T. Sekar

Pachaiyappa's College, Chennai · Botany

In this study, phytoremediation potential of toxic metals like selenium (Se) and lanthanum (La) by transformed hairy roots was investigated and compared with plantlets under in-vitro conditions. Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4RS could induce hairy roots with higher biomass in 5–7 days of infection on in-vitro leaves of Hybanthus enneaspermus. The ICP-O...

Background: Erythroxylum monogynum Roxb. (Fam. Erythroxylaceae) is a tree growing up to 9 m in dry evergreen to deciduous forests, distributed in South India mainly on the Deccan plateau, up to 3000 ft. The wood oil possesses characteristic pleasant odour and a pungent taste, hence adulterated with sandalwood oil in perfumery. Traditionally wood oi...

A plant functional trait study was conducted to know the existing relationship between important leaf traits namely, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and leaf life span (LL) in tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEFs) of Peninsular India. Widely accepted methodologies were employed to record functional traits. The relationship...

Tropical dry forests are one of the most threatened, widely distributed ecosystems in tropics and estimation of forest biomass is a crucial component of global carbon emission estimation. Therefore, the present study was aimed to quantify the biomass and carbon storage in trees on large scale (10, 1 ha plots) in the dry mixed evergreen forest of Ja...

Tree diversity assessment, inventoried in tropical moist evergreen forest yielded a total of 62 tree species belongings to 44 genera and 23 families and 5140 stems which wereenumerated in 10 ha plots.

Patterns of tree growth, biomass changes in 10 ha permanent plots of tropical moist evergreen forest in Javadhu hills of the Eastern Ghats, India, were investigated between 2015 and 2017. All trees ≥ 30 cm girth at breast height (GBH) were measured, tagged and the point of measurement (POM) was paint-marked. Short-term girth increment and biomass o...

A quantitative floristic study was conducted in Chennai metropolitan city (CMC), Tamil Nadu, India to estimate density and population structure of trees categorized as vulnerable and endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) red-list. A total of one hundred 1-ha (100 m × 100 m) square plots were rando...

Abstract The present document focused on the survey of Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants in Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India. It includes 77 ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used various diseases of household animals. Ethnoveterinary data of this survey gathered in and around Megamalai and Cinnamanur in Theni District Tamil Nadu. In this report hig...

Assessment of litterfall production is essential to know the status of nutrient cycling and forest health. The study was carry out in Javadhu hills during 2016, a total of 10 ha (100 m X 100 m) permanent plots established to analyze the standing crop of litter and their fine litter production. Annual fine litter production quantified for one year (...

This study recorded density and population structure of a IUCN vulnerable tree in a 10-ha forest dynamics monitoring plot at Javadhu hills, Tamil Nadu, India. All trees ≥30cm girth at breast height recorded. Trees are classified into nine diameter classes. A sum of 686 trees ≥30cm GBH found in forest dynamics plot. The mean density of C. swietenia...

The Wood density and Physiognomy of tree species were inventoried in Pachaimalai hills of Southern Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu India. A 10 ha plot has studied the variation in average wood density of annual rings. A total of 61 species that belong to 45 genera and 30 families were recorded in the study area. Physiognomically three types of forest tre...

Most of the traditional medicinal plants in India are not scientifically validated. Scientific evaluation along with traditional knowledge is essential to obtain effective drugs for commercial purpose. The present study was aimed to phytochemical screening, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) analy...

The present study was aimed to isolate genomic DNA of Salacia beddomei, Salacia chinensis, Salacia fruticosa, Salacia gambleana, Salacia macrosperma, Salacia malabarica and Salacia oblonga from Karnataka. Among seven species of Salacia, Salacia beddomei, Salacia fruticosa, Salacia gambleana, Salacia macrosperma and Salacia malabarica showed good pu...

Exceedingly sensitive liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) with positive ion detection method was elaborated and validated to resolute prime compounds present in the active fraction of five various extracts of Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. fresh fruit pulp. Five different polarity extracts of Benincasa hisp...

