Antimicrobial activity of Ixora coccinea leaves

Ether and methanol extracts of Ixora coccinea dry leaves were tested for their antimicrobial activity. Ether fraction was found to be more active than the methanol fraction.     

A new steroidal alkaloid from the seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica

A new steroidal alkaloid, named antidysentericine, has been isolated from the seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica and characterized as 3 beta-dimethylaminocon-5-enin-18-one (1).     

Intra-specific patterns of δ13C,growth and wood density variation at sites of contrasting precipitation with implications for modelling carbon sequestration of tropical tree species

Agroforestry Systems - Tropical agroforestry practices play a crucial role in mitigating global climate change by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing carbon in...     

Detection of OvHV-2 from an outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever from crossbred cattle of Southern India

An outbreak of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever in crossbred cattle in a village of Andhra Pradesh, southern India, affected thirteen adult cows and two calves from a population of forty animals. All the affected animals were died between December and January 2013–14. The clinical and gross postmortem findings were typical of MCF in Indian crossbred cattle. Migrating sheep flocks were suspected source of infection for the cattle. The diagnosis was confirmed by heminested PCR in all the affected cattle and the suspected sheep flock. The PCR provided evidence of ovine herpes virus type 2.     

Detection and molecular characterization of naturally transmitted sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever in cattle in India

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal herpesvirus infection of domestic and wild ruminants, with a short and dramatic clinical course characterized primarily by high fever, severe depression, swollen lymph nodes, salivation, diarrhea, dermatitis, neurological disorders, and ocular lesions often leading to blindness. In the present study, fatal clinical cases of sheep associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) were identified in cattle in the state of Karnataka. These cases were initially presented with symptoms of diarrhea, respiratory distress, conjunctivitis, and nasal discharges. Laboratory diagnosis confirmed the detection of ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) genome in the peripheral blood samples of two ailing animals. The blood samples collected subsequently from sheep of the neighboring areas also showed presence of OvHV-2 genome indicating a nidus of infection in the region. The positive test results were further confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the OIE approved portion of tegument gene as well as complete ORF8 region of the OvHV-2 genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence of the latter region indicated close genetic relationship with other OvHV-2 reported elsewhere in the world.     

Chemical analysis of essential oils of Eupatorium adenophorum and their antimicrobial,antioxidant and phytotoxic properties

Essential oils from inflorescences and roots of Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng (Asteraceae) have been investigated for their antimicrobial, phytotoxic and antioxidant activities. Based on GC–MS, the oil from inflorescences is dominated by sesquiterpenes (55.9 %) with γ-cadinene (18.4 %), γ-muurolene (11.7 %), 3-acetoxyamorpha-4,7(11)-diene-8-one (7.4 %) and bornyl acetate (6.3 %) as the major constituents. The oil obtained from the roots contained both sesquiterpenes (34.3 %) and monoterpenes (32.5 %) in almost equal proportions with E,E-cosmene (19.9 %), γ-muurolene (10.1 %), isothymol (7.5 %), β-cadinene (7.0 %) and α-phellandren-8-ol (5.9 %) as the major constituents. Both oils exhibited significant antifungal activity against five phytopathogenic fungi. The inflorescence oil showed higher antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, while the root oil was more effective against Staphylococcus aureus. The oils strongly inhibited or delayed germination and seedling growth of the weed Phalaris minor in a dose-dependent manner. As evidenced by a DPPH assay, the essential oils also exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity.     

Treatment of wheat straw using tannase and white-rot fungus to improve feed utilization by ruminants

Background

Current research to enrich cattle feed has primarily focused on treatment using white rot fungi, while there are scarce reports using the enzyme tannase, which is discussed only in reviews or in the form of a hypothesis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of tannase on wheat straw (WS) and also the effect of lyophilized tannase at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% (w/w) on WS followed by fermentation with Ganoderma sp. for 10 d and compared in relation to biochemical parameters, crude protein (CP) content, and nutritional value by calculating the C/N ratio in order to improve the nutritional value of cattle feed.

Results

Penicillium charlesii, a tannase-producing microorganism, produced 61.4 IU/mL of tannase in 54 h when 2% (w/v) tannic acid (TA) was initially used as a substrate in medium containing (% w/v) sucrose (1.0), NaNO₃ (1.0), and MgSO₄ (0.08 pH, 5.0) in a 300-L fermentor (working volume 220 L), and concomitantly fed with 1.0% (w/v) TA after 24 h. The yield of partially purified and lyophilized tannase was 5.8 IU/mg. The tannin-free myco-straw at 0.1% (w/w) tannase showed 37.8% (w/w) lignin degradation with only a 20.4% (w/w) decrease in cellulose content and the in vitro feed digestibility was 32.2%. An increase in CP content (up to 1.28-fold) along with a lower C/N ratio of 25.0%, as compared to myco-straw, was obtained.

Conclusions

The use of tannin-free myco-straw has potential to improve the nutritional content of cattle feed. This biological treatment process was safe, eco-friendly, easy to perform, and was less expensive as compared to other treatment methods.