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Volume 5 Number 1 2011
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Animesh K. Datta, Ananya Das, Arnab Bhattacharya, Suchetana Mukherjee, Benoy K. Ghosh (India) An Overview on Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal – The ‘Indian Ginseng’(pp 1-15)
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Review: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Family: Solanaceae; commonly known as Ashwagandha; English name, winter cherry) is a perennial plant species with profound therapeutic significance in both traditional (Ayurvedic, Unani, Sidhdha) and modern systems of medicine. Due to the restorative property of roots, the species is also known as ‘Indian ginseng’. With a view to the medicinal importance of the species an overview is conducted involving nearly all essential aspects to provide updated, adequate information to researchers for effective utilization in human benefit.
Shuying Zhu, Tao Liu, Zhongming Fang, Kuaifei Xia, Songjun Zeng (China), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Mingyong Zhang (China) Micropropagation and Pharmacological Analysis of a Medicinal Herb Sarcandra glabra (pp 16-19)
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Original Research Paper: An efficient sterilization and micropropagation protocol for a medicinal herb, Sarcandra glabra, was established. An optimal surface sterilization protocol involved explants being shaken in 120 mg l-l rifampicin for 2-4 days between 2X 0.1% HgCl2 treatments for 10 min. The most effective medium for bud induction was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 4.0 mg l-l 6-benzylaminopurine (BA); highest bud proliferation was observed on MS medium containing 4.0 mg l-l BA and 0.2 mg l-l α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA); optimal rooting was observed on ½- or ¼-strength MS medium with 0.2 mg l-l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 30 g l-l sucrose. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprints and bacteriostatic activity of the in vitro plants showed no obvious differences with wild plants.
Nadeem Hashmi, M. Masroor A. Khan, M. Naeem, Mohd Idrees, Tariq Aftab, Moinuddin (India) Ameliorative Effect of Triacontanol on the Growth, Photosynthetic Pigments, Enzyme Activities and Active Constituents of Essential Oil of Ocimum basilicum L. (pp 20-24)
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Original Research Paper: Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an aromatic herb that has been used traditionally as a diverse medicinally herb for curing various diseases including common cold, headache, malaria, heart disease, stomach and kidney disorders. Its essential oil (EO) is used in the manufacturing of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products as well as aroma therapy. Keeping the medicinal as well as economical importance of this herb in mind, a simple pot experimenrt was conducted to determine whether foliar sprays of triacontanol (TRIA) could enhance growth, yield and EO production of basil. The plants grown in pots containing soil were sprayed twice with deionised water (control) and three concentrations of TRIA (10-8, 10-6, 10-4 M) at 50 and 60 days after sowing. A foliar spray of TRIA at 10-6 M significantly enhanced shoot and root lengths, leaf area, fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase, leaf-protein and carbohydrate contents and EO content of basil. GLC analysis revealed that major components of O. basilicum EO were linalool (41.26%), methyl eugenol (35.30%), and eugenol (12.68%) as significantly improved by TRIA application.
Tariq Aftab, M. Masroor A. Khan, Mohd. Idrees, M. Naeem, Nadeem Hashmi (India) Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Artemisinin Content of Artemisia annua L. (pp 25-29)
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Original Research Paper: Plant-derived antimalarials have made and continue to make a significant contribution towards a cure of the world’s most severe parasitic infection i.e. malaria. Artemisinin, isolated from Artemisia annua L., is potentially a drug that could be effective against multidrug-resistant strains of the malarial parasite. In the research presented here, gibberellic acid (GA3) was used to assess the changes in growth and yield parameters, photosynthetic attributes, enzyme activities and most importantly the artemisinin content, the most effective antimalarial of recent times. Results revealed that GA3 had a significant positive effect on growth, physiological and biochemical parameters as well as on artemisinin content. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and internal CO2 were 26.2, 17.7 and 13.1% higher respectively, than control plants when 10-6 M GA3 was applied. At this concentration, total chlorophyll content, NR and CA activities were 11.2, 22.7 and 21.3% higher than the control. Also, overproduction of artemisinin content (23.9% more compared to control) was noted in plants grown with 10-6 M GA3.
