Journal of Phytology

Survival of transport-stressed black pepper stem cuttings after glucose, sucrose, fructose, and IBA treatments

2024-08-04T17:19:50+0530

This study aimed to determine the survival, sprouting, and rooting performance of black pepper stem cuttings to glucose, sucrose, and fructose at different concentrations. The two-node stem cuttings were prepared from six to seven-node cuttings collected from mother vines of black pepper in the field from far and remote areas in Sarawak, Malaysia. The two-node cuttings were soaked completely for one hour with the following treatments: 1% glucose, 2% glucose, 3% glucose, 1% sucrose, 2% sucrose, 3% sucrose, 1% fructose, 2% fructose, 3% fructose, and 1000 ppm IBA served as a positive control, while filtered water was a negative control. All treated cuttings were sown in the polybags containing soil mix and monitored daily for up to 45 days. The study found that black pepper cuttings treated with a 3% glucose solution exhibited significantly better survival, sprouting, and rooting, total number of roots, and total length of roots at day 45, but they were about the same when soaked in IBA at 1000 ppm. The present study demonstrates that cuttings that have been in transit for a long time require sugar and hormone treatment once they arrive at a certain location to restore their vitality and survival.

Anti-advanced glycation end-products and antibacterial inhibitory activities of Neonauclea formicaria (Rubiaceae)

2024-06-18T11:58:41+0530

Neonauclea species have been studied for their phytochemical and potential pharmacological uses. However, many of its species still remained unexplored. The Philippine endemic Neonauclea formicaria has been documented for its ethnobotanical use, but little has been reported on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. Hence, this study evaluates the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents and assesses its ethanolic leaf extracts’ antiglycation, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. N. formicaria leaf extracts at 1000 ppm gave 63.02±5.82 mg GAE/g DW TPC and 31.25±4.24 mg QE/g DW TFC. The extract showed a concentration-dependent activity in inhibiting AGE formation for the antiglycation assay, with an IC50 value of 2823.5 ppm. In antioxidant assay, the extract exhibited the highest TEAC value of 419.5±14.3 mg TE/kg DW at 250 ppm. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were shown to be the most susceptible to the leaf extract (1000 ppm), with zones of inhibition at 16.56±5.65 mm and 14.06±2.65 mm, respectively. The results highlight that N. formicaria bears promising properties with pharmacological and nutraceutical applications.

Ethnomedicinal plants used by the Malayali tribes of Bodamalai Hills, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India

2025-03-12T12:00:47+0530

Ethnomedicinal plants have played a vital role for human healthcare systems across the world. Ethnomedicinal research is necessary to investigate different biological resources for usage as remedies. Many traditional medicinal herbs have been utilized extensively by indigenous people of India to treat a variety of human and animal-related illnesses. The current ethnobotanical investigation was conducted in the Bodamalai Hills of the Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. The study revealed that the Malayali tribes of Bodamalai Hills used 55 plants from 45 genera and 28 families to treat various diseases such as abdominal pain, arthritis, asthma, bone disorders, blood disorders, bronchitis, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cholera, cold, cough, fever, constipation, cuts, wounds, diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery, ear problems, elephantiasis, fertility problems, jaundice, malaria, nervous disorders, paralysis, piles, skin diseases, smallpox, stomach disorders, toothaches, tuberculosis, ulcers, and urinary disorders. The tribes still rely on medicinal plants. The research findings showed that the number of traditional medicinal healers is declining since younger tribes have begun to migrate to towns and cities and lack interest in and expertise in this type of medicine. Therefore, documentation is required in order to properly conserve the ethnomedicinal plants.

Micro-morphological and molecular characteristics of Jasminum binhchauense

2024-10-11T06:33:38+0530

Jasminum binhchauense was recently described as a new species to science of which its specimen was found in Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve, Vietnam. This study aims to characterize the DNA barcode and micro-morphological traits of J. binhchauense for the first time. As a result, the anatomical characteristics of the studied species were similar to those of J. azoricum. In addition, the matK, psaB, and psbB regions of J. binhchauense were successfully amplified and sequenced and they were also deposited at the NCBI database with the accession numbers of PQ415075, PQ415076, and PQ415077, respectively. The pairwise alignment of the matK, psaB, and psbB regions between J. binhchauense and J. nervosum, a morphologically resembled species, provided five, one, and two non-homologous locations, respectively.

