Evaluation of Some Botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. Infesting Stored Chickpea Seeds and Bio-Chemical Analysis of Used Botanicals

A study was carried out to evaluate the bio-efficacy of some botanicals against Callosobruchus chinensis L. in stored chickpea (Variety: Anuradha) in the year 2018–20. Different botanicals like Neem (Azadirachta indica), Melia (Melia azedarach), Datura (Datura stramonium) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) were used. Among all the botanicals Neem leaf powder @ 6% performed better with minimum egg laying (64 eggs 5 females-1) compared to the other botanicals except the standard check with Deltamethrin @ 0.04%. Thereafter, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder recorded 87.50 eggs 5 females-1 and 91.25 eggs 5 females-1, respectively. With regard to adult mortality, the best result was also obtained from the treatment Neem leaf powder @6% with 96.67% mortality in 5th day. Following the same trend, 6% Melia leaf powder and 8% Datura leaf powder exhibited 90% and 83.33% adult mortality, respectively, in 5th day. The estimation of total phenols and total antioxidants (IC-50) contents in Neem leaf powder (345.69 mg g-1 and 207.77 μg ml-1), Melia leaf powder (273.40 mg g-1 and 383.68 μg ml-1) and Datura Leaf Powder (213.62 mg g-1 and 405.77 μg ml-1) also confirms the findings of the bio-efficacy trial of the botanicals. Tulsi leaf powder @5% was least efficacious both in terms of egg laying by the females as well as adult mortality. These botanicals are locally available, economic, bio-degradable and safe to the environment. Therefore, they may be fitted in the Integrated Pest Management strategies against stored grain pests as seed protectants.

Pharmacognostic and Phytochemical Screening of Datura stramonium by TLC and GC-MS: A Forensic Approach

Forensic Botany helps in linking the location, type of crime, revealing modus Operandi, culprit as well as victim by various circumstantial facts. In the study, Datura stramonium was considered as major plant of Bundelkhand region encountered in poisoning cases in criminal Investigations. Datura plant was identified and its fresh leaves were washed to remove dirt, stored at 40C and were subjected to microscopic examination for botanical features, preliminary screening for alkaloids identification and chromatographic techniques such as TLC and GCMS for qualitative analysis of toxins present in the plant. The result showed that all techniques applied are suitable to identify the plant through botanical derived evidences such as leaf traces, resins, or plant extracts during the crime scene investigations. GCMS technique identified the main toxins and resulted that it contains high concentration of hyoscine and very fatal when administered eventually causes death.

Commercialization Potential of Six Selected Medicinal Plants Commonly Used for Childhood Diseases in South Africa: A Review

Globally, the potential of medicinal plants is increasingly being recognized due to their relative availability, particularly in rural areas. This review explored the ethnobotanical and economic values of six selected medicinal plants widely used to treat and manage childhood diseases in South Africa. Acalypha glabrata, Aloe maculata, Datura stramonium, Gomphocarpus fruticosus, Rhoicissus tridentata and Vachellia karroo were selected based on their high relative frequency of citations for treating a wide range of diseases. Information was obtained from various scientific databases and ethnobotanical books. In addition to being popular for treating childhood diseases, the selected medicinal plants possess diverse applications in traditional medicine for other age groups, highlighting their general therapeutic values. This translates to extensive harvesting, trading and consumption of these plants in order to meet demands on local levels. Currently, empirical data on the economic value of the selected plants remain poorly reported. Even though South Africa has many laws to conserve and promote indigenous knowledge and medicinal plants, their commercialization remains low. Particularly the cultivation of the selected plants needs to be promoted under a participatory management action plan to stimulate the economy of the disadvantaged. A collaborative research framework for the inclusive transformation of indigenous medicinal plants is recommended to reveal their concealed beneficial properties.

Polysaccharide-Based Organic Frameworks with Embedded Nanoparticles: Advanced SPR Study on the Antiviral Activity of Gold Composites Derived from Glucuronoxylomannan

The nanosized composites based on the natural polysaccharides and nanoparticles of noble metals are promising candidates for efficient antiviral drugs. However, the complexity of such objects, their diversity and novelty necessitate the development of new analytical methods for investigation of such supramolecular architectures. In this work, which was recently developed for SPR-based instrumentation, the concept of variative refraction (DViFA, density variations in fixed architectures) was used to elucidate the mechanism of the antiviral action of a polysaccharide with gold nanoparticles grown in it. The SPR data were confirmed by direct biological tests: the effect of the native polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) obtained from the fungus Ganoderma adspersum and gold nanocomposites thereon on the infection of Datura stramonium with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) was investigated. Both drugs suppress the development of viral infections. However, if for high concentrations the characteristic activity of the composite is somewhat lower than for GXM, then with an increase in dilution, the effectiveness of the composite increases significantly, up to a twofold excess. It has been reasonably suggested that the mechanism of antiviral action is associated with the formation of clusters of viruses that are no longer capable of infecting cells.

One Hundred Years of Gene Balance: How Stoichiometric Issues Affect Gene Expression, Genome Evolution, and Quantitative Traits

A century ago experiments with the flowering plant <i>Datura stramonium</i> and the fruit fly <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> revealed that adding an extra chromosome to a karyotype was much more detrimental than adding a whole set of chromosomes. This phenomenon was referred to as gene balance and has been recapitulated across eukaryotic species. Here, we retrace some developments in this field. Molecular studies suggest that the basis of balance involves stoichiometric relationships of multi-component interactions. This concept has implication for the mechanisms controlling gene expression, genome evolution, sex chromosome evolution/dosage compensation, speciation mechanisms, and the underlying genetics of quantitative traits.

