyl-selenocysteine. Micro-XRF and µXANES revealed Se ingested from hyperaccumulator seeds redistributed throughout seed herbivore tissues, and portions of seed C-Se-C were biotransformed into selenocysteine, selenocystine, selenodiglutathione, selenate and selenite. Astragalus bisulcatus seeds contained on average 5,750 µg Se g−1, however adult beetles and adult chalcid wasps emerging from A. bisulcatus seed pods contained 4–6 µg Se g−1. Stanleya pinnata seeds contained 1,329 µg Se g−1 on average; however chalcid wasp larvae and adults emerging from S. pinnata seed pods contained 9 and 47 µg Se g−1. The results suggest Se resistant seed herbivores exclude Se, greatly reducing tissue accumulation; this explains their ability to consume high-Se seeds without suffering toxicity, allowing them to occupy the unique niche offered by Se hyperaccumulator plants.

Contribution of phenolic compounds to the antioxidant potential and type II diabetes related enzyme inhibition properties of Pongamia pinnata L. Pierre seeds

The methanolic extract of Pongamia pinnata L. Pierre (locally called as karanja) seed materials, an underutilized food legume collected from India was analyzed for antioxidant and type II diabetes related enzyme inhibition properties. The methanolic extract of raw seeds contained total free phenolic content of 14.85±0.32g catechin equivalent/100g extract DM. Encouraging levels of ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP, 1179mmol Fe[II]/mg extract), inhibition of β-carotene degradation (41.13%) and radical scavenging activity against DPPH (54.64%) and superoxide (54.53%) were exhibited by the raw sample. Further, it also recorded 77.92% of α-amylase and 86.50% of α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition characteristics under in vitro starch digestion bioassay. Sprouting+oil-frying caused a apparent increase on the total free phenolic content and also significant improvement on the antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity of P. pinnata seeds, while soaking+cooking as well as open-pan roasting treatments showed diminishing effects. Moreover, inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme activities was declined to 24.24 and 45.14%, respectively during sprouting+oil-frying treatment, which are more desirable for the dietary management of type II diabetic patients.

The Performance and Emissions of a Direct Injection Diesel Engine Fueled with Pongamia Pinnata Methyl Esters

Oil was extracted from Pongamia Pinnata seeds collected in the northern region of Pakistan. This oil was used to prepare biodiesel by transesterification with methanol. Composition and properties of the Pongamia Pinnata methyl esters were determined. Neat biodiesel B-100 and B-50 blends were tested in a direct-injection air-cooled diesel engine. It was observed that with biodiesel specific fuel consumption, brake efficiency, and oxides of nitrogen emissions increased, whereas carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons emissions and exhaust opacity decreased as compared to diesel fuel. About a 10% increase in free acceleration time from idle to rated speed was observed when the engine was fueled with the neat biodiesel.

Proximate Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Pongamia pinnata, a Potential Biodiesel Crop

AbstractThe chemical characteristics of Pongamia pinnata seeds, focussing on proximate composition and the fatty acid profile of its oil, are presented. The proximate composition of P. pinnata seeds was: 3.8% ash, 9.7% sugar, 7.07% protein, 24% oil, 10.7% free amino acids, and 0.24% free fatty acids. The oil was extracted from seeds by use of different solvents and the highest yield (29%) was obtained by use of n‐hexane. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids accounted for 63.3 and 22.9%, respectively, of the seed oil. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid but a substantial amount of erucic acid was also detected; this was not reported in previous studies. The level of erucic acid and the presence of toxic flavonoids, for example karanjin, pongapin, and pongaglabrin, render the oil inedible according to WHO recommendations. However, low levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids with desirable cetane number and iodine value suggest potential for application as a biodiesel fuel.

Effect of Methanolic Extract and its Fractions of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) Seeds on Oviposition and Egg Hatching of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

Effect of Methanolic Extract and its Fractions of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) Seeds on Oviposition and Egg Hatching of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

The germination of mucilaginous seeds of t Plantago coronopus, Reboudia pinnata, and t Carrichtera annua on cyanobacterial soil crust from the Negev Desert

We studied the effect of intact, crushed or sterile cyanobacterial soil crust from the Negev Desert highlands of Israel as substrates for the germination of seeds of three annual plant species from local populations that produce mucilaginous seeds t Plantago coronopus, Reboudia pinnata and t Carrichtera annua. Mucilaginous seeds of these species were wetted on local intact cyanobacterial soil crust which inhibited their germination in comparison with their germination on filter paper. However, the percentage of germination of each species differed on sterile and crushed soil crust after 72 h of wetting. Germination of t Plantago coronopus seeds was inhibited mechanically and biologically on intact soil crust, since it was significantly higher on both crushed and sterile soil crust. Germination of t Reboudia pinnata seeds was slightly mechanically and biologically inhibited on intact soil crust, but germination on live crushed crust was higher than on sterile crushed crust. By contrast, germination of t Carrichtera annua seeds was not mechanically inhibited by live soil crust but there was significant biological acceleration of germination on intact soil crust relative to crushed soil crust. Each of the three species exhibited different requirements for germination. Germination of t P. coronopus is promoted by disturbances and removing the crust components (including its biological and structural effects). t R. pinnata and t C. annua germination is less affected by crust disturbance but is generally inhibited after removing the live components of the cyanobacterial crust. These species differences suggest different functions of the mucilage of the seed coat for the three species.