Selected Plant Species Research Articles

Heavy metal accumulation in leaves of selected plant species in urban areas of Delhi.

Heavy metals beyond their permissible limits are major contaminants and causes of concern due to their persistent nature and health hazards. Several studies validated the utilization of plants as biomonitors and bioaccumulators for heavy metal pollution. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the proficiency for heavy metal monitoring and mitigation by commonly found plant species in urban areas of Delhi. For this objective, four sites (viz., control, residential, commercial, and industrial) and sixteen usually growing plant species were selected. Four heavy metals, i.e., lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), were analysed for soil and dust from each site, and leaf samples from each plant, at all sites, and various other parameters were calculated. Among the four elements, Pb and Cd showed maximum geoaccumulation and contamination at all sites. Pollution load index (PLI) values for both soil and dust indicated that industrial sites (1.78, 2.15) were most contaminated followed by commercial (1.52, 1,87), residential (1.41, 1.67), and control (1.22, 1.37) sites. Concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn were found to be highest in Morus alba, while Cd concentrations were found to be highest in Millettia pinnata (L.) Panigrahi. From various analyses, we concluded that commonly found plant species such as Ficus religiosa L., Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. Ex DC.) Wight &Arn., Morus alba L., Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC., and M. pinnata proved to be exceptional biomonitors and bioaccumulators for heavy metals in urban areas. Therefore, these plant species are highly recommended for plantation in urban areas for decontamination of the air and soil by mitigating heavy metal pollution.

Effect of combining biogeotextile and vegetation cover on the protection of steep slope of highway in northern China: A runoff plot experiment

Biogeotextiles can be used to facilitate the formation of vegetation cover and to reduce soil erosion. Studies have demonstrated that only biogeotextile or vegetation cover can greatly reduce soil erosion. However, information about the effects of the combination of biogeotextile and vegetation cover on soil erosion is still limited, despite that the combination is the commonly practical form for bare road slope protection. Experimental plots, consisting of a relatively loose surface layer and a compacted sublayer, were constructed using movable soil-bin trolleys (200 × 100 × 40 cm3) filled with silt loam sieved through 1-cm screen. The plots were seeded with a seed mixture of tall fescue (Festuca elata Keng ex E. Alexeev) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as a grass-legume regime. Then the plots were covered with three types of biogeotextile, i.e., coir blanket (CB), mixed coir-straw blanket (MB), and straw blanket (SB). A bare slope (BS) was constructed as the control experiment. Irrigation was applied to ensure vegetation germination and growth. Plant characteristics were measured after every 20 days. Laboratory simulated rainfall of 71 mm/h intensity was applied to each plot for 60 min after 20, 40, and 60 days. Surface runoff and sediment were collected every 5 min during rainfall. The results showed that the MB and SB promoted increased total emergence density of plants by 47% and 23%, respectively, compared to case of vegetation growth without biogeotextiles. The dense structure of the CB impeded the emergence of alfalfa, leading to 9% lower total emergence density. Compared with bare slope (0 day BS), biogeotextiles increased runoff by 3% (MB)–19% (CB) and reduced erosion by 96% (MB and SB)–98% (CB). After 60 days, vegetation cover reduced runoff by 54% and reduced erosion by 81% compared with the BS case. The combination of biogeotextile and vegetation cover reduced runoff by 44% (CB)–62% (SB) and reduced erosion by no less than 99% compared to the BS case. Compared with biogeotextile alone, the combination reduced runoff by 53% (CB)–64% (SB). Compared with vegetation cover alone, the combination reduced erosion by 94% (MB)–99% (CB). The combination takes advantages of vegetation cover for long-term protection and of biogeotextile for facilitating the formation of vegetation cover and immediate erosion control. Thus, the combination is a better choice for road slope protection in northern China. These findings may promote the understanding of how biogeotextiles and vegetation cover work together for runoff and erosion control on bare slopes. In future research more attention should be paid to the selection of plant species and biogeotextile types to avoid impediment by the biogeotextile on the formation of vegetation cover like CB affected alfalfa in this study.

