Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 12 (2), pp. 001-004, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Preliminary studies on the morphology and anatomy of the root of DANIELLIA  OLIVERI  (Rolfe) Hutch. and Dalz. (Caesalpiniaceae)

Musa A. O.¹*, Ibrahim H.² and Abdurahman E. M.²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

²Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Accepted 19 April, 2021

Abstract

A study was conducted on the morphology and anatomy of the root and powdered root bark of DANIELLIA OLIVERI. The root of D. OLIVERI is being used for the treatment of many ailment locally in some West African Countries especially Nigeria. Morphologically, the powdered root is brown in colour, astringent taste, short and fibrous fracture. The anatomical studies on the root and powdered root bark are presented. The result indicated the presence of calcium oxalate prisms (23.91 µm) and abundant starch grains (12.53 to 15 µm) found mostly on the cork cells and cortex, phloem fibers, sclereids and numerous groups of secretary cells (5 to 6 cells) and ducts. Vascular bundles with several proto and metaxylem with parenchymatous pith, cells thick walled and polygonal in shape. These features are diagnostic tools for the identification of the root and powdered root bark of D. OLIVERI.

Key words: Daniellia oliveri, anatomy, morphology, identification.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-010, January, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antibacterial activity of some selected dye yielding plants in Eastern India

Pijush Kanti Das¹, Amal Kumar Mondal¹* and Sanjukta Mondal Parui²

¹Plant Taxonomy, Biosystematics and Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, West Bengal, India.

²Department of Zoology, Lady Brabourne College, P1/2 Suhrawardy Avenue, Kolkata – 700 017, West Bengal, India.

Accepted 14 June, 2021

Abstract

Acacia catechu (L.) Willd. (Mimosaceae), Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Papilionaceae), Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lamk. (Rutaceae) and Ventilago denticulata Willd. (Rhamnaceae), growing in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, an eastern state of India, yields dyes which showed strong antimicrobial activity against four bacterial strains (Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Vibrio cholerae). Among the dyes of the four plants tested, Toddalia asiatica showed the highest antimicrobial activity with the inhibition zones ranging from 14 to 16 mm. Thin layer chromatography of the dyes, which were either substantive dyes or adjective type of dyes requiring mordents for fixing to fabrics, showed that most of these pigments were composed of xanthophylls and anthocyanin. The extracts of different plant parts are also used for various medicinal purposes by the local tribal people. The over exploitation of these plants for dyeing and pharmaceutical uses has led to the depletion of these species, particularly P. marsupium and V. denticulata, from this region and immediately demands more focused conservation strategies.

Key words: Acacia catechu, Pterocarpus marsupium, Toddalia asiatica, Ventilago denticulata, dye, antibacterial activity, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), pigments, IUCN red list, vunerable, biodiversity, conservation, strategies.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 12 (4), pp. 001-005, April, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Importance of knowledge of chemical composition of stem bark of Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum. in traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in Nigeria

Prohp T. P.¹*, Onoagbe I. O.² and Uwumarongie O. H.³

¹Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria.

³Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 24 August, 2021

Abstract

Triplochiton scleroxylon is a tropical forest-tree species that is valued for its timber and also stem barks, whose aqueous extract is commonly used as an anti-diabetic preparation. Stem bark extracts (aqueous and 50% ethanol) and powder of T. scleroxylon were investigated for elemental and proximate compositions. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (Buck Scientific VGP 210) was used for elemental analysis. Standard analytical methods were utilized for proximate investigation of the powdered stem bark of T. scleroxylon. Heavy metals identified were present at tolerable levels, namely, cadmium (<0.01 ppm), lead (<0.08 ppm) and nickel (<0.05 ppm) in the stem bark powder, aqueous and 50% ethanol extracts. Calcium content of stem bark samples was higher than all other elements determined at approximately 2.60% while potassium followed with 1.32%. Magnesium was highest in 50% ethanol extract at 0.26% while zinc, copper and manganese were 6.45, 2.30 and 14.50 ppm respectively. Sodium content was only 0.01%. Proximate analysis of stem bark powder showed carbohydrate content of 80.70% and nitrogen free extract of 78.9%. Crude protein, fat and fibre contents were 5.90, 6.80 and 0.80% respectively. Percentage ash content was 6.92 while moisture content of the stem bark powder was 0.68%. Stem bark samples of T. scleroxylon could be a good source of calcium and potassium to complement major sources. The use of the extracts in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in some parts of Nigeria is safe as heavy metals identified were present at sub-lethal levels. However, like all drugs, abuse of any form, is to be avoided.

