Potential of ethno-veterinary medicine in animal health care practices in the South Pacific Island countries: a review

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The South Pacific island countries (SPIC) are among the most vulnerable countries in the world to economic shocks, climate change and natural disasters....     

Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with the rhizosphere of tea growing in ‘natural’ and ‘cultivated’ ecosites

The colonization and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) associated with the rhizosphere of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] growing under ‘natural’ as well as ‘cultivated’ conditions in the Kumaun region of Uttaranchal Himalaya (India), during the periods of active growth and dormancy were investigated. Root and rhizosphere soil samples, collected from both the ecosites (natural and cultivated), were monitored for root colonization. While the percent root colonization was quite high (77.66 ± 4.40 and 86.40 ± 3.02%, in the natural and cultivated tea, respectively) during the period of active growth in both the ecosites, relatively higher colonization (97.33 ± 0.78 and 98.13 ± 0.80%, in the natural and cultivated tea, respectively) was recorded during the period of dormancy. The rhizosphere of cultivated tea bushes was found to be dominated by Glomus morhpotypes (88.89% of the total isolates) along with three morphotypes of Acaulospora; occurrence of 35 morphotypes belonging to four genera viz. Acaulospora (11.43%), Gigaspora (11.43%), Glomus (68.57%) and Scutellospora (8.57%) was recorded in the rhizosphere of tea plants from the natural ecosite. A total of 51 AMF morphotypes were detected. Shannon–Weaver index of diversity was higher (1.80 ± 0.13 and 2.05 ± 0.10 during periods of active growth and dormancy, respectively) at the species level for the natural ecosite over its counterparts from the cultivated ecosite. Values for the diversity indices of natural and cultivated ecosites did not show much variation in the period of dormancy. These data suggest that collectively, various cultural practices negatively affect AMF diversity at the genus level in tea plantations of the colder regions.     

沙棘饮料的化学成分和最优口感的研究

沙棘（Hippophae rhamnoids L．）,属于胡颓子属,在印度喜马偕尔邦地区称作“Chharma and Surch”,沙棘能够在这种非常恶劣的气候条件下自然生长。本文介绍了制作沙棘饮料的一系列程序和如何储存饮料120d而不使其变质的方法。沙棘果实采自印度喜马偕尔邦河谷。用碎浆机提取沙棘汁,制作沙棘饮料要准备好合适比例的沙棘汁和制作饮料所需的糖。随着果浆比例的升高,维生素C的含量明显增加（P≤0．05）,随着贮藏时间的延长,维生素C的含量明显降低。而随着糖和果浆的增加以及储存期的延长,还原性糖呈上升趋势。当饮料中果浆和糖的比例分别为10％和13％、12．5％和13％、15％和15％时,饮料最为宜口,给于较高的评价。在喜马偕尔邦,人们一直认为沙棘具有商业价值,但是其价值在此前一直没有得到足够的重视。     

Antimicrobial and pesticidal activity of partially purified flavonoids of Annona squamosa

Foliar extracts of Annona squamosa (Family: Annonaceae) were screened for antimicrobial and insecticidal activity against the common microbial infestants of pulses and the stored grain pest pulse beetle, Callosobruchus chinensis (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Flavonoids isolated from aqueous extracts of A squamosa showed antimicrobial activity against all the common microbial contaminants of pulses and 80% insecticidal activity against C chinensis at a concentration of 0.07 mg ml-1. Various physico-chemical tests, chromatographic and spectroscopic studies with partially purified aqueous extract indicated the presence of flavonol type flavonoids. This may provide a useful beginning for the development of botanical pesticides for post-harvest safeguard of pulses.     

The antibacterial lectin RegIIIgamma promotes the spatial segregation of microbiota and host in the intestine

The mammalian intestine is home to ~100 trillion bacteria that perform important metabolic functions for their hosts. The proximity of vast numbers of bacteria to host intestinal tissues raises the question of how symbiotic host-bacterial relationships are maintained without eliciting potentially harmful immune responses. Here, we show that RegIIIγ, a secreted antibacterial lectin, is essential for maintaining a ~50-micrometer zone that physically separates the microbiota from the small intestinal epithelial surface. Loss of host-bacterial segregation in RegIIIγ(-/-) mice was coupled to increased bacterial colonization of the intestinal epithelial surface and enhanced activation of intestinal adaptive immune responses by the microbiota. Together, our findings reveal that RegIIIγ is a fundamental immune mechanism that promotes host-bacterial mutualism by regulating the spatial relationships between microbiota and host.     

