Search

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is the center of the diverse food culture comprising fermented and non-fermented ethnic foods and alcoholic beverages. Diverse tribal communities in IHR (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Laddakh, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura) have been long known for their rich culture and food habits. Having strong ritual importance among the ethnic people of the IHR, alcoholic beverages are being consumed in various cultural, social, and religious events for ages. Consumption of in-house prepared alcoholic beverage is the socio-cultural tradition in India as well as across the globe. The processes and ingredients involved in alcoholic beverage preparations vary with raw material availability in different regions. The majority of the fermented drinks are cereal-based with a significant proportion of various plants and fruits as the main raw material, making a beverage more unique in taste. Some plant ingredients used for traditional alcoholic beverages have potential nutraceutical as well as therapeutic properties that are well documented. These properties could constitute an additional economic value for traditional alcoholic beverages commercialization, which, in turn, could promote the local rural economy. Until now, such beverages have only received marginal attention by ethnobotanists and few studies concern traditional fermented beverages in the IHR. In this view, the current review focused on preparation, diversity, cultural, and economic significance and health benefits of ethnic beverages used by tribal communities in the IHR.

The present study describes the first successful report on in vitro propagation through direct organogenesis for multiple shoot induction of Angelica glauca. Rhizomes were used as explant, and maximum shoot multiplication was observed on MS medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine 8.0 µM and Indole-3-acetic acid 0.1 µM. Roots were observed within 14 days in the MS medium enriched with 0.5 µM IAA and 0.1 µM Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) with an average production of 4.2 roots per shoot. Rooted plantlets were successfully hardened under greenhouse conditions and subsequently established in field, with a recorded survival rate of 72% after 45 days. The total phenolic content showed significant difference (p

The genus Eucalyptus L'Heritier comprises about 900 species, of which more than 300 species contain volatile essential oil in their leaves. About 20 species, within these, have a high content of 1,8-cineole (more than 70%), commercially used for the production of essential oils in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. However, Eucalyptus is extensively planted for pulp, plywood and solid wood production, but its leaf aromatic oil has astounding widespread biological activities, including antimicrobial, antiseptic, antioxidant, chemotherapeutic, respiratory and gastrointestinal disorder treatment, wound healing, and insecticidal/insect repellent, herbicidal, acaricidal, nematicidal, and perfumes, soap making and grease remover. In the present review, we have made an attempt to congregate the biological ingredients of leaf essential oil, leaf oil as a natural medicine, and pharmacological and toxicological values of the leaf oil of different Eucalyptus species worldwide. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Significant effect of water stress conditions were observed on morphological and physiological growth parameters of tea (Camellia sinensis). Water stress tolerant tea clones suitable for hilly areas have been identified in this study. The influence of different levels of water deficit on physiological and morphological parameters in tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] clones was investigated. Tea clones (BSS-449, BSS-379, P-312, UPASI-9, T-383, RR-17, AV-2 and T-78) growing under controlled condition (under shade, potted condition) were subjected to three irrigation treatment, a control (70.0% soil moisture content), moderate water deficit (38.3% soil moisture content) and sever water deficit (6.9% soil moisture content). Plants submitted to severe water deficit showed significant reduced leaf numbers, leaf areas, and plant heights while reduction in plant height and leaf area and leaf numbers was not significant in moderate water deficit. A significant change in chlorophyll content was observed during the water stress condition. Photosynthesis decreased in both water deficit treatments and was related to stomatal factors and photochemical efficiency of photosystem II. Water relation parameters, e.g. leaf water potential, osmotic potential, turgor potential, relative water content and cellular elasticity were also measured to evaluate plant adaptation to water stress. The highest leaf water potential values were found in the control condition, for all the clones. Cell wall rigidity, measured as elastic modulus, increased under severe water stress, resulting in a loss of turgor at lower leaf water potential. Results of the study suggest that the degree of drought tolerance depends on the interactions between the tea clones and the levels of water stress. The available data also indicates that UPASI-9 is capable of tolerating water stress, and should be suitable for dry areas.

The production of secondary metabolites through hairy root cultures has proven its importance by its escalating commercial relevance. In the present era hairy root cultures are good alternatives for the production of secondary metabolites, especially for the possibility of altering the formation of bioactive plant metabolites. Hairy roots are differentiated cultures of transformed roots which are developed by the infection of wounded higher plants with Agrobacterium rhizogenes and are an exceptional source of advantageous metabolites with high medicinal value for drug development. A. rhizogenes is the bacterium which induces the hairy-root disease in higher plants. Due to the infection of this bacterium plant cells show neoplastic growth that further differentiates to form “hairy roots.” These neoplastic roots possess high growth rates and genetic stability. A higher level of secondary metabolites (in comparison with the naturally growing plant) can be produced by these genetically transformed root cultures. Genetically transformed roots have the ability to regenerate the whole plant as a transgenic or clone. As a consequence hairy roots have been extensively used as a transgenic tool for the production of metabolites and for gene function studies in plants. Transgenic root systems are also useful for the introduction of a new gene and T-DNA, which is useful for the alteration of metabolic pathways and the production of compounds of interest, that is, pharmaceutically important metabolites. This chapter describes the function of rol genes in T-DNA transfer in the plant genome. This chapter also provides an up-to-date overview of hairy root culture and its applications, which mainly focus on secondary metabolite production.

