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Volume 6 Number 1 2012
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Animesh K. Datta, Aninda Mandal (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Aditi Saha, Rita Paul, Sonali Sengupta, Priyanka Kumari Dubey, Sandip Halder (India) An Updated Overview on Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. (pp 1-11)
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ABSTRACT
Review: Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. is a succulent shrubby perennial of the family Asphodelaceae (commonly known as ‘Natural healer’, ‘Lily of the desert’, ‘Plant of immortality’, ‘Miracle plant’, ‘The Wand of Heaven’, etc.) with immense therapeutic uses not withstanding its potential significance in cosmetic and food industries. The plant is the source of two products, gel and latex (commercially aloe products are pills, jellies and creams, drinks, liquid, sprays, ointments and lotions) obtained from its fleshy leaves. This unique plant also belongs to a larger plant family, the ‘Xeroids’. Considering the pharmacological and other potential uses of A. vera, an updated overview has been conducted on the species involving all essential aspects to provide necessary information to researchers for effective utilization of the species in human welfare.
Khalid A. Khalid (Egypt), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Biology of Calendula officinalis Linn.: Focus on Pharmacology, Biological Activities and Agronomic Practices (pp 12-27)
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Invited Review: Calendula officinalis Linn. (Asteraceae), a medicinal plant, is used in traditional medicine around the world and is the subject of several chemical and pharmacological studies. Chemical studies have detected various classes of compounds in its organs, primarily volatile oil, carotenoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, coumarins, quinones, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, as well as other minor constituents. C. officinalis extract and pure compounds isolated from different organs possess multiple pharmacological activity, including anti-inflammatory, antioedematous, antioxidant, immunostimulant, anticancer, lymphocyte and wound healing, hepatoprotective, antibacterial and antifungal, anti-HIV, spasmolytic and spasmogenic, genotoxic and antigenotoxic, inhibition of heart rate, antiviral, inter alia. In this review, we explore the phytochemical and pharmacological activity of C. officinalis while also covering aspects of its culture and cultivation that would increase the production of its pharmacologically important compounds.
Maria Rosario Alonso, Ignacio N. Peralta, Rita Lemos, Roberto Davicino, Claudia Anesini (Argentina) Influence of Environment Conditions on the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Larrea divaricata Aqueous Extract (pp 28-32)
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Original Research Paper: Natural antioxidants have gained considerable interest for their role in the prevention of autooxidation of fats and oils. Larrea divaricata Cav. is a South American plant widely distributed in Argentina with reported antioxidant, antitumoral and antimicrobial activities. The aqueous extract of the plant exerts antioxidant activity preventing the deleterious effect of temperature and oxygen on the antioxidant activity of vitamin C (Vit C). The aim of this work was: to assess the stability of the aqueous extract of L. divaricata (AE) under different environment conditions, such as different temperatures and air oxygen contents. The stability parameters evaluated included the percentage of majority compounds (flavonoid expressed as quercitrin (F) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA)) and the antioxidant activity of the extract (AC). Results indicated that both compounds were affected by temperature and air oxygen, with F being more stable to high temperatures than NDGA, finding a decrease of 56% for F and a decrease ≥ 66% for NDGA. Nevertheless, NDGA was more sensitive to air oxygen, as an early decrease of 62% and a maximum decrease of 100% were found. The AC of AE decreased with high temperatures; however, air oxygen seemed to have a more important effect, for a decrease of about 42% was observed after 7 days of incubation. Even though, the environment conditions could affect the chemical composition of the whole extract, it was observed that not all the compounds were equally affected by temperature and air oxygen. Reaching a balance between these two parameters could allow a modulation of the antioxidant activity of this extract.
Niraj Tripathi, Navinder Saini, Vandana Mehto, Sunil Kumar, Sharad Tiwari (India) Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Withania somnifera Collected from Central India using RAPD and ISSR Analysis (pp 33-39)
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Original Research Paper: Withania somnifera is a multipurpose plant of immense therapeutic value and wide geographic distribution exhibiting extensive phenotypic and chemical variability. Characterization of plants using molecular markers is an ideal approach for improvement and conservation of plant genetic resources. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular fingerprinting markers were employed as genetic markers to assay the genetic relationship of 16 accessions of W. somnifera collected from different locations of India. Randomly selected 25 decamer primers amplified 204 RAPD marker loci out of which 152 bands (74.5%) were polymorphic. Twenty eight ISSR primers were used to generate fingerprints and a total of 186 alleles were amplified, out of which 151 were polymorphic (81.1%). ISSR markers were more informative than the RAPD markers. Several ISSR markers amplified genotype-specific alleles that can be used for authentication and detection of adulteration in plant material. Similarity matrices were generated from RAPD and ISSR marker data separately using Jaccard’s coefficient and dendrograms were constructed based on UPGMA clustering. Genotypes were clustered into two groups and the grouping was similar for both marker systems.
