Identification of Suitable Plant Species for Vegetation Restoration at Manthali, Nepal

The present study aims to find out the suitable native plant species for restoring degraded land in the mountain from 450 m asl to 819 m asl in Khurkot of Manthali. Altogether thirty quadrats were laid to observe frequency, density and coverage of plant species present there, and ultimately, IVI was calculated. Eight plant species – 3 trees like Acacia catechu, Aegle marmelos and Annona squamosa; 3 shrubs like Rhus parviflora, Cipadessa baccifera and Abrus precatorius (woody climber), and 2 herbs like Uraria lagopodiodes and Polypogon monospeliensis were considered for the detailed study based on their high IVI values. Altogether fourteen traits (growth form, life-span, phenology, Raunkiaer’s life-form, canopy height, stem density, mean ramet distance, leaf size, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, seed mass, propagules mass, seed shape and nitrogen fixation) were studied in those eight species. Based on these traits, through this protocol, the plants were again categorized into five syndromes, i.e., establishment syndrome, dispersal syndrome, biomass producing syndrome, persistence syndrome and effect on environment syndrome. From this study, Annona squamosa and Abrus precatorius can be suggested as candidate species for early succession. Similarly, Aegle marmelos, Acacia catechu, Annona squamosa, Rhus parviflora and Abrus precatorius can be recommended to plant for restoration of degraded bushy lands, which are in the phase of secondary succession.

Antimicrobial Potential of Acetone and Methanol extracts of Rhus parviflora Roxb.

Rhus parviflora Roxb. (Anacardiaceae) is commonly known as “small flowered poison sumac”. It is found in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka at an altitude of 700–1100 masl. R. parviflora is recorded in Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia as having therapeutic uses for Vata vikara, which are the complications related to neurological disorders including anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis. In present piece of work an effort is made to investigate the antimicrobial potential of acetone and methanol extracts were tested against various bacterial species viz., Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella pullorum by using Agar well diffusion methods and against the fungal species (Rhizoctonia. solani, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium. solani, Aspergillus humicola, Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium. canadense) by Poisoned food technique. Results highlighted antimicrobial potential of R. parviflora extracts against the range of microbes, gram positive bacteria as well as gram negative bacterial species and fungal species, so that the extract from these plants can be used as broad spectrum antibiotic in near future.