Improving the Growth and Bioactive Compound Production of Selected Plant Species Using Controlled Genetic and Epigenetic Manipulation

Abstract This review was designed to summarize the present state of research around the genetic and epigenetic modification of selected plant species and the potential for their application in industry. This review summarizes the activity of research groups from the University of Wrocław completed over the last 3 decades which tends to focus on potatoes and flax likely as a result of their centuries-old tradition of cultivation, processing, and use in Poland. The aims of these studies were various and included the creation of pathogen-resistant plants, increased antioxidant production, improved flax fiber quality, and improved oil properties. New plant breeds initially produced using genetic engineering technology provide an excellent basis for improving our understanding of the genes involved in potato and flax productivity and the quality of their products. These results have been published in many papers and have given rise to new methods for plant breeding and product prototypes which have been patented. However, none of the prototypes have been commercialized because of their GMO origins. In addition, later development of a novel, epigenetic method has led to the creation of more diverse products based on the newly obtained variety of flax called Silesia. These developments have facilitated the production of a range of new raw materials from these epigenetically modified plants. These include a modified oil for improved nutrition and regeneration of skin cells, seed- cake extracts that act as anti-infection agents, improved fiber production for use as bandages for chronic wounds, improved fibers for application as bio composite materials for the development of biodegradable packaging materials and scaffolds for tissue engineering, and micronized fiber for drug delivery. These modifications mean that flax has become a more useful and valuable source of a wide range of raw materials applicable in industry, allowing for the application of these materials in zero waste applications.

Plant species contribution to bioretention performance under a temperate climate

Bioretention systems are green infrastructures increasingly used to manage urban stormwater runoff. Plants are an essential component of bioretention, improving water quality and reducing runoff volume and peak flows. However, there is little evidence on how this contribution varies between species, especially in temperate climates with seasonal variations and plant dormancy. The aim of our study was to compare the performance of four plant species for bioretention effectiveness during the growing and dormant periods in a mesocosm study. The species selected (Cornus sericea, Juncus effusus, Iris versicolor, Sesleria autumnalis) are commonly used in bioretention and cover a wide range of biological forms and functional traits.All bioretention mesocosms were effective in reducing water volume, flow and pollutant levels in both of the studied periods. Plants decreased runoff volume and increased contaminant retention by reducing water flow (up to 2.7 times compared to unplanted systems) and increasing water loss through evapotranspiration during the growing period (up to 2.5 times). Plants improved removal of macronutrients, with an average mass removal of 55 % for TN, 81 % for TP and 61 % for K compared to −6 % (release), 61 % and 22 % respectively for the unplanted systems. Except for Sesleria, mass removal of trace elements in planted mesocosms was generally higher than in unplanted ones (up to 8.7 %), regardless of season. Between-species differences in exfiltration rate and improved water quality followed the same order as their evapotranspiration rate and overall size, measured in terms of plant volume, leaf biomass, total leaf area and maximum average root density (Cornus > Juncus > Iris > Sesleria). By increasing evapotranspiration, plants decreased runoff volume and increased contaminant retention. Nutrient removal was partly explained by plant assimilation. Our study confirms the importance of plant species selection for improving water quality and reducing runoff volume during bioretention under a temperate climate.

Challenges and advances in measuring sap flow in agriculture and agroforestry: A review with focus on nuclear magnetic resonance.

