Padmanabh Dwivedi

Immunomodulatory Effect of Gymnema sylvestre (R.Br.) Leaf Extract: An In Vitro Study in Rat Model.

Gymnema sylvestre Wild R.Br (family: Asclepidaceae) is a valuable medicinal plant used in folk medicine to treat diabetes, obesity, asthma etc. in India for antiquity. Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome characterized immunologically by lymphocyte apoptosis and reduced cell-mediated and humoral immunity. Modulation of immune responses to alleviate diseases has been of interest, and traditional herbal medicines may play an important role in this regard. In this study, we aim to evaluate the immunomodulatory potential of methanolic extract of G. sylvestre leaf using rat model. HPLC analysis of leaf extract was carried out for gymnemic acid. The method involves the initial hydrolysis of gymnemic acids, the active ingredients, to a common aglycone followed by the quantitative estimation of gymnemagenin, using gymnemagenin as reference standard. Gymnemic acid content was 2.40% (w/w) in G. sylvestre leaf extract. In vitro immunomodulatory activity of the methanolic extract of G. sylvestre leaf (1–200μg/ml) was evaluated by gauging its effects on nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and nitrite release in rat peritoneal macrophages and on mitogen (ConA, PHA and LPS) induced splenic lymphocyte proliferation. G. sylvestre leaf extract showed significant (<0.05) enhancement in NO and ROS generation in macrophages and in proliferation of lymphocytes in dose dependent manner. EC50 value was 3.10, 3.75 and 2.68μg/ml for NBT reduction, nitrite release and lymphoproliferation, respectively. Potential effect was observed at 100 μg/ml in NO and ROS generation in macrophages and 20 μg/ml in lymphocyte proliferation. G. sylvestre leaf extract stimulates macrophage reactivity, increasing the level of activity even higher when combined with PMA or LPS. These findings suggest the presence of active compounds, gymnemic acid, in methanolic extract of G. sylvestre leaf that stimulates both myeloid and lymphoid components of immune system, and therefore can restore the innate immune function. Through this study, the traditional knowledge of anti-diabetic property of G. sylvestre is scientifically supplemented with its immunomodulatory properties.

Trichoderma asperellum T42 Reprograms Tobacco for Enhanced Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency and Plant Growth When Fed with N Nutrients

Trichoderma spp., are saprophytic fungi that can improve plant growth through increased nutrient acquisition and change in the root architecture. In the present study, we demonstrate that Trichoderma asperellum T42 mediate enhancement in host biomass, total nitrogen content, nitric oxide (NO) production and cytosolic Ca2+ accumulation in tobacco. T42 inoculation enhanced lateral root, root hair length, root hair density and root/shoot dry mass in tobacco under deprived nutrients condition. Interestingly, these growth attributes were further elevated in presence of T42 and supplementation of NO3- and NH4+ nutrients to tobacco at 40 and 70 days, particularly in NO3- supplementation, whereas no significant increment was observed in nia30 mutant. In addition, NO production was more in tobacco roots in T42 inoculated plants fed with NO3- nutrient confirming NO generation was dependent on NR pathway. NO3- dependent NO production contributed to increase in lateral root initiation, Ca2+ accumulation and activities of nitrate transporters (NRTs) in tobacco. Higher activities of several NRT genes in response to T42 and N nutrients and suppression of ammonium transporter (AMT1) suggested that induction of high affinity NRTs help NO3- acquisition through roots of tobacco. Among the NRTs NRT2.1 and NRT2.2 were more up-regulated compared to the other NRTs. Addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), relative to those supplied with NO3-/NH4+ nutrition and T42 treated plants singly, and with application of NO inhibitor, cPTIO, confirmed the altered NO fluorescence intensity in tobacco roots. Our findings suggest that T42 promoted plant growth significantly ant N content in the tobacco plants grown under N nutrients, notably higher in NO3-, providing insight of the strategy for not only tobacco but probably for other crops as well to adapt to fluctuating nitrate availability in soil.

