Puthiyapurayil Sujanapal

An enigmatic new species, Strobilanthes agasthyamalana (Acanthaceae), from Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve of Southern Western Ghats, India

SummaryStrobilanthes agasthyamalana is described and illustrated here from the Pongalapara region of Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, southern Western Ghats. It is similar to S. foliosa and S. lanata in floral, seed and vegetative characters. However, it differs from S. foliosa by its adaxially hirsute and abaxially woolly leaves, bracts and bracteoles, pubescent corolla and villous style, and it differs from S. lanata by its glabrous stem, adaxially hirsute leaves, pubescent corolla, villous style and glabrous seeds.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Leaf Essential Oil of Syzygium grande (Wight) Walp

Abstract The chemical composition of essential oil obtained from the leaves of Syzygium grande was analyzed using GC-MS. β-caryophyllene (18.38 %) was the major constituent present in the leaf oil followed by 10s,11s-himachala-3(12),4-diene (12.06 %), (+)-aromadendrene (10.51% ), α-caryophyllene (10.22 %) and α- selinene (8.94 %). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was determined and the results showed higher activity against bacteria whereas fungal species were found to be more resistant.

Essential Oil Composition, Antioxidant and Nutritional Properties of Fruit Pericarp of Myristica beddomei King ssp. ustulata de Wilde-An Endangered Tree Species

Abstract The essential oil composition, total phenolic and anthocyanin, antioxidant and nutritional analysis of pericarp of Myristica beddomei ssp. ustulata have been investigated. β-caryophyllene (25.41 %) was identified to be the major constituent of pericarp essential oil. The results revealed that the methanolic extract of pericarp showed higher amount of phenols and polyphenols. The total anthocyanin content was found to be 33.064 mg/100 g. Due to the presence of higher phenolic and anthocyanin compounds, the extract produces higher scavenging ability against radicals. The pericarp was found to be a rich source of nutritional compounds and hence may be used as a functional food. Further exploration in this species, is likely to provide some leads in the direction.

Artabotrys sahyadricus (Annonaceae), a new species from Western Ghats of India

Abstract Artabotrys sahyadricus is described as a new species from the Kerala region of Western Ghats, India. Detailed description, colour photographs, phenology, distributional details and relevant taxonomic notes are provided along with comparison with its closely related species in Western Ghats.

A new tuberous species of Sonerila Roxb. (Melastomataceae) from Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, India

Abstract A new tuberous caulescent species, Sonerila malabarica is described from the dripping rocky habitats in Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kozhikode, Kerala, India. It is closely similar to Sonerila kanniyakumariana but differs in having a quadrangular, rarely branched, delicate stem with a subterranean tuber, setose nodes, four-angular peduncle and ribbed hypanthium.

Cuscuta krishnae (Convolvulaceae), a new species from Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Cuscuta krishnae, a new species from the southern part of the Western Ghats, Kerala, India, is described and illustrated. This species shows similarities with Cuscuta reflexa in stem, flowers and fruit, but differs in having yellowish to orange yellow (or purple) stem, specked with purple dots, inflorescence clusters, bearing long pedicellate flowers, white to purplish-white flowers, short scales, corolla tube with scattered purple dots, ovate corolla lobe, ligulate stigma, usually three-seeded capsule. Also shows affinities to Cuscuta gigantea in the pedicellate flower, but differs in having yellow to pale brown stem, specked with purple dots, 1–2 cm long pedicel, white to purplish-white flowers, three-seeded capsule.

Essential Oil Composition of Leaves and Stem Bark of Cullenia exarillata Robyns (Bombacaceae)

Abstract Cullenia exarillata, belonging to the family Bombacaceae is a canopy tree found in the Western Ghats. The chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaf and bark was identified using GC-MS analysis. In all, 93 and 72 compounds were identified from leaves and stem bark respectively. The major composition of leaf oil is found to be phytol (18.54 %) and the essential oil from bark by palmitic acid (41.54 %). Cullenia exarillata is a rich source of fatty acid, which makes it an industrially important species. Presence of a higher percentage of terpenoid compounds also makes them an important medicinal plant. The present work is the first report on the exploration of compounds present in the species Cullenia exarillata.