Sap flow measurement is one of the most effective methods for quantifying plant water use.A better understanding of sap flow dynamics can aid in more efficient water and crop management, particularly under unpredictable rainfall patterns and water scarcity resulting from climate change. In addition to detecting infected plants, sap flow measurement helps select plant species that could better cope with hotter and drier conditions. There exist multiple methods to measure sap flow including heat balance, dyes and radiolabeled tracers. Heat sensor-based techniques are the most popular and commercially available to study plant hydraulics, even though most of them are invasive and associated with multiple kinds of errors. Heat-based methods are prone to errors due to misalignment of probes and wounding, despite all the advances in this technology. Among existing methods for measuring sap flow, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an appropriate non-invasive approach. However, there are challenges associated with applications of NMR to measure sap flow in trees or field crops, such as producing homogeneous magnetic field, bulkiness and poor portable nature of the instruments, and operational complexity. Nonetheless, various advances have been recently made that allow the manufacture of portable NMR tools for measuring sap flow in plants. The basic concept of the portal NMR tool is based on an external magnetic field to measure the sap flow and hence advances in magnet types and magnet arrangements (e.g., C-type, U-type, and Halbach magnets) are critical components of NMR-based sap flow measuring tools. Developing a non-invasive, portable and inexpensive NMR tool that can be easily used under field conditions would significantly improve our ability to monitor vegetation responses to environmental change.

Comparative evaluation of in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of five ethnomedicinal plant species from Punjab, India

• Quantitative analysis of total flavonoid and phenolic contents of selected plant species. • HPLC analysis of leaf extracts of selected plant species for detection of polyphenols. • To evaluate and compare antioxidant and antidiabetic potential of selected plant species • Leaf extracts of B. variegata and S. cumini showed better antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Plant species like Azadirachta indica (locally known as ‘neem’) , Bauhinia variegata (locally known as ‘kachnar’), Dalbergia sissoo (locally known as ‘tahli’), Psidium guajava (locally known as ‘amrood’) and Syzygium cumini (locally known as ‘jamun’) are known for their role in traditional systems of medicine for treatment of diabetes and other diseases in India and other countries. The present study was designed to compare antioxidant and antidiabetic potential among methanolic leaf extracts of A. indica, B. variegata, D. sissoo, P. guajava and S. cumini employing in vitro assays. In addition, this study also deals with quantitative analysis of total flavonoid and phenolic contents in the extracts. In vitro evaluation of antioxidant activities of leaf extracts of above five plant species were determined by 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic (ABTS ) , 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and superoxide radical scavenging assays whereas the antidiabetic potential of all the extracts was determined using α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays. On the basis of EC50 values of different leaf extracts analysed for their antioxidant activity in three assays, leaf extracts of B. variegata and S. cumini were shown to present better antioxidant activity mainly in ABTS and superoxide radical scavenging assays. EC50 values for leaf extract of B. variegata were 31.19 ± 4.15 and 28.82 ± 4.42 and for S. cumini were 13.64 ± 10.39 and 30.19 ± 6.82 in ABTS and superoxide radical scavenging assays respectively. Similarly, these extracts also demonstrated better antidiabetic activity in both α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays with IC50 of 27.28 ± 6.11 and 24.69 ± 0.91 for B. variegata and 48.34 ± 1.62 and 30.15 ± 0.80 for S. cumini in respective assays. The study demonstrated that leaf extracts of B. variegata and S. cumini showed better antioxidant potential than other plant species studied in ABTS and superoxide radical scavenging assays. These extracts also showed better antidiabetic potential in both α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays as compared to other extracts.

GROWTH OF ANGSANA (Pterocarpus indicus Willd) MYCORRHIZAE 23 MONTHS AGE IN POST GOLD MINING

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) technology can increase the success of revegetation on post-mining land. In addition to the input of AMF technology, the selection of plant species is very important for the success of post-mining land reclamation. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of AMF on the viability and growth of the 23-month-old mycorrhizal Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus Willd.) in the post-Bombana gold mining area, Southeast Sulawesi. This research was conducted in the post-gold mining area of ​​PT. Panca Logam Makmur, North Rarowatu District, Bombana Regency and the Laboratory Unit of the Forestry Department, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences Halu Oleo University, Kendari for 8 months. The research design used a Randomized Block Design which was divided into nine treatments; control (A0), Claroideoglomus etunicatum (A1), Septoglomus constrictum A2), Acaulospora delicata (A3), Glomus claroideum (A4), Glomus coronatum (A5), Ambiospora appendicula (A6), Mixed AMF I (A7); (A1+A2+A6) and Mixed AMF II (A8); (A1+A3+A4+A5). The total number of plants used was 27 plants. The results showed that the application of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was effective in increasing the growth of P. indicus plants in post-gold mining areas. The treatment of G. coronatum, G. claroideum, A. appendiculate, and C. etunicatum significantly increased the growth of 23 months old P. indicus plant on post-gold mining land compared to control and other treatments. G. coronatum and G. Claroideum have the potential to be developed as mycorrhizal biofertilizers.

