Elemental analysis of ten plant species at three phenological stages

Livestock rearing is a common practice in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati by the locals to earn their livelihood. Low productivity due to poor health of livestock is major consideration in the study area. In order to know whether this low productivity and poor health might be due to poor quality of forage, ten plant species were analyzed for micro mineral quantification at three phenological stages. Mineral compositions of plants are used to diagnose probable deficiencies in food and forage and nutritional status of plants. Comparison among at vegetative stage of test species and micro nutrients showed that the amount of manganese was found high [64.4mg Kg[-1]] in Chrozophora obliqua. Comparison among at reproductive and post reproductive stages of test species and micro nutrients pointed out that the amount of nickel was found high [67.24mg Kg[-1]] and [80.4mg Kg[-1]] respectively in Vitex trifolia. It is concluded that micro-minerals concentrations available in these forage plants to the grazing livestock were very low, hence this may be, one of the causes responsible for the pitiable health and productivity of the grazing animals in investigated area

Pharmacognostic and pharmacological evaluation of ruellia tuberosa L.

Ruellia tuberosa Linn. of family Acanthaceae was studied to investigate the microscopical, vein islet and vein termination numbers, palisade ratio, stomatal index and different chemical parameters. The antibacterial, antifungal and phytotoxic activities of the crude extract of the plant were also determined. Five bacterial species were used, of which, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most susceptible bacterial species to crude extract with MICs 10, 4.0 and 14mg/ml, respectively. Among the tested fungal species Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger were more susceptible to crude extracts with MICs 1.34, 2.78 and 1.45 micro g/ml, respectively. At the concentration of 1000 micro g/ml the methnolic extract exhibited significant activity, at 100 micro g/ml the activity was good and at 10 micro g/ml the activity was moderate against Lemna minor. The above selected plants were shown by in vitro assays to be a potential source for natural antifungal, antibacterial and phytotoxic agents

Proximate and elemental analysis of five selected medicinal plants of family Solanaceae

The proximate analysis revealed the presence of ash, moisture, protein, fiber, fats and carbohydrate. ANOVA showed that ash and moisture contents was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages. Crude protein was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Datura innoxia parts but not for its phenolgical stages, while crude fats were non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Solatium nigrum and Solanum surattense parts but not for their phenolgical stages. Crude fiber was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for Datura innoxia parts but not for its phenolgical stages. And carbohydrates was non significant between the plant parts and phenological stages except for the phenolgical stages of Solanum surattense and Withania coagulans. The mineral analysis showed the presence of Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ca, K, Mg and Na in the roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits of the plants in three different phenological stages. Only the micro-minerals were present in traces while the macro-minerals were present high quantities as compared to the micro-minerals

Cytotoxic activity of plants of family Zygophyllaceae and Euphorbiaceae

The methanolic and n-hexane extracts of studied plants showed significant toxicity to brine shrimps. The methanolic extract of Fagonia cretica had highest LD[50] [117.72] value, while Peganum harmala showed low LD[50] value [41.70] compared to n-hexane extract. The methanolic and n-hexane extracts of Tribulus terrestris showed similar LD[50] values. The methanolic extract of Chrozophora tinctoria showed low LD[50] value than the n-hexane extract. The methanolic extract of Ricinus communis showed highest LD[50] value while the n-hexane extract showed lowest LD[50] value. The LD[50] value less than 100 was obtained for n-hexane extracts of Fagonia cretica, Peganum harmala and Ricinus communis. The n-hexane extracts of these plants also showed the highest toxicity as compare to methanolic extracts. The chemical constituents detected in the present investigation might be responsible for cytotoxic activity

Effect of phenological stages on nutritional assessment of ten plant species in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan

