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Microorganisms for you

Biogeographic Classification of India Medicinal Plants of the Month

Research Methodology— Antioxidant Activity

Facts: Inventions and Discoveries in Plant Science

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Bacillus coagulans It is useful in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders such as diarrhoea associated with an antibiotic regimen, travellers and children diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel syndrome. The supplement may also be useful in preventing respiratory infections and enhancing their immune response.

Bacillus polymyxa It is a gram positive bacterium capable of fixing nitrogen. It is found in soil, plant roots and marine sediments. It is thus used as a biofertilizer and biocontrol agents. It is also used as soil inoculants in agriculture and horticulture. Biofilms of B.polymyxa growing on plant roots have been shown to produce exopolysaccharides which protect the plants from pathogens. The interaction between B.polymyxa and plant roots causes the root hairs to undergo physical changes. Some strains produce polymyxin, an antibiotic compound. Surfactant complexes isolated from B.polymyxa have been shown to be effective in disrupting biofilms of Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus bovis. B.polymyxa is the source of dispase, an enzyme used to inoculate cells from animal tissues.

Bacillus papillae MICRO ORGANISMS FOR YOU

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It is a soil dwelling, gram positive, rod shaped bacterium. It is responsible for a disease (commonly called milky spore) of the white grubs of Japanese beetles. The resident spores in the soil are swallowed by grubs during their normal pattern of feeding on root. The ingestion of the spore by the host activates reproduction of the bacteria inside the grub. Within 712 days the grub will eventually die and as the grub decomposes billions of new spores are released into the soil. Milky spore in the soil is not harmful to beneficial insects, birds, bees, pets or people.

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Bacillus pumilus It is a soil dwelling, gram positive, aerobic, spore forming bacteria. The outer layer of the peptidoglycan crosslinks is covered by teicholic and lipoteichoic acids. These acids contain polyglycosyl phosphates with mono and disaccharides as their monomers that can play a role in adhesion to different surfaces like the host cells. Some strains colonize the root area of some plants and exhibit antibacterial and antifungal activity. The proteases obtained from B.pumilus are used in various industries like food, chemical, detergent and leather industries. When conditions are not favourable for growth, B.pumilus undergoes sporulation and release spore into the environment. B.pumilus plays a variety of role in mechanisms like nitrate reduction, carbondioxide production from glucose, production of acids from a variety of carbon sources namely arabinose, mannitol, xylose, glucose and lactose. It can function as a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria within the rhizosphere of agriculturally significant plants like red peppers (Capsicum annum) and wheat. In wheat B.pumilus has been reported to induce resistance to “Take all” a fungal disease caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis, which can significantly damage wheat crops. In addition it has been reported to function as a plant growth promoting endophyte in Vitis vinifera (grape) plant. It is also significant to ecosystem biochemistry because it functions as a nitrogen fixing bacteria capable of metabolically transforming molecular nitrogen into ammonia.

Bacillus licheniformis It is a soil dwelling bacterium and is also reported on feathers, especially chest and back plumage of ground dwelling birds (sparrows) and aquatic species (ducks). It is gram positive, rod shaped mesophilic bacterium. The optimum temperature required for growth is 50ºC though it can survive at much higher temperature. The optimum temperatures for enzyme secretion are 37ºC. It has the high capacity for secretion of the alkaline serine protease, an enzyme. B.licheniformis is cultured inorder to obtain protease for use in biological laundry detergents for preventing shrinkage and fading of colours. The bacterium is well adopted to grow in alkaline conditions, so the proteases it produces can withstand high pH levels making it ideal for use in detergents. The bacterium exhibits good growth in the optimum pH of 9-10. It is also employed in the industrial production of antibiotics and small metabolites. It produces a variety of extracellular enzymes that are associated with the cycling of nutrients in nature. This bacterium has the ability to survive harsh environments by turning into spore and when conditions are favourable, it will regain its vegetative state.

