Angiogenesis and Antioxidant Activity of in vitro and in vivo Tuber of Ceropegia pusilla Wight and Arn.

Background: Angiogenesis refers to the formation of new blood vessels. This biological process lays an important role in embryonic development. Ceropegia pusilla (Asclepiadaceae) used in folk medicine system to treat various health problems. Present work deals with the analysis of antioxidant and antiangiogenic properties of in vivo and in vitro tuber extracts of C. pusilla by Chicken Egg Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay (CAM) in vivo. Methods: C. pusilla tubers of both in vivo and in vitro were extracted with ethanol and methanol. In vivo anti angiogenesis effect was studied by Chicken Egg Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) assay. The antioxidant properties were analysed using 1, -diphenyl-2- picryl- hydrazyl free radical scavenging assay and reducing power activity. Result: Ethanolic extract of both in vivo and in vitro tuber showed higher angiogenic activities 58.3±13.6 and 43.2±12.2 respectively than the methanolic extract. The average number of vessels in in vivo and in vitro ethanolic extracts treated CAM was 6.48 and 5.43. In vivo and in vitro extracts exhibits comparable DPPH radical scavenging activity and better reducing power activity. Conclusion: C. pusilla tuber extracts of both in vivo and in vitro inhibited angiogenesis by blocking normal vascularisation in chick embryo and also having better DPPH and reducing power activity.

In vitro Propagation of Caralluma diffusa (Wight) N.E.Br.

An efficient protocol is described for the rapid in vitro multiplication of an endangered medicinal plant, Caralluma diffusa, via enhanced axillary bud proliferation from nodal explants collected from young shoots of six-months-old plant. The physiological effects of growth regulators Benzylamino purine (BAP), Thidiazuron (TDZ), Kinetin (KIN), α- Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) full strength of Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium on in vitro propagation were investigated. The highest number of shoots in initiation (4.16±0.30) and in subculture (17.33±0.33) and the maximum average shoot length (4.17±0.03cm) were recorded on MS medium supplemented with BAP (4.44 μM) and TDZ (0.90 μM) at pH 5.8. Rooting was best achieved on MS medium augmented with NAA (5.37 μM). The plantlets regenerated in vitro with well-developed shoot and roots were successfully established in pots containing decomposed coir waste, vermiculite and garden soil (1:1:1ratio) and grown in a shade house with 93.83% survival rate.

Microtuberization of Ceropegia pusilla Wight and Arn. an Endangered Medicinal Plant.

An efficient micropropagation (direct & indirect) and microtuberization protocol for an endemic and ethanomedicinal plant Ceropegia pusilla is described. The highest number of shoot initiation (3.50 0.34) and higher average shoot number in shoot subculture (15.40  1.65) were recorded on MS medium supplemented with BAP+NAA (2.5+0.5 mg/l). The best performance of callus induction and morphogenesis was found on MS medium supplemented with BAP and NAA from stem. The callus initiation was recorded on MS medium supplemented with BAP+NAA (0.5 + 1.0 mg/l) and the higher percentage of callus forming shoots from callus subculture is determinate to be 90-95  7.93. MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinins and auxins supported the induction of microtubers, in vitro flowering and roots. The microtubers and root formation occurred on the basal region of the shoots in MS medium containing BAP (1.5mg/l) and NAA (0.5mg/l). The higher average number of root length was (2.8  0.68cm) also observed in the same concentration. The plantlets regenerated in vitro with welldeveloped shoots, microtubers and roots were successfully established in pots containing hardening media and grown in a shade house with 81 3.16% survival rate.

Regeneration of Shoots from Callus of Ceropegia pusilla Wight and ARN.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the most suitable concentration of plant growth regulators and suitable explants for callus induction and subsequent organogenesis of an endangered medicinal plant Ceropegia pusilla. The best performance of callus induction and morphogenesis was found on MS medium supplemented with 6- benzylaminopurine (BA) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), from node and internode the maximum account of callus initiation was recorded on MS medium supplemented with BA+NAA (2.22μM + 5.37 μM) and the maximum % of callus induced on subculture is 5.47  0.68. Rooting was best achieved on MS medium augmented with IBA (2.46μM). The maximum number of roots (4.72  0.66 cm) and root length (4.8  0.49 cm) were recorded). Plantlets regenerated in vitro with well-developed shoot and roots were successfully acclimatized in pots containing a mixture of decomposed coir waste, perlite and compost 1: 1:1 ratio and grown in a shade house with 81  3.16 percent survival rates.

Role of Non Timber Forest Products in the Livelihood of Malayali tribe of Chitteri hills of Southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India.

The forest of Chitteri hills, Southern Eastern Ghats support rich diversity of timber as well as non timber yielding species. Malayali tribes living close to forest are depend on the forest products possesses imperative part of the traditional life style in Chitteri hills. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) such as wild edible fruits, vegetables, fuel wood, fodder plants, house construction materials, household uses, agricultural implements and medicinal plants are mostly collected from natural habitats. Economically important 80 species and 216 medicinal species have been recorded by the Malayali tribes. The importance of NTFP collection by tribal community has shown decreasing trend due to exotic cultural invading in the study region.