The proximate analysis of ten plant species from Tehsil takht-e-Nasrati, district Karak was conducted at three phenological stages using standard techniques. The species showed variable results. In the test species, the moisture content varied from 2.11-14.12%, 1.85-11.51 and 1.12-11.51%; the ash contents varied from 3.08-17.16%, 5.09-18.12% and 6.13-19.09%; the fibre contents varied from 2.14-11.09%, 2.43-12.31% and 2.78-13.01%; the carbohydrate contents varied from 54-85.1%, [50-84.1] and 47.1-81.1%; the fat contents varied from 1.06-5.46%, 1.09-5.98% and 1.56- 6.57%; the protein contents varied from 2.11-12.41%, 3.14-15.87% and 4.12-18.54%; the energy value varied from 305.12- 394.23 KCal/100g, 314.21-423.13 KCal /100g and 321.23-434.26 KCal /100g at vegetative stage, reproductive stage and post reproductive stage respectively. Proximate analysis of such plant species can help us to determine the health benefits achieved from their use in society. It is concluded that the poor livestock productivity in research area is partially due to insufficient amount of available poor quality forage that requires attention of the range mangers to improve the habitat and livestock breeds

Elemental analysis of Echornia crassipes [Merit.] Schlecht.

Elemental analysis of Echornia crassipes [Merit.] Schlecht showed the presence of Al, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sr and Zn in the leaves and rhizomes. K was in maximum and Pb in minimum quantity in the leaves while in rhizomes Ca was maximum and Pb was minimum

Elemental composition of Bischofia javanica Blume

The elemental analysis shows the presence of C, O, Mg, Al, Si, CI, K and Ca in different parts of Bischofia javanica Blume

Germination ecology of bunium persicum [Bois] fedtsch and ferula oopoda [Boiss and Buhse] boiss

The study revealed that Bunium persicum seeds had 70% germination at 5 °C, while those of Ferula oopoda had 100% germination at 10 °C. Stratification improved the rate of germination in both the species. The germination of Bunium persicum improved [80-86% when treated with dry air or ethylene gas. Treating seed with acetone, ether, alcohol, soaking in cold and boiling water and application of KNO3, and thiourea did not improve germination in both the cases. Seed stored for 2 years exhibited 96-100% germination in each case. The germination was 40% in B. persicum seeds in sandy clay loam, while F. oopoda gave 100% germination in sandy clay loam and silt loam and 80% in loamy sand and clay loam soils. The germination of both these species generally decreased with increasing sowing depth and soil dryness as they appear to be stenothermal as far as their germination is concerned

Germination promotion of rhazya stricta decne

Rhazya stricta Decne is a medicinally important plant of sub-montane tracts in Pakistan. Laboratory studies revealed that non-treated seeds had 66%, 64% and 40% germination after 25 days incubation at 20 °C, 25 °C, and 30 °C respectively. Mechanically scarified seeds treated with 0.50 ppm GA3 and IAA gave 90% and 70% germination at 25 °C after 14 days. Mechanical scarification followed by 1- and 2-minutes treatment with acetone gave 78-80% germination at 20 °C and 65-70% at 25% on the 16 th day

Germination promotion of ziziphus nummularia

Ziziphus nummularia [Burm.f.] Wight and Arn is a shrub of plains and sub-montane regions in Pakistan. It has medicinal properties and is used as fodder and fuel. Laboratory studies indicated that whole berries did not germinate for up to 60 days with any of the treatments at various temperatures. Stony endocarp prevented the germination. Seeds had 52%, 44% and 40% germination, respectively, at 20°C, 25°C and 30°C after 20 days. Water pre-soaked seeds had 76% germination within 10 days. The germination was higher at pH 7 than at other pH levels. The rate and% germination decreased gradually with increased moisture stress and increasing depth of sowing. Fresh seeds had low germination than those stored for 18 months

Germination behaviour of withania somnifera [L] dunal

Withania somnifera [L.] Dunal. A medicinally important plant, exhibits delayed and poor germination. The study was, therefore, conducted to find rapid method for improved germination. The findings suggest that freshly collected seeds do not germinate probably due to immature embryo requiring post-harvest maturation period. Seeds exhibited 70-80% germination with the application of IAA, Ga3 or Thiourea alone or in combination with mechanical scarification at 25 ?C. Similarly, nutrient solution and soaking in water alone or subsequent to mechanical scarification enhanced the germination to over 50%. The germination was better at pH7, in surface sown seeds and at field capacity in water saturated conditions. The findings suggest that hard testa might be primarily responsible for delaying and reducing the germination and secondarily assisted by the inhibitors in the seed coat