Phytochemical Studies on Two Unexplored Endemic Medicinal Plants of India, Barleria terminalis and Calacanthus grandiflorus

Barleria terminalis Nees and Calacanthus grandiflorus (Dalzell) Radlk. are endemic medicinal plants of the Western Ghats of India. The aim of the present research work was to investigate phytochemical profile, potent bioactives using RP-HPLC, LC-MS and GC-MS and to evaluate their bioactivities. Acetone was found to be the best extraction medium for separating phytochemicals. Similarly, acetone and methanol extracts exhibited potential antioxidant properties. Ethanol extract of B. terminalis stem showed potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (89.10 ± 0.26%) inhibitory activity. Inhibition of α-amylase (36.96 ± 2.96%) activity was observed the best in ethanol extract of B. terminalis leaves and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (94.33 ± 0.73%) in ethanol extract of C. grandiflorus stem. RP-HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of several phenolic compounds (gallic acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid and coumaric acid) and phenylethanoid glycoside (verbascoside). The highest phenolics content were observed in B. terminalis (GA (4.17 ± 0.002), HBA (3.88 ± 0.001), VA (4.54 ± 0.001), CHLA (0.55 ± 0.004) mg/g DW, respectively). Similarly, LC-MS and GC-MS revealed the presence of phenolics, glycosides, terpenes, steroids, fatty acids, etc. Moreover, positive correlation between studied phytochemicals and antioxidants was observed in principal component analysis. Based on the present investigation, we conclude that B. terminalis and C. grandiflorus can be further explored for their active principles particularly, phenylethanoid glycosides and iridoids and their use in drug industry for pharmaceutical purposes.

Review on Camptothecin Producing Medicinal Plant: Nothapodytes Nimmoniana

Nothapodytes nimmoniana is an endangered medicinal plant widely distributed throughout the Western Ghats of India. The plant contains camptothecin (CPT) which is renowned anticancer drugs. Though, CPT found in many plant species but maximum amount of CPT has been reported from N. nimmoniana. Due to very good source of CPT, this plant has been explored for its Phytochemical, Biotechnological and Pharmacological aspects. Looking to the huge global demand for CPT, overexploitation of N. nimmoniana, unplanned deforestation, and lowest production of CPT from intact plant, reduction of seed germination, high market cost and not have economically feasible process of production has optimistic us to investigate this plant in a systematic manner. The proposed article can be utilized for the establishment of extraction methods and analytical protocol for CPT. Also, Bioreactors production of CPT using high yielding cell line of N. nimmoniana. The pharmacological data will be applicable for discovery of new Drug and development lead to novel compounds which are safe and effective.

Stretching the Habitat Envelope: Insectivorous Bat Guilds Can Use Rubber Plantations, but Need Understorey Vegetation and Forest Buffers

Effects of land-cover change on insectivorous bat activity can be negative, neutral or positive, depending on foraging strategies of bats. In tropical agroforestry systems with high bat diversity, these effects can be complex to assess. We investigated foraging habitat use by three insectivorous bat guilds in forests and rubber plantations in the southern Western Ghats of India. Specifically, we monitored acoustic activity of bats in relation to (1) land-cover types and vegetation structure, and (2) plantation management practices. We hypothesized that activity of open-space aerial (OSA) and edge-space aerial (ESA) bat guilds would not differ; but narrow-space, flutter-detecting (NSFD) bat guild activity would be higher, in structurally heterogeneous forest habitats than monoculture rubber plantations. We found that bat activity of all guilds was highest in areas with high forest cover and lowest in rubber plantations. Higher bat activity was associated with understorey vegetation in forests and plantations, which was expected for NSFD bats, but was a surprise finding for OSA and ESA bats. Within land-cover types, open areas and edge-habitats had higher OSA and ESA activity respectively, while NSFD bats completely avoided open habitats. In terms of management practices, intensively managed rubber plantations with regular removal of understorey vegetation had the lowest bat activity for all guilds. Intensive management can undermine potential ecosystem services of insectivorous bats (e.g., insect pest-control in rubber plantations and surrounding agro-ecosystems), and magnify threats to bats from human disturbances. Low-intensity management and maintenance of forest buffers around plantations can enable persistence of insectivorous bats in tropical forest-plantation landscapes.

