Ecological and pharmacological studies of an aphrodisiac plant corchorus depressus [Linn.]

The aphrodisiac potential of Corchorus depressus and its various ecological and phytochemical parameters were evaluated in the desert environment. The phyto-sociological studies conducted at five sites revealed higher RIV values of this plant during summer period at all sites. Their biomass allocation is largely affected [P<0.01] by both spatial and temporal factors. In vitro germination studies revealed hard seed coat dormancy, duration of acid scarification follows parabolic relation R[2]=0.96] prolonged presoaking [60 h] in water resulted at 50% germination. The variation in different primary metabolites [protein, soluble sugar] secondary metabolites [steroidal sapogenin, phenol and alkaloid] and microelement [Zn and Fe] contributed [P<0.01] by sites, seasons, and plant parts and their different interactions as well. Concentration of different edaphic factors [moisture, pH, EC, organic C, total N, and available P] in Indian arid zone also influenced by factors like site, season and sampling positions [P<0.01]. The bioassay studies with mice indicated that this plant possesses strong androgenic compound and weak estrogenic compound. Summer season harvest is recommended

Economical applications to identify medicinally important miraceleous castor variety/varieties for Indian desert and semi-arid farming

In the present paper, an attempt has been made to identify the medicinally important miraceleous castor variety/varieties by using various economical aspects i.e. maximum seed production, oil percentage and silk production using fifth instar stage of Philosamia. ricinii, the erisilk worm on the leaves of thirteen released castor varieties viz., Aruna, Bhagya, DCS-9, SKI-73, 48-1, GCH-4, RHC-1, SH-41, TVC-31, TVC-15, TMV-5, NES-6 and CO-1. Seed production wise variety RHC-1 is better, producing 117g seeds plant[-1] and maximum 53% oil content was observed in variety GCH-4. The nutritional physiological indices revealed higher 2.38 CI for variety TMV-5, AD and ECI were higher 63.12 and 24.28 respectively for variety TVC-31, and ECD was maximum for variety DCS-9. On the basis of silk production variety DCS-9 proved better as it produces maximum silk of 2.567 g using 8.012 cumulative consumption as compared to CO-1