Species diversity of macrophytes in Jagadishpur Reservoir, Kapilvastu District, Nepal

The present research was conducted for quantitative study and diversity analyses of aquatic macrophytes dwelling littoral zone of Jagadishpur reservoir, Kapilvastu district in three seasons, as winter (December), summer (April), and rainy (August). Altogether 58 species of macrophytes were recorded in study site, of which highest number of species (54) was occupied by angiosperms followed by three species of pteridophytes and one species of alga. These macrophytes varied in different morphological groups, viz., emergent, submerged, and rooted-floating leaf type. Maximum number of species were represented by emergents (39) followed by rooted-floating leaf type (12) and submerged (7) macrophytes. There was distinct seasonal variation in the distribution of macrophytes: based on importance value index, Nelumbo nucifera (IVI = 22.87), Scripus sp. (IVI = 28.01), Ipomoea carnea (IVI = 24.67) and Typha angustifolia (IVI = 29.01) were dominant in the winter; Nelumbo nucifera (IVI = 20.05), Cynodon dactylon (IVI = 20.07) and Ipomoea carnea (IVI = 21.17) were dominant in the summer and Nelumbo nucifera (IVI = 23.8) and Scripus sp. (IVI =25.56) were dominant in the rainy season. The highest species diversity (H’) of macrophytes was observed during summer (3.451), followed by rainy season (3.135) and winter (3.008). The luxuriant growth of aquatic macrophytes evidenced the highly productive nature of the lake, while the dominance of emergents among the growth forms indicates the encroachment of littoral vegetation, indicating a successional trend toward marsh meadow.

A REVIEW OF PHYTOMORPHOLOGICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY ON IPOMOEA CARNEA

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. grows as wild plant in India. It is identified as a useful material for several applications including medicinal purposes. Different extracts of Ipomoea carnea plant possess anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-convulsant, immune modulatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, sedative, cardiovascular, inhibition and wound healing activities. However, some toxicological effects have been also reported. In this review the potential of phytochemical, pharmacological and other activities of Ipomoea carnea are discussed.

Future perspectives of Therapeutic Claims of an Ethnopharmacological Drug Ipomoea carnea Jacq. - A Critical Review

Ipomoea carnea Jacq is an ethnopharmacological drug used for various indications by healers. As the herbal medicines are becoming endangered, ethanopharmacological drug can be used efficiently as they are available abundantly. The aim of this article is to highlight the therapeutic uses of Ipomoea carnea and to stress the use of ethanopharmacological drug vividly in the treatment. Materials and Methods: The data was located from books including ethnopharmacological drugs, Indian flora, traditional medicine and articles in various journals out of which only the data related to Identification of the species, pharmacological researches, therapeutic and other uses of Ipomoea carnea Jacq was selected. The data was segregated, edited, consolidated and reviewed critically to explore the therapeutic potential of the drug. Result: Phytochemical, invivo and invitro pharmacological studies indicate the therapeutic potential of Ipomoea carnea but there is scarcity of clinical evidences to prove their efficacy and safety in human beings. Discussion and Conclusion: Ipomoea carnea has significant pharmacological and therapeutical value. Though it is used as folk medicine, no clinical study has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy or to evaluate the toxic potential of Ipomoea carnea leaves, seeds or any other part.

Ectopic growth of the fungal symbiont (Chaetothyriales) on Ipomoea carnea

Swainsonine, an indolizidine alkaloid, is an alpha-mannosidase and mannosidase II inhibitor that alters glycoprotein processing and causes lysosomal storage disease. Swainsonine is the toxic principle in several plant species worldwide and causes severe toxicosis in livestock grazing these plants. All swainsonine-containing plant taxa investigated to date are associated with fungal symbionts that produce swainsonine. Among the swainsonine-containing convolvulaceous species, Ipomoea carnea is associated with a seed transmitted symbiont belonging to the fungal order Chaetothyriales. The nature of this association was unclear therefore this association was investigated further using microscopy. Macroscopic and microscopic data reported here demonstrate that the Chaetothyriales symbiont associated with I. carnea grows ectopically on the adaxial (upper) surface of leaves as lacy mycelia in plants that contain swainsonine and was not present on plants lacking swainsonine that were derived from fungicide treated seeds. Hyphae were not observed on the surface of any other tissues including the abaxial (lower) leaf surface, petiole, and stem. Mycelia were not visible in internal tissues below the epidermis and there did not appear to be any hyphal extensions within the fibrovascular bundles or stomata. Longitudinal and/or cross sections of the stems or petioles did not show evidence of hyphae growing between cells. These results suggest an epibiotic growth habit of the Chaetothyriales symbiont in association with I. carnea.

Struktur dan Komposisi Vegetasi pada Suksesi di Muara Sungai Unda, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali

Letusan Gunung Agung pada tahun 1963 memberikan dampak ekologis di sekitar muara Sungai Unda, Kabupaten Klungkung, Bali. Lahar yang mengalir melalui sungai tersebut menyebabkan terjadinya suksesi primer akibat tutupan pasir dan batu. Selama 57 tahun, muara Sungai Unda tidak hanya mengalami suksesi alam, tetapi juga mengalami suksesi antropogenik melalui pemanfaatan sebagai tambang pasir, lahan pastura, dan permukiman sementara. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari struktur dan komposisi vegetasi pada suksesi di muara Sungai Unda. Penentuan struktur vegetasi dilakukan pada 8 stasiun penelitian dengan menggunakan metode plot dengan jumlah 24 plot pohon (20 x 20 m) dan 48 plot vegetasi lantai (1 x 1 m). Data dianalisis menggunakan parameter ekologis seperti densitas, densitas relatif, frekuensi, frekuensi relatif, dominansi, dominansi relatif, dan nilai penting, serta dilengkapi dengan indeks keragaman Shannon-Weiner (H’), indeks dominansi (C), dan indeks keseragaman (E). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa semak dan rumput merupakan bentuk hidup yang paling menentukan struktur vegetasi di Muara Sungai Unda. Beberapa spesies penyusun vegetasi tersebut merupakan tumbuhan invasif seperti yang harus dikontrol populasinya adalah Typha angustifolia, Ipomoea carnea, Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, dan Vachellia farnesiana. Berdasarkan indeks yang digunakan, keanekaragaman vegetasi termasuk dalam kategori tinggi, tanpa ada jenis yang mendominasi, dengan persebaran yang merata.Kata kunci: Gunung Agung; spesies invasive; suksesi antropogenik; vegetasi suksesiStructure and Composition of Successional Vegetation in Unda River, Klungkung Regency, BaliABSTRACTMount Agung eruption in 1963 caused major ecological impact around Unda River, Klungkung Regency, Bali. The volcanic mudflow that surpass the Unda River watershed initiate the primary succession in those areas. This research aimed to study the structure and composition of successional vegetation in Unda River. Twenty-four tree plots (20 x 20 m) and 48 understorey plots (1 x 1 m) derived from 8 research stations were used to determine the structure of vegetation. The data analyzed by ecological parameters, such as density, relative density, frequency, relative frequency, dominancy, relative dominancy, and importance value, then completed with Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’), dominancy index (C), and evenness index (E). The results shown that the vegetation structure in Unda River determined by two major growth form: shrubs and grasses. Some notable invasive species that should be controlled are Typha angustifolia, Ipomoea carnea, Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara, and Vachellia farnesiana. Based on the three indexes, the vegetation diversity was categorized as high diversity, without any species domination, and the distribution of the species are uniformKeywords: Anthropogenic succession; invasive species; Mount Agung; successional vegetation