Key words: Elemental, proximate, stem bark, Triplochiton scleroxylon.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-010, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Employment of a new strategy for identification of PRUNUS  MUME  cultivars using random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) markers

X. Y. Li¹, C. Wang¹, G. Yang, X. D. Li², B. J. Li², C. N. Song¹ and J. G. Fang^1*

¹College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Tongwei Road 6, Nanjing 210095, P. R. China.

²Nanjing Fujiabian Science and Technology Ltd., Nanjing 211221, P. R. China.

Accepted 12 July, 2020

Abstract

In this study, we applied a new approach of using random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) fingerprints to distinguish 64 fruiting mei cultivars based on optimization of RAPD through choosing 11 nt primers and strict screening polymerase chain reaction (PCR) annealing temperature. Results show that this new approach could clearly utilize and record the fingerprints generated from various primers in cultivar identification and a cultivar identification diagram (CID) readily constructed. The CID can make mei cultivar identification efficient just like a periodic table of elements, providing the information needed to separate groups of cultivars as desired. The workability and efficiency of the method were also well verified. To our best knowledge, this new strategy is the most efficient and workable in indentifying plant varieties using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) markers, which can be of great help in plant cultivar identification for protection of cultivar rights and for early identification of seedlings in the nursery industry.

Key words: Prunus mume, new approach, random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD), fingerprints, cultivar identification diagram (CID).

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Molecular, C-value and morphological analyses of somaclonal variation in three olive cultivars

Farah Farahani¹, Reza Yari² and Masoud Sheidai³*

¹Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Qom branch, Qom, Iran.

²Biology Department, Islamic Azad University, Boroujerd Branch, Boroujerd, Iran.

³Faculty of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

Accepted 4 May, 2020

Abstract

The occurrence of somaclonal variation was studied in three olive cultivars (Olea europaea L.) by using Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), C-value and morphological analyses. The tissue culture of the cultivars was performed using internode cuttings. The experiment was carried out up to the fifth and seventh subculture in different cultivars. Significant difference was observed in morphological characters among the regenerated plants of different subcultures in all cultivars. Grouping of the genotypes based on morphological data separated some of the regenerated plants from the others due to their morphological differences, however this was not correlated with the time period of subculturing. RAPD analysis produced polymorphic and specific bands in the genotypes studied. Grouping of the genotypes based on RAPD data revealed that in all cultivars the parental genotype and regenerated plants of the first and second subcultures are placed close to each other while the regenerated plants of the latter subcultures stand far from the other genotypes due to their genetic difference. No significant difference occurred in C-value in mother plants and the regenerated plants, indicating that genetic differences are mainly of nucleotide polymorphism/mutations and not due to quantitative change in DNA amount during tissue culture process.

Key words: Olive, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), tissue culture.

Frontiers of Agriculture and Food Technology ISSN: 2736-1624 Vol. 11 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2021. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The phytochemical and antioxidant screening of Justicia wynaadensis

Sudha Medapa, Geetha R. J. Singh* and Vaishnavi Ravikumar

Department of Chemistry, Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, India.

Accepted 12 July, 2020

Abstract

The plant Justicia wynaadensis is consumed by the local community of Kodagu district, Karnataka, India for its medicinal properties. In our present study, we have identified and estimated polyphenols and flavonoids in the plant extract. The medicinal properties of J. wynaadensis extract may be due to the presence of the above mentioned phytochemicals. The observed high antioxidant property could be related to the presence of phenolics, flavonoids as well as catalase and peroxidase enzyme activities. The plant J. wynaadensis may be exploited as a source of natural antioxidant and as a possible food supplement.

Key words: Justicia wynaadensis, antioxidants, phenolics, flavonoids, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), enzyme activity.