Evaluation of Indian summer monsoon rainfall features using TRMM and KALPANA-1 satellite derived precipitation and rain gauge observation

The study provides a concise and synthesized documentation of the current level of skill of the satellite (3B42RT, 3B42V-6, KALPANA-1) products over Indian regions based on the data gathered during the summer monsoon seasons of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The inter-comparison of satellite products with the rain gauge observations suggests that the TRMM 3B42V6 product could distinctly capture characteristic features of the summer monsoon, such as north–south oriented belt of heavy rainfall along the Western Ghats with sharp gradient of rainfall between the west coast heavy rain region and the rain shadow region to the east, pockets of heavy rainfall along the location of monsoon trough, over the east central parts of the country, over north-east India, along the foothills of Himalayas and over the north Bay of Bengal. The KALPANA-1 and 3B42RT products reproduce only the broadest features of mean monsoon seasonal rainfall. The near real-time products 3B42RT and KALPANA-1 underestimate the orographic heavy rainfall along the Western Ghats of India. The precipitation estimates from TRMM 3B42V6 product, when accumulated over the whole season, could reproduce the observed pattern. However, the TRMM 3B42RT and KALPANA-1 estimates are comparatively lower than the observed rainfall over most parts of the country during the season. Inter comparison reveals that the TRMM 3B42V6 product showed better skill in estimating the daily and seasonal mean rainfall over all India and also over four homogeneous regions of India.

Wave drag by two-dimensional mountain lee waves

lkj & Å¡pkbZ ds lkFk ok;q ds jsf[kdh; :Ik ls c<+us vkSj fLFkjrk dks vifjorZuh; ekurs gq, f}foeh; ioZrh; vojks/k esa fLFkj Lrfjr ok;q&izokg okys jsf[kdh; nzoLFkSfrd fun’kZ dk bl 'kks/k&i= esa mi;ksx fd;k x;k gSA vle&cekZ dh igkfM+;ksa ds vkSj Hkkjr ds if’peh ?kkV ds ioZrh; ok;qjks/k vkSj ioZrh; vfHkokgksa ds fo’ys"k.kkRed vk¡dM+s izkIr fd, x, gSaA vle&cekZ dh igkfM+;ksa ds nksuksa fjtksa ds ioZrh; ok;qjks/k ds lkekU; vk¡dM+s Hkh izkIr fd, x, gaSA A linear hydrostatic model of a stably stratified air-stream flow over a two-dimensional orographic barrier is considered assuming wind increases linearly with height and stability is constant. Analytical expressions for mountain drags and momentum fluxes are obtained for Assam-Burma hills as well as Western Ghats of India. The general expression for mountain drag also obtained for both the ridges of Assam-Burma hills.

Amelioration of sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress by Cynometra travancorica Bedd in mice

Objectives Cynometra travancorica, endemic to Western Ghats of India is pharmacologically similar to Saraca asoca and occasionally used as substitute in a well-known Ayurvedic uterine tonic Asokarishta. S. asoca possess various biological properties, but there are no reports on C. travancorica. The present study evaluated the pharmacological properties of C. travancorica and its efficacy in attenuating the sodium fluoride (NaF) induced oxidative stress in mice. Methods Antioxidant potential of methanolic extract of C. travancorica (CTE) stem bark was evaluated using DPPH, superoxide radical scavenging and total antioxidant assays. The effect of CTE on mitigating NaF deteriorated redox status in the liver tissue of mice was evaluated. Functional groups in CTE were analyzed by FTIR analysis. Results CTE effectively scavenged the free radicals in in vitro condition. CTE could augment catalase (46.6%), superoxide dismutase (53.8%) activities and GSH level (48.1%) against NaF induced decline in the liver tissue of mice. The peroxidation of lipids was found to be decreased by 44.9% and tissue damage abated as inferred by histopathology. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of biologically active functional groups in CTE. Conclusions The study revealed the ameliorative effect of C. travancorica against NaF induced deleterious effect in experimental animals by its potent antioxidant potential.

Nutritional Composition of Green Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora) Beans under Organic and Integrated Nutrition with Varying Shade and Irrigation Management Practices in Western Ghats of India

Background: Cultural practices and environment may affect the physical, chemical, microbiological and nutritional qualities of the raw beans. With the advent of nutritional labelling regulations (FDA, 1973), many coffee bean processors have incorporated nutrition information on their products for label declaration. The current field experiment aimed to study to know the influence of nutrient management practices, irrigation and shade pattern on nutrient status of green coffee beans and yield of robusta coffee. Methods: This field-laboratory experiment was carried out at nine selected robusta coffee estates located at Western Ghats of India, i.e., Koppa region of Chikkamagaluru District, situated in the south western part of Karnataka State. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 25 plants per treatment (plot size- 112 m2) with four replications. Representative coffee fruits from the experimental blocks were collected during harvesting period (February-March). After harvesting of the fruits they were wet processed to remove pulp and mucilage from the fruits. Further, they were sun dried up to 10 percent moisture level and stored using standard methods. Result: The green coffee bean N and P concentration remained higher (3.1 and 0.37%) in INM mode of nutrition compared to that of exclusive organics (3.0 and 0.36%). Within organic mode of nutrition, the shade pattern and irrigation schedule imparted difference in N assimilation. The bean K content did not vary between the INM and organic nutrition modes as depicted by similar (1.8%) values. However, within organic mode of nutrition, the shade pattern and irrigation schedule imparted difference in K assimilation. The average bean yield remained higher (1230 kg ha-1) in INM mode of nutrition compared to that of exclusive organics (1101 kg ha-1).