Isolation of stigmasterol from hexane extract of leaves of Pisonia grandis R.Br, in vitro anti-diabetic and its molecular docking studies

Pisonia grandis R.Br belonging to the family Nyctaginaceae is a widely distributed evergreen tree in India known for its medicinal uses. The study was aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic property in the leaves of Pisonia grandis R.Br. The isolation and purification were performed by the conventional column chromatography and the resultant yield was found to be a white crystalline powder, which was further subjected for characterization through IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectroscopy. From the characterization data, the isolated compound was identified as stigmasterol, it was first time isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves. The α-amylase inhibitory activity of stigmasterol from the hexane extract of the leaves of Pisonia grandis R.Br showed high potent activity with an IC50 value of 46μg/ml. The anti-diabetic activity of the compound against α-amylase and four other diabetic enzymes- α-glucosidase acid phosphatase, endo-β-N acetaglucosaminidase and β-glucuronidase were further investigated by molecular docking studies and proved that stigmasterol can be a potential anti-diabetic agent.

Two Cycad Species Affect the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Content of Soils

The influences of Cycas micronesica and Zamia integrifolia plants on soil chemistry were determined in Tinian and Florida in order to more fully understand how cycad plants affect the environments in which they grow. The introduction of C. micronesica plants into a karst habitat generated decreases in soil phosphorus after five years and increases in soil nitrogen after six years. The carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus stoichiometry beneath the cycad plants significantly diverged from those of the adjacent native forests with Pisonia grandis, Psychotria mariana, Aglaia mariannensis, Cynometra ramiflora, and Ficus sp. cover after five years. Mineralization traits were determined beneath nine-year-old C. micronesica plants and revealed the plants greatly increased net nitrification and decreased net ammonification when compared to the native forest soils with Bursera simaruba, Pinus elliottii, and Quercus virginiana cover. These flux changes increased the total available nitrogen and percent available nitrogen in the soils beneath the cycad plants. The substrates of two soil series exhibited increased carbon and nitrogen concentrations beneath Z. integrifolia plants when compared with soils away from the cycad plants. No other mineral or metal was influenced by proximity to the Z. integrifolia plants. These gymnosperms exhibit distinct interactions with their subtending soils, and some of these traits improve ecosystems by increasing recalcitrant carbon and nitrogen and increasing spatial heterogeneity of soil chemistry.

Evaluation of Anti-arthritic Potential of Pisonia grandis R. Br Against Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA) Induced Albino Wistar Rats

Medicinal plants have been employed in the treatment of human ailments since time immemorial. Arthritis is a joint disorder affecting the subchondral bone and cartilage. The continuous action of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators are also reported to cause further damage to the joints by immunological activation. DriedPisonia grandisleaves were powdered for the extraction process. Albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups with six animals in each group. Groups IV and V were complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritic rats which receivedPisonia grandisethanol extract (PGEE; 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. [body weight]) respectively from 15th to 35th day of induction of CFA induced arthritis. PGEE protects rats against primary and secondary arthritic lesions, body weight changes, and hematological perturbations induced by CFA. The serum markers of inflammation and arthritis, such as C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor, were also reduced in the PGEE-treated arthritic rats. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis of PGEE detected the presence of polyphenolic compounds such as resveratrol, quercetin, and naringenin. The study confirmed that presence of bioactive phytocompounds in ethanolic extract ofPisonia grandisR. Br. Overall, PGEE was observed to be a potent agent reducing arthritis-mediated cartilage/bone degradation, inflammation, and associated stress in vivo, which gives cause for further research.

Phytochemical Constituents, Antioxidant Activity and FT-IR Analysis of Pisonia grandis Leaf Extracts

Pisonia grandis is a traditional medicinal plant. It is commonly known as Leeachai kottai keerai. The present investigation focus on screening of phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity and FT-IR analysis of Pisonia grandis leaf extracts. The leaf extracts were prepared using three different solvents (Aqueous, Methanol, Ethanol). The antioxidant potential of the extracts was assessed by employing different assays such as DDPH and ABTS. The screening tests also were performed for the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, steroids, saponins and tannins in the extracts. The results of FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of alcohols, alkenes, Phenols, aromatic carboxylic acid, esters, aliphatic amines, and primary secondary amines in the ethanolic extract. It is concluded that the ethanolic extract of leaves of Pisonia grandis has potential bioactive compounds. The results of the present study suggest that the leaves of Pisonia grandis may be used as a herbal alternative to cure various diseases after various scientific validation studies

Rescue behaviour in a social bird: removal of sticky ‘bird-catcher tree’ seeds by group members

Rescue behaviour is a special form of cooperation in which a rescuer exhibits behaviours directed towards averting a threat to an endangered individual, thereby potentially putting itself at risk. Although rescue behaviour has been well-documented in experimental studies on rats and ants, published cases in other non-human animals are rare. Here, we report observations of rescue behaviour in the cooperatively breeding Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). In this species, individuals sometimes become entangled in seed clusters of ‘bird-catcher trees’ (Pisonia grandis). Just one or a few of these sticky seeds can prevent Seychelles warblers to fly and may lead to mortality. In four cases, individuals were observed displaying behaviour aimed at removing sticky seeds from the feathers of an entangled individual belonging to their group. Intriguingly, the rescuing individuals engaged in this behaviour despite potentially risking entanglement. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of rescue behaviour in birds.