Explore the vast range of titles available.

The present study evaluated the potential of Ashoka, Saraca asoca leaf meal (SLM), in carp diets following fermentative processing with a tannase-producing fish gut bacterium, Bacillus subtilis (KP765736). The processing of SLM led to a significant ( P  < 0.05) reduction in major anti-nutrients (tannin, trypsin inhibitor, and crude fiber), while crude protein content increased. Seven sets of isonitrogenous (35% crude protein) and isocaloric (18.82 kJg −1 ) diets were prepared using raw (R1, R2, R3) and fermented SLM (F1, F2, F3) at 10%, 20%, and 30% levels by weight replacing fishmeal and de-oiled rice bran in the reference diet (RD). Diets were fed to rohu, Labeo rohita fingerlings (4.01 ± 0.08 g), for 70 days in triplicate. Fish fed diets containing 30% fermented SLM (F3) exhibited significantly ( P  < 0.05) better growth (241.25%), improved nutrient utilization, and enhanced activities of digestive enzymes compared to raw SLM-fed groups. Furthermore, tannin accumulation in the liver and muscle was significantly lower ( P  < 0.05) in fish fed fermented SLM diets compared to those fed raw SLM diets. Additionally, tannin contents in the diets were noticed to be positively correlated ( P  < 0.05) with tannin accumulation in fish tissues and negatively correlated ( P  < 0.05) with growth. Hepatic and muscle enzymes associated with carbohydrate metabolism in fish fed RD performed similarly to those reared on fermented SLM diets. Conversely, key enzymes involved in protein metabolism, hexose monophosphate shunt, and the tri-carboxylic-acid cycle showed increased activities in fish fed raw SLM diets, indicating dietary stress and a shift from carbohydrate metabolism to protein catabolism. Moreover, protein, glycogen, and amino acids in hepatopancreas and muscle showed a progressive increase with the gradual inclusion of fermented SLM in the diets. In conclusion, this study might suggest incorporating 30% (w/w) fermented SLM in the diets of rohu without interfering with growth, feed utilization, and metabolic function.

Saraca asoca is an important plant species of India having variety of medicinal activity such as antiviral, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer etc. Indian Kala-azar (KA) or visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a protozoan parasitic disease caused by Leishmania sp and is endemic in Indian subcontinent. VL mainly targets the poorest people who have been suffering from deficiency in protein, nutrients and essential trace elements which ultimately leads to immunodeficiency. Essential trace element, Zinc (Zn) controls multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immunity while Iron (Fe) is required for various cellular activities. Bromine (Br) is important for assembly of collagen IV scaffolds in tissue development and helps in signalling and Copper (Cu) performs several functions related to immune system. Intra-cardiac blood was collected from the experimental BALB/c mice groups including (a) healthy control, (b) infected control, (c) Saraca asoca seed extract (Sa-SE) treated groups. The trace elements level in blood of mice was measured by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence technique. Interestingly, the decreased level of Zn, Fe and Br as well as increased level of Cu in diseased state came back to almost normal range upon treatment with Sa-SE. The trace elements imbalances thus were almost restored to normalcy by treating the experimental BALB/c mice with ethanolic seed extract of Saraca asoca .

Saraca asoca, commonly known as ‘Asoka’ or 'Ashoka,' holds significant medicinal value in India. However, due to the escalating demand in the herbal market, the species has suffered a severe decline in naturally occurring populations, primarily caused by the unregulated extraction of its wood. Particularly within the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, the species faces critically low population sizes. The study addresses a highly relevant conservation concern, focusing on an ecologically and culturally important species within a global biodiversity hotspot. Twelve populations in the Western Ghats were analyzed using five highly polymorphic and newly developed microsatellite markers. The results revealed a total of 78 alleles, with an average of 15.6 alleles per locus across the twelve populations. The AMOVA analysis indicated that the species exhibits higher diversity within populations (91.38% variation) compared to the variation observed among populations (8.62%). Further analysis employing Bayesian clustering identified six distinct genetic clusters within Saraca asoca . Based on these genetic findings, strategies for the development of an in-situ conservation plan for the species have been formulated. Overall, this study sheds light on the genetic characteristics of Saraca asoca populations in the Western Ghats and provides valuable insights for the implementation of effective conservation measures.

Biofilms are made up of bacterial colonies and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix, which protects the bacteria from adverse environmental conditions. The increasing drug resistivity of pathogenic bacteria is becoming an emergency for developing new antibacterial agents. In this study, we have synthesized the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the leaf extract of Saraca asoca plant, and the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of green synthesized ZnO NPs was measured against the biofilm-producing bacteria Bacillus subtilis . The disk diffusion data reveals that the zone of inhibition (ZOI) starts at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL and minimum inhibition concentration (100 µg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentration (150 µg/mL) values were also evaluated for green synthesized ZnO nanomaterials. Crystal violet test and microscopic examination were used to assess the impact of produced nanoparticles on biofilm development. The findings indicated a nearly 45%, 64%, and 83% suppression of biofilm development at 0.5 × MIC, 0.75 × MIC, and 1 × MIC value, respectively. The biofilm biomass of the preformed or matured biofilms by the ZnO NPs was evaluated to be 68%, 50%, and 33% at concentrations of 0.5 × MIC, 0.75 × MIC, and 1 × MIC which was concentration-dependent. Moreover, flow cytometry results suggest damage to the bacterial cell membrane. The data indicated that the proportion of dead cells increased with NP concentration in comparison to the control. Therefore, it can be concluded that the green synthetic ZnO nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against the Bacillus subtilis bacteria that produce biofilms and that they could be a promising substitute agent for the treatment of biofilms and drug-resistant bacteria.

