NOPR Collection:

Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda as natural resource and product for the tribals of Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda as natural resource and product for the tribals of Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh, India Authors: Niveditha, T M A; Yadav, P Balarama Swamy Abstract: Thysanolaena latifolia (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Honda, popularly known as tiger or broom grass is one among the non-timber forest products gathered by the tribals of Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. The study documented the process of making brooms and its economic viability. The brooms made using these plants are an important seasonal livelihood for the local people. T. latifolia can be grown in a wide range of agro-climatic conditions and soils up to 2,000 m above the sea level. It grows easily on shady slopes, damp and steep river banks, degraded areas and gravelly soil on weathered rock surfaces. The study recommends cultivation of broom grass on a large scale as an effective source for income generation in tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh. Page(s): 181-184

Isolation and identification of withasomnine, withanolides and butein from industrial herbal marc of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Isolation and identification of withasomnine, withanolides and butein from industrial herbal marc of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Authors: Rajalakshmy, M R; Geetha, G Abstract: Herbal pharmaceutical industries consume thousands of tonnes of herbs annually, with a major share consumed for preparation of aqueous extracts as part of production process. Marc, the byproduct of aqueous extraction process produced in similar quantities is considered to be devoid of hydrophilic compounds and of low economic value. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is a herb having high therapeutic and frequency index and their increasing consumption in the recent decades have resulted in upsetting the demand-supply equations. The shortage of W. somnifera justifies their efficient and wholesome utilization to augment the natural sources. The present study was undertaken to evaluate phytochemical constituents present in the marc of W. somnifera roots collected from an Ayurvedic pharmaceutical industry. The HPTLC and GC-MS analyses is revealed presence of different compounds in marc such as withanolides, as well as oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids. Isolation and characterization by UV-Visible, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and Mass spectroscopy showed presence of withasomnine, an alkaloid and butein, a phenolic compound. The study explored potential for using marcs of W. somnifera produced in pharma industry as an alternate natural and economical source for pharmaceutically active compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, etc. Page(s): 116-124

Documentation of folk knowledge on underutilized wild edible plants of Southern Rajasthan

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Documentation of folk knowledge on underutilized wild edible plants of Southern Rajasthan Authors: Salvi, Jyotsna; Katewa, S S Abstract: An ethnobotanical study was conducted during 2010-12 in Southern Rajasthan with local indigenous communities. Structured interviews, field observations and group discussions with the informants were used to gather the data. A total of 46 plant species belonging to 27 families were reported from the study area. Poaceae was the dominant family with 7 species. Herbs were used primarily as leafy vegetable and grains of several grasses were used during famine. About 81 % of the recorded underutilized wild edible plant species are rarely used, while the 19 % are commonly used. The study showed that the majority (72 %) of the species are edible and eaten after cooking while 28 % were eaten raw. Wild edible plant species of Ceropegia have become endangered due to excessive harvesting. Unless efforts are made to make the younger generations aware about the importance of these plants, the related traditional knowledge may be lost. The study suggests that these underutilized plants may play an important role in national food security policy and health care. Page(s): 169-175

Nutritional and anti-nutritional components of some selected edible mushroom species

Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Nutritional and anti-nutritional components of some selected edible mushroom species Authors: Gaur, Tanvi; Rao, P B; Kushwaha, K P S Abstract: The present investigation is carried on nutritional and anti-nutritional components in edible mushroom species of Agaricus bisporus, Calocybe indica, Lentinula edodes, Macrocybe gigantea (MA1), M. gigantea (MA2) and Lentinus sajor-caju syn. Pleurotus sajor-caju. Moisture content, total sugars, reducing sugars, protein content, ash content, extracellular enzymes (amylase, lipase and protease), minerals, tannins and phytic acid were assayed. All the species investigated contained considerable quantity of all nutritional and were low in anti-nutritional components. The values (mg/g) ranged from 38.66-47.73 for total carbohydrates, 9.02-17.77 for reducing sugars and 6.50-9.66 for total ash content. Protein content (g/100 g dry weight) ranged from 6.43 in L. sajor-caju to 26.2 in L. edodes. Among the minerals, phosphorus is the most abundant element in all mushroom species and it was maximum (944.5) in M. gigantea (MA2). The macronutrients (mg/100 g dry weight) in different mushroom species ranged between 345.8-944.5 (P), 21.8-68.8 (Ca) and 6.4-45.63 (Mg), while micronutrients ranged between 14.5-46.0 (Fe), 1.31-15.9 (Cu), 1.1-3.7 (Mn), 7.7-28.2 (Zn), 0.14-2.1 (Cr) and 0.004-0.39 (Co). None of the toxic elements like As, Hg or Pb was detected in any species. The anti-nutritional components like tannins (0.41-0.57 mg/g) and phytic acid (0.11-0.19 mg/g) were found below the threshold limits. The extracellular hydrolytic enzymes activity (mm) was maximum and minimum in L. edodes (34.1) and A. bisporus (9.16); L. sajor-caju (41.3) and M. gigantea (MA2) (22.3); and C. indica (90.0) and A. bisporus (34.6) for amylase, lipase and protease, respectively. The present study indicate that A. bisporus contain high nutrition (in terms of moisture content, total sugar, ash content, copper, zinc, iron and manganese) and low tannins and phytic acid content while C. indica contained least in all nutrition except protease activity. Page(s): 155-161