In this present study we carried out investigation of phytochemical constituents, thin layer chromatographic (TLC) and High performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC)studiesof Chloroxylon swietenialeaf extract by following standard protocol. The qualitative phytochemical analysis of different solvent in leaf extracts showed the presence of numb...

Genomic DNA of Strychnos minor (Dennst) of sixteen geographical regions were amplified using thirteen primers. The analyses of products of Radom Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed polymorphism among the samples. The polymorphic information content (PIC) was maximum for the primer of OPB-04 (0.40) followed by the primer OPB-20 (0.39). Cluster...

From a 'Poor man's Timber' to Green Gold', From 21 st century, Bamboo is considered as a fast-emerging genus and it is one of the fastest growing and highest yielding renewable natural resource which makes it as a good substitute to wood in mitigating pressure on natural forests. Bamboo and its products are largely used for various commercial and i...

Salacia Linn belongs to the family Celastraceae which was formerly known as Hippocreataceae. It is the largest and most valuable genus possessing various Secondary Metabolites which have high medicinal properties. Hence, this study was focused on screening the presence of various phytochemicals such as steroids, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, phe...

The present study aims to Woody stem density and above-ground biomass (AGB) in Pachamalai Hills of Southern Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu. In 10ha plot was established and each plot was subdivided into two hundred and fifty (20m × 20m) workable sub plots, from ground level to above 1.3m. All trees ≥ 30 cm girth at breast height (GBH at 1.3 m) were measu...

The present study deals with the medicinal plants used by people of Kolli Hills for treatment and prevention of various ailments. For this study, field visits were organized frequently from April 2014-March 2015 to Kolli hills, Eastern Ghats of Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu. The present investigation provides ethno botanical information of various...

The present study was to trace out the variations in the profile of bioactive compounds from chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Benincasa hispida fresh fruit pulp using Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). The identity of the bioactive components of the extracts was established on the basis of GC retention indices, by co...

The present study is aimed to explore the potentiality of organic (combination of vermicomposts prepared from cow dung. press mud, tea dust and vegetable wastes in the ratio of (1:1:1:1) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK, 1:2:1 ratio) amendment on the antidermatophytic potentials of petals of Rosa bourboniana for the first time. The plot with no supple...

This study estimates the existing eco-physiological traits relationship between leaf area (LA) and wood density (WD) in tropical dry evergreen forests (TDEFs) of southern Coromandel Coast, peninsular India. Leaf area and wood density of 56 tree species belonged to 49 genera and 28 families were measured to understand the relationship between the tr...

The objective of this study was to determine anti – diabetic activity of selected seven species of Salacia such as Salacia beddomei, Salacia chinensis, Salacia fruticosa, Salacia gambleana, Salacia macrosperma, Salacia malabarica and Salacia oblonga.α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes are two enzymes responsible for diabetic condition. The methanol...

The present study investigated on the comparative evaluation of the extraction, quantification, phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of Capsaicin from acetone and acetonitrile extracts of Capsicum chinenseJacq. The polar aprotic solvent extracts showed high amount of Capsaicin with pungency level of 1,529,500 Scoville Heat Units. The Thin layer...

Salacia is one of the medicinally valuable genus consisting of more than 200 species, which belongs to the family Celastraceae, formerly called as Hippocreataceae. Salacia is distributed throughout tropical areas which include India, Srilanka, Southern China and other Southern Asian Countries. It is found to compose of several biologically active c...

A quantitative ecological study was conducted in evergreen forests of Kolli hills, Tamil Nadu. A 10 ha forest dynamics plot was laid in intact evergreen forests. The 10 ha study plot divided in to 250 25m×25m workable elementary plots. All trees ≥10cm diameter at breast height were measured at 137 cm from above the ground, tagged with consecutively...