Introduction: The leaves of Saraca asoca (the Ashoka tree), a member of Caesalpinioideae family, have been used widely in Traditional medicines; however, their wound healing ability in diabetic condition is not investigated yet. The aim of present study was to investigate the anti-diabetic and wound healing potential of Saraca asoca leaves extract in various streptozocin induces diabetic animal models. Methods: Antidiabetics activity was evaluated in streptozocin induced rat models and wound healing potential was determined using excision and incision wound models. Results: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts induced hypoglycemia and improved glucose tolerance in normal rats, despite the presence of counter-regulatory mechanisms aimed at preventing a decrease in blood glucose levels. This suggests that the hypoglycemic action of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts may be attributed to extra-pancreatic processes or by stimulating the remaining cells to produce more insulin. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the extracts of Saraca asoca leave have significant anti-diabetic and wound healing potential.

One of the most serious environmental issues is air pollution. Unlike other environmental concerns, this form of pollution is extremely challenging to regulate. The greenery of roadside trees plays a significant role in air purification and pollutant absorption, therefore helping to mitigate environmental pollution. Several plants can absorb and store toxins in their leaves from the atmosphere. Green plants have the potential to work as sinks and filters for air pollutants. Green belt development along national highways is a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method of reducing air pollution. Sensitive and tolerant plants against air pollution can be identified by evaluating their air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) values. In this study, the susceptibility level of plant species to air pollution was assessed using APTI and API. The four parameters on which APTI depends are ascorbic acid content, total chlorophyll content, relative water content, and leaf extract pH. For the estimation of API, the plant’s biological and socioeconomic factors like tree habit, canopy structure, type, size, texture, and hardness of the plant are also assessed. These parameters were determined and incorporated into a formula that represents the APTI and API of plants. Moreover, multilinear regression modeling was performed using a Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, V25) and found that pH and ascorbic acid content in plant leaves have a significant role in the calculation of APTI and tolerance potential of plants. Therefore, APTI was assessed with seventeen plant species that are abundant in the area along the national highway in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, from Jan to Mar 2020. The APTI showed that Saraca asoca was the most resistant to air pollution, whereas Vachellia nilotica was the most sensitive. In addition, plants with higher APTI can also be used to reduce air pollution, while plants with lower APTI can be utilized to monitor air pollution. Based on the calculated API score, it is found that Ficus elastica (% score > 90) is the best option for green belt development. Urban local body (ULB) can also adopt Ficus religiosa , Saraca asoca , and Aucuba japonica (having % a grade score of 80–90) for mitigation of air pollution. The study indicates that plantations of tolerant species are useful for biomonitoring and developing green belts on and along national highways.

An endophytic fungus (L3), isolated from the leaf tissues of Saraca asoca was identified as D. longicolla by microscopic and molecular methods. The crude extracts of D. longicolla revealed to harbor seven compounds in GC–MS analysis which was subjected to a thin layer chromatography (TLC) for purification and separation of bioactive ingredients. The partially purified fraction from TLC displayed the presence of 2-tridecene (Z) (RT-14.50), 5-tridecene (E) (RT-16.65) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (RT-13.92) in GC–MS. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed to further purify the constituents which led to the collection of 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol (RT-2.34) with excellent antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against methicillin resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) has become one of the main urban air pollutants. In the present study, we assessed impact of ambient and future ground-level O 3 on nine commonly growing urban tree species under Free Air Ozone Enrichment (FAOE) condition. During the study period, mean ambient and elevated ozone (EO 3 ) concentrations were 48.59 and 69.62 ppb, respectively. Under EO 3 treatment, stomatal density (SD) significantly decreased and guard cell length (GCL) increased in Azadirachta indica , Bougainvillea spectabilis , Plumeria rubra , Saraca asoca and Tabernaemontana divaricata , while SD increased and GCL decreased in Ficus benghalensis and Terminalia arjuna. Proline levels increased in all the nine plant species under EO 3 condition. EO 3 significantly reduced photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance (gs), and transpiration rates (E). Only A. indica and N. indicum showed higher gs and E under EO 3 treatment. Water use efficiency (WUE) significantly increased in F. benghalensis and decreased in A. indica and T. divaricata . Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) significantly increased in Ficus religiosa and S. asoca whereas it decreased in B. spectabilis and A. indica . Of all the plant species B. spectabilis and A. indica were the most sensitive to EO 3 (high g s and less ascorbic acid content) while  S. asoca and F. religiosa were the most tolerant (low g s and more ascorbic acid content). The sensitivity of urban tree species to EO 3 is a cause of concern and should be considered for future urban forestry programmes. Our study should guide more such studies to identify tolerant trees for urban air pollution abatement.