Picrorhiza kurrooa Royel ex. Benth. is an important medicinal plant of Himalayan region and a good source of iridoid glycosides. Picrotin and picrotoxinin are compounds produced by P. kurrooa which are widely used in treatment of hepatic diseases. Elicitation is one of the best effective methods which enhance secondary metabolite production in plants. In the present study effect of elicitors for example, Methyl jasmonate (100 µM) and yeast extract (0.5 mg/ml) on the production of picrotin and picrotoxinin from in-vitro products of P. kurrooa were studied. Yeast extract (0.5 mg/ml) was found more efficient than the methyl jasmonate for enhancing the production of picrotin and picrotoxinin in roots of P. kurrooa . Higher amount of picrotin (2.47 µg/g dry wt.) and picrotoxinin (45.2 µg/g dry wt.) were recorded in in-vitro products in comparison to control plant. Genetically stable in vitro plants were used to assess the effect of elicitation. Genetic stability was detected with Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers. The percentage of polymorphic bands in the RAPD and ISSR analysis were 2.5 and 7.02%, respectively. The similarity coefficient revealed that differences between tissue culture raised plants and mother plant was not remarkable by both RAPD and ISSR analysis. Keywords: Genetic fidelity, plant tissue culture, inter simple sequence repeats, West Himalaya. African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol 13(51) 4612-4619

Forest vegetation of a protected area (Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary) in Kumaun region (west Himalaya) was analysed for structure, composition and representativeness across three different altitudinal belts, lower (1,600–1,800 m a.s.l.), middle (1,900–2,100 m a.s.l.) and upper (2,200–2,400 m a.s.l.) during 2009–2011 using standard phytosociological methods. Four aspects (east, west, north and south) in each altitudinal belt were chosen for sampling to depict maximum representation of vegetation in the sanctuary. Population structure and regeneration behaviour was analysed seasonally for two years to show the establishment and growth of tree species. A total of 147 plant species were recorded from the entire region of which 27 tree species were selected for detailed study. Highest number was recorded at upper (18 species), and lowest at lower altitudinal belt (15 species). The relative proportion of species richness showed higher contribution of tree layer at each altitudinal belt. The population structure, based on the number of individuals, revealed a greater proportion of seedling layer at each altitudinal belt. The relative proportion of seedlings increases significantly along altitudinal belts (p 0.05). The density values decreased in summer and increased during rainy season. As far as the regeneration status is concerned, middle and upper altitudinal belts showed maximum number of species with fair regeneration as compared to lower altitudinal belt. Overall density diameter distribution of tree species showed highest species density and richness in the smallest girth class and decreased in the succeeding girth classes. This study suggests that patterns of regeneration behaviour would determine future structural and compositional changes in the forest communities. It is suggested that the compositional changes vis-a-vis role of ‘New’ and ‘Not regenerating’ species need priority attention while initiating conservation activities in the sanctuary. This study calls for exploring other less explored Wildlife Sanctuaries in the Himalaya and across the world, to achieve overall biodiversity status in these protected areas and thus to justify their role in conserving biodiversity in the region.

Aconitum violaceum Jacq. is an important medicinal species used for various health ailments including renal pain, rheumatism and high fever. In the present report, a reproducible in vitro regeneration system for Aconitum violaceum Jacq. has developed from the nodal segment of the plant. Induction of shoot buds was achieved on basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The shoots were elongated on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μM 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.1 μM α-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and subsequently transferred to rooting medium. In vitro grown microshoots of A. violaceum were encapsulated in the alginate beads. The success rate of their re-growth was found to be approximately 85.43 %. Of the encapsulated microshoots, 39.86 % exhibited formation of multiple shoots following re-growth on plant growth regulator free MS medium. Healthy root formation was observed in all microshoots following 2 weeks of transfer on half-strength MS medium containing 0.1 μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 1.0 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). These plants were subsequently transferred to pots containing a mixture of soil, sand and compost (1:1:1 v/v), and same were then shifted in the greenhouse with 87 % survival rate. The molecular analysis was carried out using 35 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) primers and 25 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers. Cluster analysis of the RAPD and ISSR profile revealed an average similarity coefficient of 0.966 and 0.974, respectively, confirming genetic stability of tissue culture-raised (TR) plants and synthetic seed-derived plants (SR). The phytochemical analysis of tissue culture-raised and synthetic seeds-derived plants showed higher aconitine content than control plant. The propagation protocol developed in this study provides a basis for germplasm conservation and harnessing the medicinally active compounds of A. violaceum.