Influences of carbon sources and plant growth regulators on in vitro rooting of Lycium chinense

2025-03-28T15:04:35+0530

In vitro propagation of Lycium chinense is very important, which contributes to its effective multiplication as well as preservation. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore the influence of different carbon sources, auxins, silver nitrate (AgNO₃), and putrescine on in vitro shoot regeneration and rooting from stem explants of L. chinense. Young shoots were generated on hormone-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, and root and shoot experiments were then conducted to evaluate their effects. Among different carbon sources, sucrose (at 130 mM) and glucose significantly promoted root regeneration (highest number and length of roots). Of the auxins, the best root production occurred with indol-3-butyric acid (IBA) at 0.5 mg/L, and IAA and NAA generated root production at less than optimal levels with increased concentration. The co-application of IBA (0.5 mg/L) with AgNO₃ or putrescine enhanced shoot regeneration. The best rate of shoot production was observed with putrescine on both concentrations of AgNO₃ (5 mg/L on AgNO₃ and 100 mg/L on putrescine respectively) indicating the capability of these substances to enhance in vitro culture systems. These results will contribute to improving the efficiency of L. chinense regeneration via adventitious shoots through an easy setup of the culture conditions with an interest in propagation and other biotechnological applications.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential of leaf and bark extracts of Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze

2024-11-10T19:13:07+0530

In the present study the phytochemical composition and antioxidant prospective of Cassine glauca leaf and bark extracts. Leaf and bark of C. glauca were extracted by methanol and chloroform through Soxhlet extraction. The extracts were analyzed for qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents, including phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and other bioactive compounds. Antioxidant activity was determined through five different methods such as DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power, assay of molybdenum, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging, and nitric oxide scavenging assays. Phytochemical analysis revealed that methanol extracts from both leaf and bark were more effective than chloroform, showing higher concentrations of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids. The leaf extract had a total phenol content of 47.458 mg GAE/g, tannins at 45.298 mg RE/g. and a flavonoid content of 160.106 mg TAE/g, and the bark extract showed lower but notable levels of these compounds. The leaf extract showed greater antioxidant activity when compared with bark extract in all experiments, includes DPPH radical scavenging activity, molybdenum assay, reducing power activity, nitric oxide scavenging activity and H₂O₂ scavenging activities. Methanol extracts of C. glauca leaf and bark exhibited significant antioxidant properties, with the leaf extract showed greater efficacy. The present study highlights a prospective source of C. glauca as a potential resource of natural antioxidants and suggests additional exploration of its therapeutic benefits in oxidative stress-related disorders. The results emphasize the effectiveness of methanol as a solvent for extracting potential bioactive compounds from C. glauca.

Chemical composition and biological activities of acetone extract from the seed peel of Madhuca elliptica

2024-12-16T05:38:33+0530

This study explores the chemical composition and biological activities of the acetone extract derived from the seed peel of Madhuca elliptica (Sapotaceae family). Located in the Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu Nature Reserve of Vietnam, the seeds of M. elliptica were subjected to a methodical extraction process using acetone, followed by chemical analysis through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The analysis identified 35 distinct compounds, with a notable presence of cis-13 octadecenoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, octyl, diethyl phthalate, and octadecanoic acid. The biological efficacy of the extract was evaluated through two main bioassays: antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant capacity was determined using the ABTS radical scavenging method, revealing a significant correlation between the concentration of the extract and its ability to neutralize free radicals, with an IC₅₀ value of 6.259 ppm. Additionally, the antibacterial activity was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against a panel of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Through this research, M. elliptica exhibits significant potential due to its bioactive compounds, suggesting its applicability in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. Besides, this study adds valuable insights into the utilizable aspects of M. elliptica, encouraging further research into its diverse applications.

