Diversity and Distribution of Endophytic Fungi in Pteridophyte Leaves | InformativeBD

V. Mahalakshmi and G. Venkatesan, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Diversity and Distribution of Endophytic Fungi in Pteridophyte Leaves. Entitled, Endophytic fungal communities in the leaves of pteridophyte plants: Diversity and distribution patterns. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Two species of pteridophytes, viz., Adiantum capillus and Nephrolepis cordifolia pteridophyte plant species of the tropical herb, studied by endophytic fungi were collected from Coonoor, a city in (Ooty) Nilgiris district in the south India state of Tamil Nadu. They were screened for the presence of fungal endophytes from the plant parts. A total of 17 species of fungal endophytes were recorded. Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium oxysporium, Curvularia lunata and Phomopsis sp. 1 occurred in all the pteridophyte species screened. The maximum number of endophytic fungal species was observed in Adiantum capillus, while Nephrolepis cordifolia ranked first in the number of isolates. The species composition, endophyte assemblage and pattern of colonisation among these vascular cryptogams were similar to those of the most studied phanerogams.

Read more: Fungal Endophyte Diversity in Tribulus terrestris from Tamil Nadu’s Delta Region | InformativeBD

Introduction

Endophytes have been known for a long time. The term endophyte was actually coined in 1884 by Heinrich Anton de Bary, who recognised that fungi and bacteria could dwell within plant tissues without causing any apparent harm. Endophytes are microbes, bacteria, fungi, or actinomycetes that live inside the tissues of plants for the entire or part of their life cycle without causing any disease to the host (Arpita et al., 2022). These are ubiquitous microorganisms, reported in almost all the vascular plants and bryophytes studied to date (Hardoim et al., 2015; Venkatesan and Mahalakshmi, 2022). Endophytes, organisms that are present in the internal parts of living plant tissues without causing any disease symptoms, are assumed to be present in all the plant species surveyed so far (Stone et al., 2000). Fungal endophytes have been reported from mosses (Petrini, 1986), gymnosperms (Carroll and Carroll, 1978; Petrini and Carroll, 1981), and angiosperms (Arnold et al., 2001; Suryanarayanan et al., 2011). Studies in the tropics with regard to the taxonomy and ecology of fungal endophytes have gained interest in the recent past (Mishra et al., 2012). This is due to the fact that the internal tissues of plants are relatively unexplored for fungi, and this niche of microbes could be sourced for novel fungi and potential compounds as well (Jacob and Bhat, 2000). 

The fungal endophytes are being reported from two pteridophyte species, viz., Adiantum capillus and Nephrolepis cordifolia. Pteridophytes and their associates are primitive vascular plants that did not ever bloom and are referred to as reptiles. They are frequently discovered across wet and cold environments and the tropics are where they are most widely varied (Giri et al., 2021). Pteridophytes are regarded as significant due to their evolutionary relevance, they are a notable ancient group of species with a significant number of relics and endemic ones (Patil et al., 2016). The pteridophytic flora of Nepal is extremely diverse due to the country's significant altitudinal changes, which vary from humid tropical to mountain ranges, as well as the existence of a wide range of climatic conditions and soil types (Gurung, 1992). In contrast to seeded plants, they can be found in ecosystems from the tropics to the poles and reproduce by means of tiny spores (Moran, 2004). After Linnaeus published "Species Plantarum" in 1753, with 140 genera and 182 species of pteridophytes, the history of the study of pteridophytes began.

Research on the relationships between species and elevation has frequently focused on pteridophytes, with the highest diversity seen in tropical and subtropical highlands (Bhattrai et al., 2004). Several studies of pteridophytes have already been conducted in various parts of Nepal, but comparative research on the diversity of pteridophytes in various aspects of Nepal is still insufficient. Few works done in Palpa district in the past include floristic research done by (Mahato, 2014) and (Shrestha et al., 2018). Pteridophytes are higher cryptogams with a welldeveloped vascular system and there are around 13,271 live species listed in a global checklist of ferns and lycophytes (Hassler, 2018).

A wide range of plant species have been reported to be host to endophytic fungi (Rajamanikyam et al., 2017; Souza and Santos, 2017; Toghueo and Boyom, 2019). These bacteria can be taken out of the inside of plants or separated from plant tissues that have been damaged on the surface (Hallmann et al., 1997). Endophytic fungi are abundant in bioactive substances with functions essential to host plant health and resilience to stressful conditions as well as the survival and upkeep of endophytes in plants. These substances include hormones (such as auxin, gibberellins), cellulases, proteases and chitinases), antimicrobial agents (Eid et al., 2019).

