Biological alternatives for termite control: A review

Objectives The aim was to search for anti-inflammatory and anticancer compounds from three medicinal plants, viz. Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn., Rubia cordifolia Linn. and Lantana camara Linn.

Methods  The NO• scavenging potential of selected plant extracts was determined on LPS/IFN-γ activated murine peritoneal macrophage cultures, and iNOS and COX-2 expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Bio-assay guided fractionation yielded four compounds: physcion and emodin from V. madraspatana, 1-hydroxytectoquinone from R. cordifolia, and oleanonic acid from L. camara. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was tested through the carrageenan-induced rat-paw oedema model. They were then tested against a murine tumour (Ehrlich ascites carcinoma), and three human cancer cell lines, namely A375 (malignant skin melanoma), Hep2 (epidermoid laryngeal carcinoma) and U937 (lymphoma).

Key findings  All four compounds dose dependently inhibited NO• through suppression of iNOS protein without affecting macrophage viability. Physcion and emodin caused 65–68% reduction of oedema volume at 40 mg/kg, which validated their in-vivo anti-inflammatory effect. 1-hydroxytectoquinone and oleanonic acid exhibited promising cytotoxicity against A375 cells.

Conclusions  Ethnomedical reports on these traditional medicinal plants have been rationalised through an insight into the anti-inflammatory as well as anticancer potential of four constituents, characterised to be prospective candidates for designing novel therapeutic agents.

Anti-inflammatory and anticancer compounds isolated from Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn., Rubia cordifolia Linn. and Lantana camara Linn.

Potentiality of plants as source of insecticide principles

Sudan has a tremendous wealth flora due to its unique geographical location and diverse climate. Vast records of plants and plants’ secondary metabolites are reported to possess redox capacity and can be exploited for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles. Plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles is preferred due to their availability and their various metabolites. The present review explores the potentiality and diversity of biological activities of silver nanoparticles that originated from the combination of silver and phyto-constituents of mostly traditionally used Sudanese medicinal and aromatic plants. The green synthesis methods of silver nanoparticles mediated by more than 45 traditionally used medicinal plants are critically reviewed. In addition, parameters that affect the synthesis of plant-mediated silver nanoparticles, their characterization techniques and various biological activities are summarized and discussed. Thus, the study of green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its applications can be extended to involve vast plant diversity of Sudan.

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Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles mediated by traditionally used medicinal plants in Sudan

Here we report the biochemical composition and antibacterial activities of the leaves and flowers of four Lantana camara (Verbanaceae) plants with yellow, lavender, red, and white flowers. Three out of the four plants showed almost similar carbohydrates and lipid compositions. The levels of carbohydrates (mg/g dry weight) in the flowers were comparatively higher than in the leaves and the lipids content was relatively higher in the leaves except L. camara lavender and white. In lavender L. camara the amount of the total carbohydrates was very low. Proteins extracted from the leaves and flowers were subjected to electrophoresis. Electrophoresis of leaf proteins revealed similarity among L. camara yellow, red, and white flowers while that of flowers proteins showed similarity between L. camara yellow, lavender, red, and white. Extracts of leaves and flowers obtained with ethyl acetate were studied for antibacterial activities. Leaf and flower ethyl acetate extracts exhibited considerable antibacterial activities against the bacteria used where the value of zone of inhibition ranged from 10-21 and 9-15 mm, respectively. For flower and leaf ethyl acetate extracts, the zone of inhibition (mm) measured ranged from 10-21 and 9-15 mm, respectively. Thus, the study of the biochemical parameters viz., lipids, carbohydrates and proteins has revealed similarity among the four different L camara. However, antibacterial activities vary from one L. camara to the other and also according to the type of tissue used.

http://www.ejobios.org/download/biochemical-compositions-and-antibacterial-activities-of-lantana-camara-plants-with-yellow-lavender.pdf

Biochemical compositions and antibacterial activities of Lantana camara plants with yellow, lavender, red and white flowers

Phytochemical and termiticidal study of Lantana camara var. aculeata leaves.


 
 Arsenic is naturally found in the rocks of the Pleistocene and Holocene ages in the groundwater aquifer media. The district Ballia has many reports which are focused on arsenic contamination in its different blocks. This article is devoted to a thorough study of hydrogeochemical characteristics and the source of origin of arsenic in the groundwater system of the Ballia district. The relationship between this hydrogeologically present arsenic and various cations and anions including some physicochemical parameters are discussed here. These observations have been done using ICP MS and ion chromatographic techniques. The relationship study has been done by using a correlation matrix which is further proven by the dendrogram. Different types of loading plots of various principal components have also been studied with the help of principal component analysis. The nature and quality of groundwater are studied with the help of a piper plot. This research article is a complete and detailed study of the nature of groundwater in district Ballia. It also enlightens the source of arsenic contamination in the study area.

Suman K. Verma

Papers

Phytochemical and termiticidal study of Lantana camara var. aculeata leaves.

A hydrogeochemical study of groundwater of district Ballia, U.P., India