Central University of Kerala

About: Central University of Kerala is a education organization based out in Kāsaragod, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catalysis. The organization has 556 authors who have published 881 publications receiving 7474 citations.

Phase evolution and temperature dependent magnetic properties of nanocrystalline barium hexaferrite

Abstract: Barium hexaferrite nanoparticles were prepared by the sol–gel auto combustion method and were annealed at different temperatures in air for 4 h. Structural properties showed the evolution of nanocrystalline Ba-hexaferrite with the increase in annealing temperature. The lattice constants did not show any systematic variation and the grain size increased with the increase in annealing temperature. The magnetization value increased with the increase in annealing temperature and the highest values of 58.9 and 82.7 emu/g were observed at 300 and 60 K respectively for the sample annealed at TA = 1200 °C. The highest coercivity of 5250 Oe was observed at 300 K for the nanoparticle sample annealed at 950 °C with critical single domain size of 48 nm. The coervity decreased with the decrease in measurement temperature from 300 to 60 K. The observed magnetic behavior can be understood on the basis of grain growth, the exchange interaction between the Fe3+ ions sitting at different lattice sites in the magnetoplumbite structure and inter-granular interactions in these nanoparticle samples.

In vitro strategies for the conservation of Indian medicinal climbers

Abstract: Climbers are plants with weak stems that require support to grow upright. This group of plants develops various climbing mechanisms, classified as tendrillar, twiners, scramblers, clinging, adhesive and woody climbers (lianas). Although climbers are predominantly angiosperms, some are ferns, and one gymnosperm member Gnetum is included in this category. The angiosperm families mainly composed of climbers include Cucurbitaceae, Convolvulaceae and Dioscoreaceae. India’s biodiversity includes two regions, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas. According to the Botanical Survey of India, of approximately 18,000 species of angiosperms in India, 8000 of them are medicinal plants and several of them are climbers. Many climbers are medicinally important and used as herbal remedies in traditional systems of Indian medicine, including Ayurveda, Sidha and Unani. Several active phytochemicals from different parts of these plants are isolated and used as medicine either alone or in combination with other compounds. Unfortunately, many of these plants are under the threat of extinction due to habitat depletion and overexploitation and conservation efforts are required to ensure their long-term stability. In this review, we discuss in vitro propagation and conservation strategies for Indian medicinal climbers from diverse families including Fabaceae, Aristolochiaceae, Asparagaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Sapindaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Vitaceae, Ranunculaceae, Menispermaceae, Colchicaceae, Apocynaceae, Rubiaceae, Passifloraceae, Stemonaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Cucurbitaceae due to their high medicinal value.