Mamta Gokhale

Patents on Endophytic Fungi

BACKGROUND Endophytic fungi are taxonomically and ecologically heterogeneous group of organisms, mainly belonging to the Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina. Endophytes usually produce the enzymes necessary for the colonization of plant tissues. Endophytes are able to utilize components of plant cells without disturbing host metabolism, which is confirmed by isozyme analysis and studies on substrate utilization. The patents related to enzymes and metabolites produced by endophytic fungi are associated with their ecological significance. Application of metabolites and growth promoting factors produced from endophytic fungi, in the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, is now well established. The patents on secretion of extracellular enzymes in vitro by endophytic fungi needed for cell wall degradation, support the hypothesis that fungal endophytes represent a group of organisms specialized to live within plant tissue. OBJECTIVE This review presents the patents granted on different aspects of endophytic fungi for the last 11 years. This expresses the scenario and impact of these patents regarding significance in human society. CONCLUSION In the last few years, research and inventions regarding the different aspects of endophytic fungi beneficial for host plant as well as for human beings have been carried out, which is supported by the increasing number of patents granted on endophytic fungi.

Effect of Additives on Micropropagation of an Endangered Medicinal Tree Oroxylum indicum L. Vent

© 2012 Bansal and Mamta Gokhale, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Effect of Additives on Micropropagation of an Endangered Medicinal Tree Oroxylum indicum L. Vent

Optimization of Baicalein and Chrysin Production in Cell Cultures of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent.

Abstract A phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phytoconstituents like flavonoid, anthraquinone and phenol in the callus and suspension culture of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. (Bignoniaceae). The quantitative estimation using TLC technique reflected the presence of two flavonoids viz. baicalein and chrysin in three fractions (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) of callus extract and in intra and extracellular suspension cultures. Protocol was developed for quantification of phytoconstituents by HPLC with methanol: water (70:30) mobile phase and c-18 column in all the three fractions of callus extract. Both baicalein and chrysin flavonoids were there in all the three callus fractions. Maximum amount of baicalein was present in nbutanol fraction of callus while maximum amount of chrysin was present in chloroform fraction. Cell suspension cultures of O. indicum were established in shake flask system to optimize medium formulation for cell growth and flavonoid content. Murashige and Skoog’s basal medium (MS) supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP, 0.5 mg /LNAA , 0.1 mg /L 2,4-D and 1 mg /L AgNO3 was found optimum for growth parameters viz. cell counting, PCV, fresh weight and dry weight. Presence of baicalein and chrysin in intracellular and extracellular fractions of this suspension culture is a successful event of present work.

Tobacco Dust Induced Genotoxicity as an Occupational Hazard in Workers of Bidi Making Cottage Industry of Central India

Context: To explore genotoxicity in bidi rollers occupationally exposed to bidi tobacco dust. Aims: To assess the extent of genotoxicity of tobacco dust to bidi rollers of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India and cytotoxicity of bidi tobacco extract. Settings and Design: Blood samples from 31 bidi rollers and 30 controls taken after written informed consent were analyzed for chromosome aberrations (CA) and comet assay. Materials and Methods: G enotoxicity was studied by CA in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of bidi rollers and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage studies were done by comet assay of their blood. The toxicity of bidi tobacco extract to normal human lymphocytes was studied by MMT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay as drop in viability. Statistical Analysis Used: Student′s t-test and DMRT. Results: There is a general trend of increase in CA% of both in exposed and control groups with age, but in every group the bidi rollers have a significantly higher CA% than the controls. The CA % is also directly related to exposure. The comet assay findings reveal that the mean comet length and tail length increases with exposure time. The toxicity of bidi tobacco extract (TE) to normal human lymphocytes was tested in vitro by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay at 2 h of incubation. The trend of drop in viability with increasing concentrations of TE was clearly evident from the data from four donors in spite of their individual differences in viability. Conclusions: The results obtained in this investigation indicate that bidi rollers seem to be facing the occupational hazard of genotoxicity due to handling bidi tobacco and inhalation of tobacco dust. They should be advised to work under well-ventilated conditions.

A Comparative GC-MS Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in the Different Fractions of Root Extract of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent.

Abstract The focus of this paper is on the analytical methodologies, which include the extraction, fractionization and identification of active ingredients of root extract of medicinal tree Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. The genus Oroxylum indicum (L.) Vent. (Family Bignoniaceae] is a small deciduous, soft wooded tree. Every part of tree produces a broad spectrum of valuable compounds mainly flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Root of O. indicum has long been used in different ayurvedic preparations like Dashmularisht and Chyavanprash. A comparative study of compounds present in the chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of root extract through gas chromatography mass spectroscopy was performed. Maximum number of compounds (50) were isolated in chloroform fraction, whereas in ethyl acetate, n-butanol and in aqueous fractions the number of compounds isolated simultaneously were 35, 24 and 22. Two compounds (9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid and baicalein) were common in all fractions. Other important compounds isolated were myristyl myristate, hydroxy methyl furfural, ascorbic acid 6 -hexadecanoate, pseudopelletierine and squalene.