Mahmoud E. S. Ottai (Egypt), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Sherin A. Mahfouze (Egypt) Phenotypic and Chemotypic Variation of Four Nigella (Nigella sativa) Varieties (pp 40-45)
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Original Research Paper: The assessment of four Nigella sativa varieties from Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Syria indicated highly significant differences in phenotypic and chemotypic characters. Seed yield was the most important character to differentiate all Nigella varieties based on high genetic advance and heritability values. In addition, the relative percentage of all detected fatty acids differed (from trace amounts to 63.691%) among varieties although the major saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were palmitic, arachnidic and linoleic acids in all varieties. The relative percentage of 8 essential and 8 nonessential amino acids different in all varieties although the Turkish variety had only 7 nonessential amino acids. Arginine and proline (ranging from 4.94 and 46.07% to 6.40 and 53.70%, respectively) were the major essential and nonessential amino acids, respectively for all varieties. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis revealed a different number of protein bands ranging from 9 bands in the Syrian variety to 18 bands in the Egyptian variety.
Khalid A. Khalid (Egypt) Influence of Hydro-Distillation Time on the Yield and Quality of Dill Volatile Constituents (pp 46-49)
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Original Research Paper: The effects of hydro-distillation time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h) on the essential oil (EO) extracted from dill (Anethum graveolens L.) fruits were investigated by GC and GC/MS. EO content (ml g-2) increased with several treatments of hydro-distillation time compared with the first hour of hydro-distillation. After 5 h of hydro-distillation the yield of EO remained 2.5 ml g-2, then it stabilized. The main constituents of dillEO were apiol (34.6-48.7%), carvone (19.2-27.1%), (R)-limonene (7.7-15.0%) and α-pinene (7.4-16.3%). Apiol and carvone gradually increased with an increase in hydro-distillation time but (R)-limonene and α-pinene decreased. The monoterpene hydrocarbons presented a gradual decrease (39.3% in the first hour to 19.9% after 6 h), the total amount of oxygenated monoterpenes increased from 60.0% in the first hour to 79.5% after 6 h, the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons appeared to increase in the 3rd hour (1.1%) compared with other distillation times while oxygenated sesquiterpene appeared to increase after 4 h (0.4%).
Venugopal Rao Kokkirala, Srinivas Kota, Rajesh Yarra, Mallesham Bulle, Mahender Aileni, Kranthi Kumar Gadidasu (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Sadanandam Abbagani (India) Micropropagation via Nodal Explants of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz. (pp 50-53)
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Original Research Paper: An efficient protocol for the in vitro clonal propagation of Woodfordia fruticosa (L.) Kurz using node explants from mature plants was established. Axillary bud proliferation was initiated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzyladenine (BA; 4.40, 8.90, 13.30, 17.70, 22.20 and 26.50 µM) or kinetin (Kn, 4.60, 9.30, 13.90, 18.50, 23.20 and 27.20 µM) alone, or with combinations of BA (2.22, 4.40, 6.62 and 8.90 µM) and Kn (2.32, 4.60, 6.92 and 9.30 µM). MS medium supplemented with BA (17.70 µM) showed the highest regeneration efficiency with 35 ± 1.65 multiple shoots/explant. The shoots that regenerated in vitro attained a maximum average length of 4.5 ± 0.25 cm within 5 weeks of culture, 90% of which could root on medium containing half-strength MS salts fortified with 4.90 µM IBA. The regenerated plantlets were established in a greenhouse with 85% survival. ISSR-PCR revealed genetic fidelity among micropropagated plants and the mother plant.
