Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa

Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa
Author: H. F. Glen
Publisher: Jacana Media
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2002
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 9781919931173

A listing of almost 9000 kinds of plants known to be cultivated in Southern Africa, or to have been tried here. The information is derived from a database containing details mainly of specimens archived in the National Herbarium, Pretoria.

Figs of Southern & South-central Africa

Figs of Southern & South-central Africa
Author: John Eric Burrows
Publisher:
Total Pages: 396
Release: 2003
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

Detailed information on the 48 native figs (Ficus) of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi.

Fibres

Fibres
Author: Brink, M. & Achigan-Dako, E.G.
Publisher: PROTA
Total Pages: 604
Release: 2012
Genre:
ISBN: 9290814810

This volume deals with the fibres of Tropical Africa. 515 ‘primary use’ fibres are described in 248 review articles. Many of the articles are illustrated with a geographic distribution map and a line drawing of the habit.

Synthesis of nanoparticles (Ag, Cu and Zn) from plant latex (Colocasia esculenta; Ficus exasperata; Hevea brasilliensis; Musa paradisiaca; Croton variegatum) and evaluation of antibacterial activity

Synthesis of nanoparticles (Ag, Cu and Zn) from plant latex (Colocasia esculenta; Ficus exasperata; Hevea brasilliensis; Musa paradisiaca; Croton variegatum) and evaluation of antibacterial activity
Author: Prem Jose Vazhacharickal
Publisher: Prem Jose
Total Pages: 86
Release: 2018-06-14
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1983169862

Nanotechnology is the field of study of materials at nanoscale. It involves the production, manipulation, and use of materials ranging in size from less than one micron to that of individual atoms from not only chemical approaches but also biological materials. Silver, Copper and Zinc nanoparticles were successfully synthesised from Silver nitrate, Copper sulphate and Zinc sulphate respectively through a simple green and natural route using latex of 5 different plant taxa. Nanoparticle formation was proved by UV-vis spectroscopy. The antimicrobial well diffusion method used was give information about the antibacterial activity of latex nanoparticles towards 5 different bacterial species by measuring the zone of inhibition. The use of two dilutions of latex solution was used for the comparative study of zone of inhibition. As nanoparticles have great application in medical world like gene therapy, cancer therapy, drug delivery, etc. So medical world also accept the plant world for nanoparticle synthesis and mainly welcome the angiosperms for their potentiality of synthesis of non-polluted, environmentally acceptable, safety for human health nanoparticles.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Mirabilis jalapa and evaluation of antioxidant activity

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from Mirabilis jalapa and evaluation of antioxidant activity
Author: Rathi C.R
Publisher: Prem Jose
Total Pages:
Release:
Genre: Education
ISBN:

Mirabilis jalapa is one of the medicinally important shrubs used in traditional medicine, belongs to the family Nyctaginaceae and commonly called as 4’O clock plant. M. jalapa plant extract contains biologically active substances that exhibit microbicidal or microstatic effects against various diseases causing microbes. The plant has high medicinal properties such that the indigenous people of Mexico use it to cure many infirmities including dysentery, diarrhoea, muscular pain and abdominal colic. It is used for the treatment of various infections. Parts of the plant are used to combat dyspepsia and other digestive disorders. The extract of yellow, red color flower variety and green leaf of M. jalapa can be used as natural food color instead of artificial color. The main advantage of using these plant extracts are they have high antimicrobial and have high antioxidant activity. It has the capacity to resist the bacteria like Bacillus, Salmonella, Klebsiella, E coli, Staphylococcus with the help of Silver nanoparticles. The plant has also proved to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant activity. Nanoparticles are defined as particulate dispersions or solid particles with a size in the range of 10-1000nm. The drug is dissolved, entrapped, encapsulated or attached to a nanoparticle matrix. Depending upon the method of preparation, nanoparticles, nanospheres or nanocapsules can be obtained. Nanocapsules are systems in which the drug is confined to a cavity surrounded by a unique polymer membrane, while nanospheres are matrix systems in which the drug is physically and uniformly dispersed. Antioxidants are used as food additives to help guard against food deterioration. Exposure to oxygen and sunlight are the two main factors in the oxidation of food, so food is preserved by keeping in the dark and sealing it in containers or even coating it in wax, as with cucumbers. However, as oxygen is also important for plant respiration, storing plant materials in anaerobic conditions produces unpleasant flavours and unappealing colors. Consequently, packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables contains an ~8% oxygen atmosphere.