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To identify promising sources of antioxidants, some food and medicinal plants were studied for total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity. The leaves, bark and fruits of Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia muelleri, the leaves and fruits of Phyllanthus emblica, and the seeds of Syzygium cumini were found to have high total phenolic contents (72.0-167.2 mg/g) and high antioxidant activity (69.6-90.6%). Leaves of Eucalyptus globulus were a rich source of rutin, Moringa oleifera for kaempferol, aerial parts of Centella asiatica for quercetin, fruits of T. bellerica and T. chebula for gallic acid, and bark of T. arjuna, leaves and fruits of T. bellerica and bark, leaves and fruits of T. muelleri for ellagic acid. Keywords: Antioxidants, phenolic contents, food plants, medicinal plants

Cymbopogon flexuosus (Nees ex Steud.) W. Watson, commonly known as lemongrass, is a member of Cymbopogon genus renowned for their highly prized essential oils for flavor and fragrance industries. A field experiment was conducted to standardize the postharvest storage practices for a prevalent high oil yielding cultivar 'Krishna' of lemongrass during 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 under open field, shade, and ventilated room; up to 10 days after harvest. Results revealed significantly higher essential oil content (1.14%) for freshly distilled herb as compared to stored herbs under different condition.The highest geranial and neral ratio (1.45 to 1.58) recorded in essential oil i.e. distilled at first day of harvest (T1) as compared to 1.37 to 1.44 in essential oil i.e. distilled at 10th day of harvest (T10). In conclusion, C flexuosus should preferably be distilled as fresh i.e. same day of harvest for higher yield of quality essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop sex-specific AFLP markers for dioecious Piper betle (Betelvine). A combination of ulk segregant analysis (BSA) and non-radioactive labelling led to simple, rapid and reliable PCR-based screening of sex-specific markers. A total of nine primer combinations were screened using BSA for male and female cultivars. Seven out of nine primer combinations produced bands specific to either of the sex. These seven primer combinations when used for screening DNA sample from individual male and female cultivars yielded two primer combinations which produced male sex-specific markers. Primer combinations EcoRI-CTA/MseI-CTA and EcoRI-CGT/MseI-CGT produced unique fragments of ~ 147 bp and ~ 326 bp, respectively, in bulk DNA as well as in DNA sample from individual male and female cultivars. These unique fragments were present in all the tested males and absent from all the tested female cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher and aromatics plants have traditionally been used in folk medicine as well as to extend the shelf life of foods, showing inhibition against bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Most of their properties are due to essential oils produced by their secondary metabolism. Essential oils and extracts from several plant species are able to control microorganisms related to skin, dental caries, and food spoilage, including Gramnegative and Gram-positive bacteria. The present study is based on the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of the fresh leaves ofJusticia adhatodaand to identify the chemical constituents responsible for antimicrobial potential. The chemical constituents of essential oil were identified by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS).The essential oil was evaluated for the antimicrobial potential against methicillin resistant and sensitiveStaphylococcus aureusalong with its clinical isolates. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major constituents of the essential oil were phytol (57.8 %), n-hentriacontane (3.92 %), nonacosane (3.65 %), pentacosane (2.65 %), β-Eudesmol (1.14 %), heneicosane (1.13 %). Result indicates thatJ. adhatodaleaves essential oil has a strong antimicrobial activity against mentioned microorganisms (MIC: 62.5–250 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Essential oil ofArtemisia nilagiricaisolated from aerial parts was analyzed for antitermite activity. Chemical constituents were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Total forty constituents have been identified which is 93.55 % of the essential oil. Major constituents of the oil were α-thujone (33.78 %), germacrene-D (9.31 %), β-thujone (6.01 %), caryophyllene (5.86 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.17 %), borneol (2.16 %). The essential oil consist of 41.34 % monoterpene hydrocarbon, 30.9 % sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, 10.24 % monoterpene alcohol, 8.33 % sesquiterpene oxide along with 2.74 % sesquiterpene alcohol. The essential oil exhibited significant antitermite activity againstMicrotermes beesonithe termite. ED50for termite repellency was found 4.44 mg/g and 5.81 mg/g for termite mortality. Chlorpyriphos 20 % TC was taken as control, ED50of chlorpyriphos was found 1.53 mg/g. This study indicated thatA. nilagiricaessential oil can be used as a wood preservative to control the termites infesting wooden material and commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A pot experiment were conducted at the research farm of Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant, Research Centre, Pantnagar (Udham Singh Nagar) Uttarakhand, India, during 2013 to ascertain the response of nipping (cutting of apical portion in each branch of mint) on yield and yield contributing characters of mint (Mentha arvensis). The results revealed that, nipping of mint (Mentha arvensisL.) at 35 day after transplanting (T) recorded the highest plant height (89.3 cm), no. of branches/plant (99), leaf: stem ratio (1.31:1), fresh herb yield of mint (272.67 q/ha), oil content (1.20%) and oil yield (326.27  kg/ha) as compared to others and the lowest was found in T - control (no nipping). