IT may occasion some surprise to those men of science who are ill-acquainted with India, and who so frequently express the view that Governments are unappreciative of the importance of science to learn that as far back as 1886 the Government of India arranged for Dr. George (later Sir George) Watt, professor of botany in the Presidency College, Calcutta, to prepare a "Dictionary of the Economic Products of India". The six volumes of this standard work were published during the years 1889-99. In 1908 Sir George Watt published a condensed version, "The Commercial Products of India". Whatever the defects of these 'dictionaries', they have been of inestimable value to all interested in Indian natural products. The Wealth of India A Dictionary of Indian Raw Materials and Industrial Products. Raw Materials, Vol. 1. Pp. xxvii+254+39 plates. 15 rupees ; 24s. Industrial Products, Part 1. Pp. xii+182+8 plates. 8 rupees ; 12s. (New Delhi : Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1948.)

The Wealth of India

Phyllanthus amarus: Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology: A review

Authentication of medicinal plants by DNA markers.

Essential oil constituents and RAPD markers to establish species relationship in Cymbopogon Spreng. (Poaceae)

Essential oils of aromatic and medicinal plants generally have a diverse range of activities because they possess several active constituents that work through several modes of action. The genus Artemisia includes the largest genus of family Asteraceae has several medicinal uses in human and plant diseases aliments. Extensive investigations on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant studies have been conducted for various species of this genus. In this review, we have compiled data of recent literature (2012–2017) on essential oil composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal and antioxidant activities of different species of the genus Artemisia. Regarding the antimicrobial and insecticidal properties we have only described here efficacy of essential oils against plant pathogens and insect pests. The literature revealed that 1, 8-cineole, beta-pinene, thujone, artemisia ketone, camphor, caryophyllene, camphene and germacrene D are the major components in most of the essential oils of this plant species. Oils from different species of genus Artemisia exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens and insecticidal activity against insect pests. However, only few species have been explored for antioxidant activity.

https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6320/4/3/68/pdf

The Genus Artemisia: a 2012-2017 Literature Review on Chemical Composition, Antimicrobial, Insecticidal and Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils.

A collection of Phyllanthus amarus was made from various parts of India to determine the extent of genetic variability using analysis at DNA level. RAPD profiling of 33 collections from different locations, covering states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana was generated. Analysis through UPGMA revealed up to 65% variation among these accessions. However, intra-population variation was found to be much larger in the accession from the southern part of the country. Nevertheless, inter-population variation also overlaps in the phylogenetic clustering, which is understandable from the natural dissemination of this plant species as a weed that has spread across the geographical boundaries. The study indicates the random hybridization across the populations falling within the range of possible cross-pollination in terms of physical distance. A study of these accessions at a single location, allowing free mating, would throw light on the extent of cross-pollination and genetic flow.

Molecular diversity in Phyllanthus amarus assessed through RAPD analysis

Mature vegetative plants of Artemisia roxburghiana Besser var. purpurascens (Jacq.) Hook were collected from Mussoorie (2205 m), Bhatwari (1218 m) and Bhaldana (850 m) from Garhwal Himalayas and their essential oils were isolated and subjected to GC and GC/MS analysis. The oil yield was lowest (0.2%) in the plants collected from the relatively higher altitude of Mussoorie; it was rich in borneol (21.2%) followed by linalyl acetate (7.4%) and α- humulene (6.7%). The oils from plants collected from the lower altitudes of Bhatwari and Bhaldana yielded higher percentage of oils (0.8–0.85%) which were dominated by β-caryophyllene (16.3%, 18.4%) followed by α-thujone (12.0%) in the former and eugenol (16.2%) in the later.

Effect of Altitude on the Essential Oil Constituents of Artemisia roxburghiana Besser var. purpurascens (Jacq.) Hook

The genus Swertia is well known for its medicinal properties, as described in the Indian pharmacopoeia. Different members of this genus, although somewhat similar in morphology, differ widely in their pharmacological and therapeutic properties. The most important species of this genus, with maximal therapeutic properties, is S. chirayita, which is often adulterated with other less- potent Swertia spp. There is an existing demand in the herbal drug industry for an authentication system for Swertia spp, in order to enable their commercial use as genuine phytoceuticals. To this end, we used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to produce DNA fingerprints for six Swertia species. Nineteen accessions (2 of S.

/pdf/aflp-markers-for-identification-of-swertia-species-4sirx112cq.pdf

AFLP markers for identification of Swertia species (Gentianaceae).

Seasonal variation of the essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora leaves were analysed by Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in the trees grown at subtropical conditions of North Indian plains for commercial cultivation and determination of proper harvesting time. At this condition, oil yield ranged between 1.0 to 2.1% during different months. Oil yield was observed to be high during April to September, when temperature was high and the yield was low during November to March, when the temperature was relatively low. However, during rainy season, when both temperature and humidity was high, oil yield was also observed to be quite high (1.8 to 2.1%).  At this condition, the major constituent of oil was citronellal (69.7 to 87.4%) followed by citronellol (5.1 to 9.9%), linalool (2.1 to 6.4%), isopulegol (0.9 to 3.1%) and citronellyl acetate (0.4 to 1.2). Concentration of citronellal decreased during the summer and rainy seasons, while concentration of rest of the major constituents increased during this period. Yield of oil and concentrations of citronellal was observed to be comparable to the plants grown commercially in South India but concentration of rest of the constituents decreased considerably.

	 

	Key words: Eucalyptus citriodora, seasonal variation, essential oil composition, citronellal, citronellyl acetate, linalool, citronellol.

/pdf/effect-of-season-on-yield-and-composition-of-the-essential-4wr9l4u4tu.pdf

Effect of season on yield and composition of the essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. leaf grown in sub-tropical conditions of North India

Cineraria maritima Linn. is an important medicinal plant of known therapeutic value for the treatment of cataract and corneal opacity. An in vitro regeneration protocol has been standardized for large-scale supply of planting material of this otherwise scarce medicinal plant species. The medium for propagation contained MS salts, B 5 vitamins, 30 g l - 1 sucrose and 8.0 g l - 1 agar (designated as MSB medium). Addition of thidiazuron [TDZ: N-phenyl-N'-(1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl) urea] in the culture medium proved superior to the combined treatments of 6-benzyladenine and α-napthaleneacetic acid. The highest adventitious shoot bud (36 ′ 2.34) induction, per nodal explant used, occurred at 4.54 pM TDZ after 6 weeks of incubation. The number of shoots formed per explant increased significantly upon sub-culture of the responding explants on plant growth regulator-free MSB medium, after 8 weeks of culture initiation. In vitro produced shoots exhibited good rooting response on half strength MSB medium containing 4.92 μM indole 3-butyric acid. After 3 weeks of hardening of plantlets as hydrophonic cultures, almost 95% of 300 rooted plants could be successfully transferred and acclimatized ex vitro under glass-house conditions, followed by their establishment in the field.

G. D. Bagchi

Papers

Molecular diversity in Phyllanthus amarus assessed through RAPD analysis

Effect of Altitude on the Essential Oil Constituents of Artemisia roxburghiana Besser var. purpurascens (Jacq.) Hook

AFLP markers for identification of Swertia species (Gentianaceae).

Effect of season on yield and composition of the essential oil of Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. leaf grown in sub-tropical conditions of North India

Thidiazuron-induced high-frequency shoot proliferation in Cineraria maritima Linn