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Eid AM, Salim SS, Hassan SD, Ismail MA, Foud AA. 2019. Role of endophytes in plant health and abiotic stress management. In: Kumar V, Prasad R, Kumar M, Choudhary DK, Eds. Microbiome in plant health and disease: challenges and opportunities. Singapore: Springer, 119–144.

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Giri P, Kumari P, Sharma P, Uniyal PL. 2021. Ethnomedicinal uses of Pteridophytes for treating various human ailments in India. New vistas in Indian flora, 1st Edn. M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India. ISBN 978-81.

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Jacob M, Bhat DJ. 2000. Two new endophytic conidial fungi from India. Cryptogamie Mycologie 21(2), 81–88.

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Mahato RB. 2014. Floristic composition of Palpa district, west Nepal. Nepalese Journal of Biosciences 4(1), 16–21.

Mishra A, Gond SK, Kumar A, Sharma VK, Verma SK, Kharwar RN. 2012. Season and tissue type affect fungal endophyte communities of the Indian medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia more strongly than geographic location. Microbial Ecology 64, 328–398.

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Prabha T, Pooja J, Namita M, Rupam K, Piyush M. 2024. Bioprospecting of endophytic fungi from medicinal plant Anisomeles indica L. for their diverse role in agricultural and industrial sectors. Scientific Reports 14, 588.

Rajamanikyam M, Vadlapudi V, Amanchy R, Upadhyayul SM. 2017. Endophytic fungi as novel resources of natural therapeutics. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 60(0), n.p.

Shrestha HS, Rajbhandary S. 2019. Floristic study of fern and fern allies along altitudinal gradient from Besishahar to Lower Manang, Central Nepal. Journal of Plant Resources 17, 29–34.

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Suryanarayanan TS, Kumaresan V, Johnson JA. 1998. Foliar fungal endophytes from two species of the mangrove Rhizophora. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 44, 1003–1006.

Suryanarayanan TS, Murali TS, Thirunavukkarasu N, Govinda Rajulu MB, Venkatesan G, Sukumar R. 2011. Endophytic fungal communities in woody perennials of three tropical forest types of the Western Ghats, southern India. Biodiversity and Conservation 20, 913–928.

Suryanarayanan TS, Murali TS, Venkatesan G. 2002. Occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in tropical forests across a rainfall gradient. Canadian Journal of Botany 80, 818–824.

Suryanarayanan TS, Venkatesan G, Murali TS. 2003. Endophytic fungal communities in leaves of tropical forest trees: diversity and distribution patterns. Current Science 85, 489–493.

Tedersoo L, Sanchez-Ramírez S, Koljalg U, Bahram M, Doring M, Schigel D, May T, Ryberg M, Abarenkov K. 2018. High-level classification of the fungi and a tool for evolutionary ecological analyses. Fungal Diversity 1, 135–159.

Toghueo RMK, Boyom FF. 2019. Endophytic fungi from Terminalia species: a comprehensive review. Journal of Fungi 5(2), 43.

Venkatesan M. 2022. Diversity of bryobilous fungi in desiccation–tolerance bryophyte plants. International Journal of Science and Research Archive 7(2), 200–209.

Source : Endophytic fungal communities in the leaves of pteridophyte plants: Diversity and distribution patterns  

 

 

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Fungal Endophyte Diversity in Tribulus terrestris from Tamil Nadu’s Delta Region | InformativeBD

K. Hemalatha, and G. Venkatesan, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Fungal Endophyte Diversity in Tribulus terrestris from Tamil Nadu’s Delta Region. Entitled, Fungal endophytic communities in Tribulus terrestris L. collected from the delta region of Tamil Nadu, South India. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris L.) is an annual, silky herb plant belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family widely distributed around the world. Small woody Plant, leaves are compound and opposite and fruit have long, sharp and strong spines. The leaf, root and fruit of the plant have been utilized medicinally in traditionally Ayurvedic medicine Siddha and Unani for their phytochemical and pharmacological activities. An assemblage of endophytic fungi was isolated from Tribulus terrestris L. collected from the Delta Region of Tamil Nadu, India. Fungal endophytes were isolated using leaf surface sterilization standard methods. Thirty-one species and 21 (genus) endophytic fungal strains were isolated from the leaves, petioles and stems of Tribulus terrestris. The identification of fungal strain through morphological observation from standard manuals and showed that fungal endophytes were associated with host plants belonging to a few taxons of Alternaria, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Curvularia, Fusarium and Phyllosticta capitalensis fungi that were frequently isolated. The endophytic fungus   Fusarium oxysporum was the dominant species in this study; it was isolated from host plant samples during wet and dry seasons.

