Enhancement of production of glycoalkaloids by elicitors along with characterization of gene expression of pathways in Solanum xanthocarpum.

Solanum xanthocarpum fruits are used in the treatment of cough, fever, and heart disorders. It possesses antipyretic, hypotensive, antiasthmatic, aphrodisiac and antianaphylactic properties. In the present study, 24 elicitors (both biotic and abiotic) were used to enhance the production of glycoalkaloids in cell cultures of S. xanthocarpum. Four concentrations of elicitors were added into the MS culture medium. The maximum accumulation (5.56-fold higher than control) of demissidine was induced by sodium nitroprusside at 50 mM concentration whereas the highest growth of cell biomass (4.51-fold higher than control) stimulated by systemin at 30 mM concentration. A total of 17 genes of biosynthetic pathways of glycoalkaloids were characterized from the cells of S. xanthocarpum. The greater accumulation of demissidine was confirmed with the expression analysis of 11 key biosynthetic pathway enzymes e.g., acetoacetic-CoA thiolase, 3- hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl synthase, ß-hydroxy ß-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, squalene-2,3- epoxide cyclase, cycloartenol synthase, UDP-glucose: solanidine glucosyltransferase and UDP-rhamnose: solanidine rhamno-galactosyl transferase. The maximum expression levels of UDP-rhamnose: solanidine rhamno-galactosyl transferase gene was recorded in this study.

Antimicrobial potential of Indian Cinnamomum species.

Cinnamomum is the largest genus of Lauraceae family and has been used as spices, food, and food additives by the people. Total 15 Cinnamomum species are distributed in different parts of Indian sub-continent. Different parts (leaves, stem bark, stem wood, roots, flowers, and fruits) of these species were shade-dried and used for the determination of essential oils. A total of 19 essential oils were identified and quantified from the different parts of (leaf, stem bark, stem wood, root, flower, and fruit) of 15 Cinnamomum species. The stem bark of C. altissimum was rich in the presence of essential oils (52.2 %) whereas minimum levels of essential oils were recorded in roots (17.9 %). The γ-terpinene (11.1 %) was reported as the major component essential oil in C. subavenium flowers. Methanol extract of C. camphora stem wood showed stronger lowest minimum inhibitory concentration against S. aureus (25 ± 0.01 µg/ml), H. pylori (29 ± 0.05 µg/ml), B. subtilis (31 ± 0.03 µg/ml), E. faecalis (33 ± 0.01 µg/ml), C. albicans (38 ± 0.03 µg/ml) when compared to amoxycillin (S. aureus 56 ± 0.05 µg/ml; B. subtilis 27 ± 0.04 µg/ml, E. faecalis 22 ± 0.01 µg/ml), streptomycin (H. pylori 38 ± 0.02 µg/ml) and fluconazole (C. albicans 56 ± 0.01 µg/ml). Methanolic extract of C. camphora stem wood demonstrated maximum antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, H. pylori, B. subtilis, E. faecalis and C. albicans. The essential oil of C. altissimum stem bark displayed significant lowest MIC against S. aureus (21 ± 0.03 µg/ml), E. coli (22 ± 0.03 µg/ml), E. cloacae (37 ± 0.06 µg/ml), L. monocytogenes (47 ± 0.08 µg/ml), and P. chrysogenum (101 ± 0.07 µg/ml) when compared to amoxycillin (E. coli 18 ± 0.01 µg/ml, E. cloacae 21 ± 0.05 µg/ml, L. monocytogenes 31 ± 0.03 µg/ml), and fluconazole (P. chrysogenum 101 ± 0.07 µg/ml). The essential oil of C. altissimum stem bark displayed maximum antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, E. coli, E. cloacae, L. monocytogenes, and P. chrysogenum. Cinnamomum essential oils may be used as an alternative source of antibacterial and antifungal compounds in the treatment of various types of infections.