It has been recognised that lianas play many roles in forest ecosystem. This study was conducted in three tropical dry evergreen forest sites at southern Coromandel Coast, peninsular India. All lianas inventoried. Recorded lianas were identified up to species level with regional floras. This study developed a forest regression equation for liana bi...

The primary objective of the study is to find the potentiality of organic combination of vermicomposts prepared from cow dung. press mud, tea dust and vegetable wastes in the ratio of (1:1:1:1) and inorganic fertilizer (NPK, 1:2:1 ratio) amendment on the antibacterial potentiality of petals of Rosa bourboniana by disc diffusion method. The plot wit...

The biosynthesis of transition metal nanoparticles is gaining importance due to their biocompatibility, low toxicity and environmental friendly nature. Plant mediated synthesis of nanoparticles is a green chemistry approach that interconnects nanotechnology and plant biotechnology. In the present study, synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has...

A quantitative ecological study was conducted in Pachaimalai(PM) of Southern Eastern Ghats (SEG), Tamil Nadu to estimate density, species richness and aboveground biomass of trees. A 10 ha long term forest dynamics plot was established in study area. All trees ≥10cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were recorded and tagged with consecutively numbere...

This study was conducted in Pachaimalai, a part of southern Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. A 10 ha plot was established in Punavarai village in Attur Taluk, Salem District. In all, 29 species spread in 23 genera and 17 families recorded from study plot. Physiognomically both deciduous and evergreen trees are present in study plot. In all, 15 deciduou...

Formation of spikes in the electrochemically machined workpiece prevents to achieve the better performance of Electrochemical Machining (ECM). Hence, this research work attempts to investigate the effects of Nano-fluid i.e. Nano Copper particles suspended NaCl electrolyte on the ECM of High carbon high chromium (HCHCr) die steel with a hardness of...

Electrochemical Machining (ECM) process is widely used to machine the high hardness and poor machinable materials, however, achieving the better material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness are the major drawbacks due to formation of spikes in the machined surface. Hence, this research work attempts to investigate the effects of Silver Nitrate...

An in vitro micropropagation protocol was developed for Capsicum chinense Jacq. popularly known as habenaro pepper which is one of the world’s hottest chilli and it is a traditional food item of the Naga people. Nagaland is believed to be the original home for the chilli pepper. The Guinness book of World record has awarded this chilli as hottest o...

Variations in antioxidant and anti-viral activity (against Influenza AP/R/8 (H1N1) virus) between the leaves and stem bark of selected medicinal plants were studied. Malin Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were used for the viral infection and the antiviral activity of the extracts were studied using sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. The stem bark of t...

A quantitative study was conducted in Pachaiyappa's College to estimate dry biomass of trees. In total, two hectares were studied to estimate tree biomass. All trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥5 cm were measured and recorded. An available linear log-transformed region-specific regression equation was used to estimate above ground biomass...

This research paper attempts to investigate the optimum values of the major intervening parameters in micro-Electric Discharge Machining (microEDM) of Stainless Steel (SS) 316L. Experiments are conducted using a 400 micrometre brass electrode. The discharge current, pulseon time and pulse-off time with three levels are selected as significant inter...

The present study was aimed to establish an efficient and rapid protocol for in vitro propagation of Rosa bourboniana through nodal explants. In vitro shooting followed by multiplication response of nodal explants of Rosa bourboniana were observed on MS medium supplemented with individual and synergetic concentrations of plant growth regulators (BA...

A qualitative floristic survey conducted in Thiruvallur district to record alien invasive flora. This study recorded 136 species in 90 genera and 37 families. The most speciose family of study area is Asteraceae (with 18 species), Convolvulaceae (11), Caesalpiniaceae (9) and Amaranthaceae (8). While 12 families which include Apocynaceae, Balsaminac...

The marine actinomycete Streptomyces sp. LCJ94 isolated from Bay of Bengal was found to be antagonistic against three shrimp pathogens and the crude extract of this strain showed good minimum inhibitory activity against these pathogens with the mic values of 250 µg/mL, 250 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL. The microscopical and cultural characters studies showe...

