Effects of Edaphic (Soil) Factors on Plant Distribution in Chameli Community Forest, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Horizontal (east, centre, west) and vertical (bottom, middle and top) distribution study of plants as well as the study of edaphic factors were done in 2016 in Chameli Community Forest hill. Soil samples were taken from bottom, middle and top areas of east, centre and west reasons of the hill. During this study, Schima wallichi and Rhododendron arboreum were found dominant species and had less effect of edaphic factors. Similarly climber plants like Smilax aspara, Smilax lancaefolia, Smilax ovalifolia and Dioscorea bulbifera were absent in west area of top region which might be due to low content of moisture, pH, and phosphorous. Scutellaria repens, Sida cordifolia, Solanum nigrum, Tripterospermum volubile, Carex baccans, Heteropogan contortus etc. were absent in west areas of middle region which might be due to the effect of high % of sand, phosphorous and moisture content and has low % of silt, potassium and pH. Herbs are more dominant in bottom, trees in middle and shrubs in top region. The east area of bottom, middle and top region had more diverse vegetation. The average of organic matter percentage, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous content was maximum in middle hill which supports the highly diversified tree species and dense forest. Phosphorous showed the most effective factor on plant distribution. Therefore, for the proper growth, functioning and abundance of plant species, edaphic factors had a significant effect and play an important role on plant distribution.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(1): 27-37

α-Viniferin-Induced Structural and Functional Alterations in Raillietina echinobothrida, a Poultry Tapeworm

Abstractα-viniferin, an active component of the plant Carex baccans L., is known for its anticancer, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. In Northeast India, different tribes traditionally consume C. baccans to control intestinal helminth infections. Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the extent of tegumental alteration caused by α-viniferin in Raillietina echinobothrida, a widely prevalent poultry helminth in northeast India. Helminths were exposed in vitro to various doses of α-viniferin (50, 100, and 200 µM/mL of physiological buffered saline) and their motility and mortality were recorded. Stereoscan observations on the parasite exposed to the active compound showed extensive distortion and destruction of the surface fine topography of the tegument compared with controls. The compound also caused extensive damage to the tegument by disintegration of microtriches, disorganization of muscle bundles, and loss of cellular organelles combined with distortion and disruption of the plasma membrane, nuclear membrane, nucleolus, mitochondrial membrane, and cristae. Histochemical and biochemical studies carried out parasites exposed to α-viniferin revealed a decline in the activity of vital tegumental enzymes like acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and adenosine triphosphatase. Extensive structural and functional alterations observed in the treated parasites are indicative of efficient cestocidal activity of the compound.

Ultrastructural and Biochemical Alterations in Rats Exposed to Crude Extract of Carex baccans and Potentilla fulgens

The use of plants as a source of medicine is an important component of the health care system in rural India. Carex baccans (Cyperaceae) and Potentilla fulgens (Rosaceae) have been known since ancient times in northeast India for their antitumor, antidiabetic, and antihelmintic properties. The present study was designed to determine the subacute toxicity profile of the root tuber extract of C. baccans and root-peel extract of P. fulgens in Wistar rats. The subacute oral toxicity was conducted using sublethal doses of 40, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 400 mgkg−1 body weights. Surface topographical and ultrastructural observations of liver and intestinal microvilli showed remarkable deformation and disruption, accompanied by quantitative changes in the liver enzymes, i.e., aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in comparison to those of the control group. Apoptotic cell death was observed in the liver cells of rats exposed to both of the plant extracts. A significant increase in splenic lymphocyte count was also observed in rats exposed to the highest concentration of both extracts. The results showed that consumption of the plant extracts at higher doses may cause toxicological effect if treatment continues for a long time.