Rumisa R. Quadri, Azra N. Kamili (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), A. M. Shah (India) In Vitro Multiplication of Arnebia benthamii Wall.,a Critically EndangeredMedicinal Herb of the Western Himalayas (pp 54-57)
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Original Research Paper: Arnebia benthamii (Wall. Ex G. Don) Johnston [Syn Macrotomia benthamii (Wall.) DC.] (family Boraginaceae), locally known as “Kahzaban”, is a highly valued and critically endangered Himalayan medicinal plant, and ranks second in the list of medicinal plants prioritized for Western Himalaya and also figures among the 59 medicinal plants prioritized for conservation due to its high threat of extinction. An efficient in vitro multiplication and propagation system was developed for A. benthamii. Half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium augmented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA) were used for shoot multiplication from shoot tip explants. The best response, i.e., multiple shoot formation, was with 5 µM BA. In another experiment, the combined effect of BA with 1 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was tested. The maximum number of multiple shoots was obtained on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 4 µM BA and 1 µM IBA. Different concentrations of IBA, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used to induce roots from shoots. Roots formed best on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 4 µM IBA, and 80% of plantlets transferred to field conditions survived.
Smitha P. Venkata, Mohan Ch. Murali (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), B. Akondi Raju, R. Sravani (India) Screening the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Ventilago denticulata, Scolopia crenata and Rivea hypocrateriformis from Maredumilli Forest, India (pp 58-62)
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Original Research Paper: Despite the numerous advances in medicine, the prevalence of infectious diseases continues to rise due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, which is attributed to the widespread use of antibiotics. Antioxidants help to deal with oxidative stress, which is caused by free radical damage. Thus, the search for new antibacterial and antioxidant agents from plants has gained increasing importance. The methanolic extracts of Ventilago denticulata bark, Scolopia crenata bark and Rivea hypocrateriformis roots were screened for their antimicrobial potential against seven bacterial species (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus) using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and against three fungal species (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp. and Trichoderma viride)using the disc diffusion method. The extracts were also evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activity using the FRAP method. R. hypocrateriformis showed the highest zone of inhibition (8-11 mm) followed by V. denticulata (7-9 mm) and S. crenata (6-10 mm). Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, steroids, cardiac glycosides, tannins and phenolics. This is the first report on the antioxidant property of S. crenata, which has excellent antioxidant potential (73.56 ± 1.34 mg GAE/g) among the three extracts tested. Results obtained in this study show that these plants have a broad spectrum antibacterial activity and constitute a potential source of new classes of antibiotics and antioxidants.
Maryam Haghighi (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Maryam Mozafariyan, Fatemeh Roustaii (Iran) Humic Acid Affects the Germination of Basil and Cumin and Alleviates the Negative Impacts of Salinity and Drought Stress (pp 63-67)
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Original Research Paper: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of humic acid (HA; 0, 1000, 2000 mg/L) on germination and on the length of stems and roots of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and basil (Ocimum basilicum) under salinity (0, 3, 6, 9 mmhos/cm with NaCl) and drought (0, -2, -4, -8 Pa by PEG-6000) stress. HA – primarily at 1000 mg/L – had a significant effect on the germination of both medicinal plants. The effect of the interaction of HA with salinity and drought was significant, proving that HA could improve germination and stem and root length in the presence of salinity stress and drought, particularly at 1000 mg/L.
Esther A. Adesegun, Oyeboade S. Adebayo, Aderonke K. Akintokun (Nigeria) Effect of Ocimum gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus Extracts on Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) (pp 68-71)
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Original Research Paper: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivation is severely affected by Sclerotium wilt caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. Chemical control has been a major strategy for its control. However, hazards associated with the use of chemicals have necessitated the search for alternatives, particularly among botanicals. An alternative method of control was examined by evaluating the inhibitory effect of two spices (Ocimum gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus) on the growth of S. rolfsii in vitro and its subsequent development on tomato plants in vivo. FunguForce® (Mancozeb 63% + Carbendazim 12.5 WP), a synthetic pesticide and sterile distilled water served as controls. The spices were extracted in water and ethanol and tested against the growth of S. rolfsii at six concentrations (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%, v/v). The highest inhibition of mycelial growth was recorded with 3% of the ethanolic extract of O. gratissimum in which no growth was recorded. The lowest inhibition (3.7 mm) was recorded with the control (0%). Generally better inhibition was possible with the ethanolic extract than with the aqueous extract. In pot experiments, the two plants reduced disease severity to 1.7 and 2.0, respectively at 5% and these values were comparable to 2.3 obtained with FunguForce® and significantly lower to what was recorded in untreated plants. However, plants treated with O. gratissimum extract at 5% and FunguForce® at 2.5 kg/ha gave significantly comparable plant height, number of leaves and fruit weight per plant. The plants in the control pot recorded the highest disease severity (4.7) and sclerotial rhizosphere population (82 Kgˉ1 soil). The two spice extracts are potential options for the management of S. rolfsii on tomato.
