Bhawana Srivastava

Efficacy of Essential Oil of Amomum subulatum as a Novel Aflatoxin B1 Suppressor

ABSTRACT Essential oils from different parts of 12 plants belonging to eight angiospermic families were extracted and tested for activity against two toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus link. through the poisoned food technique. The oil of the spice plant Amomum subulatum Roxb. (Fam. Zingiberaceae) was found effective against two strains of A. flavus, completely inhibiting their mycelial growth at 750 μg mL−1. This level of activity was superior to that of the synthetic fungicides tested. In addition, the oil exhibited a broad fungitoxic spectrum against all the tested fungi (A. niger, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium oxysporum, Helminthosporium oryzae, and Trichoderma viride), significantly inhibiting their growth at 750 μg mL−1. The essential oil displayed excellent antiaflatoxigenic efficacy, completely inhibiting aflatoxin B1 production at 500 μg mL−1. Hence, A. subulatum oil may be recommended as a novel, botanical antimicrobial and aflatoxin suppressor as an alternative to synthetic preservatives.

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.

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.