Bioscience Discovery

6-13

Authors: Debasmita Dutta Pramanick and S. K. Srivastava

Withania coagulans Dunal, belonging to the family Solanaceae, is a small bushy shrub which is widely spread in South Asia. The plant is commonly known as ‘Indian cheese maker’ or ‘paneer dodi’ due to its milk coagulating characteristics of the fruits. In traditional system of medicine, different parts of plant especially fruits are used as magic healer of various diseases. In the present work, pharmacognostical studies of fruits and seeds are carried out for authentication of drug plant. Physico-chemical and phyto-chemical screening of drug material are done for determination of quality/purity of crude drug and for detection of plant constituents respectively. The plant is characterized by shrubby habit with dioecious and polygamous flowers; fruits (berries) enclosed in persistent leathery calyx; seeds ear-shaped, with fruity smell. Fruit pedicel with branched and unbranched trichomes, massive collenchymatous cortex, intra-xylary phloem and hollow pith; calyx with spongy parenchyma; pericarp with exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp; seeds with highly lignified sclerenchyma cells and strongly thickened endosperm. The plant is rich in alkaloids, esterase, carbohydrates, steroids, phenolic compounds, tannins, free amino acids and organic acids.

18-21

Authors: Bhogaonkar P Y, V N Chavhan and P A Dhole

The present paper deals with the addition of 09 new plant species belonging to 09 families to the flora of Yavatmal District viz. Blepharis integrifolia (L.f.) E.Mey. & Drege ex Schinz. (Acanthaceae), Blumea laciniata (Roxb.) DC. (Asteraceae), Allmania nodiflora (L.) R. Br. (Amaranthaceae), Iphigenia pallida Baker (Colchicaceae), Leucas biflora (Vahl) R. Br. (Lamiaceae), Pavonia zeylanica (L.) Cav. (Malvaceae), Cissampelos pareira L. var. hirsuta (Buch.–Ham. ex DC.) Forman (Menispermaceae), Flueggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Royle. (Phyllanthaceae), and Canthium coromandelicum (N. Burm.) Alston (Rubiaceae). Correct and updated citation, local name, a short description, along with distribution, is provided for future work.

27-34

Authors: Pritha Bhattacharya (Sasmal), Sayani Biswas and Jiban K. Pal

The aim of the present investigation is to study different pollen parameters such as shape, size, colpa and exine ornamentation for the taxonomic assessment of the groups of plants. The pollen morphology of some plant taxa of the family Fabaceae growing in the area of Arambagh of Hooghly district, West Bengal, India were studied using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) during the period of September 2012 to July 2013. The pollen grains of Cassia sophera, Cassia alata, Cassia occidentalis, Cassia fistula, Cassia tora, Cassia siamea, Butea monosperma, Bauhinia purpurea, Crotalaria retusa, Delonix regia, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Sesbania grandiflora and Tamarindus indica are 3-colporate type. The polyad types of pollen grains consisting of 12 cells were observed in Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia arabica. The polyad type of pollen grain consisting of 16 cells is observed in Albizzia lebbek. The flowering period of the investigated taxa are recorded.

39-44

Authors: Devdatta Lad and Shashikant Patil

This is the first report on avian diversity in the estuarine wetland area of Bhayander and Naigaon of Thane district from May 2008 to June 2009. The occurrence of birds was observed every month along the estuarine wetland area. Wetlands provide habitats for various types of avian species in different seasons. During the study period at both the Station 1 Bhayander and Station 2 Naigaon 131 avian species belonging to 45 families including resident and migratory were identified. Among them family Scolopacidae and Accipitridae were found to be dominant followed by family Ardeidae, Sylviidae, Laridae, Motacillidae and Rostratulidae. Out of 45 families observed at study area family Scolopacidae and Accipitridae includes 12 species each followed by Ardeidae and Sylviidae with 8 and 7 species respectively and family Laridae, Motacillidae and Rostratulidae with 6 species each.

49-53

Authors: Kanthale P R and Panchal V H

The Pharmacognostic study of Adulsa leaves was carried out to detect the adulteration. Studied characters are stomata, trichomes and anatomical features etc. The plant was analyzed for its preliminary screening of phytochemicals. The results reveal that the plant shows presence of bioactive constituents comprising alkaloids, reducing sugar, anthraquinones, saponins, flavanods and tannins. In the present study medicinal uses, Phytochemical analysis and Pharmacognosy of plant have been revived.