Emphasizing the Main Factors Involved between the Green Zones Created Near the Natural Salted Lakes or Springs and the Treatment of Some Nervous System Disorders

In recent years, more and more data has become available about the benefits of green in and around towns and cities. Vegetation helps people to recover faster from illness; this reduces costs of healthcare and improves the patients’ quality of life. This aspect of introducing vegetation in and around hospitals is increasingly becoming a topic of focus in connection with the concept of a ‘healthy environment’. Since the creation of the first people’s parks, urban planners have been aware of the fact that vegetation enhances the quality of life for townspeople. Green areas are places where people can go for recreation and physical exercise or simply to find some peace and quiet. This benefits their health and reduces the stress levels of the average city dweller. A positive correlation exists between the amount of green in a person’s living environment and that person’s sense of safety. In highly urbanized locations, the design of green elements requires special attention. Our paper presents a multidisciplinary study of areas located near the old salt mines and their recovery by entering in the spa and leisure circuit. Specific components were monitored, like the salted waters quality in lakes and/or springs and in the selection of different plant species adapted to high salinity of the soil. According to studies conducted in Europe, the environment plays a crucial role in physical, mental and social development of the population. In recent years, the continuous degradation of environmental quality due to factors such as air pollution, noise, chemical compounds and disappearance of natural areas, in combination with lifestyle changes led to the emergence of a growing number of diseases such as different forms of diabetes, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders and cancer.

Urban dust pollution tolerance indices of selected plant species for development of urban greenery in Delhi.

The rise in urbanization has led to an increase in dust pollution which is hazardous to the health of living beings. The role of roadside plant species in intercepting particulate matter and improving air quality is well reported. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the ability of various plant species to intercept atmospheric dust and withstand the abiotic stress triggered by dust deposition. In the present investigation, three sites (viz., control, commercial, and industrial) differing in anthropogenic activities and vegetation were selected. Sixteen plant species entailing both trees and shrubs that are commonly occurring at all three sites were selected to estimate their dust interception capacity (DIC). The impact of dust pollution on foliage biochemistry and their tolerance in winter and summer seasons were analyzed. Based on biochemical, biological, and socio-economic parameters, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) were evaluated. Both dust load and DIC were found to be two times higher in winter than in the summer season. Terminalia arjuna, Ficus benghalensis, and Plumeria alba were the best dust accumulators, while Prosopis juliflora accumulated least. The highest DIC was observed at the industrial site, for Terminalia arjuna (0.025mg/cm2/d) in winter and Plumeria alba (0.023mg/cm2/d) in the summer season. Photosynthetic pigments showed a negative correlation with dust load, while pH, ascorbic acid, electrolytic leakage (E.L.), and proline content showed a positive correlation. In the present study, APTI and API values were highest for Ficus religiosa, Ficus benghalensis, Alstonia scholaris, Dalbergia sissoo, and Terminalia arjuna. Such plant species with wide canopy, large and rough leaf surface area with perforated veins are found to be more suitable and, hence, recommended for the development of greenery to improve air quality in urban areas like Delhi.

