Sapindus Mukorossi Research Articles

Micellar Characterisation of Saponin from Sapindus Mukorossi

Abstract The micellar characteristics of a non-ionic, natural surfactant, saponin obtained from the soapnut tree, Sapindus mukorossi, were studied in aqueous solution. Critical micelle concentration of Sapindus saponin determined using conductivity measurements and UV absorption studies was 0.045 wt%. Increase in temperature and salt concentration led to decrease in the critical micelle concentration of Sapindus saponin. The critical micelle concentration was found to increase with increase in hardness of water and increase in pH. The micellar aggregation number was determined using cyclic voltammetry and was found to be between 13 and 21. The size of the Sapindus saponin micelles was determined using intrinsic viscosity measurements and was found to be independent of saponin concentration for concentrations above the CMC. Solubilisation of two types of crude oils and a vegetable oil was studied using micellar solubilisation technique. At lower concentrations of the surfactant, the micellar solubilisation of crude oils in saponin was better than synthetic surfactants like Triton X100® and SDS where as, the solubilisation of vegetable oil was better in synthetic surfactants.

Inhibition of ruminal methanogenesis by tropical plants containing secondary compounds

The secondary metabolites present in plants provide protection against predators, pathogens and invaders because of their anti-microbial activity. The majority of these compounds fall into the category of lignins, tannins, saponins, volatile essential oils, alkaloids, etc. The anti-microbial activity of these compounds is highly specific and therefore may be used for the manipulation of rumen fermentation by selective inhibition of a microbial group of the ecosystem. Different parts of plants like seed pulp, leaves and spices extracted in water, methanol and ethanol have been evaluated in in vitro gas production test for their anti-methanogenic and anti-protozoal activities. The ethanol extract of soapnut ( Sapindus mukorossi) seed pulp completely inhibited in vitro methane production along with a significant reduction in protozoa count and acetate/propionate ratio. The methanol extract of seed pulp of harad ( Terminalia chebula), leaves of poplar ( Populus tremuloides), flower buds of cloves ( Syzygium aromaticum), ethanol extract of guava ( Psidium guayaba) leaves and both the ethanol and methanol extracts of garlic ( Allium sativum) strongly inhibited in vitro methanogenesis. The effect on ciliate protozoa was variable with these plant extracts and there was no correlation between methane and protozoa inhibition. The presented in vitro results indicate that plant secondary compounds seem to have a potential to be used as feed additives for rumen manipulation to reduce methane emission.

QUANTIFICATION OF THE TRADE IN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS IN AND FROM NEPAL

QUANTIFICATION OF THE TRADE IN MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS IN AND FROM NEPAL

Molluscicidal saponins from Sapindus mukorossi, inhibitory agents of golden apple snails, Pomacea canaliculata.

Extracts of soapnut, Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. (Sapindaceae) showed molluscicidal effects against the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata Lamarck. (Ampullariidae) with LC(50) values of 85, 22, and 17 ppm after treating 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Bioassay-directed fractionation of S. mukorossi resulted in the isolation of one new hederagenin-based acetylated saponin, hederagenin 3-O-(2,4-O-di-acetyl-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside)-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (1), along with six known hederagenin saponins, hederagenin 3-O-(3,4-O-di-acetyl-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside)-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (2), hederagenin 3-O-(3-O-acetyl-beta-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (3), hederagenin 3-O-(4-O-acetyl-beta-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (4), hederagenin 3-O-(3,4-O-di-acetyl-beta-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (5), hederagenin 3-O-beta-d-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (6), and hederagenin 3-O-alpha-l-arabinopyranoside (7). The bioassay data revealed that 1-7 were molluscicidal, causing 70-100% mortality at 10 ppm against the golden apple snail.

Antibacterial activity of plant diffusate against Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri

Two hundred and eight diffusates from various plants such as forest trees, herbs, shrubs, fruit trees, spices, vegetables, food legumes, fodder, oil seed, fibre crops, cereals and ornamentals were evaluated through agar diffusion assay to determine their inhibitory action, if any, against Xanthomonas campestris pv. citri . Diffusates from the majority of forest trees, herbs and shrubs showed an inhibitory effect against strain XC-100 of the bacterium. Diffusates from various parts of Phyllanthus emblica, Acacia nilotica, Sapindus mukorossi and Terminalia chebula, which exhibited an inhibition zone measuring 4.83 6.00 mm at 50 g l-1 concentration, appeared to be the most effective. These diffusates showed an inhibitory effect even at a concentration of 1.25 g l-1. These diffusates at concentrations of 50, 20 and 10 g l-1 < were significantly ( P 0.01) more effective in reducing the number of lesions on detached leaves and fruits, thus exhibiting protective as well as curative actions. Diffusates from higher plants, therefore, appear to be potential antimicrobial agents which could be used for the management of citrus canker disease.