Morphological characterization of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes for drought tolerance

2024-12-26T10:49:22+0530

Drought stress poses a major challenge to global maize (Zea mays L.) production, significantly affecting food security. This study aimed to identify drought-tolerant maize genotypes by evaluating their morphological characteristics under controlled and field conditions. Morphological traits, such as shoot and root length in the seedling stage and plant height, canopy temperature, ear length, and kernel weight at vegetative and reproductive stages, were analyzed under drought stress conditions induced by PEG and reduced field capacity. Significant genetic variability was observed among the genotypes for most traits, with phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) consistently higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). Heritability estimates ranged from 37% to 99.82%, with traits such as plant height, kernel weight per ear, ear weight, hundred-seed weight, and yield per pot demonstrating both high heritability and genetic advance. Yield showed positive correlations with plant height, ear length, ear diameter, kernel number per row, and kernel weight per ear, while negatively correlating with days to ear moisture loss. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that the first five components explained 83.46% of the total variation, with yield-related traits contributing most to the variation. Cluster analysis revealed eight distinct groups at the seedling stage and six at the vegetative and reproductive stages, with genotypes in Clusters 5 and 6 exhibiting superior drought tolerance, particularly in traits like root number, kernel number per ear, and kernel weight per ear. This study identified BHM-7, BHM-14, and BHM-15 as genotypes with superior drought tolerance at the reproductive stage, while Black, Violet, and White Vutta showed resilience at the seedling stage, exhibiting greater plant vigor under drought stress. Recognizing these genotypes as a significant step toward breeding drought-resistant maize varieties, contributing to food security and sustainable agriculture.

Effect of culture media and auxin on growth and betalain accumulation in the hairy root cultures of red chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla)

2025-04-08T06:51:20+0530

This study analyzes the response of biomass production and betalain biosynthesis in hairy root cultures of red Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla). Among the media tested, half-strength Schenk and Hildebrandt (1/2 SH) medium yielded the highest dry weight (413.3±42 mg/flask DW), whereas full SH medium appeared to be more consistent (390.0±10 mg/flask DW). Similar trends were observed in B5 and Murashige and Skoog (MS) media, where halving nutrient concentrations had minimal impact on biomass yield but significantly enhanced betalain accumulation. In addition, in this study, we further assessed the influence of different concentrations and various types of auxins on root and metabolite production. The result showed that 0.1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) was the optimum concentration for biomass production (443.3±12 mg/flask DW), while 0.5 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was the best for the production of betacyanin (3.028 mg/g), betaxanthin (1.938 mg/g DW), and total betalain content (4.966 mg/g DW). The findings highlight that reduced nutrient concentrations, particularly in SH medium, and precise auxin optimization can enhance both biomass and betalin production. These results provide valuable insights into optimizing hairy root culture systems for commercial applications in enhancing the secondary metabolite production in B. vulgaris.

Anatomical and molecular characteristics of Limnophila rugosa (Roth) Merr.

2024-12-28T17:57:00+0530

Limnophila rugosa is a perennial plant and has been used as a medicinal and agricultural plant in some Asian countries. In this study, we provided the ITS and trnL-F regions and the anatomical characteristics of L. rugosa for the first time. Based on these molecular regions, phylogenetic trees showing relationships between L. rugosa and other species belonging to the Scrophulariaceae and Plantaginaceae families were performed and the result showed that L. rugosa was nested within the family Plantaginaceae instead of Scrophulariaceae. Additionally, the details of the micro-morphological characteristics of L. rugosa were investigated for the first time.

Nutritional and antibacterial properties of yeast-fermented herbs for functional poultry feeds

2024-08-03T18:31:04+0530

This study assesses the nutritional and bactericidal characteristics of yeast-fermented herbs as prospective substitutes for antibiotics in animal feed. A fermentation process was conducted on five plants, namely Syzygium polyanthum, Curcuma longa, Andrographis paniculata, Orthosiphon stamineus, and Euphorbia hirta, using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Analysis conducted after fermentation showed notable alterations in the nutritional composition, with a rise in protein content and a decline in carbohydrate levels. The mineral profiling revealed fluctuations in nutrient contents, particularly significant increases in nitrogen and phosphorus. The antibacterial assays showed that fermented herbs were more effective against bacteria isolates, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aeromonas hydrophila, than non-fermented herbs. The study found that fermented Curcuma longa has a similar antibacterial effectiveness as tetracycline, making it a potential alternative antimicrobial agent in animal feed. The study reveals that yeast-fermented herbs might be a viable and efficient substitute for antibiotics in poultry production, while also being environmentally friendly.