Effects of phylogeny, traits, and seasonality on invertebrate herbivory damage in a meadow community

Invertebrate herbivory affects the composition of meadow communities by differentially decreasing the fitness of individual species. The ability of individual species to resist herbivore pressure depends on their traits, which are often phylogenetically structured, and changes seasonally. We conducted a field study assessing invertebrate herbivory damage of 17 selected plant species in an oligotrophic wet meadow, aiming to assess the effect of functional traits, specifically leaf dry matter content (LDMC), carbon content (C), nitrogen content (N), carbon-nitrogen ratio (C:N), specific leaf area (SLA), and plant height on invertebrate herbivory damage, while taking into account seasonal dynamics of herbivory and phylogenetic relationships of studied species. Herbivory damage was different among individual species, with the biggest distinction between monocots and dicots. Herbivory was best predicted by LDMC, season, and interaction of height with season. After filtering the effect of common evolutionary history from the model, the effect of C, height, and interaction of C with season became significant. LDMC was the best trait predictor in both models. Unique relative contributions of phylogeny and traits to the model explained variability were 15.4% and 33.9%, respectively (with phylogeny using 3 and traits 6 df), with their substantial overlap (35.7%) emphasizing that traits are considerably phylogenetically structured. The effect of seasonality was rather minor (15%). In this study, we point out to the strong interplay between traits, evolutionary history, and seasonal changes influencing herbivory damage and stress the importance of phylogenetic context when evaluating the effect of plant characteristics in plant-herbivore interactions.

Status of Phytoremediation of Domestic Wastewater in India – A Review

After the industrial revolution, human beings are utilizing natural resources in an accelerated and alarming rate, which has resulted into the release of very harmful substances into the environment. Along with industrialization, there was the growth of urban centers with changed lifestyles having an additional burden on the environment posing a serious threat to the delicate ecological balance. For cleaning this waste, especially domestic wastewater by conventional treatment methods, all governments, and local civic bodies have to incur huge capital expenditures on them. Some alternative green technologies, such as the technique of phytoremediation for the treatment of domestic wastewater are much promising. This review article focuses on a selection of plant species for phytoremediation which are indigenous, have the potential of cleaning domestic wastewater, and can easily adapt to local ecosystems without harming them along with some socio-economic and ecological benefits.

Removal effects of aquatic plants on high-concentration phosphorus in wastewater during summer

Aquatic plants are widely used in depth treatment of wastewater; however, the phosphorus (P) removal mechanisms of aquatic plants at high temperatures in summer are not well understood. Eight aquatic plants, including two floating species (Ludwigia peploides and Hydrocharis dubia) and six emergent species (Lythrum salicaria, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Canna indica, Sparganium stoloniferum, Rotala rotundifolia, and Ludwigia ovalis), were treated with five P solutions (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, and 5.5 mg L−1) for 5 weeks in a greenhouse during summer at air temperatures ranging from 25 to 35 °C. H. dubia, L. peploides, L. salicaria, and S. sagittifolia showed high water P removal efficiencies (exceeded 95%). Furthermore, their corresponding residual P concentrations in water were almost lower than the limit value of 0.2 mg L−1 of Grade III in the Chinese Environmental Quality Atandards for Surface Water (GB3838-2002). Plants have different water P removal paths. For example, H. dubia enriched more P with water P concentration increasing significantly. As the culture time increased, the water pH fluctuated significantly in the fall, and then H. dubia used the produced H+ enrich P. L. peploides did not enrich P, but proliferated rapidly, to remove P from water by increasing its fresh weight (FW). L. salicaria and S. sagittifolia showed two paths of enrich-P and FW increase. During the growth process of L. salicaria, the stem diameter and leaf length increased with an increase in P concentration in water or plant or both; however, the height and root length of L. peploides were reduced. Moreover, SOD and CAT activities responded to high P concentrations in water or high temperatures or both, which protected against oxidative damage. These findings could offer theoretical foundation and practical guidance for selection of aquatic plant species in depth treatment of wastewater during summer.

