International Letters of Natural Sciences Vol. 43

Abstract: Malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium, is an ancient enemy of the human race. Despite enormous efforts to control, it is still a main cause of morbidity and mortality in many endemic countries of the world, particularly Africa, South of Sahara. Malaria seems to be unstoppable due to lack of an effective vaccine, acquisition of drug-resistance by malaria parasite, and insecticide resistance by Anopheles mosquitoes. In this scenario, along with search for novel preventive approaches, adequate health facilities, health literacy and awareness among people are required to control and eliminate this formidable disease from society.

Abstract: Mangroves are various types of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S. Mangrove ecosystems represent natural capital capable of producing a wide range of goods and services for coastal environments and communities and society as a whole. Some of these outputs, such as timber, are freely exchanged in formal markets. Value is determined in these markets through exchange and quantified in terms of price. Particularly the mangroves of Rhizophoraceae have so many ecological importances. Breeding and nursery grounds for a number of marine organisms including the commercially important shrimp crab and fish species. Mangrove trees are also used for house building, furniture, transmission as well as telephone poles and certain household items. Mangrove trees have been the source of firewood in India since ancient time. Because of the high specific gravity of rhizophoraceous wood, the species of Rhizophora, Kandelia, Ceriops and Bruguiera are preferred for firewood.

Abstract: The present investigation reflects the findings of exotic floristic composition at Peddagattu, Nalgonda district, Telangana State, India. A total of 125 exotic species of taxa belonging to 101 genera and 44 families were recorded in the study. Leguminosae is the most dominant family representing with 21 species, followed by Compositae (14 species), Apocynaceae, Convolvulaceae and Poaceae (7 species each). As per the nativity of exotic species representation in the study area are mostly from belongs to tropical America followed by tropical Africa and South America at Peddagattu.

Abstract: Two plants having tubular stems were examined. Water lily belongs to nymphaeaceae, while butterbur belongs to asteraceae. These plants are not relatives; however both have large leaves with lacinia. Furthermore, these plants have tubular long stems. Observations of leaf surface are described. Water lily leaf has an inside layer consisting of a network polygonal structure. The leaf has three layers at the microscopic level including small transparent skin tissue, and a middle layer showing a polygonal green structure where photosynthesis can be performed. The bottom layer shows fine tubular tissues. Stomas are observed on the surface of the leaf, with transparent tissue on the top layer and the stem of the butterbur with honeycomb (polygonal) structures in the leaves and stems. Plants are of interest for technology because their remarkable functional structure may provide clues for applications in materials science. In this study, the fine structures of the two plants were observed to learn their functional structure.

Abstract: A thermo tolerant, feather-degrading, newly isolated actinobacterial strain Streptomyces minutiscleroticus DNA38 was investigated for its ability to produce keratinase. Maximum production (283.4 IU) of keratinase by Streptomyces minutiscleroticus DNA38 in starch chicken feathers medium under submerged bioprocess was observed at optimized conditions of pH 9.0 of the medium and 45 °C incubation temperature. Further, an enhanced production (435.8 IU) of keratinase was achieved employing response surface methodology. Combined interactive effect of starch (7.50 g/L), yeast extract (0.74 g/L) and chicken feathers (7.50 g/L) were found to be the critical process variables for enhanced production under central composite design. Chicken feathers showed a direct action and addition of starch and yeast extract to the medium proved effective for a significant increase in the production of keratinase. The purified keratinase was monomeric and had a molecular mass of 29 kDa. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited after pH 9.0 and temperature 50 °C.

Abstract: Nanoplanktons are ubiquitous protozoan zooplankton in a size range of 2 to 20 μm, play key ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems. Heterotrophic nanoflagellates are distributed through the continental shelf and margin area of the oceans as well as deep-sea. These organisms contribute significantly to the total living biomass within these systems, serve as the major top–down control on bacterial assemblages, and are an important source of mortality for microalgae and other heterotrophic nanoflagellates. From many recent studies, it is generally accepted that HNF is one of the most important bacterial consumers. They also function as important remineralizers of organic matter and nutrients in aquatic systems. In accordance with these important ecological roles, heterotrophic nanoflagellates have been the subject of considerable study both in the field and laboratory.

Abstract: Zinc is a heavy metal; this element is considered as environmental hazard.Toxicity effects of Zinc on growth and development of plants including inhibition of germination process decrease of growth and biomass of plant. The aim of this research is to study accumulation of Zinc along with nutrients and its effect on the growth of Cow pea plant (Vigna unguiculata.L). Thus, cow pea seedlings grown in petriplates lined with filter paper undergoing, different treatments of Zinc (control, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 ppm). After one week seedlings were removed and morpho physiological parameters like root length, shoot length and dry weight of plants and accumulation of nutrients along with Zinc in roots and shoots were determined. The results indicated that the concentrations more than Zinc 50 mg/L zinc cause the reduction of morphophysiology parameters in the treatment plants rather than control plant and zinc addition in the cultures caused enhancement of zinc content in roots and shoots of cow pea seedlings. Similarly nutrient accumulation also affected by increasing concentrations of cow pea. It was also noted that accumulation of zinc in the roots was much higher than the shoots of the seedlings under treatment.

Abstract: Pharmacognosy of the flowers of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde has been carried out to lay down standards for the genuine drug Ashoka with the detailed anatomy of various floral appendages. The aim of the present study is to determine the physico-chemical profile, preliminary phytochemical screening, fluorescence analysis and chemical composition by HPTLC of the medicinally important plant Saraca asoca. These observations would be of immense value in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in crude form. This study would help distinguish the drug from its other species.

Abstract: The increasing temperature is going to be more vulnerable for cool season crops like potato which requires an optimum productivity temperature of 18 to 20 °C. Thus, breeding for heat tolerance has become very important. Therefore, some previously used indices for abiotic stress tolerance have been used in our study for screening of high temperature stress tolerance in potato. Three high yielding (Kufri jyoti, Kufri megha and Kufri pokraj) and two local (Rangpuria and Badami) commonly grown potato cultivars were selected for our experiment. Potato cultivars were sown under normal condition and two high temperature conditions (polyhouse and early season) and indices such as HSI (heat susceptibility index), HTI (heat tolerance index), GM (geometric mean) and HII (heat intensity index) were used to evaluate the performance of the cultivars under all the three temperature conditions. The positive and significant correlation between HTI (heat tolerance index), and GM (geometric mean) as well as with tuber yield under all the conditions revealed that these indices were efficient in selecting the high temperature tolerant potato cultivars. We recorded the equal applicability of these two indices for both high yielding and local group of potato cultivars. Our study revealed that cultivar Kufri megha and Rangpuria showed higher heat tolerance between high yielding and local cultivars respectively.

Abstract: Jasminum auriculatum belonging to the family Oleaceae are reported to have good medicinal values in traditional system of medicines. The present study deals with pharmacognostical examination of morphological and microscopical characters and phytochemical investigations of Jasminum auriculatum leaves including determination of loss on drying, ash values and extractive values. The preliminary phytochemical screening of powdered drug was also carried out, the qualitative chemical examinations revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, carbohydrates, Glycosides, protein, mucilages, phenols ,tannins and flavonoids.