Sasan Aliniaeifard (The Netherlands), AbdolHossin Rezaei-Nejad (Iran), Maryam Seifi-Kalhor (The Netherlands), Ahmad Shahlaei, Amin Aliniaeifard (Iran) Comparison of Soil and Perlite (with Nutrient Solution Supply) Growing Media for Cultivation of Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora var. ‘Verbena’) (pp 30-33)
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Original Research Paper: Protected cultivation is recently shifting from traditional culture systems in soil to soilless culture systems based on growing media. The objectives of this change are to obtain higher qualitative and quantitative standards, to standardize cultural techniques and to reduce both production costs and environmental impacts. Utilizing substrate-based agriculture is a logical alternative to the current soil-based production approach. Therefore, an experiment was designed to evaluate the potential growth (vegetative and physiological characteristics) of lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora var. ‘Verbena’) in two production systems (soil and perlite media). The experiment was performed based on a completely randomized block design with four replications. Results obtained from present experiment showed that: plants were grown in perlite medium had better vegetative and physiological characteristics such as: shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, root dry weight, total fresh weight, total dry weight, leaf number, shoot length and fresh weight of shoot: root ratio in perlite growing medium when compared to plants were grown in soil medium. Whereas, dry weight of shoot: root ratio was not affected by media. Regarding results of the present experiment, it can be concluded that better growth of lemon verbena can be obtained by use of perlite growing medium with nutrient solution supply.
Gabriel Gbenimakor Ejikeme Osuagwu, Hillary O. Edeoga (Nigeria) Effect of Fertilizer Treatment on the Antimicrobial Activity of the Leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. (pp 34-37)
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Original Research Paper: The effect of fertilizer treatment on the antimicrobial activities of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (L.) and Gongronema latifolium (Benth) was investigated. Cultivated O. gratissimum and G. latifolium were applied with NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer at 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 kg/ha treatment levels in planting buckets derived using the furrow slice method two months after seedling emergence. No fertilizer treatment served as control. Leaves were harvested one month after treatment. The ethanolic extracts of the harvested leaves were used to determine the sensitivity of the extracts on Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aurues, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. The result obtained showed that the antimicrobial activities of the leaves of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by fertilizer treatment. The inhibition zone increased with increase in the level of fertilizer treatment. The ethanolic extracts of both plants whether treated or not had no antimicrobial effect on A. niger. This research revealed that fertilizer treatment might have increased the phytochemical content of the leaves of the plants which in turn enhanced their antimicrobial potential. These phytochemicals are known to exhibit physiological activities against bacteria and other microorganisms.
Gabriel Gbenimakor Ejikeme Osuagwu (Nigeria), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Hillary O. Edeoga (Nigeria) Effect of Water Stress (Drought) on the Antimicrobial Activity of the Leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. (pp 38-42)
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Original Research Paper: The effect of water stress (drought) on the antimicrobial activity of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum L.and Gongronema latifolium Benth. was investigated. Cultivated O. gratissimum and G. latifolium, planted in buckets, were subjected to mild stress by supplying each bucket with 500 ml of water once a week, while the control treatment was supplied with 750 ml of water three times a week. The treatment commenced 2 months after seedling emergence. Leaves were harvested for the sensitivity test one month from the date of commencement of treatment. The sensitivity test of the ethanolic extracts of the harvested leaves was applied to Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Streptococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Water stress (drought) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the antimicrobial activity of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium leaves except for Candida albicans, whose growth reduction was not significant. There was a decrease in the inhibition zone due to water stress treatment. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves of both plants had no antimicrobial effect on A. niger. Water stress (drought) reduced the bioactive substances in the leaves which in turn affected the ability of the extracts to inhibit pathogenic activity, thus affecting the efficacy of the plants as medicinal plants.
Saber F. Hendawy, Khalid A. Khalid (Egypt) Effect of Chemical and Organic Fertilizers on Yield and Essential Oil of Chamomile Flower Heads (pp 43-48)
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Original Research Paper: Two experiments were carried out under sandy soil conditions at the experimental station of Sekem Company, Sharkiya region, Egypt during two successive seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 to study the productivity of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) flower heads as influenced by different chemical fertilizers, compost rates and liquid compost. All compost + liquid compost treatments overcame the chemical fertilizers or compost treatments and improved the flower heads growth characters [i.e. fresh or dry weights of flower heads (g plant-1) and flower head diameter (cm)] and essential oil contents [% and g plant-1]. For various essential oil constituents increased, decreased, or did not change in M. chamomilla L. flower heads under chemical and organic fertilizers as compared with unfertilized control plants.