THE EFFECT OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON GROWTH OF Sterculia foetida L. IN BUON DON AND EA SUP DISTRICTS, DAK LAK PROVINCE

Accurate and reliable assessment of site suitability for the growth of selected plant species is critical for afforestation projects and programs to improve rural livelihoods. This research examines the relationship between growth of Sterculia foetida L. and six ecological factors in Buon Don and Ea Sup districts, Dak Lak Province. The purpose of the research is to predict the growth in average height and trunk diameter of the trees using ecological factors that are easy to measure and observe. These include topography (slope) and soil characteristics (clay ratio, depth of soil layer, surface and subsurface rock concentrations, and agglomeration ratio). The ecological factors were evaluated by multivariable regression analysis of growth data from 31 experimental plots, 16 in Buon Don district and 15 in Ea Sup district. The results show that four of the six factors affect average growth in tree height and that five factors affect average trunk diameter growth. The findings are of practical value for households and agricultural extension officers to consider before planting Sterculia foetida L. in the two areas.

Composition analysis and antimicrobial activity of essential oil from leaves of Laurus nobilis grown in Oman

Traditionally, Laurus nobilis is used for the treatment of earaches and skin rashes as well as rheumatism. The most common technique to isolate the oil is hydro-distillation and steam-distillation. The investigation presented in this paper was aimed to unravel the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of essential oil in the leaves of L. nobilis grown in Oman. The essential oil was extracted from the leave of the selected plant species by hydro distillation using Clevenger type apparatus. The antimicrobial assay was done by disc diffusion methods against three bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, and one fungal strain: Candida albicans. The isolated essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The percentage yield of the essential oil was 0.064% (w/w). The essential oil was found actively against the applied bacterial and fungal strains. The highest activity was found against S. aureus and the lowest was against E. coli, and the order was S. aureus > P. aeruginosa > E. coli. The essential oil was also active against the fungus C. albicans. The range of inhibition zones was 6–14 mm. The results of GC-MS analysis showed (E)-β-caryophyllene to be the major component about 59.62%. Other major components included α-selinene (14.03%), α-humulene (8.65%), β-selinene (4.99%), and α-pinene (4.98%). In addition, several minor components were found in the essential oil of L. nobilis. Based on the experimental results, it showed that the plant species that grown in Oman were a potential source of therapeutic agents. In conclusion, the essential oil and the plant could be used as natural and potential therapeutic agents to treat earaches, skin rashes, and rheumatism.

The Phytoremediation using Water Hyacinth and Water Lettuce: Correlation between Sugar Content, Biomass Growth Rate, and Nutrients

Degradation of water quality due to the presence of pollutants in water is an emerging issue in many countries, including Malaysia. Phytoremediation is one of the environmentally friendly, cost-effective conventional technologies that are still used in modern times. However, the selection of plant species is the most important aspect for the application of phytoremediation in wastewater treatment. Nevertheless, there are species of floating aquatic macrophytes that are capable of coping with various pollutants present in wastewater. Among the various floating aquatic macrophyte species, water hyacinth (WH) and water lettuce (WL) have been described as effective phytoremediators in reducing water pollution through bioaccumulation in their body tissues. Hence, WH and WL were chosen in this study as it is easily found, propagated, and cultivated. This paper aims to determine the biosorption capacity of these species in eliminating various pollutants present in wastewater as well as to define the optimum harvesting time for each species. Although these floating aquatic macrophytes are considered the most problematic plants due to their uncontrollable growth in water bodies worldwide, their ability to remove pollutants from wastewater has created a sustainable approach for their use in phytoremediation. In this sense, the use of phytoremediation by implementing the invasive floating aquatic macrophytes can certainly support the sustainable management of wastewater treatment in the future. Based on the results, it was found that WH efficiently removed higher PO43-, NO3- and NO2- concentrations compared to WL from the wastewater. Both WH and WL showed the same trend of correlation between the growth rate and sugar content, where the sugar content increased when the plants reached the highest growth rate. The maximum nutrient uptake occurred in 14-17 days, proving that nutrient availability is critical for plant growth. This study concludes that the sugar content of WH and WL are increased with the biomass growth rate, and both plants species are competent in eradicating the nutrient pollution in wastewater. On top of that, this study infers that the maximum harvesting period for WH biomass is on day 18, while WL biomass is on day 21; based on the highest sugar content and biomass weight of each species.