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil composition and total phenolic content (TPC) of curcuminoids were studied in rhizomes of nineCurcuma longaL. accessions. Curcuminoids, present in commercially available turmeric rhizomes, play vital roles in various pharmacological activities. A simple, rapid, and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) method was optimized for simultaneous determination of curcuminoids, namely, a mixture of curcumin, demethoxy curcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxy curcumin (BDMC) in rhizomes ofC. longa. Chromatographic separation was performed on an RP C18 column within 13 minutes (11.4 to 12.95 minutes). Elution was accomplished by the application of acetonitrile and 1.5% acetic acid in water in a gradient system with flow rate of 2.0 mL min−1. PDA was employed for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The calibration curves were found linear (0.99) for all cucuminoids; the limit of detection and quantification ranged between 1.01 µ g mL−1to 1.16 µ g mL−1and 2.30 µ g mL−1to 3.05 µ g mL−1, respectively, while recovery values ranged between 97.97% to 98.32%. The amount of curcumin varied from 0.46% to 2.17%, DMC from 0.13% to 0.92% and BDMC from 0.06% to 0.52%. The validated method was successively used to determine the above compounds in C. longa rhizomes. The TPC in rhizomes ranged from 14.12 mg g−1to 27.72 mg g−1. The chemical composition of rhizome essential oil, analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS,) showed large variations in major compounds like ar-tumerone (7.31–38.66%), β-curcumene (1.58–24.53%), and curlone (1.55–15.97%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds of 104 leguminous species belonging to 17 genera were analysed for their protein contents. The promising ones were investigated for fibre, carbohydrate, ash, oil, fatty acids, amino acid profile and trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA). The variation of fibre contents was 4.1-8.9%, carbohydrate 18.4-49.2%, ash 1.8-7.2%, TIA 48.7-87.5 mg/g, oil 1.3-19.8% and protein 11.0-51.6%. The protein content (41-45%) in Acacia mellifera (41.6%), Albizzia lebbek (43.6%), Bauhinia triandra (42.7%), Lathyrus odoratus (42.8%), Parkinsonia aculeata (41.6%), Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (41.9%), Sesbania paludosa (41.2%) and S. sesban (43.8%) was in close proximity to soybean (42.8%), whereas Bauhinia retusa (51.6%), B. variegata (46.5%), Delonix elata (48.7%) and Gliricidia maculata (46.3%) showed higher percentages of protein than soybean. The essential amino acid composition of some of the seed proteins was reasonably well balanced (lysine up to 7.6%). The seeds of Bauhinia retusa (18.6%), B. triandra (16.5%), B. variegata (17.3%), Gliricidia maculata (16.2%), Parkia biglandulosa (18.9%) and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (19.8%) had a good amount of oil, comparable to soybean (18-22%). The fatty acid composition of some genera/species was quite promising with high amount of unsaturated fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seeds of Mucuna nivea, M. pruriensand M. utilisshowed ash 4.3-5.1%, oil 4.9-5.5%, protein 25.9-27.5%, L-dopa 3.6-4.2%, trypsin 28.5-39.7 mg/g and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity 19.3-24.6 mg/g. The trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor activity increased in pod hull and seeds while the amount of protein increased in seeds and decreased in pod hull with maturity. The essential amino acid profile was comparable to the FAO pattern (lysine 6.0-6.4%). The fatty acid composition had total unsaturated acids 51.9-55.9%, but were poor in oil contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted to standardize an economic and efficient method of fertilizer application in chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla L.) cultivation during rabi season in two consecutive year 2013–14 and 2014–15. For this purpose, four methods of fertilizer application were evaluated as site specific plant nutrient management (SSPNM) and their responses were ascertained with respect to yield attributes, flower yield, and essential oil yield of chamomile. The two year experiment results revealed that different fertilizer application methods, the T 4 (100:60:40 kg NPK ha −1 incorporated in surrounding soil of the plant: 1/3rd N and full dose of P 2 O 5 and K 2 O as basal, and 1/3rd N each at 25–30 days after transplanting and 40–45 days after transplanting) recorded significantly highest attributes like; plant height (63–64 cm), dry flower yield (4.11–4.14 Mg ha −1 ), oil content (0.91%), and oil yield (37.32–37.84 kg ha −1 ) as compared to T 3 , and T 2; and the lowest value of plant height (44–46 cm), dry flower yield (2.15–2.16 Mg ha −1 ), oil content (0.70%), and oil yield (15.05–15.12 kg ha −1 ) were recorded in control (no fertilizer) during both the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant extracts may provide natural alternative to crop pest control because of their bioactive components. Moreover they are biodegradable and seem to resolve problems associated with synthetic pesticides. Punica granatum fruit rind extracted in methanol and fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and water. All the solvent extracts along with partially purified column fractions were evaluated for termite mortality against Microcerotermes beesoni termite species. Methanolic, ethyl acetate extract were found to be effective however column fraction (PGR) found to be significantly effective. Moreover five compounds have also been identified from the Punica granatum fruit rind and evaluated for termite mortality against Microcerotermes beesoni termite species with Chlorpyriphos 20% TC. Although Chlorpyriphos found to be very effective none of the compound had shown comparable results but Quercetin is found to be moderately active comparative to other compounds. Five known marker compounds have been quantified in the column fraction PGR via HPLC and GC–MS. Fraction PGR has shown significant activity may be because of Quercetin found to be present in the higher amount in the column fraction PGR analyzed by HPLC and GC–MS. Punica granatum fruit rind is a waste material which can be utilized as natural termite managing agent easily available to the farmers around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]