 Read more : Antimicrobial Potential of Ethanolic Fruit Extracts from Terminalia pallida | InformativeBD

Introduction

Endophytes have been known about for a long time. The term endophyte was actually coined in 1884 by Heinrich Anton de Bary, who recognized that fungi and bacteria could dwell within plant tissues without causing any apparent harm. Endophytes are microbes that are bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes that live inside the tissues of plants for the entire or part of their life cycle without causing any disease to the host (Arpita et al., 2022). These are ubiquitous microorganisms, reported in almost all the vascular plants and bryophytes studied to date (Hardoim et al., 2015; Venkatesan and Mahalakshmi, 2022). Fungal endophytes have been isolated from lichens, moss, ferns and gymnosperms, monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, growing in different environments (Petrini et al., 1990). They are found in every part of plants, that is leaves, fruits, flowers, stems, roots and seeds and are transmitted by horizontal or vertical means (Bacon and White, 2000; Hartley and Gange, 2009). These microbes have potential applications in agricultural, pharmaceutical and other industries.

Endophyte constitutes an important component of microbial biodiversity. Diverse fungal community composition and isolation of endophytes are found in various host plants. The relationship of endophytes with single or multiple plant hosts can be described in terms of host specificity, host selectivity or host preference and host recurrence (Cohen, 2006). The endophytic fungal community confirmed host specificity at the species level but this specificity could be influenced by environmental conditions (Cohen, 2004). Differences in endophytic fungal assemblages in different tissue types have been reported in the same plant species, or even in different tissues of an individual plant which is a reflection of tissue specificity. Endophytic fungi can be found in every part of the plant such as the leaf, stem, root, flower, fruit, and seed.

Endophytic fungi can produce secondary metabolites that depend on their host plant. Those secondary metabolites protect the host plant itself and can act as antimicrobials and antivirus.

Moreover, the use of secondary metabolites of endophytes could also reduce the overexploitation of medicinal plants as the source materials of drugs and the production cost of medicines (Dhanalakhsmi et al., 2013; Kursia et al., 2018). Endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal plants are considered an attractive source of novel bioactive compounds (Strobel et al., 2004; Kumar et al., 2014). Various types of plants can be used as the hosts for endophytic fungi. The endophytic fungi from medicinal plants is a source of beneficial secondary metabolites. It also can produce bioactive compounds which have the potential to be materials for producing modern medicine or agrochemical applications (Widowati et al., 2016; Praptiwi et al., 2018). Its various parts contain a variety of chemical constituents that are medicinally important such as flavonoids, flavonol glycosides, steroidal saponins, and alkaloids. Tribulus terrestris L. is used in folk medicine as a tonic, aphrodisiac, palliative, astringent, stomachic, antihypertensive, diuretic, lithotriptic, and urinary disinfectant, antiurolithic, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, absorption enhancing, hypolipidemic, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, anticancer, antibacterial, anthelmintic, larvicidal, and anticariogenic activities.

The dried fruit of the herb is very effective in most of the genitourinary tract disorders. It is a vital constituent of Gokshuradi Guggul (it helps in treating renal calculi or kidney stones, it helps in treating urinary tract infections), a potent Ayurvedic medicine used to support the proper functioning of the genitourinary tract and to remove urinary stones.

Tribulus terrestris L. has been used for centuries in Ayurveda to treat impotence, venereal diseases and sexual debility. In Bulgaria, the plant is used as a folk medicine for treating impotence. In addition to all these applications, the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India attributes cardio tonic properties to the root and fruit. In traditional Chinese medicine, fruits are used for the treatment of eye trouble, oedema, abdominal distension, emission, morbid leucorrhea, and sexual dysfunction. Tribulus terrestris L. is described as a highly valuable drug in the Shern - Nong Pharmacopoeia (the oldest known pharmacological work in China) in restoring the depressed liver, for treatment of fullness in the chest, mastitis, flatulence, acute conjunctivitis, headache, and vitiligo (Vitiligo is a disease that causes loss of skin color in patches). In Unani medicine, Tribulus terrestris L. is used as a diuretic, mild laxative, and general tonic (Gilman, 1971). One of the plant species that can be a host for endophytic fungi is Tribulus terrestris L.

This study was conducted to investigate the abundance and diversity of endophytic fungi inhabiting Tribulus terrestris collected from the Delta Region of Tamil Nadu, India.

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Suryanarayanan TS, Kumaresan V, Johnson JA. 1998. Foliar fungal endophytes from two species of the mangrove Rhizophora. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 44, 1003–1006.

Suryanarayanan TS, Murali TS, Venkatesan G. 2002. Occurrence and distribution of fungal endophytes in tropical forests across a rainfall gradient. Can. J. Bot. 80, 818-824.

Suryanarayanan TS, Venkatesan G, Murali TS. 2003. Endophytic fungal communities in leaves of tropical forest trees: diversity and distribution patterns. Curr Sci. 85, 489–493.

