NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: NPR Vol.7(4) [July-August 2008]

Free radical scavenging activity of antitumour polysaccharide fractions isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst

Title: Free radical scavenging activity of antitumour polysaccharide fractions isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst

Authors: Baskar, R; Lavanya, R; Mayilvizhi, S; Rajasekaran, P

Abstract: The study was conducted to investigate the free radical scavenging activities of polysaccharide fractions extracted from the fruiting body of medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Fr.) P. Karst (Reishi) using different antioxidant capacity assays. Four intracellular polysaccharide fractions were obtained by the hot-water extraction and precipitation with ethanol, by ammonium oxalate extraction and by extraction with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by precipitation with acetic acid and precipitation with ethanol. The results revealed that out of four fractions, acetic acid-NaOH fraction exhibited potent antioxidant activity and effectively scavenged free radicals in a dose dependent manner from 50 to 250µg/ml followed by hot water fraction and ammonium oxalate fraction. However, ethanol-NaOH fraction showed least inhibition in all in vitro models. Thus, the antitumour activities of Reishi may be due to the antioxidants present in its polysaccharide fractions.

Page(s): 320-325

Folk remedies used against respiratory disorders in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra

Title: Folk remedies used against respiratory disorders in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra

Authors: Patil, Garima G; Mali, Prashant Y; Bhadane, Vijay V

Abstract: Information on 56 plant species used especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases by rural and tribal communities of Jalgaon district, Maharashtra is given in this paper. The paper reveals utilization of 55 species of flowering plants belonging to 34 genera comprising of 34 families and one fern species. Of these, 32 families are of dicotyledons, 2 of monocotyledons and 1 of pteridophytes. Brief information about the plant parts used, botanical and local names, families and the mode of preparation of drugs and method of applications have been given. As the traditional herbal remedies are based on ancestral knowledge and empiric experiences, this type of ethno-medicinal survey appeared to be useful for the research on medicinal plants for the betterment of mankind.

Page(s): 354-358

Prioritization of sub-tropical fruit plants for the frost prone low hill region of Himachal Pradesh

Title: Prioritization of sub-tropical fruit plants for the frost prone low hill region of Himachal Pradesh

Authors: Sharma, Shashi K; Badiyala, S D

Abstract: Frost is a major limiting factor in the development of horticulture in the low hill and valley region of Himachal Pradesh. The average minimum temperature of the region remains below 10^oC for about four months. Sub-zero temperature is also common during winters. Heavy intensities of the frost were observed in the closed basin areas, frost intensity decreased with the increase in elevation along the slope of the hills. There were defined six types of Agro Ecological Situations (AES) and for each situation separate order of priority for different sub-tropical fruit species have been discussed in this paper keeping in view the frost and economic considerations. The observations of this study may prove to be useful for Horticulture departments and Extension agencies in hilly regions of other states also.

Page(s): 347-353

In vitro clonal propagation of vulnerable medicinal plant, Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde

Title: In vitro clonal propagation of vulnerable medicinal plant, Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde

Authors: Subbu, R Rama; Chandraprabha, A; Sevugaperumal, R

Abstract: In vitro clonal propagation of Ashoka, Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde plant was achieved using shoot tip, nodal and internodal explants. The explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5-2.0mg/l) of Benzyl amino purine (BAP), Kinetin (Kn) and 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). The synergetic effect of BAP (0.5mg/l) induced a mean of 11.71±0.53 adventitious shoots from the nodal explants. The frequency of shoot organogenesis was highest (82%) in nodal explants treated with 0.5mg/l of BAP and callus were formed more on 2, 4-D. The micro-shoots rooted well on MS medium supplemented with 4.0mg/l of IBA. Hardened regenerants (40%) were acclimatized to the soil.

Page(s): 338-341