Anand Sagar

In Vitro Free Radical Scavenging Activity of a Wild Edible Mushroom, Sparassis crispa (Wulf.) Fr., from North Western Himalayas, India

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Sparassis crispa collected from North Western Himalayan region of India were analyzed. Phenolic content mg tannic acid equivalent per g of the extract and flavonoids mg catechin equivalent per g of the extract were recorded to be the major antioxidant components in this wild edible mushroom. Significant antioxidant efficiency on inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was observed when compared to standard antioxidant like L-ascorbic acid. IC50 value of the extract was 2.11 mg/mL. The findings suggest S. crispa as an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants.

Essential Oils for Pest Control in Agroecology

Currently attention has been paid towards exploitation of higher plant products in plant pest management in view of the public concern over the level of pesticide residues in food and environment causing health and ecological problems. The indiscriminate use of synthetics in crop protection has also led to the development of resistant strains of pests. Amongst plant products, essential oils of different higher plants have been formulated for large scale application as botanical pesticides in eco-friendly management of different plant pests. These products have low mammalian toxicity and are cost effective. Such products of higher plant origin may be exploited as eco-chemical and bio-rational approach in management of crop pests. Unlike conventional insecticides that are based on a single active ingredient, plant-derived essential oils comprises an array of chemical compounds which act concertedly on both behavioral and physiological processes. Thus the chances of pests developing resistance to such substances are less likely. The current status and future prospects of botanical pesticides in eco-friendly management of different plant pests are reviewed and discussed.

STUDIES ON ENDOPHYTES AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SAUSSUREA COSTUS (FALC.)

Different plant parts (root, stem, leaf) of Saussurea costus were used to isolate and investigate endophytic fungal species in summer, rainy and winter seasons. Total ten species of endophytic fungi belonging to seven genera ( Aspergillus , Cunninghamella , Myrothecium , Penicillium , Pythium , Rhizopus and Trichoderma ) were isolated from the root, stem and leaf in different seasons. The genus Aspergillus was found to be dominant with three species ( A. nustus , A. wentii and A. niger ). The genus Rhizopus was represented by two species ( R. oryzae , R. nigricans ).The genera Cunninghamella , Myrothecium , Penicillium , Trichoderma and Pythium were represented by one species each i.e. Cunninghamella elegans, Myrothecium roridum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichoderma viride and Pythium sp. respectively . Antibacterial activity of root of Saussurea costus has been investigated using different solvents (methanol, ethanol and acetone) at different concentrations (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) against three test bacteria namely S. aureus, E. coli and Y. pestis . Root extract of S. costus showed greater antibacterial activity using methanol as solvent followed by acetone and ethanol solvent. In case of methanol extract, maximum inhibition activity was shown against S. aureus and minimum against E. coli . Maximum inhibition was shown against Y. pestis and minimum against E. coli in case of acetone extract whereas ethanol extract exhibited highest inhibitory activity against E. coli and lowest against Y. pestis . On the basis of results compiled above, it is evident that S. costus exhibited antibacterial activity against all the test bacteria in all the solvents used in this study thereby conforming it a good antibacterial agent for future study. KEY WORDS: Saussurea costus , endophyte isolation, an

Study to Evaluate the Physicochemical Properties and Phytochemical Constituents of Five Aromatic Plants

Aromatic plants are a tremendous source for the discovery of new products of medicinal value for drug development. Of late, several distinct chemicals derived from plants are important drugs. In the present investigation, alkaloid, saponin, steroid, phlobatannin, terpenoid, flavonoid, cardiac glycoside and phenol distribution were assessed and compared in five different aromatic plants belonging to two families.