Genetic stability and phytochemical analysis of in vitro established plants of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth, have been carried out. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) markers were used to assess the genetic fidelity of tissue culture products including three adventitious shoots from three calli and 6 months old tissue culture raised plants growing in green house condition with mother plant. Apparent genetic variation was detected in the five types of plant materials. The percentage of polymorphic bands in the RAPD and ISSR analysis were 16.25 and 14.54 %, respectively. The genetic similarity was calculated on the basis of RAPD and ISSR data among the five types of plant materials and were ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 (mean 0.75) and 0.47 to 1.0 (mean 0.73), respectively. The similarity coefficient by both RAPD and ISSR analysis revealed that differences between tissue culture raised plants and mother plant was not remarkable, but notable differences were observed among three adventitious shoots regenerated from three calli. The phytochemical analysis of tissue culture raised products showed higher secondary metabolite (picrotin and picrotoxinin) content as compare to mother plant. The information gained on genetic stability/variability will be valuable for the large scale propagation and secondary metabolite production of P. kurroa.

The genus Aconitum (consists more than 250 species) is one of the most important clades of highly valued medicinal plants. Aconitum species are very essential in the traditional device of medication and feature excessive business demand in the herbal marketplace. Some of biologically energetic compounds, e.g., aconitine, indaconitine, pseudoacontine, and so on, had been recognized, and new formulations primarily based on those compounds are being produced as rapid rate. This has led to extensive and rather unregulated exploitation of the species in the wild making the genus a threatened group. Conventional breeding and propagation methods have contributed significantly, but these could not meet up with the ever increasing demands of herbal drug industry globally. Biotechnological interventions, therefore, emerge as an alternative approach in terms of higher production and conservation as well. In recent years, several reports have been published on in vitro propagation of various important Aconitum species. However, advanced biotechnological approaches, such as synthetic seed production and hairy root cultures, are still lacking with only a few reports available. The current review presents an updated overview and critical assessment of secondary data concerning the past and recent biotechnological approaches and interventions in genus Aconitum. This review also attempts to provide a detailed account of work explored so far in micropropagation and emphasizes over the areas not attempted yet, which will act as a baseline data as well as valuable information for different stakeholders and researchers working on various aspects of Aconitum biotechnology.

Picrorhiza kurrooa, one of the important plant species among the various medicinal plants, is endemic to Himalaya. As the plant is useful in the treatment of various diseases, e.g., hepatic disorders, gastric troubles, anemia, asthma, etc., illegal collection from the wild is increasing and now this plant is banned for export in any form and listed as ‘endangered’. Ecological studies carried out on this species in last few decades suggested that the availability of this species in its specific habitats is comparatively lower than other associate species. Possible factors responsible for this depletion are increasing demand in the pharmaceutical industries, habitat specificity, heavy exploitation from the wild, unorganized cultivation practices etc. Biotechnology is playing a crucial role to conserve this important plant species. The past 23 years have witnessed a progressive biotechnological advances made in P. kurrooa. People have published various reports on establishments of in vitro culture techniques including micropropagation, synthetic seed production, plant regeneration via callus-mediated shoot organogenesis, adventitious shoot regeneration, genetic transformation through Agrobacterium rhizogenes, secondary metabolite analysis etc. This review attempts to focus on present ecological status and provide a comprehensive account on the tissue culture-mediated biotechnological interventions made in P. kurrooa for improvement and conservation of this medicinally important plant.

Among five hairy root lines of Picrorhiza kurrooa that were established through Agrobacterium rhizogenes, one (H7) was selected for encapsulation due to high accumulation of picrotin and picrotoxinin (8.3 and 47.6 μg/g DW, respectively). Re-grown encapsulated roots induced adventitious shoots with 73 % frequency on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine, following 6 months of storage at 25 °C. Regenerated plantlets had 85 % survival after 2 months. Regenerants were of similar morphotype having increased leaf number and branched root system as compared to non-transformed plants. The transformed nature of the plants was confirmed through PCR and Southern blot analysis. Genetic fidelity analysis of transformed plants using RAPD and ISSR showed 5.2 and 3.6 % polymorphism, respectively. Phytochemical analysis also showed that picrotin and picrotoxinin content were similar in hairy root line and its regenerants.