Actinomycetes are known to produce potential secondary metabolites which are having biological activity. Studies were conducted to isolate and identify the biologically potential marine actinomycetes and also these studies confirm that the isolates have enormous potential for the production of antimicrobial substances. Marine sediments were collect...

A tree diversity inventory was carried out in urban green spaces (UGSs) of Chennai metropolitan city, India. This inventory aims to study the diversity, density and richness of trees in UGSs of Chennai. A total of one hundred 10 m × 10 m (total 1 ha) plots were laid to reveal tree diversity and richness of UGSs. Trees with ≥10 cm girths at breast h...

Phytochemicals are a wide variety of compounds produced by plants manipulated widely in the pharmacognostic drug development and treatment of the major ailments. The present study focuses on screening and comparative analysis of secondary metabolites, fluorescence and physiochemical analysis of two major medicinal plants; Stereospermum colais L. an...

In the present scenario where herbal and eco-friendly substances are being preferred over their synthetic counterparts, the present study is a contribution to the ongoing oncology research with a similar aim. Barringtonia acutangula L. and Stereospermum colais L. plants were selected based on their medicinal properties, which are well documented. T...

We provide a checklist of Angiosperms along with the details of life form from a ~ 9.6 ha of non-concreted area of Pachaiyappa's College (PC) campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu state, India. This area harbors 256 species belonging to 212 genera in 71 families. Families with maximum number of species include Fabaceae (31 species) followed by Malvaceae (15)...

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document the ethnomedicinal plants which are used by the Kani tribal people in Pechiparai forest range (southern Western Ghats) in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India. The information on plants was collected by interviewing the local Kani traditional practitioners. The present study revealed that the...

In modern era due to the life style adopted by man the free radical production in human body is rather increasing. The fast food that comprises junk and deep fried items along with the lack of physical activity is posing danger to human health and life. The free radical production is effectively combated by the use of antioxidants. The present stud...

In prospect of escalating resistance to existing antimicrobial agents, herbal drugs are being looked as an imperative source for discovery of new agents for treating various ailments related to bacterial infections. C.occidentalis is an annual herb in India, has been used as folk medicine and found to posses wide range of pharmacological behaviors....

Objective To identify the knowledgeable Paliyar and Muthuvar traditional healers in Theni District of Tamil Nadu, Southern India and to explore their indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge.Methods With the help of standardized questionnaires, 12 informants were interviewed on the medicinal use of the local flora in various tribal villages of Theni Dis...

A survey for documentation of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants used by the Malayali traditional healers in Peddanaickenpalayam block of Salem district, Tamil Nadu, southern India has been conducted during June 2010 to November 2010. Ethnoveterinary information was gathered through individual interviews and observations among the Malayali tribals. A...

The present study shows the phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of leaf and callus of Centella asiatica. Leaf explants of C. asiatica were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentration of plant growth regulators for callus initiation. The maximum percentage of callusing was achieved in medium supplemented with 6-benz...

Stevia rebaudiana is and an important non-caloric sweetening herb contains diterpene glycosides need to be explored for its commercialization. The evolving commercial importance of secondary metabolites in recent years has resulted in a great demand in the Pharma industry. Callus cultures were established from nodal and leaf explants. Leaf explants...

The comparative studies of secondary metabolites investigation used in pharmacognostic drug research using qualitative test is been performed on Cassia occidentalis leaf as well as stem ; belongs to family Ceasalpinieaceae.This plant is of high economic value due to the presence of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The samples extracted using...

An ethnobotanical survey through questionnaire and personal interviews was undertaken to collect information on the use of medicinal plants from local traditional healers in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu during June 2008 to December 2008. The investigation revealed that, the traditional healers have been using 53 species of plants distributed i...