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Tedersoo L, Sanchez-Ramírez S, Koljalg U, Bahram M, Doring M, Schigel D, May T, Ryberg M, Abarenkov K. 2018. High-level classification of the fungi and a tool for evolutionary ecological analyses. Fungal Diversity 1, 135–159.

Venkatesan, Mahalakshmi. 2022. Diversity of bryobilous fungi in desiccation-tolerance bryophyte plants. Int. J. Sci. Res. Arch. 7(2), 200-209.

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Widowati T, Bustanussalam, Harmastini S, Partomuan S. 2016. Isolasi dan identifikasi kapang endofit dari tanaman kunyit (Curcuma longa L) sebagai penghasil antioksidan. Biopropal Industri 1, 7–16.

Source : Fungal endophytic communities in Tribulus terrestris L. collected from the delta region of TamilNadu, South India

 

 

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Antimicrobial Potential of Ethanolic Fruit Extracts from Terminalia pallida | InformativeBD

S. Veni Madhavi, P. Ramesh, D. Sudheer Kumar, and B. Kiran Kumar, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Antimicrobial Potential of Ethanolic Fruit Extracts from Terminalia pallida. Entitled, Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of ethanolic fruit extracts of Terminalia pallida Brandis.This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

Terminalia pallida has been traditionally used to treat cough, cold, diarrhea, respiratory infections, peptic ulcers, diabetes, fissures, cracks, skin diseases and used in the tanning and dyeing industries. Owing to its bioactive compounds, such as tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoids this study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of T. pallida fruit extracts against various microbial strains. The antimicrobial activity was determined using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values and zone of inhibition measurements against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. The MIC indicated that S. aureus, B. cereus, S. epidermidis, and E. coli were sensitive to the extract at 12.5 mg/ml. However, E. aerogenes and P. aeruginosa required higher concentrations of 25 and 50 mg/ml, respectively, to inhibit growth. For fungal strains, MIC was observed as 25 mg/ml. The zone of inhibition studies confirmed these findings, showing significant inhibition of Gram-positive bacteria at both low and high doses of the extract. P. aeruginosa exhibited moderate sensitivity at the high dose, while E. coli and E. aerogenes showed resistance. In fungal strains, C. albicans was found to be more sensitive than A. niger. Ethanolic fruit extract of T. pallida demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity, particularly against Gram-positive bacteria, with dose-dependent efficacy. Further research is needed to optimize the concentrations and explore mechanisms to enhance the activity against resistant Gram-negative strains.

Read more : Physico-Chemical Analysis of Lake Soil for Environmental Management | InformativeBD

Introduction 

Plants have traditionally been used to treat various infections, and modern research has validated the antimicrobial properties of many plant species. Herbal medicine is a promising alternative for combating infectious diseases (Chaughule and Barve, 2024; Singamaneni et al., 2020). The genus Terminalia, which comprises various species, has demonstrated significant antimicrobial properties that have been extensively explored in numerous studies (McGaw et al., 2001). Extracts from Terminalia species have shown effectiveness against different pathogens, including multiple microbes such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses (Fyhrquist et al., 2014). The literature on Terminalia species shows significant antimicrobial properties, especially in T. ferdinandiana, T. bellarica, and T. chebula, against drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA (Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi such as Candida (Konczak, 2014). These properties are attributed to bioactive compounds, such as tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids, found in various plant parts. Therefore, we hypothesized that T. pallida fruits which are used as a substitute for T. chebula, may exhibit similar antimicrobial effects. This hypothesis justifies screening T. pallida fruits for antimicrobial activity, potentially contributing to new, natural treatments for resistant infections (Dwivedi, 2007; Gurib-Fakim, 1994; Kesharwani et al., 2017; Latheef, 2007).

Terminalia pallida Brandis, commonly known as the pale-leaved Terminalia, is a prominent species of the Combretaceae family. T. pallida is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of South India, particularly Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (Anonymous, 1976). It is a semi-evergreen tree that grows to a height of 40 feet. It is endemic to the Eastern Ghats, particularly on the hilltops of dry deciduous forests. This species is mainly found in Chittoor and Kadapa districts (Kameswara Rao, 2003). The tree leaves are thick, simple, alternate, ovate to elliptic pale green leaves and their flowers are pale yellow, appearing as simple terminal and axillary spikes. The fruits were glossy, light green and faintly ridged when dry. T. pallida have a generation age of 29 years (Gupta, 2002). According to the IUCN Red List, the number of T. pallida is decreasing in the wild, and it has been given a vulnerable status and is recognized for its potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties (Dokuparthi et al., 2014; Sarvan Kumar et al., 2021).

