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North East India is a home of tremendous and versatile vegetative oil bearing materials because of the subtropical climatic conditions. Screening, characterization, and domestication of high yielding treeborne oilseeds rich in oleic acid and tocopherol are highly demandable from industrial aspects. As very few studies have been carried out in this regard from this region, our investigation aims to exploit new sources of tree-borne oilseeds rich in omega fatty acids for edible and non-edible purposes from both known and unknown plants. Six lesser-known tree-borne oilseeds were characterized based on oil content, tocopherol composition and metal content. The fatty oil was found more in Dysoxylum procerum (50%). The dominating fatty acid was oleic acid ranged between 38.4 to 64%. The oil of Terminalia bellirica showed high content of tocopherol (0.05%). Among eleven metals (Ca, Cu, Zn, Mg, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cd, As, Na, K) in all the six fatty oil contents, Pb and Cu showed high concentrations as compared to the codex standard while Fe values of all the oil contents were below the permissible concentrations.

Forest of North-East India is rich in a variety of tree borne oilseeds and there were no serious efforts to exploit the less known oilseeds of the forest origin. Considering the vast plant wealth and with an objective to explore these untapped potentialities of oilseed resources of NE India, a research program was undertaken. The present communication is based on the investigation of seeds of 14 lesser known plant species for fats and oils. The screened plant species exhibited oil yield ranging from 4.71% to 48.43% on dry weight basis. Alseodaphne andersonii showed significant amount of tocols while Garcinia xanthochymus showed significant amount of phytosterol. Gas liquid chromatography analysis of methyl ester extracted fatty acid indicated dominant fraction of Oleic acid in 6 numbers of species, followed by Linoleic acid in 3 species, Lauric acid in 3 species, and Palmitic acid in 2 species. The majority of the species (9 species) showed higher amount of unsaturated fatty acid content in the oils which suggested that the species may serve as valuable raw materials for vegetable oil which can be explored as substitute for industrial feasibility while restshowed higher amount of saturated fatty acids which suggested that these species may serve as important industrial by-products.

The compositional analysis of essential oil content in inflorescence and vegetative aerial parts of Elsholtzia blanda Benth. (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) growing wild in Meghalaya,North-East India were studied by GC and GC-MS. A total of 30 and 17 components representing 96.9%-98.3% and 92.6%-92.8% of the total oils from the inflorescence and vegetative aerial parts, respectively, were identified. Significant difference in composition of oils were observed between the two plant parts; 15 components detected in the oil of inflorescence were lacking in the oil of vegetative aerial parts, while two components present in the oil of vegetative aerial parts were absent in the inflorescence oil. Linalool was the major component in oils of both inflorescence (77.3%-80.2%) and vegetative aerial parts (57.9%-62.9%). Trans- linalool oxide (8.4%-9.9%), cis-linalool oxide (8.3%-9.3%) and 3,7-dimethyl-1,5-octadiene-3,7-diol (4.7%-5.1%) were however found in higher amount in the oil of vegetative aerial parts compared to inflorescence. For the first time the composition of oil in the inflorescence part has been reported in this communication while the oil from vegetative aerial parts containing linalool as the major component (44.9%) was although reported earlier but comparatively higher percentage of same was observed in vegetative aerial part (57.9%-62.9%) and inflorescence (77.3%-80.2%) in the present investigation with the plants from Meghalaya, India.

The essential oil extracted from fruit of

The essential oil extracted from fruit of Micromelum integrrimum were evaluated through gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. 52 compounds were identified from the fruit oil representing 99.98% of the oil. The major components of the total fruit oil are monoterpene hydrocarbons (72.23%), oxygenated monoterpenes (14.78%) and sesquiterpene (11.54%) which were predominated by terpinolene (32.21%), α-pinene (17.24%), β-pinene (17.24%), and camphene (4.05%). Moreover, other components that present in 1.45% were aromatic compounds, fatty acid, etc. The essential oil exhibited broad spectrum antimicrobial activity which is concentration dependent and 100 μL of the fruit oil showed the inhibition zones ranging from 7–16 mm. Fruit oil exhibited strong inhibition activity compared to standard anti-bacterial drug neomycin B (22 mm) against Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441 and Bacillus spizizenii ATCC 6633. This is the first hand report on the chemical profiles and promising anti-microbial activity of Micromelum integrrimum fruit essential oil towards Basillus Sp.

