The present study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effect of cow urine extracts of nine plants against two fungi viz., Fusarium aphanidermatum and a bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum rhizome rot of ginger. Antifungal and antibacterial activity of cow urine extracts was investigated by poison food technique and agar extent of growth of test fungi in plates poisoned with extracts was lesser when compared with the control plates. Among fungi, high susceptibility was recorded in case of oxysporum. Cow urine extract of Elaegnus k aphanidermatum whereas cow urine extract of Croton roxburghii and Maesa indica caused high inhibition of caused inhibition of R. solanacearum. Extract of followed by H. indicus, E. kologa and others. Overall, cow urine extracts of plants selected in this study caused varied inhibition of test microbes. These extracts may find a possible application in agriculture against phytopathogenic microorganisms.

Total phenol content and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of dried seeds of Lagerstroemia speciosa were determined. The authenticated samples of seeds were powdered and extracted using methanol. The total phenolic content of extract was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Radical scavenging and reducing activity of seed extract was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and Ferric reducing assay. The extract was found to possess an appreciable quantity of phenolic substances (325±0.01 µg gallic acid equivalents/mg extract). A dose dependent scavenging activity in DPPH assay with IC 50 value of 9.63±0.20 µg/mL was observed. The extract showed concentration dependent reducing activity as revealed by an increase in the absorbance of reaction mixture. The observed activity of seed extract could be related to the presence of phenolic substances.

The aqueous extracts of leaf, unripe pericarp and ripe pericarp of longifolia were assessed in vitro for inhibitory activity against oxysporum f.sp. zingiberi and Pythium aphanidermatum rhizome rot specimen of ginger. The antifungal activity was determined by poison food technique. The extracts have shown dose dependent inhibition of mycelial growth of test fungi. The extracts were more effective in inhibiting F. oxysporum than P. aphanidermatum fungi to maximum extent followed by unripe pericarp extract and leaf extract respectively. The extracts of P. longifolia rhizome rot pathogens. Further, field experiments are to be carried out to recommend the extracts against the disease.

Article InformationThis study was carried out with the objective of determining the quantity of selected essential and nonessential metals; K, Na, Mg, Ca, Cu, Mn, Cr, Cd, Fe and Zn in the leaf and stem of Rhamnus prinoides. Samples were collected from the low-altitude (1500-1670 meters above sea level) and medium-altitude (1670-2000 meters above sea level) areas of Bako Tibe. Wet acid-digestion using a mixture of HNO3, HClO4 and H2O2 for leaf (2.5, 1, 0.5 mL) and for stem (2.5, 1.5, 1 mL) was used. K and Na were analysed using flame photometry, Ca and Mg were determined titrimetrically and the other metals with flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) after appropriate quality control measures were undertaken to verify and maintain the quality of the data generated. The results of the study showed that the average concentrations determined were ranged from 8855.543 (stem) to 12927. for Zn and below method detection limit for Cd. The concentrations of the metals were also compared with recommended maximum permissible limits and some international reports; and found to be in a good agreement indicating no exposure risk of using the leaves and stems of Rhamnus prinoides under the current situation.

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Article InformationThe present study was conducted with an aim of determining inhibitory effect of extracts from different parts of Polyalthia longifolia (leaf, ripe and unripe pericarp), Anaphalis lawii (leaf and flower), Gnidia glauca (leaf, bark and flower) against Colletotrichum capsici and urinary tract pathogens. The shade dried plant materials were extracted using methanol. Antifungal effect of extracts was evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici isolated from anthracnose of chilli by Poisoned food technique. Antibacterial activity of extracts was determined against five antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections by Agar well diffusion assay. The extracts caused marked inhibition of mycelial growth of C. capsici as indicated by reduced diameter of fungal colonies on poisoned plates. Extracts of P. longifolia inhibited C. capsici to higher extent followed by A. lawii and G. glauca. All extracts from selected plants inhibited test bacteria but to varied extent. Susceptibility was higher in case of Gram positive when compared to Gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were inhibited to higher extent among Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria respectively. Among plants, P. longifolia caused higher inhibition of test bacteria. The extracts from the selected plants can be considered as promising sources of bioactive agents which can be used to treat urinary tract infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria and to control anthracnose of chilli. Further studies are to be carried in order to isolate and characterize bioactive principles from extracts and to determine their inhibitory potential against C. capsici and uropathogens.

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