Rhizosphere soil microbial index of tree species in a coal mining ecosystem

Microbial characterization of the tree rhizosphere provides important information relating to the screening of tree species for re-vegetation of degraded land. Rhizosphere soil samples collected from a few predominant tree species growing in the coal mining ecosystem of Dhanbad, India, were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC), mineralizable N, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), active microbial biomass carbon (AMBC), basal soil respiration (BSR), and soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, urease, catalase, phenol oxidase, and peroxidase). Among the tree species studied, Aegle marmelos recorded the highest value for MBC (590 mg kg⁻¹), urease (190.5 μg NH₄⁺-N g⁻¹ h⁻¹), catalase (513 μg H₂O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹), dehydrogenase (92.3 μg TPF g⁻¹ h⁻¹), phenol oxidase (0.057 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and BSR/AMBC (0.498 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹); Tamarindus indica for mineralizable N (69.5 mg kg⁻¹); Morus alba for catalase (513 μg H₂O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and phenol oxidase (0.058 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹); Tectona grandis for peroxidase (0.276 μM g⁻¹ h⁻¹), AMBC/MBC (99.4%), and BSR/MBC (0.108 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹); Ficus religiosa for AMBC (128.4 mg kg⁻¹) and BSR (12.85 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ day⁻¹); Eugenia jambolana for MBC/SOC (8.03%); Butea monosoperma for AMBC/SOC (1.32%) and Azadirachta indica for BSR/AMBC (0.1134 mg CO₂-C mg biomass⁻¹ day⁻¹). Principal component analysis was employed to derive a rhizosphere soil microbial index (RSMI) and accordingly, dehydrogenase, BSR/MBC, MBC/SOC, EC, phenol oxidase and AMBC were found to be the most critical properties. The observed values for the above properties were converted into a unitless score (0–1.00) and the scores were integrated into RSMI. The tree species could be arranged in decreasing order of the RSMI as: A. marmelos (0.718), A. indica (0.715), Bauhinia bauhinia (0.693), B. monosperma (0.611), E. jambolana (0.601), Moringa oleifera (0.565), Dalbergia sissoo (0.498), T. indica (0.488), Morus alba (0.415), F. religiosa (0.291), Eucalyptus sp. (0.232) and T. grandis (0.181). It was concluded that tree species in coal mining areas had diverse effects on their respective rhizosphere microbial processes, which could directly or indirectly determine the survival and performance of the planted tree species in degraded coal mining areas. Tree species with higher RSMI values could be recommended for re-vegetation of degraded coal mining area.     

Anti-inflammatory,cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, COX-1 inhibitory and antioxidant effects of Dysophylla stellata Benth.

The n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts of whole plants of Dysophylla stellata significantly inhibited edema when applied topically at doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/ear in TPA-induced ear edema assay in mice. Further, both the extracts were evaluated for COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activities and showed 85.42 and 57.38%; and 71.79 and 89.27% inhibition at 50 µg/ml, respectively. Chromones (1 and 2) present in these extracts could be responsible for their COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. The ethyl acetate extract showed antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay where as n-hexane extract found to be inactive.     

Enhancement in growth and quality parameters of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] through inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in an acid soil

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from natural and cultivated tea rhizospheres (NTR and CTR, respectively) on growth as well as on quality parameters of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze]. Seeds (after germination) and cuttings were inoculated with AMF consortia from NTR and CTR in non-sterilized acid soil (pH 5.0). Seedlings and cuttings were grown under net-house conditions and the data on growth and quality parameters were recorded up to 2 years. Tea plants were found to be highly colonized by AMF (74–83%) after 1 year. The significant increase in most of the growth parameters (root/shoot length, dry weight; r/s ratio) was recorded in AMF-treated plants, which also showed better tea quality parameters than noninoculated plants. Maximum significant increases up to 31% and 100%, over control, were recorded in amino acids and total protein content, respectively. Similarly, maximum increase in total polyphenols (15%) and caffeine content (34%) over control was also significant. Enhanced sugar content (maximum 16% in total soluble sugars, maximum 45% in reducing sugars, and maximum 69% in non-reducing sugars) was recorded in AMF-inoculated plants. In most cases, better response was observed in tea plants inoculated with AMF consortia from NTR. These results indicate that growth and quality of tea can be improved by AMF inoculations in acid soils.