Infectious diseases continue to pose a significant global health burden, with diseases caused by Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Candida leading to high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2008). Despite advances in modern medicine, including the development of vaccines and antibiotics, challenges remain owing to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens and limited access to healthcare (WHO, 2012). Current treatment options for infectious diseases often rely on antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals; however, the overuse and misuse of these drugs have led to increasing resistance, rendering some treatments ineffective. Additionally, the rapid pace of urbanization, climate change, and increased global connectivity have facilitated the spread of infectious diseases, creating new challenges for global public health systems (Prestinaci, 2015). The objective of this research is to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of Terminalia pallida fruit extracts against various bacterial and fungal strains. The study aims to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and assess the zone of inhibition for these strains, with particular interest in optimizing concentrations to enhance efficacy against microbes and understanding the potential of T. pallida as an antimicrobial agent.

Reference

Chaughule RS, Barve RS. 2024. Role of herbal medicines in the treatment of infectious diseases. Vegetos 37, 41–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42535-022-00549-2

Singamaneni V, Dokuparthi SK, Banerjee N, Kumar A, Chakrabarti T. 2020. Phytochemical Investigation and Antimutagenic Potential of Ethanolic Extracts of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellarica. NPJ 10(4), 488–94.

McGaw LJ, Rabe T, Sparg SG, Jäger AK, Eloff JN, Van Staden J. 2001. An investigation on the biological activity of Combretum species. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 75, 45–50.

Fyhrquist P, Laakso I, Marco SG, Julkunen-Tiitto R, Hiltunen RS. 2014. Ethnobotanical and antimicrobial investigation on some species of Terminalia and Combretum (Combretaceae) growing in Tanzania. African Journal of Botany 90, 1–16.

Konczak I, Maillot F, Dalar A. 2014. Phytochemical divergence in 45 accessions of Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum). Food Chem 151, 248–56.

Dwivedi S. 2007. Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn. a useful drug for cardiovascular disorders. J Ethnopharmacol 114, 114–29.

Gurib-Fakim A. 1994. Essential Oil of Terminalia bentzoë (L.) L. f. subsp. rodriguesensis Wickens. J Essent Oil Res 6, 533–4.

Kesharwani A, Polachira SK, Nair R, Agarwal A, Mishra NN, Gupta SK. 2017. Anti-HSV-2 activity of Terminalia chebula Retz extract and its constituents, chebulagic and chebulinic acids. BMC Complementary Medicine 17, 110.

Latheef SK. 2008. A data on endemic plants at  Tirumala hills in India. Bio-Information 2(6), 260–2.

Anonymous. 1976. The wealth of India, Raw materials, X, S-W, publication and information. Directorate CSIR, New Delhi.

Kameswara Rao B, Renuka Sudarshan P, Rajasekhar MD, Nagaraju N, Appa Rao CH. 2003. Antidiabetic activity of Terminalia pallida fruit in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 85(1), 169–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(02)00396-3.

Gupta M, Mazumder UK, Manikandan L, Bhattacharya S, Haldar PK, Roy S. 2002. Antibacterial activity of Terminalia pallida. Fitoterapia 73(2), 165–7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00006-0.

Dokuparthi SK, Banerjee N, Kumar A, Singamaneni V, Giri AK, Mukhopadhyay S. 2014. Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of antimutagenic activity of the extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. by Ames test. International Journal of

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 5(8), 3430–4.

 

Sarvan Kumar G, Narender M, Umasankar K, Koteswar Rao GSN, Anka Rao A, Sadhana N. 2021. Phytochemical investigation and In vitro Thrombolytic activity of Terminalia pallida leaves. Res J Pharm Tech 14(2), 879–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.5958/0974-360X.2021.00156.6.

World Health Assembly. 2008. International Health Regulations. 2005. Geneva: World Health Organization.

World Health Organization. 2012. The evolving threat of antimicrobial resistance. Options for action. Geneva: WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

Prestinaci F, Pezzotti P, Pantosti A. 2015. Antimicrobial resistance: a global multifaceted phenomenon. Pathog Glob Health 109(7), 309–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/2047773215Y.0000000030.

Sanagala VM, Porika R, Edupuganti S, Dokuparthi SK, Biman KK. 2024. Molecular Docking Evaluation of Phytochemicals in Fruits of Terminalia pallida: Implication on Immunomodulation. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research 8(5), 7106–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v8i5.9

Dokuparthi SK, Reddy TRM. 2021. Antioxidant and Nephroprotective Activity of Flavonoid Rich Fraction of Alphonsea sclerocarpa Thw. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research 13(4), 384–94.

Kowalska-Krochmal B, Dudek-Wicher R. 2021. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Antibiotics: Methods, Interpretation, Clinical Relevance. Pathogens 10(2), 165. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10020165.