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CAJANUS CAJAN (L.)Millsp Family : Fabaceae Medicinal properties:

Medicinal plants of the Month

Dried roots are alexeritic, anthelmintic, expectorant, sedative, vulnerary. Leaf infusion is used as mouth wash for infected gums and toothache. It is also used as a fever bath and even relieves stressful period. The decoction of leaves can be applied to wounds and to treat skin infections and skin ulcers.

The leaves can be boiled with coarse leaves of thyme, cloves and used as a drink to cure venereal diseases. Floral decoctions are used to treat bronchitis, coughs, toothache, mouthwash, sore gum, child delivery, dysentery, scorched seed added to coffee is proved to alleviate headache and vertigo.

Fresh seeds are said to help in continence of urine in males, while immature fruits are used to cure liver and kidney ailments. Seed is acrid; astringent to bowel, anthelmintic, restores lost taste, cure leprosy, mouth ulcers, tumors, bronchitis, vomiting, heart disease, piles, cough, biliousness.

Phytochemical properties: Tannin, phenolic acids, a-galactosidase, L-arabinosidase, nicotinamide deamidase, isoflavone, sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, isofucosterol

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CICER ARIETINUM L. Family : Fabaceae Medicinal properties: Leaves-sour, astringent to bowels, improve taste and appetite. Leaves used to cure bronchitis. Seeds– tonic, stimulant, aphrodisiac and used as appetizer also possess anthelmintic properties.

Facts



In 1908, K. Ikeda while working on flavoring

components

of

Kelp

discovered

glutamic

acid

(L– glutamate) after acid hydrolysis and fractionation of kelp and neutralization with caustic soda. 

In 1957, S. Udaka and kinoshita isolated a gram positive bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum that secreted glutamic acid and mineral salt medium.



Roux and Yersin in 1888 first observed the presence of toxin in a disease caused by Corynebacterium diphthriae.



Gaumann in 1954 stated ‚microorganisms are pathogenic only if they are toxigenic.‛

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CROTOLARIA JUNCEA L. Family : Fabaceae Medicinal properties: Seeds– purify blood, used to treat impetigo and psoriasis and used as an emmenagogue. Fibre is used in twine, rug yarn, cigarette, tissue papers, fish nets, sacking, canvas and cordage Phytochemicals reported from the plant: Pectin, protein, starch, linoleic acid and oleic acid.

Facts 

Fermented yeast (Saccharomyces sp) was recovered as a leavening agent for bread as early as 2500 BC.

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GLIRICIDIA SEPIUM (Jacq)Walp Family : Fabaceae Medicinal properties: Expectorant, sedative, insecticidal. Bark and leaf is used to treat skin diseases. Plant is used to treat headache, bruise, fatigue, fever and burn, cold, debility; used as an expectorant, sedative and used to treat gangrene, gonorrhea, tumor, ulcer.

Bark– expectorant, insecticidal, rodenticidal, sedative, suppurative.

Phytochemicals reported from the plant: Afrormosin, medicarpin, isoflavins.

Facts 

Fermented milk and cheese produced by lactic acid bacteria was used by Egyptians and Greeks during 50– 100 BC.



Ciferri in 1981 developed mutants of S.platensis, which had about 40 times more longer pools of certain aminoacids than found in wild alga.

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Biogeographic classification of india

Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in a geographic space and through geological time. There are 10 biogeographic zones in India.

Trans Himalayan Region: The Himalayan ranges immediately north of the great Himalayan range are called Trans Himalayas characterized by sparse vegetation and has the richest wild sheep and goat community in the world. Snow leopard, migratory black necked crane are common here.

Himalayas: The Himalayas are the youngest and loftiest mountain ranges in the World characterized by high altitude, steep gradient and rich temperate flora. Dense and extensive growth of grass and evergreen tall trees. Oak, chestnut, conifer, ash, pine, deodar are abundant here. The chief animal species are wild sheep, mountain goats, ibex, shrew, tapir, panda and snow leopard.

