IDENTIFICATION OF PLANT UTILIZATION IN THE LIFE CYCLE CEREMONY OF THE KAILI DA'A TRIBE IN UWEMANJE VILLAGE, KINOVARO DISTRICT, SIGI REGENCY

The purpose of this study was to obtain information about the types of plants used by the Kaili Da’a tribe in life cycle ceremonies that are still preserved for generations in Uwemanje village, Kinovaro district, Sigi district. The research population is all people who live in Uwemanje Village, Kinivaro District, which are spread over 4 hamlets. The research method uses survey research with the help of interview questionnaires. Interviews were conducted on key respondents and general respondents. Key respondents were selected by purposive sampling as much as 10% of the population, namely the people who were considered to be the most knowledgeable about the ins and outs of this ceremony, such as Sando, traditional leaders, village heads and village priests. Meanwhile, general respondents are people who are recommended by key respondents with a record that they are at least 30 years old and are married or have a family. The data and information in this study were processed descriptively. Types of plants/plants used in life cycle ceremonies consist of 21 species, namely: rice (Oryza sativa L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), banana (Musa paradisiaca L.), cocor duck (Kalanchoe pinata L.), areca nut (Areca catechu L.), turmeric (Curcuma domestica L.), nail paci (Lawsonia enermis L.), bogenvil (Boganvillea glabra L.), pandanus (Pandanus amarylifolius L.), jatropha (Jatropha curcas), forest basil ( Ocimum sanctum L.), moringa (Moringa oleifera L.), shallot (Allium cepa L.), Bengal grass (Eleusine indica L.), hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus L.), peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherima L.), betel (Piper betle L.), keluwih (Artocarpus camansi L.), jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.), palm sugar (Arenga pinnata), and red sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The percentage of utilization of plant parts that are most directly utilized is the leaves which amount to 14 with a percentage of 65.66%, flowers amount to 4 to 16.67%, fruit to reach 3 to 12.5%. The least used parts are rhizomes, seeds, tubers, roots and stems with a percentage of 5.17%.

Ocimum sanctum, OscWRKY1, regulates phenylpropanoid pathway genes and promotes resistance to pathogen infection in Arabidopsis

WRKY transcription factor (TF) family regulates various developmental and physiological functions in plants. PAL genes encode enzymes which are involved in plant defense responses, but the direct regulation of PAL genes and phenylpropanoid pathway through WRKY TF is not well characterized. In the present study, we have characterized an OscWRKY1 gene from O. sanctum which shows induced expression after methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), and wounding. Recombinant OscWRKY1 protein binds to the W-box cis-element TTGAC[C/T] and activates the reporter gene in yeast. Overexpression of OscWRKY1 enhances Arabidopsis resistance towards Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato Pst DC3000. Upstream activator sequences of PAL and C4H have identified the conserved W-box cis-element (TTGACC) in both O. sanctum and Arabidopsis. OscWRKY1 was found to interact with W-box cis-element present in the PAL and C4H promoters. Silencing of OscWRKY1 using VIGS resulted in reduced expression of PAL, C4H, COMT, F5H and 4CL transcripts. OscWRKY1 silenced plants exhibit reduced PAL activity, whereas, the overexpression lines of OscWRKY1 in Arabidopsis exhibit increased PAL activity. These results revealed that OscWRKY1 positively regulates the phenylpropanoid pathway genes and enhances the resistance against bacterial pathogen in Arabidopsis.

Herbal Products for Management of COVID- 19

COVID-19 is a human-infectious virus. The respiratory system is the primary target of the coronavirus, but it can also harm cardiac tissues and gastrointestinal organs. Many frequent circumstances, such as the medication's or medicine's purpose, the dosage/potency of the drug, and the patient's condition, can place patients in grave danger. Several cures have been reported using a variety of therapy methods. Among the various treatments, natural and synthetic medicines are the most commonly documented. Some herbal medicines, such as Tribulusterrestris, Withaniasomnifera, Curcuma longa, Ocimum sanctum, and Phyllanthusemblica, have powerful antiviral (AntiCOV-19) properties against novel coronavirus, heralding the start of a new era in herbal therapy.

Synergic effect of aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L on the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and as a preventative agent against antibiotic-resistant food spoiling organisms

Combining Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L leaf water extracts synergistically act as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of narrow polydisperse silver nanoparticles with controlled sizes depending on the precursor (AgNO3) concentration.

