Antibacterial activity of Picrasma javanica

The methanol extracts of Picrasma javanica, leaves, seeds, stem and root barks were partitioned (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol). All obtained extracts and fractions showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, while none was active against the tested moulds.     

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata.

The methanol extracts of leaves, flowers, stem and root barks of Cassia alata showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), the dichloromethane fraction of the flower extract being the most effective. No activity was shown against tested moulds.     

Antimicrobial activity of Lithocarpus celebicus.

The methanol extracts of leaves, stem and root barks of Lithocarpus celebicus showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity which was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethylacetate), particularly in the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark and petrol fraction of the root bark. None of the extractives was active against tested moulds.     

Antimicrobial activity of Psychotria microlabastra.

The methanol extracts of leaves, root and stem barks of Psychotria microlabastra showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, that was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), particularly in the ethyl acetate fractions. None of the extractives showed activity against the tested moulds.     

Phenolic glycosides from Dodecadenia grandiflora and their glucose-6-phosphatase inhibitory activity

Phytochemical investigation of Dodecadenia grandiflora leaves led to the isolation and identification of three phenolic glycosides, designated 1-[(4′-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oxy-2-phenol (1), 1-[(6′-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oxy-2-phenol (2) and 1-[O-β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-oxy-2-phenol (3), along with nine known compounds. Compounds 1, 2, 5 and 9 exhibited significant glucose-6-phosphatase inhibitory activity (63.7, 66.9, 82.9 and 85.4%) with IC₅₀ values of 88.5, 81.0, 51 and 50 μM respectively. On the basis of biological results, a structure–activity relationship has been discussed.     

Floristic composition and ecological gradient analyses of the Liakot Forests in the Kalam region of District Swat,Pakistan

Kalam Kohistan is a dry,temperate hilly region in the Hindu Raj Series of the Greater Hindu Kush Mountains with diverse forests.As plant distribution and composition is expression of a range of various environmental variables,ecological and floristic attributes of vegetation in the Laikot Forests were therefore evaluated via consecutive explorative trips.These forests have not been evaluated ecologically before due to harsh climatic conditions and issues of accessibility and the study in hand is one of the first in its nature.Quantitative ecological techniques were used to sample forest vegetation and identify species in quadrats of 2 m×2 m for herbs,5 m×5 m for shrubs and 10 m×10 m for trees.All the data of 195 plant species and environmental factors were analyzed via Two-way Cluster Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis using PCORD and CANOCO software.Among 195 plant species from 63 families were 27 species of Asteraceae,the most-speciose family,followed by Poaceae(20 spp.).The dominant life form was therophyte(86 spp.;44%share),followed by phanerophyte(41 spp.;21%share).For the leaf size spectrum,most prevalent was nanophyll(73 spp.;44%)followed by microphyll(66 spp.,34%)and mesophyll(44 spp.;23%).Calcium carbonate,pH,potassium,sand,silt,organic matter,slope aspect and grazing significantly influenced species composition,distribution and habitat.The floristic variation in the region was diverse due to elevational and aspect gradients and thus devided into three zones.This vegetation zonation can be utilized for forest management,species and habitat conservation.Both in situ and ex situ conservation of threatened plant species may improve their conservation status in future if address properly.     

Molecular simulations of Taxawallin I inside classical taxol binding site of β-tubulin

A new taxoid Taxawallin I (1) along with two known taxoids (2-3) were isolated from methanolic bark extract of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. Structural characterization was confirmed by mass and NMR spectral techniques. Taxawallin I exhibited significant in-vitro anticancer activity against HepG2, A498, NCI-H226 and MDR 2780AD cancer lines. Tubulin binding assay was performed to assess its tubulin binding activity. Molecular docking analysis was performed to study the potential binding mode inside the taxol binding site of β-tubulin.     

Invasion von Vorratsschädlingen durch Verschlüsse

Journal of Pest Science - Resistance of common packages of the brands ‘Schokini’, ‘Contessa’, ‘Hausgebackeness’, ‘Florentiner’ and...     

Micronutrient, magnesium and phosphorus effects on biomass and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations of field grown Leucaena leucocephala

To optimize biomass and crude protein (CP) production for leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) in southern Texas, field trials were conducted with treatment combinations of three levels of phosphorus (P) , two levels of Mg and two levels of soluble trace element mixture (STEM). The P was banded in the soil while the Mg and micronutrient blend were applied to the foliage. A combination of P (22 kg ha^-1), Mg and STEM fertilizers significantly increased biomass from 2555 kg ha^-1 to 3028 kg ha^-1. This treatment was associated with an increase in leaf CP from 27.9% to 31.0%. P fertilizer had no significant effect on leaf P, but significantly increased leaf nitrogen (N) and leaf copper (Cu). A foliar spray of Mg significantly increased leaf N, P, and Cu. A foliar spray of a complete micronutrient blend increased leaf Cu. Biomass production was correlated positively (decreasing order) with leaf Cu, N, and Mg and negatively with Zn. Leaf N was positively correlated with leaf P and calcium. The critical tissue concentrations (CTC) (where 90% of predicted maximum leaf protein was obtained) were 0.18% and 4.49 mg kg^-1 for leaf P and Cu, respectively. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A journey towards shared governance: status and prospects for collaborative management in the protected areas of Bangladesh

Establishment of Protected Areas (PAs), in the face of rapid deforestation, forest degradation and climate change has been one of the key efforts in conservation of biodiversity worldwide in recent times. While Bangladesh has gained a degree of prominence in the world for its successful social forestry programs, the concept of collaborative protected area management is rather new in the country, initiated in 2004 by the Bangladesh Forest Department in five PAs with financial assistance from USAID. Based on empirical evidence from three of the pilot PAs, we examined the achievements and associated challenges and prospects for co-management. Our fieldwork revealed a number of challenges faced by co-management institutions: (1) institutions were dominated by the elite group, overshadowing the voice of the community people; (2) mutual trust and collective performance are key to good governance but had not taken root in the PAs; (3) encroachment onto forest land and subsequent conversion to agriculture remained a serious problem that discouraged forest-dependent people from participating actively in co-management initiatives; (4) legal provisions (including acts, rules and policies) were not clearly and adequately disseminated and understood at the community level; (5) there remained a degree of ambiguity regarding the roles and responsibilities of forest department (FD) and co-management committees (CMC) in field operations, and this was not enhancing transparency and accountability of the overall initiative; (6) the long-term sustainability of co-management institutions was another major concern, as the local intuitional structure was still in a nascent stage, and provisioning of resources (either internally or externally) remained somewhat uncertain. We offer recommendations for improvement.