Sasan Mohsenzadeh, Javad Zaboli (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Allelopathic Potential of Ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum) (pp 72-74)
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Short Communication: The ethanolic extract obtained from ajwain (Trachyspermum copticum (L.) Link) seeds was evaluated in vitro to examine its potential allelopathic effects. The inhibitory effect of the extract at 0, 2.5 and 5% (i.e., g amounts of original extract in 100 ml of distilled water) on germination and seedling growth of corn (Zea mays), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), redroot amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) and dandelion(Taraxicum officinalis) were tested. The effects of ajwain seeds extract on cowpea and corn as a cultivated crop were obviously different from the weeds (redroot amaranth and dandelion).At 2.5 and 5% of ajwain seed extract, seed germination and seedling length of both weeds were completely inhibited but in corn and cowpea there was no change or only a slight decrease. The inhibitory effects may be related to the presence of allelochemicals, including thymol, γ-terpinene and p-cymene of ajwain seed. Optimum concentrations of ajwain seed extracts could be used as herbicides in the control of weeds.
Sasan Mohsenzadeh, Neamat Sayyadnia Tayyebi (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Allelopathic Potential of Tecomella undulata (Roxb.) Seem (pp 75-77)
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Short Communication: The aquatic extracts obtained from the dried roots and stem inner bark, leaves and flowers of Tecomella undulata (Bignoniaceae) were evaluated in vitro to examine their potential allelopathic effects. The inhibitory effects of the extracts at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10% (v/v) on germination and seedling growth of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Byate’) and common or cranberry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. ‘Chiti’) were tested. The extract at all concentrations completely suppressed the germination of wheat. Root and stem inner bark and flower extracts reduced significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the length of wheat shoots and roots. The seed germination of common bean was affected only by root and stem inner bark. Root and stem inner bark, leaf and flower extracts at 2.5% reduced the length of common bean shoots and roots. The effect of root and stem inner bark extracts on seed germination and the length of shoots and roots were higher than by leaf and flower extracts, especially in wheat. Root and stem inner bark extracts could be used in herbicides against Gramineae weeds.
Masoomeh Alipoor, Sasan Mohsenzadeh (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Mehrdad Niakousari (Iran) Allelopathic Potential of Aloe vera (pp 78-80)
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Short Communication: The ethanolic extract obtained from dried Aloe vera leaves and flowers 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 of distilled water) on germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum), cereal rye (Secale cereale), garden cress(Lepidium sativum), redroot amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) and dandelion(Taraxicum officinalis) plants were tested. All concentrations of A. vera leaf and flower extracts suppressed the germination and growth of all tested plants’ seedlings significantly (P ≤ 0.05), except for wheat germination when 2.5% flower extract and epicotyl length when 2.5% leaf or flower extracts were used. The effects of leaf extract on epicotyl and radicle length were greater than when flower extract was used. Garden cress, redroot amaranth and dandelionseed germination and seedling growth were almost completely inhibited in the presence of 2.5% leaf or flower extract.
Rumisa R. Quadri (India), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Azra N. Kamili, A. M. Shah (India) Effect of 6-Benzyladenine, Kinetin and Thidiazuron on in Vitro Shoot Proliferation of Hyoscyamus niger L. (pp 81-83)
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Research Note: Hyoscyamus niger is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, commonly known as henbane and locally as Bazir bangh. A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of different plant growth regulators (PGRs) at various concentrations on shoot proliferation from shoot tip explants. Full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations of 6-benzyladenine (BA), kinetin (Kn) and thidiazuron (TDZ) were tested. Amongst the PGRs tested, BA at 12.5 µM showed the best shoot proliferation and highest number of indirect multiple shoots while TDZ at 10 µM formed intense disorganized friable light-greenish callus only; there was no response with Kn. In vitro shoots were separated and rooted under varying concentrations of different auxins viz. indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Best rooting response was recorded with 4.0 µM IBA and 2.5 µM NAA. However, no response was noted with any concentration of IAA. Plantlets transferred to field conditions showed 50% survival.
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