In vitro antioxidant potential and antimicrobial activity of leaves and stem extracts of Anogeissus pendula Edgew.

Anogeissus pendula Edgew. is commonly used in the conventional Indian medicinal system and is reported to contain phenolic compounds which have antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The goal of our study is to look at the antioxidant function and antibacterial activity of A. pendula leaf and stem extracts. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and total tannin content (TTC) were determined using a spectrophotometric technique (TTC). In vitro techniques such as 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging tests (H2O2) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used in the study. The disc diffusion technique was used to assess antibacterial activity and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was investigated against four bacterial strains. The TTC of leaf and stem methanol extract was considerably higher which ranged from 15.07 ± 0.506 to 38.77 ± 1.253 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) /g in leaves and 19.83 ± 0.084 to 28.56 ± 0.437 mg GAE/g in the stem. The content of flavonoid in the leaf and stem methanol extract varied from 12.53 ± 0.603 to 37.28 ± 0.466 mg rutin equivalent (RE) /g in leaves and 10.01 ± 0.177 to 37.28 ± 0.466 mg RE/g in stems. Hydroalcoholic extract of leaf and stem showed the highest tannin content and ranged from 23.73 ± 0.091 to 34.08 ± 0.261 mg tannic acid equivalent (TAE) /g. In order of efficacy (IC50) of the plant extracts, the effective inhibitor was the methanol extract of leaf and stem in the DPPH and H2O2 assay. FRAP value was higher in the hydroalcoholic extract of both leaf and stem. Antimicrobial activity tests revealed that all extracts limit the development of diverse microbial strains such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas putida and Streptococcus aureus with a mean zone of inhibition ranging from 0 to 15.67 mm. The MIC of A. pendula leaf and stem solvent extracts against bacterial strains ranged from 0.195 to 50 mg/ml. The findings revealed that A. pendula has a variety of phytochemicals with substantial antioxidant and antibacterial properties, confirming its usage in traditional medicine.

Density, diversity and community composition of trees in tropical thorn forest, peninsular India

Tropical thorn forests (TTFs) are characterized by the presence of small and thorny trees which usually shed their leaves in dry season. A quantitative phytosociological study was conducted in Uthumalai Reserve Forest of Peninsular India to record density, species richness, diversity and population structure of trees. Diameter of all free standing trees ≥1 cm diameter at breast height (DBH, cm) was measured at 1.37 m above the ground. A sum of 4135 trees ≥1cm DBH recorded from one hectare study plot. With 2272 (54.94%) individuals Dalbergia spinosa dominated the study plot followed by Commiphora berryi (484, 11.70%), Grewia flavescens (259, 6.26%), Dichrostachys cinerea (206, 4.98%) and Anogeissus pendula (171, 4.14%). In total, 26 species belonged to 19 genera and 15 families found in one ha study plot. The family Mimosaceae had a large number of species followed by Apocynaceae, Capparidaceae, Tiliaceae, Rhamnaceae. Rubiaceae (each 2 species). Stand basal area of tree community recorded as 15.238 m2 ha-1. Commiphora berryi constituted 50.80% (7.74 m2 ha-1) of stand basal area followed by Dalbergia spinosa (19.43%, 2.96 m2 ha-1). The forest showed a reverse J shaped population structure. Shannon diversity (H), equitability (H’) and Simpson’s dominance (D) indices of study area recorded as 1.76, 0.54 and 0.335, respectively. Dalbergia spinosa, Commiphora berryi, Grewia flavescens, Dichrostachys cinerea and Anogeissus pendula topped the species important value index with 87.80, 73.53, 20, 19.79, 17.43 scores, respectively. In family important value index, Papilionaceae topped the list followed by Burseraceae and Mimosaceae with scores 129.32, 74.23 and 34.43, respectively. The study area endowed with a moderate species richness and diversity, and acts as one of the homes for an IUCN’s vulnerable tree species.

First photographic evidence and distribution of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India

The Indian Pangolin, although considered to be widely distributed due to its elusive nature and low detection probability its status and distribution records are very limited. Rampant hunting for local consumption, and illegal wildlife trade for medicinal and ornamental purposes has pushed the species towards serious decline. Herein, we report the first photographic records of the Indian Pangolin in Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), Rajasthan, India. During our camera trapping study from June 2018 to April 2019, out of 29,220 camera trapping nights the species was recorded on four occasions, at two different locations in STR. The species was recorded in the open forest areas near natural water bodies situated in the middle of dense Anogeissus pendula forests.

