Objective: The aim of the present study was to screen phytochemicals and antimicrobial activities of the extracts of three medicinal plants viz. Calotropis gigantea, Lawsonia inermis and Trigonella foenum-graecum. Methods: The methanolic extracts of the three plants were tested against clinical isolates of five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Methicillin Resistant Sta...

Two taxa, Hericium yumthangense (Russulales, Agaricomycotina) and Mycoleptodonoides sharmae (Polyporales, Agaricomycotina) are described as new to science from the Shingba Rhododendron sanctuary located in the northern district of Sikkim, India. Macro- and micromorphological characters are described and illustrated for both species, which are compared with allied taxa. ITS rDNA sequences suppor...

It’s a well-known fact that rhododendrons poison the soil, isn’t it? When I first heard it mentioned, in a radio programme, I asked around to find out how and why. Nobody could tell me, though they all knew it was true! Unsettled by the way this meme circulates and proliferates, unquestioned and apparently unverified, and conscious that it seemed to contradict my own observations, I resolved to...

Flavonoids which were reported as having many pharmacological activities, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, chemoprevention activities and they possess strong antiproliferative effects related to inhibition of cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction. On the basis of this Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol. Ex Correa (Family-Malvaceae) was selected and it is having the major composition of ...

Hyperoside (Hyp) is a flavonoid compound isolated from a folk remedy, Rhododendron ponticum L. leaves. It has been shown to have neuroprotective effects both in vivo and in vitro. However, little is known about the effects of Hyp on the neuronal apoptosis induced by glutamate. The present study showed that Hyp significantly attenuated, in a concentration-dependent manner, the apoptosis induced ...

The midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) is a structure known for its roles in pain transmission and modulation. Noxious stimuli potentiate the glutamate synaptic transmission and enhance glutamate NMDA receptor expression in the PAG. However, little is known about roles of NMDA receptor subunits in the PAG in processing the persistent inflammatory pain. The present study was undertaken to invest...

Many flavonoids have cardioprotection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Total flavones from Rhododendron simsii Planch flower (TFR) can protect myocardial ischemic injuries. However, its protective mechanism is still unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanism of TFR on myocardial I/R and anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) injuries. Rat model of myocardial I...

Most nutrient enrichment studies in aquatic systems have focused on autotrophic food webs in systems where primary producers dominate the resource base. We tested the heterotrophic response to longterm nutrient enrichment in a forested, headwater stream. Our study design consisted of 2 years of pretreatment data in a reference and treatment stream and 2 years of continuous nitrogen (N) + phosph...

Rhododendron longipedicellatum is a narrow endemic species and a subject of urgent demand in the domestic market and overseas. Its fascinating shapes, brilliantly gilvous flowers, and unusual flowering time endow this species with extremely high ornamental value. However, only five wild populations of R. longipedicellatum surviving in limestone habitat have been found through elaborate field in...