Effect of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil, fractions and its derivatives on resistant fungal Strains

Persistentantimicrobial drugs treatmenthas resulted in antimicrobial resistance in fungi. There is always a gap for newer antifungal agent. As fungi are associated with multiple health risks in humans and many diseases in crops as well.Objective: To find alternate natural antimicrobial agent as compared to the synthetic one. Method:Essential oil of Trachyspermumammi was isolated, fractionated, and subjected to GC-MS analysis. Components from fractions were derivatized to check their antimicrobial potential against fungal resistant strains. Results:Analysis showed γ -terpinene (39%), α-phellandrene (1.3%), α-pinene (0.5%), Sabinene (0.15%), β-pinene (4.40%), β-myrcene (1.14%), O-cymene (15.78%), p-cymefne (38.78%), and other components were less than 1%. Fractional components were derivatised and their antifungal action was studied. Conclusion: Ajwain oil components found to be good against resistant fungal strains. While some derivatives showed more and some less antimicrobial action.

Ameliorating the Effect of Mycotoxins in Poultry Feeds Using Plant Extracts

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites of fungal origin that tends to contaminate agricultural commodities before or under post-harvest conditions. They are mainly produced by fungi in the genera, Aspergillus sp. (Aspergillaceae: Eurotiales), Penicillium sp. (Trichocomaceae; Eurotiales) and Fusarium sp. (Nectriaceae: Hypocreales). When ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, mycotoxins causes sickness or death in humans and animals. Natural substances that can prevent AFB1 toxicity to human and animal health with minimal cost will be a great advantage. Traditional medicinal plants are currently used for their antifungal, anti-aflatoxigenic and antioxidant activity. Aspergillus parasiticus strain NRRL 2999 was used to produce Aflatoxin, as it is one of the highly toxigenic fungus available. Inhibitory activity of ethanol extracts of plants was enhanced upon gradual increase in their concentrations. Among them, the ethanol extracts of Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) completely arrested the fungal growth and inhibited the growth significantly, even at lower concentrations (1%) in comparison with other extracts and the negative control. Hence, the present work has been carried out to find the aflatoxin antifungal activity of the plant extracts Albizia lebbeck (Fabaceae: Fabales), Syzgium aromaticum (Myrtaceae: Myrtales) and Trachyspermum ammi (Apiaceae: Apiales) against aflatoxin contaminated poultry feed. In conclusion, the present study serves as a base and arises a futuristic need for efficient cost effective sampling and analytical methods that can be used for detection and control of mycotoxins in poultry feed.

Assessment of heavy metals and potential health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown on the roadside soils

Vegetables cultivated near roads absorb toxic metals from polluted soil, which enter into the human body through the food chain and cause serious health problems to humans. The present study investigated the contamination level of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in soils and vegetables grown along the roadside of District Swat, Pakistan, and the health risks associated with the consumption of the tested vegetables have been investigated. The plant samples were collected from the cultivated field within a 120-meter range from the roadside. Spinacia oleracea, Allium cepa, Rumex dentatus, and Trachyspermum ammi were selected based on their importance as vegetables. In results, Pb concentration was higher in plants located at the distance between 0-10 m away from the roadside than the WHO permissible limit. In such plants, Pb concentration was higher than Ni. Rumex dentatus contained the highest concentration of Pb among the tested vegetables while Ni concentration was highest in Trachyspermum ammi as compared to other plants. Concentration and accumulation of both the metals decreased in soil and plants with increasing distance from the road. Similarly, target hazard quotient values noted for Pb and Ni were greater than unity, which shows that there is a potential risk associated with the consumption of tested vegetables near the road. Moreover, the values of target cancer risk were greater than 0.0001, which shows that there is a risk of cancer with the consumption of tested vegetables. In conclusion, the consumption of the tested vegetables was very dangerous as it may lead to higher risks of cancer.

Colchicine induced manifestation of abnormal male meiosis and 2n pollen in Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (Apiaceae)

Unreduced gametes are the key source for the natural polyploidization in plants, but process of its formation is very low in nature. Meiotic mutants are second source for the formation of 2n pollen. In this cytological investigation, the meiotic aberrations and its impact on post-meiotic products were analysed in autotetraploid Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (4n=36). The seedlings of T. ammi (L.) Sprague were treated with 3 different concentrations of colchicine (0.2, 0.4 and 0.5%, w/v) for 3 different durations. Six polyploid plants were induced which was confirmed on the basis of cytological analysis. Colchicine, an anti-microtubular drug induced different meiotic and post-meiotic abnormalities such as chromosomal bridges, lagging chromosomes, scattering, precocious, fragments, dyads, triads, and polyads. The formation of several abnormal sporads clearly signifies the meiotic restitution. The tendency of univalents to scattered in the cytoplasm at metaphase was identified as a peculiar aberration asynapsis. Pollen variability and fusion of pollen walls was reported and pollen fertility was calculated. The morphological analysis of the pollen allowed us to confirm the occurrence of 2n pollen.

Physio-biochemical Parameters of Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) Induced by Gamma Rays and EMS

Background: Induced mutagenesis has proved as a crucial implement to create genetic variability for various essential traits. Trachyspermum ammi is one of the most important medicinal seed spices and its oil exhibits various pharmacological properties. Ajwain has been overlooked owing its narrow genetic base and little study has been performed to create genetic variations. Methods: Dry and healthy seeds of ajwain were treated with the different concentration of gamma rays (25,50,75 and 100Gy), EMS (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%EMS) and different doses of combination treatments (25+0.1%, 50+0.2%, 75+0.3% and 100Gy+0.4%EMS). Among both the mutagens, gamma rays were found to be more effectual mutagens as compared to EMS. Result: The aim of the present study was to find out the mutagenic consequences of gamma rays, EMS and combination treatments on growth and physio-biochemical parameters of ajwain. Studies show that higher doses of both the mutagens caused significantly negative effect on the growth parameters whereas lower doses have positively influenced the parameters. Result shows lower doses of mutagens (25, 50Gy, 0.1%, 0.2%EMS and 25+0.1%, 50Gy+0.2%EMS) proved to be more effective as it caused less biological damage and therefore would be suitable for inducing the desirable mutations and improving the agronomic traits in ajwain.