Role of Secondary Metabolites for the Mitigation of Cadmium Toxicity in Sorghum Grown Under Mycorrhizal Inoculated Hazardous Waste Site

Apart from the many primary metabolites like carbohydrate, proteins, fats, and hormones, a number of organic compounds in plants are not synthesized in the principle stream, but they are most important for the plant functions. These compounds are secondary metabolites broadly classified in terpenes, alkaloids, and phenols. Nowadays, heavy metal contamination is the greatest concern worldwide. The role of secondary metabolites is well acquainted with facts that it imparts the significant effect in the mitigation of heavy metal toxicity in the plants. The FTIR data of the experiments indicate clearly that phenols, aldehyde, and ketones will play the critical role in the regulation of heavy metal toxicity in plants.

Influence of Different Mulch Materials on Vegetative Growth and Yield of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) under Drip Irrigation System

Ginger is a high value cash crop and requires lot of management practices for increasing its production and productivity. Mulching the fields with green manure is the most important operations carried out for successful ginger production. In the dry months, it conserves the moisture in the soil and enhances soil temperature for proper germination of the rhizome. In addition, it checks weed growth and enriches the fertility of the soil after decomposition of the weeds. Further it prevents washing out of soil and nutrients during heavy rains (Randhawa, 1969 and Mohanty, 1977). Mulching has been found to increase the yield of ginger (Aclan, 1976 and Mohanty and Sharma, 1978). Ginger being a crop with high water requirement, assured water supply throughout its growth period of 8 to 9 months is essential. Increasing scarcity of water often encountered in many parts of Madhya Pradesh regions necessitates alternative means to provide adequate water to the crop without wastage. Irrigation plays a paramount role in increasing the use of inputs and enhancing cropping intensity as well as productivity of a crop. However, water is becoming increasingly scare worldwide due to various reasons. Drip irrigation is an irrigation International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 02 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Biodiversity Informatics and Digitalizing the Biodiversity of India

India is blessed not only with rich biological diversity but also with the associated indigenous knowledge system of the same. The population burst, industrialization, urbanization, environmental pollution and global climate change are some of the factors that lead to the loss of biological resources. Biodiversity is the key to the functioning and sustenance of life forms in the ecosystem. Due to its importance, it becomes imperative to digitalize valuable biological resources that exist in India and its neighboring region.

Heavy metal scavenging capacity of Mentha spicata and Allium cepa

The use of specially selected and engineered metal accumulating plants for environmental cleanup is an emerging frontline technology called ‘phytoremediation’ which describes a system wherein plants in association with soil organisms can remove or transform contaminants into harmless and often valuable form. During the present study the solid sludge and plants were collected from seven Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) viz. Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager, and from the Periurban areas viz. Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur (N/C/E), Pumlia (N/C/P), Sikarpur (N/C/S), Tatla (N/C/T). Around 6–10 individual samples were mixed together and one average sample was compiled for analysis. Comparative study of heavy metals concentration in the roots and shoots of Pudina (Mentha spicata) and Onion (Allium cepa) showed their high heavy metals scavenging capacity. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in the roots of pudina (Mentha spicata) and Allium cepa (onion), at STP ranged from 0.833 to 1.88, 6.84 to 7.96, 25.3 to 21.56, and <0.05 mg kg−1, respectively. The concentration of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni in the shoots of plants at STPs ranged from 0.43 to 1.96, 6.20 to 32.6, 26.7 to 24.43, and <0.05 mg kg−1, respectively. Therefore, above-mentioned plant species may be selected according to their scavenging capacity for heavy metals from soils and sludges.

Future Habitat Loss: Greatest Threat to the Soil Microbial Biodiversity

Rapid land use and climate are projected to cause broad scale global land cover transformation that will increase microbial species extinction rates. Countries rich in threatened species, which are also projected to have relatively high total future habitat loss, are concentrated around the equator. Various forms of pollution coupled with habitat fragmentation are responsible for the loss of microbial diversity in soil. The article describes means of sustainable management of the soil microbial diversity.