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Background:Grewia asiatica Linn. (Family: Tiliaceae), called Phalsa in Hindi is an Indian medicinal plant used for a variety of therapeutic and nutritional uses. The root bark of the plant is traditionally used in rheumatism (painful chronic inflammatory condition).Aims:The present study demonstrates the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of root bark of G. asiatica in rodents.Settings and Design:The methanolic extract of Grewia asiatica (MEGA) and aqueous extract of Grewia asiatica (AEGA) of the bark were prepared and subjected to phytochemical tests and pharmacological screening for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect in rodents.Materials and Methods:Analgesic effect was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and hot plate analgesia in rats while anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. The MEGA or AEGA was administered orally in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day of body weight.Statistical Analysis:Data were analysed by one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's test.Results:The extracts showed a significant inhibition of writhing response and increase in hot plate reaction time and also caused a decrease in paw oedema. The effects were comparable with the standard drugs used.Conclusions:The present study indicates that root bark of G. asiatica exhibits peripheral and central analgesic effect and anti-inflammatory activity, which may be attributed to the various phytochemicals present in root bark of G. asiatica.

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Microorganisms are the important factors in the degradation of the toxic substances in our environment.Petrol and diesel oil is one of the complex mixtures which cannot be easily degraded. The Bacillus cereus was involved in the degradation of oil during which the complex toxic substances were detoxified by the production of biosurfactants. In our study we have identified that the biosurfactant producing Bacillus cereus have a high potential for hydrocarbon degradation. The Bacillus cereus was isolated from hydrocarbon contaminated soil and identified based on morphology and biochemical test according to the Bergey's manual of systematic bacteriology. The maximum hydrocarbon degrading biosurfactant producing Bacillus cereus was obtained by qualitative and quantitative methods. In optimization studies, the best results observed for Bacillus cereus were, Olive oil as the suitable carbon source, Sodium nitrate as the best Nitrogen source and Optimum pH is 7 and Optimum temperature is 37°C. The ability of these isolates to degrade hydrocarbons and survive in the oil contaminated soil is attributed to the development of resistance by mutation on the plasmid. It is also clearly evident that the specific gene was responsible for the production of biosurfactant and the degradation process. According to the results from the present study the Bacillus cereus has high potential for hydrocarbon degradation and can be used especially for Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery and bioremediation of hydrocarbons in near future.

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Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI) under Sub Surface Drip Irrigation (SSDI) is gaining momentum among the farmers because of more output with less input. Even though the benefits of SSI under SSDI are realized by farmers, development of optimal irrigation and fertigation schedule is need of the hour for Western Agro-climatic zone of Tamil Nadu. Field trials were carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Bhavanisagar from 2014 to 2017 to develop an optimal irrigation and fertigation schedule for SSI for Western Agro-climatic zone. The experiment was taken in a randomized block design with three replications. The experiment consisted of eight treatments of which six treatments comprised of SSDI with three irrigation regimes of 100, 80 and 60 percent pan evaporation and two fertigation levels of 100 and 75 percent of recommended N & K and two treatments in surface drip irrigation (SDI) with 100 percent pan evaporation (PE) + 100 percent RD and 100 percent PE + 75 percent RD of N&K through fertigation. The results of this study revealed that SSDI with 60 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation recorded lower water use (1004 mm) and higher WUE (113 kg/ha-mm). However, significantly higher and comparable yield of sugarcane (148 t/ha) was recorded in SSDI with 100 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation and surface drip irrigation with 100 per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation. The net return (Rs. 2,09,405 per ha) and B:C ratio (2.6) was higher in SSDI with 100per cent PE + 100 per cent RD of N&K through fertigation treatment.

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