Evaluation of Low Dose Herbicides in Transplanted Rice (Oryza Sativa L.).

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2011 at College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar. The experiment consisted of 12 treatments laid out in randomized block design with three replications consisting of two pre-emergence herbicides integrated with post emergence herbicides and one hand weeding at 40DAT and two post emergence herbicide, hand weeding twice at 20 and 40 days after transplanting, compared with weed free and unweeded check. The predominant weed flora observed in the experimental field were Echinochloa crusgalli, Panicum repens, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus difformis, Eclipta alba and Ammania baccifera. The results revealed that pre-emergence application of Bensulfuron methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% @ 10 kg granules ha- 1+ Hand weeding at 40 DAT (5455 kg ha-1 and 6345 kg ha-1) and Bensulfuron-methyl 0.6% + Pretilachlor 6% @ 10 kg granules ha-1 + Bispyribac sodium @ 25 g a.i ha-1 recorded significantly higher grain and straw yield (5365 and 6265kg ha-1, respectively) which remained at par with two hand weedings at 20 and 40 DAT (5580 and 6464 kg ha- 1). In terms of economics, highest net returns (Rs. 33,189 ha-1) and B:C ratio (1.40) were also high with the preemergence application of Bensulfuron-methyl 0.6%+ Pretilachlor 6% @ 10 kg granules ha-1+ Bispyribac sodium @ 25 g a.i. ha-1 at 20DAT (1.40) compared to that of two hand weedingds (Rs. 31,952 ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.17) .

Anti-obese activity of Butea monosperma (Lam) bark extract in experimentally induced obese rats.

To study the efficacy of ethanolic extract of B. monosperma bark in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats and monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rats, different doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of B. monosperma bark showed dose dependent decrease in body weight, daily food intake, glucose, lipids, internal organs’ weight and fat pad weight in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats and monosodium glutamate obese rats. The results suggested that B. monosperma has significant anti-obese activity.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of flowers of Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br. in CCl4 induced hepatic damage.

Hepatoprotective activity of 70% ethanolic extract of flowers of C. procera was studied against CCl4 induced hepatic injury in albino rats and mice. In addition, antioxidant activity was studied by in vitro models. Pre-treatment with 70% ethanolic extract (CPA) reduced the biochemical markers of hepatic injury like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, cholesterol, HDL and tissue glutathione (GSH) levels. Similarly pretreatment with CPA reduced the CCl4 induced elevation in the pentobarbitone sleeping time. Histopathological observations also revealed that pretreatment with CPA protected the animals from CCl4 induced liver damage. CPA demonstrated dose dependant reduction in the in vitro and in vivo lipid peroxidation induced by CCl4. In addition it showed dose dependant free radical scavenging activity. The results indicate that flowers of C. procera possess hepatoprotective property possibly because of its anti-oxidant activity. This property may be attributed to the quercetin related flavonoids present in the flowers of Calotropis procera.