Effect of volatiles from neem and other natural products on gonotrophic cycle and oviposition of Anopheles stephensi and An. culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae).

The gonotrophic cycle of female Anopheles was impaired by exposure to volatiles of neem, (Azadirachta indica), reetha, (Sapindus mukorossi), and garlic, (Allium sativum), but not to castor seeds and cotton seed oil. A brief exposure to contact or volatile extracts from neem suppressed rather than inhibited oviposition. Complete inhibition of oviposition was observed by exposure of mosquitoes to neem oil and 1 fraction containing volatile components. Vitellogenesis was impaired irreversably by long-term exposure to neem odor and some extracts. The effect of volatiles on oviposition seems to be regulated by absorption through the cuticle, although passage through the spiracles could not be excluded.

FUELWOOD VALUE INDEX OF INDIAN MOUNTAIN TREE SPECIES

SUMMARY A Fuelwood Value Index (FVI) was defined as (Calorific Value × Density)/(Ash Content × Water Content) to identify trees with potential for fuelwood production. The woods of forty four Indian mountain tree species were tested and their FVI calculated. The most promising species were Punica granatum, Sapindus mukorossi, Rhododendron arboreum, Quer cus spp., Adina cor difolia, Ougeinia dalbergioides and Pyrus pashia.

Triglyceride composition of Sapindus mukorossi seed oil.

The fatty acid composition of Sapindus mukorossi seed oil was determined by spectrophotometry, urea complexation, and gas liquid chromatography (GLC). The percentages of individual acids were found to be: palmitic, 4.0; stearic, 0.2; arachidic, 4.4; oleic 62.8; linoleic, 4.6; linolenic, 1.6; and eicosenoic, 22.4. Triglyceride composition was calculated from the fatty acid compositions of the native oil and of the monoglycerides produced from it by pancreatic lipase hydrolysis. The oil is composed of 0.1, 2.1, 22.0, and 75.8% trisaturated, monounsaturated disaturatd, diunsaturated monosaturated, and triunsaturated glycerides, respectively. The special characteristic of the Sapindus mukorossi seed oil is its content of 26.3 and 26.7% triolein and eicoseno-di-oleins, respectively.

Augmentation of germination in &lt;i&gt;Sapindus mukorossi&lt;/i&gt; due to acid scarification in Jhanjhatpur nursery

The study on ‘effects of pre-sowing treatments on germination of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn,’ was carried out in Jhanjhatpur nursery, Kailali district in April 2004. About 15- months old healthy seeds were treated in one of thirty ways before sowing and sown from 1 to 7 April 2004 in drills in a nursery bed at a spacing of 5 cm x 10 cm. The analysis revealed that thirty pre-treatments significantly differed in germination in 1-month (4-weeks) and 2-months (9-weeks) but these pre-treatments did not vary in 3-months (13-weeks). In 4-weeks, the pre-treatment, 90-minutes in concentrated hydrochloric acid significantly differed with twenty-five pre-treatments except the four pre-treatments of 15, 45, 60 and 75 minutes in concentrated acid. The highest germination (90%) was found in the pretreatment, 90-minutes in acid, which was followed by the germination (63%) in the pretreatment, 75-minutes in concentrated acid in 3-weeks. The highest non-germinated good seeds were in pre-treatment, 30% in 96 hours in cold water, followed by the pre-treatment, 27% in 5-minutes in boiled water and 72-hours in cold water. The highest non-germinated rotten seeds were in the pre-treatments, 3-minutes in boiled water and 72-hours in cold water and 10 minutes in acid, followed by the five pre-treatments, 3-minutes in boiled water and 120 hours in cold water, 5-minutes in boiled water then 24 and 72 hours in cold water, 5-minutes and 60-minutes in concentrated acid. The two pre-treatments, 75 and 90 minutes in concentrated acid can be used to get quicker and higher germination. The four pre-treatments, 3 minutes in boiled water and 48 hours in cold water, 5-minutes in boiled water and 120 hours in cold water, 144 hours in cold water and 120 hours in cow dung slurry are suggested as an alternative to acid treatments, if acid is not readily available in the market and there is a problem of handling the acid. &#x0D; &#x0D; Key words: Sapindus mukorossi, germination, acid, pre-treatment&#x0D; &#x0D; Banko Janakari Vol.16(1) 2006 pp14-20