• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.1144-1154
• /
• 2019

There have been several studies regarding lichen-associated bacteria obtained from diverse environments. Our screening process identified 49 bacterial species in two lichens from the Himalayas: 17 species of Actinobacteria, 19 species of Firmicutes, and 13 species of Proteobacteria. We discovered five types of strong antimicrobial agent-producing bacteria. Although some strains exhibited weak antimicrobial activity, NP088, NP131, NP132, NP134, and NP160 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all multidrug-resistant strains. Polyketide synthase (PKS) fingerprinting revealed results for 69 of 148 strains; these had similar genes, such as fatty acid-related PKS, adenylation domain genes, PfaA, and PksD. Although the association between antimicrobial activity and the PKS fingerprinting results is poorly resolved, NP160 had six types of PKS fingerprinting genes, as well as strong antimicrobial activity. Therefore, we sequenced the draft genome of strain NP160, and predicted its secondary metabolism using antiSMASH version 4.2. NP160 had 46 clusters and was predicted to produce similar secondary metabolites with similarities of 5-100%. Although NP160 had 100% similarity with the alkylresorcinol biosynthetic gene cluster, our results showed low similarity with existing members of this biosynthetic gene cluster, and most have not yet been revealed. In conclusion, we expect that lichen-associated bacteria from the Himalayas can produce new secondary metabolites, and we found several secondary metabolite-related biosynthetic gene clusters to support this hypothesis.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2017

With the growing global concern about climate change, relationship between carbon stock density and tree species has become important for international climate change mitigation programmes. In this study, 150 Quadrats were laid down to assess the diversity, biomass and carbon stocks in each of the forest ranges (Barkot Range, Lachchiwala Range and Thano Range) of Dehra Dun Forest Division in Doon Valley, Western Himalaya, India. Community level carbon stock density was analyzed using Two Way Indicator Species Analysis. Species Richness and Shannon Weiner index was correlated with the carbon stocks of Doon Valley. Positive and weak relationship was found between the carbon stock density and Shannon Weiner Index, and between carbon stock density and Species Richness.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.16.1-16.2
• /
• 2017

Doronicum Hookeri of family Asteraceae is an important medicinal drug distributed in Himalayas at Lachen and Tungu, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet between 12,000 to 14,000 ft. Its roots are widely used as folk medicine and are commonly known as "Darunaj-aqrabi" in Unani and as "Leopard's bane" in English. Roots are traditionally used as a constituent of, act as a stomachic and dissolves trapped gases. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of D. hookeri roots have been previously reported. The methanolic extract of root part possessed higher phenolic content and thus higher free radical scavenging and reducing activities. The methanolic extract of this plant showed scavenging and antioxidant activities in DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picryhydrazy) radical scavenging assay.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.177-186
• /
• 2008

The present paper consists of 42 taxa belonging to 7 genera of desmids (green algae) collected from two districts of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand (Western Himalayas). The district Haridwar is located 29° 55’to 29° 59’N latitude and 68° 5’to 68° 30’E longitude covering about 2360 km2 area and Dehradun district is situated between 77° 34’to 78° 18’E longitude and 29° 58’to 30° 58’N latitude. Seven genera of desmids are (with number of taxa in parenthesis): Closterium Nitzsch. (9), Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs (25), Euastrum Ehr. (2), Spondylosium Breb. (1), Micrasterias Ag. (1), Staurastrum Meyen (3), Arthrodesmus Ehr. (1). All these taxa constitute new records for the area. The algal localities are relatively cleaner than those of majority of urban areas. A rich assemblage of desmids shows that water bodies of these hilly areas are still undisturbed and need protection for preservation of algal biodiversity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2009

Bauhinia variegata Linn (Mountain Ebony) is a medium-sized, deciduous tree, found throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 1,300 m in the Himalayas. The plant is widely used by the tribals throughout India and popular in various indigenous systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy. Following the various traditional claims on utility of this plant in curing number of diseases, considerable efforts have been made by researchers to verify its utility through pharmacological screenings. The notable biological activities reported are anthelmintic, antiulcer, antitumour, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antigoitrogenic, hepatoprotective and haemagglutination. Industrially, the plant is widely used for the manufacture of wood wool board, production of tannin, oil, gum and fibre. The plant is also utilized for afforestation to conserve the nature. In this article, a comprehensive account of the cultivation, microscopy, phytochemical investigation, traditional and biologically evaluated medicinal uses of B variegata is presented.

• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2014

Sediment erosion is one of the key challenges in hydraulic turbines from a design and maintenance perspective in Himalayas. The present study focuses on choosing the best design in terms of blade angle distribution of a Francis turbine runner which has least erosion effect without influencing the efficiency and the structural integrity. A fully coupled Fluid-Structure-Interaction (FSI) analysis was performed through a multi-field solver, which showed that the maximum stress induced in the optimized design for better sediment handling, is less than that induced in the reference design. Some numerical validation techniques have been shown for both CFD and FSI analysis.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.44-51
• /
• 2021

Rapid urbanization and population growth have caused substantial land use land cover (LULC) change in the Kathmandu valley. The lack of temporal and geographical data regarding LULC in the middle mountain region like Kathmandu has been challenging to assess the changes that have occurred. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in LULC in Chandragiri Municipality between 1996 and 2017 using geographical information system (GIS) and remote sensing. Using Landsat imageries of 1996 and 2017, this study analyzed the LULC change over 21 years. The images were classified using the Maximum Likelihood classification method and post classified using the change detection technique in GIS. The result shows that severe land cover changes have occurred in the Forest (11.63%), Built-up areas (3.68%), Agriculture (-11.26%), Shrubland (-0.15%), and Bareland (-3.91%) in the region from 1996 to 2017. This paper highlights the use of GIS and remote sensing in understanding the changes in LULC in the south-west part of Kathmandu valley.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.235-245
• /
• 2022

Bhutan is endowed with rich biodiversity with several edible and useful fern species. Ferns have been used by local communities for centuries as vegetables, ethnobotanical artifacts, and as medicines. Owing to the limited study of edible and useful pteridophytes in the country, the knowledgebase remains poor. In this study, we attempt to document edible and useful fern species in the country scientifically while also providing an annotated checklist.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.12-23
• /
• 2018

Quantitative information on biomass and available nutrients are essential for developing sustainable forest management strategies to regulate atmospheric carbon. An attempt was made at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in Duars region of West Bengal to quantify its above and below ground carbon along with available "N", "P" and "K" in the soil. Stratified random nested quadrats were marked for soil, biomass and litter sampling. Indirect or non-destructive procedures were employed for biomass estimation. The amount of these available nutrients and organic carbon quantified in soil indicates that the forest soil is high in organic carbon and available "K" and medium in phosphorus and nitrogen. The biomass, soil carbon and total carbon (soil C＋C in plant biomass) in the forest was 1,995.98, 75.83 and $973.65Mg\;ha^{-1}$. More than 90% of the carbon accumulated in the forest was contributed by the trees. The annual litter production of the forest was $5.37Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Carbon accumulation is intricately linked with site quality factors. The estimated biomass of $1,995.98Mg{\cdot}ha^{-1}$ clearly indicates this. The site quality factor i.e. tropical moist deciduous with optimum availability of soil nutrients, heavy precipitation, high mean monthly relative humidity and optimum temperature range supported luxuriant growth which was realized as higher biomass accumulation and hence higher carbon accumulated.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.113-119
• /
• 2016

The long lived iteroparous conifers produce male and female gametophyte for hundreds of years once they reach the reproductive stage, however, the production of seed is not frequent. This phenomenon of infrequent seed production in conifers is yet to be understood. An attempt to study this change in cone production in Cedrus deodara of Western Himalayas -a species reported to be mainly monoecious and rarely dioecious has been made. The observations recorded on selected trees of flowering/fruiting stage for four years at four different locations have shown the species to be dioecious with higher percentage of female trees during good seed year but with no definite or predictable pattern of reproduction in the trees. A decline in production of female trees was witnessed at all but one location immediately year after reaching the maximum (good seed year). The phenomenon of seed production has been observed to be cyclic and site specific. A change in the sexual behavior of the trees from male to female or vice-versa, male or female turning monoecious or vegetative and vegetative coming to reproductive was unpredictable.