Beemnet Mengesha Kassahun (Ethiopia), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Solomon Abate Mekonnen (Ethiopia) Agronomic Characters, Leaf and Essential Oil Yield of Peppermint (Mentha piperiata L.) as Influenced by Harvesting Age and Row Spacing (pp 49-53)
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Original Research Paper: An experiment was conducted with the objective of quantifying the effect of harvesting age and spacing on agronomic and chemical characters of peppermint (Mentha piperiata L.) during 2009/2010. Five levels of harvesting ages and four levels of spacing were assigned to sub-plots and main plots, respectively in a split plot design with three replications. Data on fresh leaf yield, dry leaf yield, fresh above-ground biomass yield, dry above-ground biomass yield, fresh leaf/stem ratio, dry leaf/stem ratio, essential oil (EO) content and EO yield were collected and analyzed for the first and second harvests. For both harvests, harvesting age exerted a highly significant influence (P < 0.01) on all parameters studied. Row spacing significantly influenced all the parameters except for fresh leaf/stem ratio, dry leaf/stem ratio and EO content during the first harvest. During the second harvest, row spacing affected fresh leaf yield, fresh above-ground biomass yield, dry above-ground biomass yield, fresh leaf/stem ratio significantly (P < 0.05) and dry leaf and EO yield highly significantly (P < 0.01). The interaction effect of row spacing and harvesting age exerted a significant influence (P < 0.05) on dry leaf and EO yield during the second harvest. Fresh leaf and EO yield varied from 3,650.9-10,882.1 and 10.2-18.8 kg/ha, respectively and maximum values were obtained at the harvesting age of 120 days after planting at first harvest. Maximum yield of 9,967.5 kg/ha fresh leaf and 17.88 kg/ha EO was obtained with a 30-cm row spacing.
Maryam Nourimand, Sasan Mohsenzadeh (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Mohammad J. Saharkhiz (Iran) Allelopathic Potential of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) (pp 54-57)
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Original Research Paper: The ethanolic extract obtained from dried fruits of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) was evaluated in vitro to examine its potential allelopathic effects. The inhibitory effect of the extract at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10% (i.e., g amounts of original extract in 100 ml distilled water) on germination and seedling growth of four weeds, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), wild barley (Hordium spontaneum), oat (Avena ludoviciana) and dandelion (Taraxicum officinalis), were tested. All concentrations suppressed the germination of perennial ryegrass and dandelion, while oat showed significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) germination and seedling growth at 2.5%. The germination rate and percentage and seedling growth of wild barley were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased at 2.5 and 5%. At 10%, none of the tested weeds germinated.
Salim Khan (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Khanda Jabeen Mirza, Mauji Ram Tyagi, Malik Zainul Abdin (India) Development of RAPD Markers for Authentication of Ruta graveolens L. and its Adulterant (pp 58-61)
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Original Research Paper: Ruta graveolens L. is a small aromatic shrub and has been used, as medicinally and magically, since ancient times. In this study, RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) was employed to develop reproducible markers under wide variation of conditions for authentication of Ruta graveolens L. from its adulterant Euphorbia dracunculoides L. 42 decamer oligonucleotide primers were screened for identification of genuine and adulterant samples using the DNA isolated from the dried leaf, seed and stem of both samples. Out of 42 primers used, of which 20 did not amplify, 10 gave faint fragment and 12 gave species-specific reproducible unique fragments, which could clearly distinguish genuine as well as adulterant samples having similar morphology. RAPD could thus, help to serve as a complementary tool for quality control.