Elshikh M, Ahmed S, Funston S, Dunlop P, McGaw M, Marchant R, Banat IM. 2016. Resazurin-based 96-well plate microdilution method for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of biosurfactants. Biotechnol Lett 38, 1015–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10529-016-2079-2.

Manandhar S, Luitel S, Dahal RK. 2019. In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Some Medicinal Plants against Human Pathogenic Bacteria. Journal of Tropical Medicine 1895340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1895340.

Eloff JN. 1998. A sensitive and quick microplate method to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration of plant extracts for bacteria. Planta Medica 64(8), 711–3. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957563.

Al Aboody MS, Mickymaray S. 2020. Anti-fungal efficacy and mechanisms of flavonoids. Antibiotics 9(2), 45. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9020045.

Source: Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of ethanolic fruit extracts of Terminalia pallida Brandis 

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Physico-Chemical Analysis of Lake Soil for Environmental Management | InformativeBD

P. Abirami, G. Anbalagan, B. Rajeswari, M. Ranjithkumar, and E. Dharmaraj, from the different institute of India. wrote a Research Article about, Physico-Chemical Analysis of Lake Soil for Environmental Management. entitled, A physico-chemical characteristic of soil samples for an environmental management study at lake ecosystem. This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES). an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study area chosen for this investigation of soil quality was Samuthram lake, Thanjavur district to find out the impact of sewage wastes, open defecation, agricultural run-off etc., The pH of the sites was ranged from 8.1 – 8.4. The soil samples are alkaline in all the sites. TOC is important because it improves both the physical and chemical properties of soil and has several beneficial effects on agricultural soil quality. The percentage of total organic matter was ranged from 1.3 to 9.1. The nitrogen level of the study sites was ranged from 0.02% to a maximum of 0.14%. The phosphorous levels of the sites ranged from 0.01% to 0.08%. Phosphates are not toxic to people or animals unless they are present in very high levels. The result shows that the potassium levels ranges from a minimum of 0.02 – 0.04%. The above study indicates that pH and alkalinity of the soil samples are well above the safe limit. Other parameters are not more. In case of Agricultural run-off, open defecation, untreated sewage water may cause serious problem in future. So, there is an urgent management activity to protect this natural ecosystem.

Read more : Enhancing Biology Education: Developing an RNA-DNA Instructional Kit | InformativeBD

Introduction

Thanjavur being the foremost district of the Cauvery delta occupies an important position in the agricultural map of Tamil Nadu state. Since its formation, the district is called as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. Samuthram lake was one of the most important irrigation and biologically significant lake at Thanjavur district. Samuthram Lake is located about 7 Km to the East of Thanjavur town on the Thanjavur Nagapattinam, Velangkanni Road (Fig. 1 & 2). The study area is bounded by STP in the West and Amman temple in the East. It has good network of roads and the Lord Siva Temple is situated at the central part of the lake is now removed by government authorities. The North west bank of the lake affected by high degree of anthropogenic activities like open defecation, ground drainage mixing etc., Lakes are not only the most important water resources in arid Central Asia, but also important resources for maintaining the unique ecosystem of the region (Huang, 2022). The selected area for the present work has not been studied so far, although such studies have been extensively carried out on other lakes of Thanjavur but not in our study area. The main objectives of the study is analyse the soil samples to evaluate any contamination will occur due to cloth washing, agriculture run off etc. The sample was collected during summer season. This work is carried out to find out the impact of sewage wastes, anthropogenic activities on soil quality.

Reference

ABSA (Agricultural Bureau of South Australian). 2006. Better soil. Retrieved November 13, 2006, from http://www.bettersoils.com.au.

Bear FE. 1964. Chemistry of the soil. Soil Science 98(1), 70.

Hinrich L. 1978. Soil Chemistry. Midol Publications, New Delhi.

Huang W, Duan W, Chen Y. 2022. Unravelling lake water storage change in Central Asia: Rapid decrease in tail-end lakes and increasing risks to water supply. Journal of Hydrology 614, 128546.

Olsen SR, Cole CV, Watanabe FS, Dean LA. 1954. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with NaHCO3. USDA Cir. 939, U.S. Washington.

Sanjeeb Kumar Nath, Sharma SK. 2008. Physico-chemical properties of soil of Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaon, Assam. Nature Environmental and Pollution Technology 7(3), 561–564.

Stevenson. 1982. Soil Dynamics. Lee Publications, Transylvania.

Trivedy RK, Goel PK. 1984. Chemical and biological methods for water pollution studies. Environmental Publication, Karad, India, p. 251.

Walkley A, Black IA. 1934. An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 37, 29–38.

