Plants Of Western Ghats Research Articles

Anti-inflammatory activity of leaf and leaf derived callus extracts of Callicarpa tomentosa L. : An endemic medicinal plant of Western Ghats, Karnataka, India on carrageenan induced rat paw edema

Anti-inflammatory activity of leaf and leaf derived callus extracts of Callicarpa tomentosa L. : An endemic medicinal plant of Western Ghats, Karnataka, India on carrageenan induced rat paw edema

Novel Antidiabetic Molecules from the Medicinal Plants of Western Ghats of India, Identified Through Wide-Spectrum in Silico Analyses

ABSTRACTThe interaction of previously reported 656 phytocompound ligands with four well-characterized diabetic target proteins were studied in 20 plant species through in silico screening techniques. The binding energy, number of hydrogen bonds, and hydrogen binding residues with the receptor molecules were analyzed using the CDOCKER protocol of the software Discovery Studio 4.0. A total 23 molecules were found to have interaction with the four target proteins. Among these compounds, based on the ADME/toxicity profile, three promising drug candidates, namely, methyl gallate, ferulic acid, and anthranilic acid, were recommended as potential lead molecule for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Evaluation of In Vitro Antiurolithiatic Potential of Bridelia retusa Spreng. Bark

Urolithisis is a very complex disease which is characterized by the formation of renal calculi in urinary track/kidney. Several physic chemical events like super saturation, nucleation, growth, aggregation and retention of dietary minerals of urine in the kidney leads to the formation of kidney stone; for this a essential need to develop a formulation which is made up of medicinal pant belong to the class of Pasanabheda plant according to ancient literature available in Ayurveda, which facilitate the repair mechanism in a natural way towards the organ. Bridelia retusa, is a well know plant of Western Ghats. Present study deals with the inhibitory effect of different fraction of methanol extract of Bridelia retusa. Nucleation of calcium oxalate crystals was estimated by the spectrophotometric assay and whereas crystal dissolution was determine by titrimetry/egg shell permeation method, hence the extract fractions exhibited inhibitory action in both of nucleation and aggregation assays to significant level.

In vitro mass propagation and conservation of Nilgirianthus ciliatus through nodal explants: A globally endangered, high trade medicinal plant of Western Ghats

Nilgirianthus ciliatus is a globally endangered aromatic slender shrub of Western Ghats with extensive applications in Ayurveda. It is endangered due to its indiscriminate collection and overexploitation to meet the requirements of the pharmaceuticals. This study deals with the preservation of this endangered plant through in vitro nodal culture. Nodal explants were initially cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) or 6-furfurylaminopurine individually for primary shoot induction. For multiple shoot induction, primary shoots were transferred onto MS medium containing BA individually or in combination with auxins. Clusters of multiple shoots (up to 24.3) occurred with highest frequency (93.2%) on MS medium fortified with BA (3 mg l−1) and indole-3-acetic acid (0.1 mg l−1). In vitro regenerated plantlets were rooted on half-strength MS medium with maximum rooting frequency (82.2%) obtained in the presence of indole-3-butyric acid (1.0 mg l−1). The rooted plantlets were acclimatized to soil with 100% survival rate. Results of this study allowed us to develop an efficient regeneration system that will permit to carry out restoration programmes of N. ciliatus in Western Ghats. In future, this protocol will be an invaluable tool to produce synthetic seeds for cryopreservation and long-term conservation.

Seed Germination of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. - a critically endangered medicinal plant of Western Ghats

Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. a critically endangered medicinal liana of Western Ghats, is a potential substitute of Berberis chitria for its berberin content. The destructive harvest of the plant over a period for both stem and root has resulted in the scarcity of reproductive individuals in their distributional range and subsequent arrest of natural regeneration. The present study is therefore conducted to raise the genetic stock of the species by enhancing the seed germination percentage through the application of high humidity, temperature and wet sowing medium at field conditions. The seeds sowed in wet river sand inside a poly tunnel having 72-80% RH and 32-38oC, resulted 85% seed germination and 15-20% of seeds have maintained their viability period up to 10-12 months. In normal climatic condition only 40% total germination were noted. These methods could be a very effective technique for a lay-man to propagate maximum number of this highly potential species from its available seed stock.

Highly efficient in vitro proliferation and genetic stability analysis of micropropagated Ceropegiaevansii by RAPD and ISSR markers: A critically endangered plant of Western Ghats

Ceropegiaevansii McCann (family: Asclepiadaceae), a critically endangered plant of Western Ghats has acquired significant importance due to its medicinal implications, edible tubers, and ornamental flowers. This study deals with the optimization of axillary bud proliferation using nodal explants followed by genetic stability analysis of regenerants. Maximum number of shoots (11.6 ± 1.1) was observed on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (4.0 mg/l) and indole-3-acetic acid (0.3 mg/l) with 85% shoot multiplication frequency. In vitro-grown shoots were rooted best in 1/2 MS medium supplemented with indole-3-butyric acid (1.0 mg/l) with an average of 10.3 ± 0.9 roots per shoot and 92% rooting frequency. Plantlets were acclimatized best (90%) in a mixture of sterile soil, sand, and coco peat (1:2:1). Micropropagated plants were subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA and inter simple sequence repeat markers analyses. Collectively, 759 bands were generated which were monomorphic and similar to the mother plant. Findings of this study are the first report on micropropagation and assessment of genetic stability of micropropagated plantlets in C. evansii which suggests that axillary shoot proliferation can safely be used as an effective tool for propagation and conservation of C. evansii.

Floral biology of Rauwolfia micrantha Hook. f.: a rare and endemic medicinal plant of Western Ghats, India

Floral biology of Rauwolfia micrantha Hook. f.: a rare and endemic medicinal plant of Western Ghats, India

03/02436 Alternative energy sources from plants of Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu, India): Augustus, G. D. P. S. et al. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2003, 24, (6), 437–444

03/02436 Alternative energy sources from plants of Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu, India): Augustus, G. D. P. S. et al. Biomass and Bioenergy, 2003, 24, (6), 437–444

Alternative energy sources from plants of Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu, India)

Twenty-two taxa of Western Ghats plants were screened as potential alternative crops for renewable energy, oil, hydrocarbon and phytochemicals. The highest hydrocarbon yields were observed in Carissa carandas (1.7%), and Jatropha gossypifolia (1.7%). The highest polyphenol fraction was observed in Dodonaea viscosa (17.1%), Carissa carandas (7.7%), Swietenia mahagoni (6.6%), and Jatropha glandulifera (6.2%). The highest oil content was observed in Aganosma cymosa (10.3%), Carissa carandas (5.8%), and Argemone mexicana (5.0%). Swietenia mahagoni yielded the highest protein content with 8.1%. The gross heat value of 4175.0 cal/ g(17.5 MJ/ kg) for Lochnera rosea (pink flowered var.), and 4112.0 cal/ g for Dalbergia sissoo were the highest among the species analysed. NMR spectra of the hydrocarbon fractions of Alstonia scholaris, Carissa carandas, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Plumeria rubra, Thevetia neriifolia (white flowered var.), Vallaris solanacea, Lochnera rosea (pink flowered var.), Euphorbia hirta, E. splendens, Artocarpus integrifolia and Ficus religiosa revealed the presence of cis-polyisoprene (natural rubber), whereas Argemone mexicana showed the presence of trans-polyisoprene (gutta). Several new crop species were identified with potentially useful compounds. The potential exists for growing these alternate crops in areas of underutilized lands, subsequently stimulating industrial and economic growth.