Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. According to recent investigations, they may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer due to antioxidant properties, which in turn can be attributed to the various phytoconstituents. With this intention, evaluation of antioxidant activity was performed. Methanol extract of aerial parts of Artemisia pallens Wall was screened for its antioxidant activity due to phenolic and flavonoid contents, by employing radical scavenging assays; 2,2 –diphenyl, 1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide. Ascorbic acid was used as a standard. Quantitative determination of phenols and flavonoids were carried out using spectrophotometric method. Total flavonoid content was determined as quercetin equivalent and total phenolic content was determined as pyrocatechol equivalent using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Plant produces more phenolic compounds than flavonoids. IC50 value of methanol extract for DPPH free radical scavenging activity was found to be 292.7 μg, whereas for nitric oxide it was 204.61 μg. The result obtained in the present study indicates that the aerial parts of this plant are a rich source of natural antioxidants

The campus of the University of Pune represents a unique deciduous forest ecosystem as it is highly dominated by an introduced shrub Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. This campus shows rich herbaceous phytodiversity of native and invasive plants. At present most of the alien weeds are suppressing the native diversity. The morphological and ecophysiological studies clearly revealed their faster growth and biomass production rate, very high reproductive abilities and tolerance to different biotic and abiotic stresses leading to successful invasions. This might be ascribed to their richness in different types of allelochemicals like triterpenes, phenols, steroids, flavonoids bitter principles along with the osmolytes like proline, glycine betaine. This subsequently creates an inhospitable environment to native plants and threatens their survival causing an inception of biodiversity losses. The present attempt may provide some clues to understand the mechanism of their invasion and dominance.

The traditional practice of conservation on religious basis along with commercial linkages at a local level is an interesting system from the point of view of its ecological, economical as well as institutional sustainability. Dhoop-rahat, in the Western Ghats region of Bhor Taluka in Pune District, is possibly the only sacred grove dedicated to a religiously important species Canarium strictum Roxb. Dhoop (black dammar resin) is traditionally extracted from C. strictum. The present study attempts to assess Dhoop-rahat and its surrounding historic sacred landscape with focus on the rare C. strictum individuals in the backdrop of changes in the ecological, geographical, socio-cultural, and economical dimensions associated with it, over time.  Field and market surveys were conducted and RS-GIS techniques were used in the study. Community conserved Dhoop-rahat sacred grove has two individuals of C. strictum along with seven endemic and one IUCN Red Listed species. Successful regeneration of C. strictum is not observed. Once commercially harvested from this location, this species is now used only for ritualistic purposes. The two individuals of C. strictum have endured the drastic changes in the surrounding vegetation. In the business-as-usual scenario, there is a high risk of losing the last two individuals of C. strictum in the region and eventually the grove itself. Newer approaches of conservation by combining community-based traditional ecological knowledge with modern day scientific methods should be applied for protection of this sacred landscape. Long-term periodic monitoring of sacred groves and their surrounding landscape is essential for ensuring their sustainable existence.

No abstract

Many invasive weeds are known to create their deleterious effects on biological ecosystems and also rhizosphere soils. Weeds such as Cosmos and Xanthium have their existence near agricultural crops fields. Such weeds grow in abundance, releasing specific allelochemicals which have adverse effect on germination rate, physiological patterns and reproduction of crop plants. In present work, allelopathic effects of leaf leachates of Cosmos and Xanthium were observed on seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum, Vigna radiata and Trigonella foenum-graceum like crops. Seed germination was inhibited at higher concentration at 6% while lower concentrations showed stimulatory effect on Mungbean and Fenugreek from 1%-4% concentrations. But seed germination percentage of Vigna and Trigonella showed 70% and 60% growth in response to leaf leachates of Cosmos at 6% concentration. Triticum showed total inhibition of 40% to both leaf leachates. The qualitative phytochemical analyses showed presence of alkaloids, phytosterols, phenols, tannins and flavonoids. GCMS and IR studies revealed presence of major constituents such as esters, ethers, anhydride and polyalcohols. Cosmos and Xanthium showed the characteristic FTIR fingerprinting regions of various functional groups such as –OH, carbonyl, anhydride, ester and amides. The variations in phytochemicals of these invasive might be attributed to response of the plants to different environmental stresses.

No abstract

The allelopathic potential of leachates, extracts, decomposed residues depends upon the type and quantity of allelochemicals existing in them. The allelopathic stimulation or inhibition in recipient plants and their response also depends on the way they are exposed to the allelochemicals. The allelopathic impact of leachates and extracts (foliar application) and residue (soil application) was analyzed on the test-crop. The results clearly indicated the inhibitory nature of the treatments at higher concentrations on mungbean and mustard. The changed manifestations recorded in treated plants at different levels are usually through the alterations in very important physiological process in the plant body like photosynthesis. It was observed by the change in the contents of different chlorophyll pigments, which ultimately must have affected the process of photosynthesis. The results indicated that at higher concentration treatments there was considerable reduction in both the test crops.

No abstract