Yogodin G. 1984. Fundamentals of soil chemistry. Vol. 2. Hankinson Publications, USA.

Source : A physico-chemical characteristic of soil samples for an environmental management study at lake ecosystem

 

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Enhancing Biology Education: Developing an RNA-DNA Instructional Kit | InformativeBD

Joshua T. Soriano, from the different institute of Philippines. wrote a Research Article about, Enhancing Biology Education: Developing an RNA-DNA Instructional Kit. Entitled, Development of RNA-DNA kit as instructional material in teaching Biology. This research paper published by the International Journal of Biosciences (IJB). an open access scholarly research journal on Biosciences. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

The study was designed to develop a simple but functional instructional material for Biology instruction. The RNA-DNA kit was developed aligned with the constructs of providing scaffold towards better delivery of difficult lessons in Genetics. The instructional material was conceptualized based on the low performance of BSFT students in Microbial Genetics, thus bringing inside the classroom the model of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) though puzzle chips manipulatives which could help to clearly facilitate their understanding of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology and to increase their science performance. The material was useful in various topics in Biology including base pairing, Chargaff’s rule, translation, and transcription that are paired with a manual which serves as a guide for students and teachers on how to use the kit. The simplicity and the originality of the designs of RNA-DNA chips which are made of used matchboxes passed the ocular evaluation and strict suggestions and recommendations of experts in Biology. Further, the use of recyclable materials in the kit has a potential for income generation. A quantitative method utilizing questionnaire checklist and twenty item summative tests were also employed to determine how the RNA-DNA kit affects students’ learning. Also, considered is the acceptability of the material for Biology instruction through subjecting to selected group of respondents who are purposively pre-identified MAT-Science students in Technological University of the Philippines and University of Rizal System. Results showed that the material was much acceptable and effective in teaching biology as revealed by the performance of the students which shows significant difference on the level of their performance with the average score of 18.15 verbally interpreted as “High Average” from the 20-item multiple choice type of test given to the respondents. The findings revealed that the utilization of RNA-DNA kit helped to increase Science performance of the students as well as reducing waste in our environment. 

Read more : Revolutionizing Shrimp Nurseries: Biofloc Technology for Pacific Whiteleg (Penaeus vannamei)Production | InformativeBD

Introduction

Biology education, an integral component of scientific education, helps train future biologists, healthcare professionals, technologists, environmentalists, and researchers. Molecular genetics and genomics advancements in Biology result in the need for innovative and effective instructional materials to help students understand challenging biological concepts. This can be achieved by incorporating interactive and inquiry-based classroom activities (Bogar, 2019; Brederode, 2020; Simamora et al., 2023) into biology instruction to achieve quality science education. 

The Philippines consistently ranks lower on the 2018 Programme for International Assessment (PISA) for junior high school students and the 2019 Third International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS) for fourth graders (Schleicher, 2019; Mullis et al., 2020). This type of performance is still visible at the tertiary level, particularly when students take board exams, which serve as a mirror of the university or college to which they belong. The Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) earned 27.78% in the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board Exam for Food Technologists in 2023 (PRC, 2023), which is below the national passing standards. This alarming situation prompted the researcher to conduct a study and examine the least mastered competency of Bachelor of Science in Food Technologists (BSFT) students in one of their major subjects, General Microbiology, with Microbial Genetics identified as one of the concepts that requires more focus and attention.  

In Genetics, RNA-DNA interactions are vital in regulating gene expression, hence understanding them is essential to molecular biology particularly in modelling it like a jigsaw puzzle (Liu et al., 2014). The development and validation of an instructive RNADNA kit offers a compelling way to bridge theoretical and practical biology education. A kit like this can help students understand biological concepts by letting them explore with RNA-DNA interactions like Chargaff's rule for base pairing, transcription, and translation. The study examined the biology teaching effectiveness utilizing the RNA-DNA kit particularly its potential to improve students' molecular biology knowledge and to understand RNA-DNA model interactions. The researcher aimed to prove the kit's usefulness in encouraging biology students' active learning, critical thinking, and scientific curiosity through rigorous validation and assessment, thus improving their Science performance.

Several studies have been conducted on the development of instructional materials to supplement digital literacy (Asrizal et al., 2018; Manuel Área Moreira et al., 2023; Tang and Chaw, 2016) and to bridge distance learning (Altawalbeh and Al-Ajlouni, 2022; Rizwan and Masrur, 2018; Sutton, 2020; Yilmaz and Korur, 2020) in Science education. The current study, however, considers the development of a material that is readily available, recyclable and can supplement both traditional and modular classroom settings using RNA-DNA kit which is made of by used match boxes as puzzle chips and used cheese cloth for ribosome representation to model the complex process of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.

he purpose of the study is to design, to develop and to test the acceptability of RNA-DNA kit as instructional material in teaching Biology.

