Résumé
Aim: The aim of the present study was to understand the physico-chemical changes during vermicomposting of terrestrial weeds, Mikania micrantha and leaf litters of Acacia auriculiformis and Bambusa polymorpha mixed with cowdung.Methodology: Vermicomposting was done in 2.5 l earthen pot, each having 300 g waste materials [cowdung alone (300g) and different litter wastes mixed with cowdung in 7:3 ratio]. Based on our pilot study using cowdung and plant wastes in different ratios, it was observed that earthworm thrived well and acted better in 7:3 (plant wastes: cowdung) compared to other ratios. Each pot was inoculated with 30 adult earthworms, Perionyx excavatus [cumulative weight (g) 9.99±0.09] after 21 days of pre-composting of wastes. Samples from vermicomposting pots were collected on 0, 15, 30 and 45th day for physico-chemical analysis of wastes. Results: Vermicomposting brought about changes in pH values near to neutral at the end of the experiment in all the treatments. Significant increase (p<0.05) in the electrical conductivity, total nitrogen (%), available phosphorus (mg 100g-1), available potassium (mg 100g-1) and a significant decrease (p<0.05) in total organic carbon (%) and C:N ratios from initial feed mixtures to final product in all the vermicomposting treatments were observed. The maximum rise in electrical conductivity, nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were recorded in the vermicompost obtained from Mikania-cowdung-mixtures. Interpretation: Vermicompost derived from Mikania-cowdung mixtures may be considered as suitable organic resource. Addition of carbonaceous materials such as leaf litters, sawdust, straw etc. with Mikania-cowdung mixtures is recommended for vermicomposting to increase the C:N ratio of vermicompost for slow release of nutrients.
Résumé
Acacia auriculifornis A.Cunn.ex Benth.is a perennial shrub having a wide range of medicinal potentials and is widely distributed throughout the world.It is being used traditionally to overcome various medical complications like sore eyes,aches,rheumatism,allergy,itching,and rashes.Besides,Acacia auriculifromis has been proven for many pharmacological activities like central nervous system depressant activity,antioxidant,antimicrobial,antimalarial,anti-filarial,cestocidal,antimutagenic,chemopreventive,spermicidal,wound healing,hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activity due to its low toxicity (LD50 =3 741.7 mg/kg) and high efficacy.In addition,various phytochemical investigations reveal the presence of chief constituents as flavonoids (Auriculoside) and triterpenoid saponin glycosides (acaciasides-acaciaside A & B) in different parts of this plant.Since many years researchers have been carrying out various studies on this medicinal important shrub to elicit the various biological activities.This review attempts to highlight the pharmacognostical,phytochemical and pharmacological observations from 1965 to 2018 retrieved from SciFinder,Scientific journals,books,Google Scholar,and botanical electronic database websites.The various plant extracts evaluated for different pharmacological activities showed significant efficacy.Bioactive phytoconstituents isolated from various parts of the plant are highlighted.Pharmacognostical standardization of the plant done with various standard parameters is also reported.The low toxicity of this plant and the presence of major bioactive phytoconstituents like flavonoids and triterpenoid saponin glycosides are responsible for a therapeutic remedy for various diseases and pharmacological activities respectively.This review provides exhaustive information about the pharmacognostical,phytochemical,and pharmacological investigations of Acacia auriculiformis till date.
Résumé
Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth. is a perennial shrub having a wide range of medicinal potentials and is widely distributed throughout the world. It is being used traditionally to overcome various medical complications like sore eyes, aches, rheumatism, allergy, itching, and rashes. Besides, Acacia auriculiformis has been proven for many pharmacological activities like central nervous system depressant activity, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-filarial, cestocidal, antimutagenic, chemopreventive, spermicidal, wound healing, hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activity due to its low toxicity (LD
Résumé
Soil dehydrogenase activity is a good indicator of overall microbial activity in soil, and it can serve as a good indicator of soil condition. However, seasonal changes in soil moisture content may have an effect on soil dehydrogenase activity, making an accurate assessment of soil condition difficult. In this study, we attempted to determine the significance of soil dehydrogenase activity for assessing soil condition, and we attempted to find a way to account for the influence of soil moisture content on soil dehydrogenase activity. Soils were sampled in dry evergreen forest (original vegetation), bare ground (severely degraded) and Acacia plantation plots established on bare ground in 1986 and 1987 in Sakaerat, Thailand. Soil physico-chemical characteristics and dehydrogenase activity in the Acacia plantation soil had few differences from those in the evergreen forest soil. Soil dehydrogenase activity varied significantly between the bare ground and the forests regardless of the season (wet or dry), while the season did not produce a significant variation in soil dehydrogenase activity, as determined by repeated measures analysis of variance (p=0.077). The physico-chemical data provided the first principal component as a good measure of soil fertility. Values of soil dehydrogenase activity significantly correlated to scores of the soil samples of the first principal component (R=0.787, p<0.001). We found that soil dehydrogenase activity is a useful indicator of the extent of soil degradation and the rehabilitative effects of reforestation in this part of Thailand. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 223-234. Epub 2009 June 30.