Eucalyptus Leaves as Potential Indicators of Gold Mine in Indonesia

Eucalyptus is a plant that is able to absorb gold (Au) particles from the soil and store them in the leaves. Eucalyptus roots have the ability to penetrate the soil of the calcrete zone, which is rich in the mineral calcium (Ca). Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. and contains Au particles as impurities, making this plant a potential natural indicator (biogeochemical) of potential Au metal mining. The Au content in eucalyptus leaves can be determined by using the XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) instrumentation material analysis method for qualitative analysis and AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy) for quantitative results. The form of XRF characterization of the intensity versus energy spectrum of certain elements from the XRF analysis results obtained is a spectrum with a peak power of 9.731 keV which indicates the presence of Au metal in the sample. The results obtained qualitatively are the Au metal content in the eucalyptus leaf sample of (9.0 ± 0.5) ppm. However, the Au metal content in each leaf sample was different. This provides information that Eucalyptus from different plants has the potential to be a biogeochemical indicator of potential Au metal mining in Indonesia

The Effectiveness Test Of Wound Healing Daun Gatal (Laportea Decumana) Against Mice (Mus Musculus L)

Daun Gatal (Laportea spp) is one of the shrubs that are widely distributed in Papua from the coast to the mountains. Daun Gatal (Laportea spp) has been used for generations by the Papuan people as painkillers. Daun Gatal (Laportea spp) contains compounds monoxide, tryptophan, histidine, alkaloids, flavonoids, formic acid, and anthraquinones. This content is called "antacid" because it gives a sensation like being bitten by an ant. There are many itchy leaves in the village but often they are just left to dry, wither, die, and even be thrown away. The value of this leaf is very large if it is developed not only as an itchy leaf sheet but as a pharmaceutical product. (Simaremare, et al, 2019). This is supported by several research results stating that itchy leaf extract contains compounds of the alkaloid group, glycosides, steroids (Simaremare, 2014), also contains triterpenoid compounds and formic acid (Chrystomo, et al., 2016) and (Krisna and Santanina, 2019) which states that itchy leaves provide antibacterial activity. The type of research used is experimental research. The research design used was a randomized control group pretest and posttest design. The population in this study was white mice. The samples used in this study were white mice that had met the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were female mice, bodyweight 20-30grams, age 2-4 months while the exclusion criteria. Included in the exclusion criteria in this study were mice that were sick or died in the study conditions. The results of the Extraction of Daun Gatal (Laportea Decumana), namely the itchy leaf sample that has been weighed at a concentration of 25% obtained from a mixture of itching leaf extract (25 grams) added with water (30 ml) produces 18.5 ml. Itchy leaf extract at a concentration of 50 % was obtained from a mixture of itchy leaf extract (50 grams) added with water (30 ml) to produce 20.1 ml. Gatak leaf extract at a concentration of 75% was obtained from a mixture of itching leaf extract (75 grams) added with water (30 ml) to produce 24.3 ml. The extraction method used is extracting the extract of itchy leaves. This method was chosen because the process is simple and does not involve heating so that it can prevent damage to chemical compounds that are not resistant to heating, especially flavonoids contained in itchy leaves. Based on the results of the data on the difference in wound diameter of mice, it showed that Treatment Group 1 with 25% itching leaf extract and Treatment Group 2 with 50% itching leaf extract almost had the same healing rate. Meanwhile, Treatment Group 3 with 75% itching leaf extract had the fastest healing rate among other concentrations. In contrast to Treatment Group 3, the control group had a much longer healing rate among other concentrations.

Phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of Amaranthus viridis L (Green leaf)

Phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of Amaranthus viridis L (Green leaf) were undertaken with standard methods. The leaf sample after being screening for phytochemicals, contained tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, phenolic compounds, proteins and anthraquinones at different concentrations. A further study using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analytic method on the leaf sample revealed a total of twenty-two detailed compounds among which are 3-Hydroxy-N-methylphenethylamine, Erucic acid, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 1,2-Propanediol,3-chloro-, and Cystamine. 3-Hydroxy-N-methylphenethy lamine had the highest retention time; Erucic acid had the highest molecular weight while n-Hexadecanoic acid had the highest peal area. Most of the compounds have important applications in body care products and cosmetics, pharmaceutical or food industries. A. viridis leaf extract exhibited a better antioxidant activity against the ascorbic acid used as control in the present study. The phytochemicals present in the leaf sample could be behind its antioxidant activity. The study has shown the phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of A. viridis leaf sample.