Saumya Ranjan Pani, Sabuj Sahoo, Prasana Kumar Panda, Satyaranjan Mishra (India) Hepatoprotective Effect of Bauhinia variegata (Linn.) Whole Stem against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatopathy in Rats (pp 62-65)
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Original Research Paper: The hepatoprotective activity of the ethanolic extract of Bauhinia variegata (Linn.) whole stem (BV) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic failure was investigated by in vitro and in vivo methods. The in vitro method resulted in a significant (p<0.001) increase in enzyme levels (AST, 36.21 ± 2.78 IU/l; ALT, 23.14 ± 1.91 IU/l and ALP, 37.3 ± 2.35 IU/l) following CCl4 treatment of liver explant cultures (toxic control) as compared to the normal control (AST, 11.55 ± 2.27 IU/l; ALT, 2.32 ± 1.17 IU/l and ALP, 12.1 ± 1.5 IU/l). BV extract at a dose of 3.3 mg/ml significantly lowered the levels of the enzymes, AST (20.99 ± 2.12 IU/l; p<0.01) and ALP (21.79 ± 1.82 IU/l; p<0.001). Acute hepatotoxicity (in vivo) was induced by intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection of CCl4 (CCl4 + olive oil in a 1 : 1 ratio; 2 ml/kg). Administration of BV extract at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight to CCl4-treated rats for 7 days attenuated the marker enzyme level of liver, in a dose-dependant manner. BV extract at 400 mg/kg decreased the level of marker enzymes (AST, 272.77 ± 24.08 IU/l; ALT, 189.15 ± 7.16 IU/l and ALP, 97.15 ± 6.54 IU/l) significantly (p<0.001) with a significant (p<0.001) increase in body weight (6.16 ± 1.01 g) as compared to the toxic control group. The ethanolic extract of BV (400 mg/kg) exhibited significant and comparable hepatoprotective potential as that of the standard polyherbal drug Liv-52. The statistically significant results obtained in this study thus suggests a protective function of B. variegata whole stem against CCl4-induced hepatopathy both in vitro and in vivo.
S. Sundar Rajan, B. E. Ravi Shankara, P. S. Sujan Ganapathy, S. Harshavardhana (India) Screening of Bauhinia Species Crude Extracts against Clinically Infectious Bacteria (pp 66-69)
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Original Research Paper: This study was carried out to investigate the anti-bacterial activity of the crude extract of the leaves of four Bauhinia species, namely B. purpurea, B. galpini, B. roxburghii and B. vahlii using the agar-well diffusion method. The methanolic extract of the leaves was tested against Gram-positive strains like Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis andGram-negative strains like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The activity was more pronounced against Gram-positive bacteria than against Gram-negative ones. B. purpurea showed good inhibition zones against S. aureus, B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae in decreasing order. Whereas B. galpini showed less inhibition zones, even less range of inhibitory zones were found in the case of B. roxburghii and B. vahlii. The inhibitory effect of the extracts was compared with standard antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. Our results show that Bauhinia spp. can be a promising source of natural products with potential antibacterial activity.
Anwesa Bag, Subir Kumar Bhattacharyya, Nishith Kumar Pal, Rabi Ranjan Chattopadhyay (India) Synergistic Effect of Terminalia chebula and Antibiotics against Multidrug-resistant Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (pp 70-73)
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Original Research Paper: The present study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial efficacy of Terminalia chebula fruit extract with selected antibiotics: amoxicillin (penicillin antibiotics), ceftazidime (third generation of cephalosporins), ciprofloxacin (fluoroquinolones), gentamicin (aminoglycoside) and trimethoprim (sulfonamide group) against 8 clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli. The effects of these drugs were examined by two in vitro methods (checkerboard titration and time-kill kinetics). On checkerboard titration, gentamicin and trimethoprim exerted ‘synergy’ with plant extract against the test isolates by 87 and 75%, respectively whereas amoxicillin, ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin showed an ‘additive effect’ with plant extract. No antagonistic effect was observed. With the time-killing method, the ¼X MIC of gentamicin or trimethoprim in combination with ¼X MIC of plant extract also showed synergistic activity. TLC-bioautography of plant extract revealed that phenols are the major active phytocompounds. These promising findings show a significant in vitro synergistic effect of plant extract with gentamicin and trimethoprim against uropathogenic E. coli that could be considered as a valuable support in combination therapy in the management of urinary tract infections and may contribute to the development of new and safe agents from plant origin.