Evaluating the suitability of neotropical trees and shrubs for soil and water bioengineering: Survival and growth of cuttings from ten Caribbean species

Soil and water bioengineering techniques are now increasingly adopted worldwide for controlling riverbank erosion but have not yet been implemented in the Caribbean Islands biodiversity hotspot. The selection of suitable native plant species is critical for successful soil bioengineering designs on riverbanks, but few data are available regarding Caribbean species. This study aimed to characterize the performance and biotechnical traits of native Caribbean species potentially compatible with soil and water bioengineering. In a six-month shadehouse experiment, we measured the survival rate, biomass production and root growth of cuttings of ten native Caribbean shrub and tree species occurring naturally in a variety of riparian environments. All species appeared suitable for soil and water bioengineering but differed as to the specific bioengineering techniques they seemed particularly suited for, depending on their respective survival rates, growth performances and root system structures. Five tree species, Citharexylum spinosum, Cedrela odorata, Ficus citrifolia, Chimarrhis cymosa, Homalium racemosum, and three shrubs, Piper dussii, Piper dilatatum and Phyllanthus mimosoides, exhibited survival, growth and root characteristics compatible with a broad range of techniques, whereas Tabebuia heterophylla and Cordia sulcata may only be compatible with a few. We also propose using of the DEXi decision-support software for assessing species suitability to a series of widespread soil and water bioengineering techniques. Our results provide practical guidance for the integration of native species in soil and water bioengineering in the Caribbean and the Neotropics at large.

Ethnomedicinal Documentation of Folk Medicinal Plants Used by Tribal Communities Living in the Selected Villages of Pushprajgarh Block of Anuppur District, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

The present work documents indigenous knowledge of plants as a natural remedy by the inhabitants of Pushprajgarh tehsil, District Anuppur in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. This study was conducted by following standard ethnobotanical methods. Questionnaires, informal meetings, and group conversations with pre-identified informants were used to collect knowledge on medicinal plants. The present investigation documented 98 plant species belong to 51 families and 90 genera. The Fabaceae family, which includes 10 species, comprises the most of medicinal plants. Habit analysis of medicinal plants uncovered that trees represented the most proportion of 39 plant species (39.79%) and that decoction (boiling) was the most popular technique of preparing traditional medicines from plant material (44.34%). The highest informants' consensus factor (ICF) was accounted for the urinary disorder (0.60), and the highest outcome was recorded for the microbial infection (20.25%). The fidelity level (FL) results for 10 significant plant species were ranged from 40.86% to 75.00%. Most of the plants have had a use value, ranging between 0.25 to 1, hence a constant use value for the most referred species is one. The frequency of citation (FC) of the selected plant species was found to be in the range of 1.85 to 6.48 and the relative frequency of citation (RFC) was found to be in the range of 0.04 to 0.12. Statistical analysis shows that current knowledge is still viable and facilitates conserving important plant species before much is lost. This study will provide basic information for further phytochemical/ pharmacological research to explore potential lead molecules for new drug development and discovery process from natural products.

Design, Development and Experimentation of Distillation Unit for Essential Oil

Essential oil is extracted from distillation unit. Steam distillation is most process is used for extraction of essential oil. The unit capacity is available for distillation process is very small and these are mostly used for laboratory purpose such as modular distillation apparatus or clevenger apparatus. For large scale production the distillation unit can be used as a product. The product can be beneficial. A new large size capacity of portable distillation unit is presented which can extract oil up to 500 kg. A selection of plant species from geraniaceae family which is geranium subjected to direct steam distillation. The experimentation will work two season plants which are summer and winter. The combination of cost effectiveness and flexibility with high yield of better quality of essential oil after varieties of options in new agricultural production system and startup.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) biosynthesis in Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan leaves