Phytochemical, Proximate, In-vitro Antimalarial and Antimicrobial screening of leaf Extracts of Justicia carnea Lindl

Aim: To study the phytochemical, proximate, antimicrobial and anti-malarial activities of leaf extracts of Justicia carnea Methods: The leaf sample of Justicia carnea which has been used in Nigeria folklore in treating malaria, cancer and many other diseases was extracted with methanol, ethyl acetate and n-hexane. The extracts were subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, proximate, anti-malarial and antimicrobial screening. Results: The results showed that alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds were present. Ethy acetate extract also exhibited the highest suppression against malaria parasite in-vitro, more than chloroquine. This inhibition and high abundance of alkaloids and glycosides gave credence to the therapeutic use of the plant as anti-malaria drug. The three extracts showed a concentration-dependent inhibition against S. aureus, Aspergillus spp and Bacillus spp. S. typhi, K. pneumonia, P. aerogenosa and C. albicans were resistant in all concentrations of the extracts. Conclusion: The therapeutic use of the leaves of J. carnea in treatment of malaria was validated. Its antimicrobial activity was also affirmed in some of the tested organisms.

Antifungal and Antioxidant Activities of Lipophilic Compounds from Swietenia mahagoni (l.) Jacq. Leaves

The investigation on the n-hexane lipophilic extractives of Swietenia mahagoni, alongside the antifungal and antioxidant properties was conducted. The leaf sample was collected from 2- and 3-years-old trees in Perhutani enterprise of Temanggung, Central Java, Indonesia. In addition, the antifungal activity was tested using the white-rot of Phanerochaete chrysosporium, while the antioxidant property involved the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method. The results show antifungal of 28.6% and 37.5% growth inhibition in 2- and 3 -years-old leaf, respectively, while 21.7% and 25.4% antioxidant activity were also recorded. Furthermore, the GC-MS results showed the domination of S. mahagoni leaf by fatty acids and hydo-carbons, while the terpenoids and steroids were in minor quantities. These components possibly exhibit growth inhibitory and antioxidant effects against P. chrysosporium and DPPH radicals, respectively.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Solvent Extracts and Essential Oil of Leaves of Cipadessa baccifera (Roth.) Miq.

The present study was designed to conduct with the main purpose of evaluation of antimicrobial activity of solvent extracts and essential oil of leaves of Cipadessa baccifera (Roth.) Miq. The plant samples for investigation were collected from Thavarekere and Savandurga, Magadi Taluk, Bengaluru Rural district, and outskirts of Bengaluru, and identification was authenticated by National Ayurveda and Dietetics Research Institute, Bangalore; vide voucher specimen number, RRCBI-8971.The dried leaf samples were pulverized in an electric blender and the powdered material was stored in air tight containers for further analyses. The leaf samples were subjected to sequential extraction using Soxhlet apparatus, and extracted exhaustively in organic solvents such as, hexane, chloroform, methanol and water. The essential oil from leaf sample was extracted in Clevenger apparatus. The sequential extracts and essential oil of leaf parts of C. baccifera (Roth) Miq. were subjected to evaluation of antimicrobial activity against diarrhoea, skin, wound and oral infections causing selected pathogens, including 07 Gram positive, 06 Gram negative bacteria and 06 fungal strains. Results revealed that essential oils and crude solvent extracts leaves of Cipadessa baccifera showed significant anti-bacterial potential against diarrhoea, skin wound and oral pathogens inhibiting both Gram positive, Gram negative and fungal species. The broad spectrum of anti-bacterial activity of C. baccifera revealed in the present investigation gives scientific validity for its usage in treatment of dysentery, skin related disorders and wounds in traditional and folk medicines.

Stratigraphy of stable isotope ratios and leaf structure within an African rainforest canopy with implications for primate isotope ecology

The canopy effect describes vertical variation in the isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C), oxygen (δ18O) and partially nitrogen (δ15N) within plants throughout a closed canopy forest, and may facilitate the study of canopy feeding niches in arboreal primates. However, the nuanced relationship between leaf height, sunlight exposure and the resulting variation in isotope ratios and leaf mass per area (LMA) has not been documented for an African rainforest. Here, we present δ13C, δ18O and δ15N values of leaves (n = 321) systematically collected from 58 primate food plants throughout the canopy (0.3 to 42 m) in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. Besides leaf sample height and light availability, we measured leaf nitrogen and carbon content (%N, %C), as well as LMA (n = 214) to address the plants’ vertical resource allocations. We found significant variation in δ13C, δ18O and δ15N, as well as LMA in response to height in combination with light availability and tree species, with low canopy leaves depleted in 13C, 18O and 15N and slightly higher in %N compared to higher canopy strata. While this vertical isotopic variation was not well reflected in the δ13C and δ15N of arboreal primates from this forest, it did correspond well to primate δ18O values.

