A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of colouring agents on vase life of cut spikes of two tuberose cultivars viz., Mexican Single and Pearl Double. The experiment was laid separately for both the cultivars. Treatments consisted of six different edible dyes viz., Tartrazine, Sunset yellow + Carmosine, Tartrazine + Brilliant blue, Tartrazine + Carmosine + Sunset yellow, Royal blue and Brilliant blue at three different concentrations (0.5%, 1 % and 1.5 %). Various colouring agents successfully induced colour in the cut spikes without affecting their vase life. Results obtained in colour retention at the end of vase life indicated that higher time of immersion (24 hours) and maximum concentration (1.5 %) allowed more dye to be translocated throughout the flower spike. In all treatments, there was no adverse significant effect of dye concentration, time of immersion and combination of both factors on the vase life and quality of tuberose cut spikes.

Background: Plumeria acuminata belongs to “Apocynaceae” family. Its common name in Tamil is "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family. The plant material is widely used as a purgative, remedy for diarrhoea and cure for itch. The milky juice is employed for the treatment of inflammation and rheumatism. The bark has been applied as a plaster over inflammation and hard tumors. The leaves are reported to have anti-inflammatory, rubefacient in rheumatism, antidiabetic and have strong purgative effect. Objective: The present study was carried out to describe antidiabetic activity of Plumeria acuminata leaves on streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Materials and methods: The leaves of Plumeria acuminata was extracted with different solvents and phytochemical investigations were done for all extracts. Acute oral toxicity study was carried out to determine the safe dose of methanol extract of Plumeria acuminata (MEPA). The anti-diabetic activity of MEPA was evaluated using streptozotocin induced model. Results: In this study we estimated the serum glucose levels, SGOT, SGPT, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels. Conclusion: Administration of MEPA produced a significant reduction in serum Glucose, Total cholesterol and Triglyceride, SGOT and SGPT in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

HPTLC analysis was carried out on tannin compounds profile in the whole-plant samples of selected Polygonum species (P. chinense, P. glabrum and P. barbatum). The methanol extract of whole-plant samples obtained from Polygonum species (P. chinense, P. glabrum and P. barbatum) showed 12, 10 and 15 compounds, respectively, and were compared with gallic acid standard. Among the compounds, 5, 5 and 2 compounds in each sample, respectively, were identified as tannins while the others were unknown. Three (One unknown and two tannin) compounds from each of P. chinense and of P. glabrum showed same peak Rf values (0.44, 0.65 and 0.98). Similarly, two unknown compounds of P. chinense and P. barbatum were also showed same peak Rf values (0.33 and 0.98). On the other hand, Three (two unknown and one tannin) compound of P. glabrum and of P. barbatum showed similar peak Rf values (0.06, 0.57 and 0.98), while all other compounds are differ from each other. The one unknown compound with Rf value 0.98 found in three Polygonum species tested. In general, the HPTLC analysis indicates the presence of various tannin compounds that differ in nature and number among the Polygonum species analyzed.

Malabar spinach (Basella alba) fruits of different maturity stages were compared for their antioxidant and pharmacognostic properties upon thermal treatments resembling cooking. It was found that the antioxidant capacities of two variants differed considerably with respect to their maturity stages. Red variant showed significantly higher antioxidant activity than green variant in all assay parameters, both in raw condition and also after thermal processing that resembled cooking. Among all thermal treatment process, antioxidant activity is maximum upon microwave treatment. This might be due to the radiation which breaks down the complex structure of molecules into smaller particle to enhance their antioxidant property. Enhanced activity of the fruits shown after thermal processing in water might be due to enhanced extraction of polyphenols compound like anthocyanins, flavonoid, carotene, xanthopylls which usually have less solubility in normal water but enhanced solubility in hot water which also depends on pH.

Oral controlled release drug delivery system become a very promising approach for those drugs that are given orally but having the high dosing frequency and shorter half-life. Oral controlled release dosage form serve as an important tool for the matrix tablets. The basic rationale of controlled release drug delivery system optimizes the biopharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties of a drug in such a way that its utility is maximized, side-effects are reduced and cure of the disease is achieved. The release of the drug through such system includes both dissolution controlled as well as diffusion controlled mechanism, Most of drugs, if not formulated properly, May readily release the drug at a faster rate, and are likely to produce toxic concentration of the drug on oral administration. Tablets offer the lowest cost approach to controlled and sustained release dosage forms. Matrix tablets controlled release has given a new breakthrough for oral drug delivery system in the field of pharmaceutical technology.