Semi Arid areas: This is the transitional zone between the desert and the denser forests of western ghats. The principal vegetation is Thorn forest characterized by discontinuous vegetation cover with open areas of bare soil and soil water deficit throughout the year.

Western Ghats: The mountains along the west coast of Peninsular India are the western ghats. The varied climate and topography create a wide array of habitats that support unique sets of plants and animal species. Many tribals also live in this region.

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North West Desert region: It covers parts of Rajasthan, Kutch, Delhi and Gujarat. The climate is very hot, dry summer and cold winter. Rainfall is less than 70cm. Plants are xerophytes. Home for endangered bird called Bustard. Animals like camels , wild asses, fox and snakes are common here.

Deccan Plateau: It is the semi arid region lying in the rain shadow of the western ghats. This covers the largest unit of peninsular plateau. Highlands are covered by different kinds of forests. The deccan plateau is surrounded by western and eastern ghats. These meet at Nilgiri hills. Western ghats is continuous whereas Eastern ghats is broken into small hills by the rivers flowing from western ghats (Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, Kaveri). Godavari is the largest river of the plateau. Most of the rivers drain into Bay of Bengal except Narmada and Tapi which drain into Arabian sea.

Gangetic Plain: Ganga is the main river and it is the largest plain of India and extending upto Himalayan foot hills. Ganga and Brahmaputra form the main drainage system in this plain. Highest population densities are found in this region.

North East India: This region comprises the richest flora and has several species of orchids, bamboos and other plants.

Islands: Islands found in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian sea. Lakshadweep in the Arabian sea comprises some of the best preserved evergreen forests of India.

Coasts: Backwaters are the characteristics of the coasts.

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Facts 

In 1821, Bernal Diaz Castillo described the biscuits with the name ‘tecuitlatl.’ It contained dried mats of Spirulina maxima collected from lake Texcoco.



In 1964, L. Leonard took part in an expedition and noticed dried biscuits of blue green colour in several village markets. The biscuits dihe consumed by the local population consisted of Spirulina platensis.



Kondorosi et al in 1982, successfully transferred the mega plasmid of Rhizobium meliloti into the Rhizobium species and Agrobacterium

tumifaciens

with

the

result

that

the

transconjugants became able to form nodules or nodule like structures or alfalfa. 

The sole method of nitrogenous fertilizer production in the world is the ‘Haber Bosch’s process’



Nobble and Hiltner n 1895 introduced a laboratory culture of Rhizobium with the name ‘Nitragin.’ It was the first rhizobial industry in the world.

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Facts 

Tien et al in 1979 have attributed that increased yield in pearl millet obtained by inoculation of Azospirillum was due to the production of indole acetic acid, gibberellins and cytokinin like substances by the bacterium and their subsequent effect on the plant.



Ghai and Thomas in 1989 have defined green manuring as a farming practice where a leguminous plant which has derived enough benefits from its association with appropriate species of Rhizobium is ploughed into the soil and then the non– legume is grown and allowed to take the benefits of the already fixed nitrogen.



Marks in 1991 classified mycorrhizas into several types based on their

relationship

with

the

host–

VAM,

ectomycorrhiza,

ectendomycorrhizas, arbutoid, monotropoid, ericoid, orchidaceous. 

Sanford in 1926 suggested the control of potato scab by green manuring.

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Facts 

Garrett in 1965 defined biological control as any condition under which the activity of a pathogen is reduced through the agency of any other living organism except the man himself with the result that there is reduction in incidence of disease caused by the pathogen.



Millard and Taylor in 1927 reported the control of Scab of potatoes grown in sterilized soil inoculated with Streptomyces scabies through simultaneous inoculation of the soil with S. praecox, a vigorous saprophyte.



