N. Anil Kumar

Comparison of antidiabetic potential of (+) and (−)-hopeaphenol, a pair of enantiomers isolated from Ampelocissus indica (L.) and Vateria indica Linn., with respect to inhibition of digestive enzymes and induction of glucose uptake in L6 myotubes

The remarkable α-glucosidase inhibition exhibited by the acetone extract of the rhizome of Ampelocissus indica (L.) and stem bark of Vateria indica Linn. (IC50 23.2 and 1.47 μg mL−1) encouraged us to isolate the phytochemicals from these plants. (+) and (−)-hopeaphenol (1) and (2) were isolated from A. indica (L.) and V. indica Linn. respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed IC50 values of 21.21 ± 0.987 and 9.47 ± 0.967 μM in an α-glucosidase inhibitory assay. The effect of glucose uptake performed by 2-NBDG in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells using flow cytometry (BD FACS Aria II, USA) showed potent glucose uptake by (+) and (−)-hopeaphenol of 31% and 26.4%, respectively. The data from an MTT cell viability assay revealed that the compounds are not toxic to the cells up to 200 μM. Molecular docking studies show that the compounds bind effectively to the active sites of the proteins 1BVN, 3A4A and 3AJ7, which supported the observed α-glucosidase inhibition. The structures of these compounds were determined by the analysis of various spectroscopic data including HRMS-ESI, 2D NMR, CD spectroscopy, optical activity and were unequivocally established by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Herein we are reporting the phytochemicals from Ampelocissus indica (L.) and their antidiabetic activities for the first time.

MEMECYLON WAYANADENSE (MELASTOMATACEAE), A NEW SPECIES FROM THE WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Memecylon wayanadense Ratheesh, Sivu & Pradeep, a new species of Melastomataceae from the Wayanad forests of Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to Memecylon angustifolium , M. rivulare and M. sivadasanii but differs in habit, leaf shape, sclereid type, inflorescence type and position, and the shape and size of the sepals and petals. An UPGMA analysis of 20 RAPD primers resulted in two major clusters with Memecylon sivadasanii in one cluster and M. rivulare , M . angustifolium and M. wayanadense in the second cluster. Memecylon wayanadense forms a subgroup within the second cluster.

Grassroot Initiatives for Sustainable Livelihood

On-farm management of agrobiodiversity in the Western Ghats, the biodiversity hotspot and a UN-accredited World Heritage Centre has become difficult due to an array of reasons. In rice paddy ecosystem, the conversion of ricefields and dwindling diversity of rice landraces are found to be the biggest challenge. This chapter describes the case of Wayanad District of Kerala, India, where, recognising the importance of paddy fields in terms of ecological, food and livelihood security provided by them, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) launched a rice conservation programme in 1998 and a Seed-Care movement. This movement has been facilitated since 1998 by involving the major farming groups of Wayanad, especially the tribal communities of Kurichya, Kuruma, Pathiyar and Wayanadan Chetty, to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the indigenous crop varieties. This case study illustrates a movement that has promoted conservation of seeds of indigenous varieties in smallholders’ family farms in Wayanad District of Kerala. The active integration of agrobiodiversity into the overall issue of sustainable development is necessary, giving equal consideration to all the three dimensions of it: economic, ecological and social sustainability. Efforts have been made to integrate conservation issues, cultivation knowledge, consumption awareness and commercial aspects into one overarching policy strategy.