Evaluation of Some Botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. Infesting Stored Chickpea Seeds and Bio-Chemical Analysis of Used Botanicals

A study was carried out to evaluate the bio-efficacy of some botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. in stored chickpea (Variety: Anuradha) in the year 2018–20. Different botanicals like Neem (Azadirachta indica), Melia (Melia azedarach), Datura (Datura stramonium) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) were used. Among all the botanicals Neem leaf powder @ 6% performed better with minimum egg laying (64 eggs 5 females-1) compared to the other botanicals except the standard check with Deltamethrin @ 0.04%. Thereafter, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder recorded 87.50 eggs 5 females-1 and 91.25 eggs 5 females-1, respectively. With regard to adult mortality, the best result was also obtained from the treatment Neem leaf powder @6% with 96.67% mortality in 5th day. Following the same trend, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder exhibited 90% and 83.33% adult mortality, respectively, in 5th day. The estimation of total phenols and total antioxidants (IC-50) contents in Neem leaf powder (345.69 mg g-1 and 207.77 μg ml-1), Melia leaf powder (273.40 mg g-1 and 383.68 μg ml-1) and Datura Leaf Powder (213.62 mg g-1 and 405.77 μg ml-1) also confirms the findings of the bio-efficacy trial of the botanicals. Tulsi leaf powder @5% was least efficacious both in terms of egg laying by the females as well as adult mortality. These botanicals are locally available, economic, bio-degradable and safe to the environment. Therefore, they may be fitted in the Integrated Pest Management strategies against stored grain pests as seed protectants.

TLC-Based Metabolite Profiling and Bioactivity-Based Scientific Validation for Use of Water Extracts in AYUSH Formulations

We aimed to develop a chromatographic method for scientific validation of water extract of some important Indian traditional plants used in AYUSH-based formulation as immunomodulator and to evaluate their bioactive potential. Fruits of Phyllanthus emblica L. and Piper nigrum L., stem of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers, rhizome of Curcuma longa L., leaves of Ocimum sanctum L. and Achillea millefolium L., roots of Withania somnifera L., and stem bark of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. were coarsely powdered and extracted in three different solvents (water, ethanol, and hydroethanol). The antioxidant potential was determined through 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing capacity methods. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was carried out for the comparative metabolite profiling of the extracts using toluene, ethyl acetate, and formic acid (5 : 4 : 1, v/v/v) as a solvent system. In vitro immunomodulatory activity of the extracts has been tested on splenocyte proliferation and pinocytic assay. Hydroethanolic extract (HEE) of most of the plant materials has the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents, followed by water extract (WE) and ethanolic extract (EE), whereas the water extracts of most of the plant material showed better antioxidant activity. Almost all extract exhibited splenocyte proliferation and pinocytic activity in a dose-dependent manner. But water extract showed significantly higher splenocyte proliferation and pinocytic activity as compared to the other two extracts. TLC analysis resulted in detection of totally 63 and 56 metabolites at 254 nm and 366 nm, respectively. Through principal component analysis (PCA), it was observed that metabolite pattern of different extracts from same plant materials may be different or similar. This preliminary result can be used for quality evaluation and to develop a synergy-based polyherbal combination of water extracts of selected plant materials.

Uji Aktivitas Bakteri Salmonella Thypii pada Sayuran Lalapan Kemangi (Ocimum Sanctum L) Secara In Vitro

Keamanan pangan menjadi salah satu masalah kesehatan yang perlu diperhatikan karena konsumsi pangan yang tercemar oleh mikroorganisme atau bahan kimia yang dapat menyebabkan suatu penyakit yang disebut foodborne disease. Daun kemangi mampu menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri salah satunya Salmonella typhii. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui ada atau tidaknya bakteri Salmonella typhii pada sayuran lalapan kemangi (Ocimum sanctum L) menggunakan pengujian Biokimia. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Laboratorium Mikrobiologi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Hasanuddin Makassar. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah rancangan eksperimental dengan teknik probability sampling berjumlah 10 sampel pada 10 lokasi berbeda di pasar Kota Makassar, dilakukan dengan identifikasi bakteri menggunakan medium selektif, kemudian isolasi bakteri dengan medium SSA dan medium NA, kemudian dilakukan uji Biokimia kemudian dilakukan pewarnaan gram. Sampel yang teridentifikasi bakteri Salmonella typhii dilakukan uji daya hambat dengan medium MHA dan antibiotik, selanjutnya dilakukan pengukuran zona hambat yang terbentuk dengan menggunakan jangka sorong. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 10 sampel dengan kode S1-S10, didapatkan pada sampel S1 terdapat bakteri Salmonella typhii. Kesimpulan bahwa terdapat bakteri Salmonella typhii pada sayuran lalapan kemangi yang diambil di pasar Kota Makassar.

