Current Botany

Embryo maturation, dormancy and seed storage behaviour of Gymnacranthera canarica (King) Warb., a threatened endemic tree species of Southern Western Ghats

S. Anusha — 2023-01-03

Gymnacranthera canarica is a severely endangered endemic tree species found in the Myristica swamps of the Southern Western Ghats. Seed storage behaviour is an essential factor to consider when developing effective conservation methods for plant genetic resources whose ex-situ preservation is unclear. The seed storage behaviour, seed dormancy state, dormancy breaking treatments, germination, and phytohormonal analysis of G. canarica were explored in this work. G. canarica seed moisture at shedding was 28.86%, germinated to 34% at 25ºC, and had a low germination rate in natural conditions. Germination was considerably aided by Gibberellic acid pretreatment and drying stratification. G. canarica seeds may have non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy, as evidenced by the fact that their embryos grew at temperatures between 20 and 25ºC (MPD). Seeds can be stored for up to 60 days at 20ºC after being desiccated to 19.37% suggest that G. canarica seeds are recalcitrant, with non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy, and that seed pretreatment with Gibberellic acid prior to germination could be a viable approach for mass propagation and long term ex-situ conservation could be the potential storage of this critically endangered species.

A concise study on the floral biology of Thevetia peruviana morphovariants

E. A. Nesy — 2023-02-09

Thevetia peruviana, an ornamental medicinal plant of the family Apocynaceae blooms in different colour shades of yellow, orange and white, and is considered morphological replicas of its original parental type. A concise morpho-anatomical study has been carried out on the floral biology of these three morphovariants emphasizing biometrics of various floral parts, the architecture of corolla tube and corolline corona, adnation of anther stigmatic head complex and ovule to embryo formation, using the hand as well as microtome sections, to analyze the similarities and differences among these specimens. Appendiculate and smooth walled hairs in corolla tube, germination of pollen grains in a lateral stigmatic notch, appression of anther lobes on 10-lobed incompletely fused stigma, triaperturate pollen grains, ovule developmental stages, entry of pollen tube into ovule, attachment of funicle on placenta etc are some of the enchanting valuable scientific observations under light microscopy. Gross morphological variations noted in the overall size of various floral parts are regarded as negligible ones, which may happen due to environmental factors. Floral morphology alone is insufficient to give distinct varietal status in the hierarchy of classification, but corolla shades, of course, are of prime importance for phenotypic differentiation, and a multidisciplinary approach will help to expose untapped characters, useful for future studies below the rank at the subspecies level.

In silico molecular docking and in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of phytochemical compounds of Lantana camara Linn.

Adline Anita — 2023-02-27

The rise of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the extensive use of antibiotics has become a serious threat worldwide. The side effect of antibiotics swirled the researchers towards traditional medicine to find a therapeutic agent with antibacterial activity. The phytochemical compound from medicinal plants paves a way for the novel antibacterial agent. In the present study, in silico molecular docking of phytochemical compounds identified through GC-MS analysis and in vitro antibacterial efficacy of ethanolic leaf extract of Lantana camara were evaluated. In silico docking studies of 11 Phyto-ligands were carried out against 4 motifs- 1PHO, 5I5H, 5UW2 and 6NTW of Escherichia coli to estimate the binding energy and to know the protein-ligand interaction. Amongst all the phyto-ligands studied, 4,8,13-Cyclotetradecatriene-1,3-diol,1,5,9-trimethyl-12-(1-methylethyl) showed good affinity towards 1PHO, 4a(2H)-Phenanthrenecarboxaldehyde,1,3,4,9,10,10a-hexahydro-6-methoxy-1,1-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethyl) exhibited highest affinity with 5I5H motifs of E. coli, 4,8,13-Cyclotetradecatriene-1,3-diol, 1,5,9-trimethyl-12-(1-methylethyl) showed better affinity towards motif 5UW2 of E. coli and (Z)-4-Nitro-alpha-(p-nitrophenyl)cinnamic acid showed good affinity towards 6NTW motif of E. coli. The ethanolic leaf extract of L. camara L. showed concentration dependent activity against E. coli.

Diversity of fungal endophytes at different maturity levels of Cryptolepis buchanani leaves

Sujata Bhardwaj — 2023-03-04

A study on endophytic microflora diversity at each level and portion of the leaves of Cryptolepis buchanani, a medicinal plant used by tribals of Madhya Pradesh, India was carried out in the present investigation. As many as 383 isolates from 360 discs of leaves belonging to 17 fungal species and 9 isolates, which did not show any sporulation (sterile), were recovered. Among the 17 identified species, hyphomycetes is the dominant class and Aspergillus, Colletotrichum and Khuskia are the dominant genera. Colonization frequency (CF) was higher in mature leaves (78.3%) and comparatively lower in younger leaves (51.1%) and there was a marginal decrease in CF from the base of the leaf (66.7%) towards the leaf apex (62%). Statistical analysis revealed that level of the leaf had a significant effect on CF and diversity of fungal endophytes, while as leaf sub-parts had little influence. Biochemical characterization of the endophyte revealed the production of various enzymes viz. protease, amylase, lipase, cellulase, xylanase and pectinase. These fungal enzymes can be tapped for food, pharma, beverages, textiles, confectionaries, and leather industries. These bioactive natural products are easy to process as they are usually more stable than products obtained from other sources. The enzymatic activities also help to get a better insight into the host-endophyte relationship. However, the world of fungal endophytes needs to be researched extensively for production of plant based novel eco-friendly biomolecules in cost-effective manner.

Phytoconstituents profiling and antioxidant potential of Wrightia tinctoria R. Br.

S. Rajkumar — 2023-03-10

In the Indian traditional system of medicine, Wrightia tinctoria R.Br. (Apocyanaceae) is recognized as a biologically effective therapeutic plant for the treatment of jaundice. It is a natural medicinal tree possessing antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antinociceptive, antifungal, antibacterial, antipsoriatic, antiviral, anthelmintic, anticancerous, analgesic, antipyretic, and aphrodisiac activities. Methanolic extract of W. tinctoria plant was investigated with Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and the antioxidant activity of W. tinctoria was analysed by most probable hydrogen peroxide scavenging (H2O2) activity, DPPH activity and Thiobarbutaric acid. The phytochemical in W. tinctoria leaf and bark have been assessed by GC-MS analysis. GC-MS analysis of W. tinctoria methanolic extract exposed the existence of the GC-MS chromatograms of 10 peaks in the leaf and 20 peaks in the bark. The FTIR spectroscopy analyses were identified by various functional compounds in the extracts with distinctive peak values. The FTIR analysis of methanolic leaf extracts of W. tinctoria confirmed the presence of alcohol, amine, alkane, carboxylic acid, sulfur compounds, halogen compounds and alkyne which showed major peaks. Also the methanolic bark extracts of W. tinctoria confirmed the presence of amines, phenol, alcohols, alkane, aldehydes, carboxylic acid, nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, and halogen compounds which also exhibited major peaks. Significant antioxidant activity is displayed by the plant part of leaf and bark sample. The results obtained in the determination of antioxidant activity of MEWT displayed considerable free radical scavenging capacity against DPPH which generated free radicals. This study includes the identification of phytochemicals and antioxidant potential of methanolic and aqueous extract of W. tinctoria which assist in therapeutic claims about this species in the traditional medicinal plant system.