The association of Cymbopogon winterianus (Citronella), a member of the Poaceae family, with the N2-fixing bacteria, Azospirillum was examined to evaluate possible benefits for agriculture. The nodules on citronella were induced using plant growth regulator 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) 1.0 ppm in nitrogen free Hoagland’s solution. Concentration of 2,4-D greater than 1.0 ppm caused stunning and death, while concentration of 2,4-D less than 1.0 ppm has no obvious effect on seedling growth. The presence of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay) and leghemoglobin (hemoprotein found in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules) was noticed in the plants treated with Azospirillum either alone or with nodulated plants, but higher activity was noticed in nodulated Azospirillum treated plants. These results confirmed the nitrogenase activity of Azospirillum brasilense in association with 2,4-D induced nodules of citronella. After transplanting to pots, it was noticed that nodulated and Azospirillum - treated plants showed higher chlorophyll content in leaf, enhanced nitrate reductase (NR) activity, leading to higher yield as compared to the control plants (non-nodulated). The nodulated plants treated with Azospirillum also had higher physiological activities as compared to plants treated only with Azospirillum. The results provide evidence that the plants belonging to the family Poaceae are potentially able to create a symbiosis with diazotropic bacteria, which colonize para-nodule tissue intracellularly, promoting a higher level of nitrogen (N2) fixation leading to better growth and plant development. Key words: Cymbopogon, nodulation, 2,4-D, Azospirillum brasilense, nitrogen fixation, oil yield.

Crinum defixum Ker-Gawl popularly known as Bon-naharu (meaning wild garlic) in Assam. It is found abundantly growing wild on riverbanks of Dhansiri River in Golaghat District of Assam. It is used as ethnomedicine in this part of India for a number of ailments. Bioassay guided chemical investigation of the bulbs of Crinum defixum Ker-Gawl afforded to isolate a new hydrazide derivative and its structure was determined as (E)-N'-[(E)-2-butenoyl]-2-butenoylhydrazide by spectroscopic methods. The compound was assayed for anti-genotoxic activity by onion root tip assay (by observing different types of chromosomal aberrations such as chromosomal bridges, stickiness, delayed anaphase, polyploidy and vagrant chromosome). The phyto-compound was found to have anti-genotoxic activity and imparted a clear dose dependent protective effect against the genotoxic effect of H(2)O(2). Further, the compound seems to be more effective against clastogenic aberrations than physiological aberration at the highest concentration used (250 ppm).

The metal content in root, stem and leaves of the tea plants indicate higher association of Cu, Cr, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Mn and Fe in roots, whereas, Na, K, Ca, Mg and Co were found in higher proportion in leaves of plants. Almost equal proportion of Cu, Zn and Co was observed in stem and leaves of plant. The higher association in root can be explained as the effect of restrictive translocation of metals retained by the cell walls. A portion of the higher association of metal content in leaves can be considered as the effect of aerosols because of non- stop flaring activities at the sites of oil installation.

Chemical composition of the essential oil obtained by hydro-distillation of fresh matured leaves of Lippia geminata (Verbenaceae) collected from Perkijule (near Indo-Bhutan Border), India was analysed by Gas Chromatography. Thirty one component were identified, corresponding to 92.1% of the total oil. The major constituents of the oil were geranial (22.9%), neral (14.1%), myrecene (11.7%), β-pinene (7.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.1%). Variations were observed in the composition of the main constituents in oils obtained from different locations.

A one-pot eco-friendly and efficient transformation of steroidal sapogenin diosgenin (1) and solasodine (2) to a commercially very important drug intermediate 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA, 9) was developed with an overall yield of 75%. This process can easily be exploited for industrial production.

The essential oils of the leaves and rhizomes of Alpinia nigra (Gaertner) B.L.Burtt., family Zingiberaceae, were obtained by hydrodistillation and yielded 0.02% and 0.4%, respectively. The oils were analyzed for their chemical composition by capillary GC and GC/MS. A total of 18 compounds were identified representing about 96.4% of leaf and 97.8% of rhizome oils, respectively. 1,8-cineole was the major component in both leaf (25.4%) and rhizome (34%) oils. In addition, β-pinene (15.1%), camphor (15.3%), carotol (7.3%), α-pinene (7.8%) and camphene (7.0%) were also present in leaf oil, whereas in the rhizome oil α-fenchyl acetate (13.1%), α-terpineol (9.6%), β-pinene (8.1%) and camphene (7.0%) were the other main constituents.

Essential oil from dry matured stem of Aristolochia indica Linn. family Aristolochiaceae was investigated by GC and GC/MS. A total of 15 compounds were identified, representing 91.2% of the total oil. The major constituents of oil were trans-pinocarveol (24.2%), α-pinene (16.4%) and pinocarvone (14.2%).

The leaf essential oil of Callistemon lanceolatus D.C., obtained by hydrodistillation from matured leaves grown at Jorhat, Assam, in the north-eastern region of India, were analysed by GC and GC–MS. A total of 16 compounds were identified and 1,8 cineole (58.3%), α-pinene (21.2%), α-phellandrene (5.8%), limonene (4.1%) and α-terpineol (3.9%) were the major components representing more than 93% of the oil. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The volatile components obtained by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Altingia excelsa Nornha, collected from the foothills of Arunachal Pradesh, were analysed by GC and GC–MS. A total of 52 compounds were identified, representing 99% of the total oil. The major components identified were α-pinene (19.8%); β-pinene (16.0%); α-phellandrene (15.9%); limonene (10.9%) and β-phellandrene (8.1%). Other components present in small or trace amounts were also identified. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.