Plants have been used as a source of medicine since ancient times. These medicines are cheaper and safe. According to WHO about 80% of the world’s population depends on traditional medicine for their primary health care. These traditional knowledge systems have started to disappear with the passage of time due to scarcity of written documents and relatively low income in these traditions. The present paper reports 87 species of medicinal plants from Panchthar district. Medicinal values of the plants are based on concepts and consideration of the local people. The further scientific studies need to evaluate the medicinal value of these plants. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v1i0.7479 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 1: 125-130 (2011)
Background: Forest biomass is helpful to assess its productivity and carbon (C) sequestration capacity. Several disturbance activities in tropical forests have reduced the biomass and net primary production (NPP) leading to climate change. Therefore, an accurate estimation of forest biomass and C cycling in context of disturbances is required for implementing REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) policy. Methods: Biomass and NPP of trees and shrubs were estimated by using allometric equations while herbaceous biomass was estimated by harvest method. Fine root biomass was determined from soil monolith. The C stock in vegetation was calculated by multiplying C concentration to dry weight.
Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack, a small tropical evergreen shrub growing in Nepal, has numerous uses in traditional medicine for treatment of abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach ache, headache, edema, thrombosis, and blood stasis. The present study investigated the chemical composition and bioactivities of the leaf essential oil from M. paniculata from Nepal. The essential oil from leaves was obtained by hydrodistillation and a detailed chemical analysis was conducted by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oil was screened for antimicrobial activity using the microbroth dilution test, for nematicidal activity against Caenorhabditis elegans, and for lethality against brine shrimp (Artemia salina). A total of 76 volatile components were identified from the essential oil. The major components were methyl palmitate (11.1%), isospathulenol (9.4%), (E,E)-geranyl linalool (5.3%), benzyl benzoate (4.2%), selin-6-en-4-ol (4.0%), β-caryophyllene (4.0%), germacrene B (3.6%), germacrene D (3.4%), and γ-elemene (3.2%). The essential oil showed no antibacterial activity, marginal antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger (MIC = 313 μg/mL), a moderate activity against A. salina (LC50 = 41 μg/mL), and a good nematicidal activity against C. elegans (LC50 = 37 μg/mL).
Fine root biomass (<5 mm diameter) was estimated in 0-15 cm and 15- 30 cm soil depths of disturbed and undisturbed stands of tropical moist forest in eastern Nepal. The value of root mass was higher (4.28 t ha-1) in the undisturbed stand than the disturbed stand (2.04 t ha-1). The biomass of smaller fine roots (<2 mm diameter) was 1.51 and 3.2 t ha-1 in the disturbed and undisturbed stands respectively. Most of the fine roots were present in the surface soil layer (0-15 cm), in both the disturbed and undisturbed stands (67% in the disturbed and 64% in the undisturbed). The nitrogen stock in the fine roots was more (38.61 kg ha-1) in undisturbed stand than the disturbed stand (16.93 kg ha-1). More nitrogen was confined in the fine roots of <2 mm diameter in both undisturbed (28.8 kg ha-1) and disturbed (13.59 kg ha-1) stands. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njbs.v2i0.7484 Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 2 : 10-16 (2012)
The physico-chemical properties of soils of tropical moist forest (Charkoshe jungle) in Sunsari district of eastern Nepal were analyzed. The samples were collected during summer season from three depths: upper (0-15 cm), middle (15-30 cm) and deep (30-45 cm). They were analyzed for texture, pH, moisture, water holding capacity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, organic matter and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen. The forest soil of upper and middle layers was loamy whereas that of deep layer was sandy loam. The pH value was lower (5.6) in upper layer than in the deep layer (6.6). The moisture content, water holding capacity, organic carbon, total nitrogen and organic matter were higher in upper layer and decreased with increasing depth. The higher level of soil nutrients in upper layer was due partly to reduction in the loss of top soil and partly to the increased supply of nutrients from the decomposed form of litter and fine roots of the forest plants. The average value of microbial biomass carbon in the soil was 676.6 µg g -¹ and microbial biomass nitrogen was 59.0 µg g -¹ .
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.