Weindling in 1932 reported the parasitation by Trichoderma viride of many soil fungi.



Significance of antibiotic production by soil microorganisms and their possible role in biological control by antibiosis and fungistasis have been discussed by Garret (1956), Lingappa and Lockwood (1961), Jackson (1965) and Dwivedi and Saravana muthu (1985).

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Antioxidant activity determination Antioxidants are compounds capable of delaying or inhibiting the oxidation reactions that occur under the influence of atmospheric oxygen or reactive oxygen species. They are used for stabilization of polymeric products of petrochemicals, food stuffs, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Antioxidants are mainly involved in the defense mechanism of the organism against the pathologies associated to the attack of free radicals. Endogenous antioxidants are enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase or non enzymatic compounds like uric acid, bilirubin, albumin, metallothioneins.

When the endoge-

Research

nous antioxidants are not sufficient for offering complete

methodology

protection, the need for exogenous antioxidants like nutritional supplements or pharmaceutical products arises.

They are mostly synthetic compounds.

Mechanism of action of antioxidants: Low molecular weight antioxidants (LMWAs) are small molecules that accumulate in specific compartments associated with oxidative damage in high concentration and are then regenerated by the cell.

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These include glutathione, nicotinamide, adenine dinucleotide, carnosine, uric acid, bilirubin, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and polyphenols. Among these, ascorbic acid is highly focused for its reductive properties and for its use as antioxidant agents in food and drink. Ascorbic acid possess therapeutic properties playing role in activating the immune response in wound healing, in osteogenesis, in detoxifying the organism, in iron absorption, in collagen biosynthesis and in preventing vessel clotting.

The study of mechanism of antioxidant activity is gaining importance these days. The excess free radicals circulating in the body oxidize the low density lipoproteins (LDCs), making them potentially lethal; the excess free radicals can also accelerate aging processes and have been linked to other serious pathologies like diabetes, brain stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

Various physical and chemical phenomenon can initiate oxidation, which proceeds continuously in the presence of suitable substrates until a blocking defense mechanism occurs. The target substances include oxygen, polyunsaturated fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol and DNA. (To be continued in the next issue……...)

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Facts 

Pandey et al (1993) studied the antagonistic activities of some phyllolane

fungi

of

guava

against

its fungal

pathogens

Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes and Pestalotis psidii. 

Dubey and Dwivedi in 1988 have studied the population dynamics of microfungi in root region of soybean during different growth stages of the plant.



Gupta, Sharma, Dubey and Maheshwari (1999) have isolated a strain of P. aeruginosa which displayed antagonistic properties against two plant pathogens– Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum.



Aristotle and Paracelsus concluded that all animals and plants however complicated are constituted by few elements which are repeated in each of them.



Da vinci in 1485 has stressed upon the use of lenses in viewing small objects.

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Facts 

Jan Swammerdam in 1658 gave the first description o fthe cell in his account of the red blood cells of the frog.



Robert Hook, an English Botanist discovered cell in 1665.



In 1672 Marcello Malpighi and Nehmian Grew, without using the word cell mentioned that certain parts of plants were made of minute elementary organisms.



A.V.

Leewenhoek, a

Dutch

microscopist

discovered

the

animalcules, infudoria (protozoa) bacteria etc and made microscopical

observations

on

protozoa,

ants,

aphids,

spermatozoa, red bood cells, muscles, nerves, skin, teeth and certain plants during 17th century 

In 1757 Haller and Bonnet called cell as fibres, Fontana in 1781 mentioned them as cylinders, Brisseau Mirabel called cell as Otricles; Oken referred cell as Elementary vesicles.



F. Fontana described the nucleolus from the skin of an eel.

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Darani Vasudevan daraniauthor.ga

Hi readers, I am a Botanist and writer. This magazine is an outcome of the topics that interested me a lot while doing my research works. I chose this magazine as a platform for sharing many interesting facts related to plant Science and microorganisms.