Integrated Nutrient Management for Growth and High Yield in Coleus Forskohlii.

Coleus forskohlii L. is an important medicinal plant species found in tropical regions of India. Roots and tubers are used for treating a variety of purposes, including treating asthma, bronchitis, insomnia, epilepsy and angina.Due to diverse use, the species has been largely exploited from natural habitat leading to its threatened status. A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of organic and inorganic fertilizers on its growth and yield. Six treatments including T1 Control -No Manures; T2: 100% NPK recommended dose (N- 40 kg ha-1), T3: 50% NPK + 10 Tonnes of Farm Yard Manure / ha-1, T4: 50% NPK + 5 Tonnes of Vermicompost/ ha, T5:20 Tonnes of Farm Yard Manure / ha and T6: Vermicompost 10 Tonnes/ha-1. Results indicated the improvement in the growth and yield. Combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers is very productive than the application of manures or fertilizers alone for achieving higher growth and yield in C.forskohli.

Immunostimulant, cerebroprotective & nootropic activities of Andrographis paniculata leaves extract in normal & type 2 diabetic rats.

Background & objectives: A large number of plants have been recognized to be effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Persistent hyperglycaemia is associated with decreased function of immune system and cerebral ischaemia mainly due to increased oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Andrographis paniculata is a medicinal plant widely used in folk medicine for various purposes. In this study the effect of chronic administration (7 days) of methanolic extract of A. paniculata leaves was studied in rats with experimentally induced diabetes, nootropic and immunostimulant activities were evaluated. The effect of acute administration of methanolic extract of A. paniculata leaves was also studied for cerebroprotective activity. Methods: Type 2 diabetes was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg) + nicotinamide (150 mg/kg). Various biochemical parameters were estimated using standard methods. Results: A significant (P<0.05) increase in cognitive function was observed in both normal and type 2 diabetic rats. Nootropic activity in terms of per cent reduction in latency period was more in type 2 diabetic rats. A significant increase in blood lymphocyte count, splenic lymphocyte count and peritoneal macrophage count was observed in both normal and type 2 diabetic rats. Immunostimulant activity was observed more in type 2 diabetic rats. The per cent decrease in cerebral infarction was more in type 2 diabetic rats when compared to normal rats. The per cent increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels was more in type 2 diabetic rats. Interpretation & conclusions: The antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract of A. paniculata leaves was evident by decreased tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased SOD levels. These properties may be responsible for the observed cerebroprotective activity. The methanolic leaf extract of A. paniculata showed significant immunostimulant, cerebroprotective and nootropic activities in normal and type 2 diabetic rats.

Evidence for non-coordinated synthesis of 5 S RNA in the thermophilic fungus, Thermomyces lanuginosus.

Analysis of ribosomes and the post ribosomal supernatant fraction of actively growing cells of Thermomyces lanuginosus showed the presence of free 5 S RNA in the supernatant fraction. This 5 S RNA was identical to the ribosomal 5 S RNA in its electrophoretic mobility on 10% Polyacrylamide gel and in its base composition. 5 S RNA from both the sources gave evidence for the presence of diphosphate at the 5’ end. Most of the 5 S RNA that appeared in the cytoplasm was that transported from the nucleus during the isolation. This could be prevented by the use of a hexylene glycol-HEPES buffer.