Leaf explants of Plumbago rosea L. an important medicinal plant inoculated on MS supplemented with 6.66 μM BAP and 2.69 μM NAA produced numerous (105 ± 0.3) shootlets with an average length of 3.1 ± 0.0 cm. Small shootlets were transferred to shoot elongation medium supplemented with 1.11 μM BAP plus 1.44 μM GA3. The elongated shootlets transferred...

Azima tetracantha is a shrub known for its various therapeutic properties. Genetic diversity was analysed using RAPD primers among six accessions collected from different locations of Tamilnadu, India. Genetic distances were calculated using Nei's coefficient. Dendrogram was constructed on the basis of the similarity matrix data by unweighted pair...

The leaves of Azima tetracantha (Salvadoraceae) commonly known as "mulluchangu" is best known for its medicinal properties. In the present study, the antioxidant potency of successive extracts (petroleum ether, hexane, ethylacetate & methanol) was investigated, by determining the secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, tannin and phenolic compoun...

A comparative study of phytochemicals was made on leaf extracts of two herbal plants- Caesalpinia pulcherrima Swartz (a domesticated striking ornamental shrub) and Caesalpinia bonduc (L) Roxb (a wild spiny shrub) belonging to the family Caesalpinaceae. The leaf extracts were prepared with 4 different selected solvents for each plant to adjudge the...

Aim of the study was to document the aquatic macrophyte wealth of a perennial fresh water wetland ecosystem called Ambattur lake (ARL) through qualitative survey. ARL is situated in Thiruvallur district of south India. This is the very first of its kind on ARL, exhibited the wealth of macrophytes. A total of 56 plant species including 52 Angiosperm...

An efficient plant regeneration protocol was developed for Exacum travancoricum, (Gentianaceae) an endangered herb. Nodal segments grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 4.44 µM (BAP) with 10% coconut milk showed better growth response and produced 32.3±0.3 shoots per explant with an average length of 4.6±0.1 cm after 35 days. Roots we...

Juvenile leaf explants of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni produced maximum callus than the nodal explants cultured on MS containing 11.31 µM 2, 4-D and 2.22 µM BAP. Callus transferred to MS supplemented with 4.44 µM BA and 1.34 µM NAA showed better growth response and produced 14.0 ± 1.0 shoots with an average length of 5.6 ± 0.1 cm after 28 days. All pl...

A rapid mass propagation protocol was developed for Vanilla planifolia, tropical orchid, known for its aromatic flavour. Nodal segments grown on MS basal medium with BA and NAA showed quick response and produced 12 shootlets per explant within 40 days. Fortification of 10% coconut water improved the growth, healthy plantlets developed. The prolifer...

The Fourier transform infrared spectra of culm wall substancesviz. cellulose and lignin of bamboo were recorded in FT-IR Perkin-Elmer 1605 spectrometer. A spectral band investigation of the characteristic vibration for cellulose and lignin was made and compared with the structure and distribution of fibres across the culm wall (a quantitative analy...

Bambusa vulgaris is one of the valuable and much used bamboos for structural purposes and in the paper industry. The variations in fibro-vascular bundle organisation, mechanical tissue distribution and the fibre characteristics in culm internodes were used for the identification and delimitation of Bambusa vulgaris and its varieties viz. B. vulgari...

Summary Addition of aldicarb (2 methyl-2(methyl thio) propionaldehyde-0-methyl carbamoyl oxime) in the growth medium enhanced the growth ofRhizobium sp. (cowpea group) at 2 ppm level while an inhibition was observed at the normal (5 ppm) and higher (10 ppm) concentrations. Respiration of the cells was also inhibited by 5 and 10 ppm levels of the ch...

A survey on the use of medicinal plants by local traditional healers was carried out in Puducherry (Union Territory) region, southern India. Findings presented in this paper were gathered by group discussions, interviews and questionnaires with the local people having knowledge of medicinal values of plants; this study involved a total of 24 plant...