Comparative anatomical and transcriptomic analyses of the color variation of leaves in Aquilaria sinensis

Color variation in plant tissues is a common phenomenon accompanied with a series of biological changes. In this study, a special-phenotype Aquilaria sinensis (GS) with color variation of leaf was firstly reported, and DNA barcode sequences showed GS samples could not be discriminated clearly with the normal A. sinensis sample (NS), which suggested that the variety was not the cause of the GS formation. To reveal the characteristics of GS compared to NS, the anatomical and transcriptome sequencing studies were carried out. In microscopic observation, the leaves of golden-vein-leaf sample (LGS) and normal-vein-leaf sample (LNS) showed significant differences including the area of the included phloem in midrib and the thickness parameters of palisade and spongy tissues; the stems of golden-vein-leaf sample (SGS) and normal-vein-leaf sample (SNS) were also different in many aspects such as the area of vessels and included phloem. In addition, the structure of chloroplast was more complete in the midrib of LNS than that of LGS, and some particles suspected as virus were found through transmission electron microscope as well. Genes upregulated in LGS in contrast with LNS were mainly enriched in photosynthesis. As for stems, most of the genes upregulated in SGS compared to SNS were involved in translation and metabolism processes. The pathways about photosynthesis and chlorophyll metabolism as well as some important transcription factors may explain the molecular mechanism of the unique phenotypes of leaves and the genes related to suberin biosynthesis may result in the difference of stems. In addition, the genes about defense response especially biotic stress associated with numerous pathogenesis-related (PR) genes upregulated in LGS compared to LNS indicated that the pathogen may be the internal factor. Taken together, our results reveal the macro- and micro-phenotype variations as well as gene expression profiles between GS and NS, which could provide valuable clues for elucidating the mechanism of the color variation of Aquilaria.

Incidence, geographical distribution and genetic diversity of sugarcane striate virus in Saccharum species in China

A novel virus of the genus Mastrevirus, family Geminivirdae, was recently reported in sugarcane germplasm collections in Florida, Guadeloupe and Réunion, and was named sugarcane striate virus (SStrV). Although the full-length sequence of a SStrV isolate from China was obtained in 2015, the incidence, geographical distribution, and genetic diversity of this virus remained unclear. A single leaf sample from 2,368 sugarcane plants from main sugarcane producing regions of China and germplasm collections were tested for SStrV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Average virus incidence was 25.1% for field collected samples and SStrV was detected in most Saccharum species and two sugarcane-related species with the highest incidence in S. officinarum (44.1%) followed by Saccharum spp. local varieties (33.3%) grown for chewing cane for a long time. The virus incidence was much lower (6.8%) in modern commercial cultivars (Saccharum spp. hybrids). Phylogenetic trees based on full-length genomes of 157 SStrV isolates revealed that Chinese isolates comprised strains A and B, but not C and D that were reported in Florida, USA. SStrV strain A was the most prominent (98.7%) and widespread strain in China and was further divided into eight sub-groups. Almost half (45.6%) of the SStrV-positive samples from S. officinarum and Saccharum spp. local varieties were co-infected with sugarcane mosaic disease viruses or sugarcane yellow leaf virus. Interestingly, most of the plants infected by strain A of SStrV were asymptomatic. SStrV appears to be widespread in China, and its influence on chewing cane deserves further investigation.

Phytochemical Screening, GC-MS Analysis and Antioxidant Activity of CurcurbitapepoL. usingIts Leaf Sample

This study evaluated the phytochemical screening, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and antioxidant activity of Curcurbitapepo L. using its leaf sample with standard methods. The sample used for the study was procured from Imo State University school farm and was properly identified. Result of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, phlobactannins, proteins, and anthraquinnones, while the GC-MS analysis revealed a total of 78 compounds, out which Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (C24H38O4) had the highest molecular weight, 2,4,6-Octatriene, 2,6-dimethyl- (C10H16) had the highest peak area of 10.21% while Morphinan-6-ol, 4,5-epoxy-N-methyl-, (5α 6α- (C17H21NO2) had the highest retention time. The antioxidant activity of the studied sample was enhanced against the control. Some of the compounds as revealed by GC-MS analysis could be of healthcare or industrial importance. There is need for further studies on the leaf sample to ascertain further the observations of the present study. This study has evaluated the phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and antioxidant activity of C.pepo L. using its leaf sample.