In silico molecular docking and in vitro analysis of ethanolic extract Ocimum sanctum Linn.: Inhibitory and apoptotic effects against non-small cell lung cancer

Background and Aim: Lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has been identified as the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The mortality rate from lung cancer has been estimated to be 18.4%. Until now, conventional treatments have not yielded optimal results, thus necessitating an investigation into the use of traditional herbal plants as potential candidates for its treatment. This study aimed to determine the inhibitory and apoptotic activity of the ethanolic extract from Ocimum sanctum Linn. (EEOS) by in silico molecular docking and through in vitro studies using NSCLC cells (A549 cell line). Materials and Methods: Dried simplicia of Ocimum sanctum was converted into EEOS using the maceration method. Spectrophotometry was then employed to analyze the EEOS compound. The known main active compounds were further analyzed for inhibitory and apoptotic effects on gene signaling using in silico molecular docking involving the downloading of active compounds from PubChem and target proteins from the Protein Data Bank; the active compounds and proteins were then prepared using the Discovery Studio software v. 19.0.0 and the PyRX 0.8 program, interacted with the HEX 8.0.0 program, and visualized with the Discovery Studio Visualizer v. 19.0. Finally, an in vitro analysis was performed using an antiproliferative-cytotoxic test (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in the NSCLC A549 cell line). Results: The analysis revealed that the active compounds in the ethanolic extract were dominated by quercetin (flavonoids) (47.23% b/b) and eugenol (phenolic) (12.14% b/b). These active compounds interacted with the active sites (residual amino acids) of the αvβ3 integrin, α5β1 integrin, caspase-3, caspase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Hydrogen bonds and Pi-cation and Pi-alkyl interactions were involved in the relationships between the active compounds and the active sites and thus may reveal an antioxidant property of the extract. Furthermore, in vitro analysis showed the inhibitory and antiproliferative effects of the EEOS against non-small cell cancer (A549). Conclusion: Taken together, our data showed the ability of EEOS as an inhibitor and apoptotic agent for lung cancer; however, further research is needed to determine the exact mechanism of EEOS as an herbal medication.

Green Synthesis of Polymer-Capped Copper Nanoparticles Using Ocimum sanctum Leaf Extract: Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential

The advancement of green nanotechnology has piqued the interest of researchers into the environmentally responsible production of nanoparticles. Conventionally used chemical methods for the synthesis of the nanoparticles have shown adverse effect on environment due to the use of highly toxic chemicals. They are also expensive as they utilize costly chemicals as a reducing and capping agent. Use of plant extract can be an environment friendly and cost-effective approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles. Copper is the metal which humans utilize from the ancient time period and it doesn’t show any adverse effect on humankind as well as on environment. Leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum was employed with CuSO4 (1:9, v/v) to synthesize stable copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) that were then functionalized with Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) polymer. Characterization of synthesized copper nanoparticles was carried out using UV–Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Synthesized CuNPs were subjected against the human pathogenic bacterial strain to evaluate their antibacterial potency. Antioxidative characteristics of CuNPs were analyzed using DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The UV–visible spectra of CuNPs showed unique peaks at 322 and 247 nm indicates the stable formation of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction pattern suggest the face cubic centered (FCC) structure of copper nanoparticles. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of biomolecules attached on the surface of CuNPs. TEM analysis proven the synthesis of spherical shaped CuNPs with the average particle size of 73.50 ± 1.78 nm. Biosynthesized CuNPs showed maximum zone of inhibition against E. coli which was tends to be 20 mm. 51.48 % of DPPH free radical scavenging activity was observed by synthesized PVP coated CuNPs. As a result, this technology can be employed for the quick and environmentally friendly biosynthesis of stable copper nanoparticles with antibacterial and antioxidant activities with the size range from 10 to 100 nm, implying their potential application in the healthcare, clinical as well as pharmaceutical fields