Datura stramonium Leaf Extract Toxic Effects on Testis in Swiss Albino Mice Mus muscullu

The notorious weed, jimson weed (Datura stramonium L.) is a hallucinating plant with both poisonous and medicinal properties. The neurotoxicity of the plant is attributed to the presence of tropane alkaloids which contain a methylated nitrogen atom (N-CH3) that block neurotransmitters in the brain. Ethno-medicinally, the frequent recreational abuse of D. stramonium has resulted in toxic syndromes. This investigation has been designed to examine the toxicity and describe the possible changes in the structural function of vital organs, following the oral intubation of non-lethal doses of Datura stramonium leaves crude aqueous extract. Through preliminary trials, crude aqueous extract. Of 200mg leaves per kilogram body weight was established as a tolerable non-lethal dose. Three doses 0.36, 0.7, and 4 mg/kg were orally weekly, administered to the male mice in a 0.1 ml volume. Acute toxicity studies were accomplished through oral intubation of three dosages in each case. Observation and mortality were reported for 24 .48, 72 hours Prolonged toxicity was performed through the administration of weekly, single doses oral for 40 days. The observation was made on the mice's body weight, , and histological abnormality of a testis organ.

Antimicrobial Study of Selected Medicinal Plants (Datura stramonium L. and Hippophae rhamnoides L.) of Hunza Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan

The adverse environmental and human health impact of chemical use against micro-organism is profoundly increased. For this motive, substitute methods to minimize chemicals are being developed. One of the effective methods is use plant extracts which having natural antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate ethanolic extract of Datura stramonium L. (leaves) and Hippophae rhamnoides (fruits) against the selected micro-organisms. Results revealed that mean zone of inhibition for bacterial species ranged from 23±0.72 to 27±1.24 mm in case of Hippophae rhamnoides and from 21±0.79 to 30±1.06 mm in case of D. stramonium leaves respectively. For antifungal activity, the inhibition zone ranges from 39.42±1.07 to 47.22±2.11 mm in case of D. stramonium and from 38.42±1.19 to 48.46±2.32 mm in case of H. rhamnoides. However, sensitivity reaction of bacterial and fungal species against each plant extract was also differential. D. stramonium showed highest toxic effect against E. coli (30±1.06 mm)) and Aspergillus flavus (47.22±2.11mm). Whereas, H. rahmnoides showed highest zone of inhibition against bacterial species (B. subtilis 27±1.24 mm) and fungal species (R. stolonifer 48.46±2.32 mm). Both plant extract exhibited antimicrobial properties, which could be used against micro-organisms.

Therapeutic Uses of Wild Plants by Rural Inhabitants of Maraog Region in District Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

The main aim of this study is to document important ethnomedicinal plants from the Maraog region, located in the district of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, India. A total of 110 medicinal plant species belonging to 102 genera and 57 families were reported from the study site. All of the species were collected from wild habitats. The rural people of the Maraog region were surveyed through interview methods, group discussions, and participatory observations. In the current study, data were collected from 88 informants through the snowball method. A total of 110 plant species were collected from the study area, including 64 herbs, 24 shrubs, 9 trees, 5 climbers, 3 grasses, and 5 ferns. Most of the plant species, reported from the study area, belong to the Rosaceae and Asteraceae families, each contributing 12 plant species, followed by the Lamiaceae family with 6 plant species. The most used part of the plant in the preparation of herbal medications is the leaves, which have been reported in 62 plants, followed by roots in 14 plants, and flowers and other aerial parts in 9 plants. The ethnomedicinal data were analyzed using “Use Value,” a statistical quantitative method, with Artemisia vestita having the highest use value (1.00), followed by Cannabis sativa (0.79), Rhododendron arboreum (0.79), and Datura stramonium (0.71). Older people were found to have a vast knowledge of wild medicinal plants, while the younger generation’s knowledge was lacking. As a result, traditional knowledge about the use of plants as a source of medicine has decreased day-by-day. Therefore, there is a need to document traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. The data could serve as a basis for research by pharmacological and nutraceutical industries for the development of novel drugs.

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON AIR POLLUTION TOLERANCE INDEX (APTI) OF SELECTED PLANT SPECIES IN BIKANER CITY

Air Pollution Tolerance Index is used to find out the level of air pollution in any area with the help of plants. Plants are categorized as sensitive, intermediate and tolerant based on their APTI values. The present study examines the Air Pollution Tolerance Index of selected plant species in Bikaner city. The APTI of various plants have been computed with the values obtained by analysis of biochemical parameters such as pH of leaf extract, ascorbic acid content (AAC), total leaf chlorophyll content (TLC) and leaf relative water content (RWC). It was found that plant species Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), Neem (Azadiracta indica), Babul (Acacia nilotica), Ber (Ziziphus nummularia), Aak (Calotropis procera) and Peepal (Ficus religiosa) showed APTI values in the range of 30 to 100 which are tolerant to air pollution. Datura stramonium was the only species which falls under the intermediate category due to its APTI value of 21.5. It is recommended that these plants can be grown on national highways to combat air pollution in arid areas. Such plants can be used in the development of green belt.