Development of RNA-DNA kits The RNA-DNA kit is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in exploring RNA-DNA interactions, which are fundamental to gene expression and understanding the central dogma of molecular biology. The development process involves the creation of puzzle chips and an activity manual to facilitate significant biological processes like DNA replication, transcription, and translation. Pioneering work by researchers like Beltramini et al. (2006) and Newman et al. (2018) highlighted the importance of developing instructional materials like model kits and simulation (Cano et al., 2022) to facilitate the teaching of RNA-DNA biology and Genetics. Their study presented a comprehensive testing of their developed instructional materials and demonstrated their utility in a classroom setting.

Development and improvisation of instructional materials for Biology instruction Instructional materials include various tools such as textbooks, digital resources, and hands-on manipulatives. According to Olayinka (2016), these materials facilitate the transmission of information, encourage active participation, and promote enhanced comprehension. They play an essential role in guiding instruction and enabling educators to reach diverse learners. The development of RNADNA kit for Biology instruction is timely and relevant to supplement traditional textbooks and online simulations (Alvarez, 2021; Cano, 2021; Cano et al., 2022), thus maximizing the access and ensuring the quality of academic instruction. Fowler (2018) emphasized that the quality of Science instruction could be achieved if significant changes in academic performance of the students are both quantitatively and qualitatively observed as well as its context (Darling‐Hammond et al., 2019). This gave bearing to the current study by developing instructional material designed to bridge the difficult concepts in the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology and a foundation in understanding Microbial Genetics for the college students which was validated though their Science performance test and evaluation of the developed material by the experts that includes MAT-Science Graduate Students in the field.

Improvisation of instructional materials resolves the scarcity of resources in a traditional classroom setting (Thasmai Dhurumraj and Zainul Moola, 2023). Mushimiyimana et al. (2022) and Esezi et al. (2019) highlight the significance of employing improvised instructional materials in chemistry and social sciences as well as Cruz and Rivera (2022) in using validated project-based module in Biology to enhance learner engagement, inclusivity, and participation. With the aid of utilizing used match boxes for RNADNA puzzle chips, used cheese cloth for ribosomal representation, used newspapers and used shoe box as container kit, the developed RNA-DNA kit could be easily replicated at low cost, thus responding for the scarcity of learning materials. Jeremake (2023) developed the “make-roscope” key chain which is an alternative to sophisticated microscopes contained in school laboratories. It’s handy feature and magnifying power enable it to be useful to bridge distance learning at the height of the pandemic particularly in facilitating laboratory activities where the use of microscopy is highly needed. Since DNA and RNA requires high powered microscopes to be clearly examined, the development of RNA-DNA kit will be useful in modelling these structures and explaining the difficult concepts governing it, thus strict evaluation in terms of its usefulness, quality, safety, and maintenance were also considered.

The second box, the process phase, entails the designing, development of an RNA-DNA kit and data through the preparation and validation of a questionnaire checklist and item analysis of test questions about the acceptance and effectiveness of the RNA-DNA kit as instructional material in teaching Biology through data analysis. The final box, the output phase, comprises the study's findings, which include the acceptance and effectiveness of the RNA - DNA kit as instructional material in Biology class. The arrow from the first box across the second box and leading to the third box represents the study's principal tool or technique in establishing the appropriateness of developing an RNA-DNA kit as an instructional material in teaching Biology.

Reference

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Alvarez KS. 2021. Using Virtual Simulations in Online Laboratory Instruction and Active Learning Exercises as a Response to Instructional Challenges during COVID-19. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.v22i1.2503 

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Asrizal Amran A, Azwar Ananda F, Festiyed, Ramadhan Sumarmin. 2018. The Development of Integrated Science Instructional Materials to Improve Students’ Digital Literacy in Scientific Approach. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia 7(4). https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v7i4.13613 

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Cano JS, Olvis PR, Disca BY, Docena AF. 2022. Simulation-Based Instructional Materials on Central Dogma of Molecular Biology: Basis in Studying Genetics for Grade 12 Learners. International Journal of Technology in Education 5(2), 249–268.https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.219 

Cruz IC, Rivera KC. 2022. Development And Validation Of Project-Based Module For Selected Topics In Biology. International Journal of Educational Research and Social Sciences 3(3), 1124–1137. https://doi.org/10.51601/ijersc.v3i3.374

Darling-Hammond L, Flook L, Cook-Harvey CM, Barron B, Osher D. 2019. Implications for educational practice of the science of learning and development. Applied Developmental Science 24(2), 97–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888691.2018.1537791

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Source : Development of RNA-DNA kit as instructional material in teaching Biology 

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