Abate M. Solomon, Mengesha K. Beemnet (Ethiopia) Row Spacing and Harvesting Age Affect Agronomic Characteristics and Essential Oil Yield of Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis L.) (pp 74-76)
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Short Communication: A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of row spacing and harvesting age on herb and essential oil yield of Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center, EIAR, Southern Ethiopia. The treatments were combinations of four levels of row spacing (30, 40, 50 and 60 cm) and three levels of harvesting age (60, 90 and 120 days after planting). A split plot design with three replications, row spacing as main plot and harvesting age as sub plot was used. Fresh leaf weight, leaf/stem ratio, dry leaf weight, moisture content, fresh biomass weight, essential oil content and yield were recorded. Maximum values for fresh leaf weight, leaf/stem ratio and moisture content were recorded when harvesting was made at 60 days after planting. There was a statistically sharp (P < 0.01) increase in essential oil content from 0.5 to 1.4 and to 2% (w/w) with delayed harvesting from 60 to 90 and to 120 days after planting, respectively. A highly significant (P < 0.01) fresh biomass weight reduction was observed when row spacing was widened from 30 to 40 cm by 29.4% from 11,325 kg/ha. The maximum essential oil yield (39.7 kg/ha) was obtained when harvesting was made 120 days after planting at a 30-cm row spacing.
Balakrishna Gowda, Chandrika K., Hareesh G. Udayakumar, Sringeswara A. Nagendraiah, Haleshi C. (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Adarsh K. Shankar (India) Analysis of Genetic Variation in the Genus Solanum Using AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) Markers (pp 77-80)
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Research Note: Nine species of Solanum were investigated for genetic diversity studies using AFLP markers. Out of 15 primer combinations used, three gave good scorable polymorphic bands. An average of 89% polymorphism was detected among the species. Cluster analysis showed 2 major clusters, A and B. Cluster A was divided into 2 subgroups, one formed by S. seaforthianum and the other by S. indicum and S. torvum. Cluster B was again divided into 2 sub-clusters, 1 and 2. Maximum genetic distance was recorded between S. erianthum and S. seaforthianum (0.97) while least distance was found between S. viarum and S. khasianum (0.74) compared with all other species. The separation of S. seaforthainum and S. caricaefolium into distinct groups was very significant.
Anil K. Uniyal, Chatar Singh, Bhupendra Singh, Munesh Kumar (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Ethnomedicinal Use of Wild Plants in Bundelkhand Region, Uttar Pradesh, India (pp 81-86)
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Research Note: India is a great repository of medicinal wealth. The present investigation is an attempt to identify and document important medicinal and aromatic plants of the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Although this region is classified as a hot and dry locality, the great number of medicinal plant species defines it as a centre of diversity. An intensive survey of this region was conducted over the period of one year, revealing about 66 herbs and shrubs and 38 tree species with medicinal value. Most of them are used traditionally by local residents. Survey results indicate that the Lamiaceae family was dominant. Some species like Centella asiatica and Aloe barbadensis were very few while most species were threatened. Presently, plant diversity is declining sharply due to increasing biotic and abiotic stresses such as illicit felling of trees, over grazing, construction of roads, rapid urbanization and industrialization. Therefore, sustainable domestication is the only alternative to maintain the healthy natural status of such germplasm, especially those plants with limited distribution.
Masoome Sadatzade, Hooshang Iravani, Hossein Shabanalifami (Iran) Investigating Motivations and Problems of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Processing in Kashan City, Iran (pp 87-93)
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Research Note: The importance of medicinal and aromatic plants is increasing day by day. The international market of herbal products is estimated to be US$ 62 billion which is poised to grow to US$ 5 trillion by 2050. For making full use of this potential, countries must develop scientific cultivation, post harvest technology, processing, manufacturing, research and extension, patenting and marketing for medicinal plants. With regards to this importance, the main goal of this research was to study the motivations and problems of aromatic plant processing at Kashan City, Iran. This city has more than 370 species of wild medicinal and aromatic plants. Over 70 plant species are processed in this region. The result of processing is the production of rosewater and other distillates. In this survey, a research questionnaire was used. Reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha (> 0.7) and validated by the ideas of selected experts and producers. The statistical population were traditional producers of rosewater and other distillates 105 of whom were selected randomly. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as frequency, percentage, cumulative percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, coefficient of variation and factor analysis were used for data analysis. The result of factor analysis for motivations of aromatic plant processing indicated that five factors (cultural belief, economic, skill, relative advantage and job creation) explained 68% of total variance. Regarding the problems of aromatic plant processing, five factors (economic, production, managerial, research and support) explained 74% of total variance.
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