The most common sunscreen components used by people are harmful to marine life where they cause oxidative stress and impair the metabolism of marine organisms. Thus, it is relevant to select plant species for compound replacement that phytosynthesize natural biodegradable molecules with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) at high concentration. In this scenario, Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (cebil) possesses SPF due to the biosynthesis of foliar phenolics, making it essential to enhance the production of these compounds. The inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can enhance the concentration of metabolites in A. colubrina. However, it is not known if mycorrhization affects the SPF composition of plant species. In this context, this research aimed to define the potential of the mycorrhizal technology to increase the in vitro SPF and the production of bioactive antioxidant compounds in A. colubrina leaves. For this, an entirely randomized experiment was set up, with three inoculation treatments (control – non-inoculated, Acaulospora longula Spain & N.C. Schenck and Gigaspora albida N.C. Schenck & G.S. Sm.) in 7 replicates. After 126 days, the leaves were harvested and used for SPF, antioxidant activity, and to evaluate the phenolic compounds. The mycorrhization modulated the production of phenolic compounds. It also enhanced the SPF and antioxidant activity of A. colubrina extracts with increments higher than 500% in seedlings forming mycorrhiza with A. longula. Thus, it is concluded that mycorrhization positively modulates the production of antioxidant phenolics and the in vitro SPF of A. colubrina foliar extracts, thereby constituting a low cost biotechnology to be implemented in the chain production of plant-based sunscreens.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of plant species used in traditional poultry ethnomedicine in Zimbabwe: A first step to developing alternatives to antibiotic poultry feed additives

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGlobal interest in phytogenic feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in feed has been spurred by the banning of antibiotic growth promoters by several countries. Suitable plant extracts for development of phytogenic feed additives should have therapeutic value and should also be safe. Aim of studyThe aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-lipoxygenase activities as well as cytotoxicity of selected plant species used in poultry ethnomedicine in Zimbabwe. MethodsAntibacterial activity was determined against three ATCC strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis) and two clinical strains isolated from chickens (Escherichia coli and Salmonella Gallinarum) using a two-fold serial microdilution assay. Qualitative antibacterial bioautography was also carried out using the ATCC strains. Antioxidant activities of crude acetone and methanol extracts were determined using free radical scavenging assays whilst anti-lipoxygenase activity was evaluated using a ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX) assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay) on Vero monkey kidney cells. ResultsErythrina abyssinica had the best antibacterial activity against both ATCC strains and clinical strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.02 to 0.156 mg/ml. Aloe greatheadii, Adenia gummifera (leaves), Senna singueana and Aloe chabaudii had moderate activity against the poultry pathogens. Bioautography showed that all ten plant species have antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms with E. abyssinica and S. singueana having prominent bands of inhibition against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The acetone extract of S. singueana and the methanol extract of Euphorbia matabelensis had the most powerful antioxidant activities with mean IC50 values of 1.43 μg/ml and 1.31 μg/ml respectively in the ABTS assay which were comparable with those of the positive controls (ascorbic acid and trolox). Bobgunnia madagascariensis, A. chabaudii, E. abyssinica and Tridactyle bicaudata extracts had reasonable antioxidant activity. The S. singueana extract had the most potent anti-lipoxygenase activity with a mean IC50 value of 1.72 μg/ml. The cytotoxicity results showed that only the acetone extracts of A. greatheadii and S. singueana were relatively safe at concentrations that were active against the tested microorganisms (selective index >1). Regarding anti-lipoxygenase activity, extracts of B. madagascariensis, S. singueana, T. bicaudata and E. matabelensis were more active than toxic (selective index >5) indicating anti-inflammatory potential. ConclusionsThis study showed that S. singueana had a cocktail of therapeutic activity and supports further investigation of this plant species for development of phytogenic poultry feed additives. Other plant species with noteworthy biological activities include B. madagascariensis, E. abyssinica, A. greatheadii, T. bicaudata and E. matabelensis.