ANTIULCER AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACTS OF STEM BARK AND LEAF OF ANOGEISSUS PENDULA EDGEW

Anogeissus pendula Edgew has been reported to be used in gastric disorder even though no attempt has been made to evaluate the same. The present study was designed to evaluate the hydroalcoholic extracts of stem bark and leaves for in vivo acute antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activities. Antiulcer activity was studied by pylorus ligation induced ulcers while anti-inflammatory activities was studied by carrageenan induced paw edema. The extract of stem bark at 200 and 400 mg/kg b. w., significantly (P<0.05) reduced ulcer index whereas extracts of both stem bark and leaves significantly (P<0.001) reduced paw diameter at the fifth hour. The hydroalcholic extract of stem bark of A. pendula possesses more significant antiulcer and anti-inflammatory activity than the hydroalcholic extract of leaves may be due to the presence of higher amount of phenolic compounds.

Ecological and Ethnobotanical Characterisation of Gujarat Forests

This study focused on the ecological and ethnobotanical characteristics of the natural forests, forest plantations, and forest orchards in the Gujarat state of India through an extensive field survey of trees, shrubs, and herbs over a span of four years. We inventoried 345 tree, 345 shrub, and 1,380 herb plots using a stratified random sampling design. In all, 706 species [trees (224), shrubs (68), and herbs (414)] were recorded. The highest number of species were noted in teak mixed dry deciduous forest (207), followed by scrub (132), thorn forest (91), grassland (78), teak mixed moist deciduous forest (51), forest plantations (34), degraded forest (30), Prosopis juliflora scrub (24), forest orchard (19), ravine thorn forest (16), Anogeissus pendula forest (8), riverain forest (8), Eucalyptus plantation (6), mangrove forest (1), and mangrove scrub (1). Fabaceae was observed to be the dominant family. Out of total species, twenty-nine (29) species were found to be rare (25), endangered (2), and threatened (2). Fabaceae was also the dominant family for rare, endangered, and threatened (RET) species. Six endemic species were recorded. The highest value of Shannon’s Index of plant diversity was noticed in teak mixed dry deciduous forest (3.14), followed by teak mixed moist deciduous forest (2.96), ravine thorn forest (2.08), forest plantations (1.97), thorn forest (1.64), riverine forest (1.41), and degraded forest (1.49). Two hundred fifty-two species, including trees (24), shrubs (101), herbs (123), climbers (3), and bamboo (1) found to be ethnobotanically important. Fabaceae happened to be the dominant family in terms of ethnobotanically important plants too.

Allelopathic effect of Anogeissus pendula Edgew. and Grewia flavescens A.Juss on Desmodium species in Alwar district of Rajasthan

The effect of leaf leachates of Anogeissus pendula Edgew. and Grewia flavescens A.Juss was evaluated on growth of the three species of Desmodium in Alwar district of Rajasthan (27°4’ to 28°4’ N and 76°7’ to 77°13’ E). Anogeissus pendula reduced the seed germination of Desmodium repandum from 85% in control to 43% at 2% concentration, Desmodium gangeticum from 80% in control to 50% at 6% concentration and Desmodium triflorum from 78% in control to 28% at 0.1% concentration of leaf leachates. Similarly, the leaf leachates of Grewia flavescens reduced the seed germination of Desmodium repandum from 85% in control to 40% at 2% concentration, Desmodium gangeticum from 80% in control to 50% even at 0.1% concentration and Desmodium triflorum from 78% in control to 21% at 0.5% concentration. The leaf leachates of both the species also reduced the elongation of radicle and plumule of three Desmodium species; however, the adverse effect of leaf leachate of Grewia flavescens was more severe than that of the other species. Among the three Desmodium species, the allelopathic effect of Grewia flavescens and Anogeissus pendula was more severe on Desmodium triflorum as compared to the other two species. It may be suggested that the population of three species of Desmodium is partly regualated by the allelopathic effect of Anogeissus pendula and Grewia flavescens in this tropical dry deciduous forest.