Azima

Abstract: The present study describes the wood microstructure of Azima tetracantha, Salvadora oleoides, and S. persica, the members of family Salvadoraceae represented in the Indian Subcontinent. An identification key based on wood anatomical features has been developed for the separation of the species. SEM studies revealed the presence of vesturing in intervessel pits of Salvadora.

Abstract: The medicinal plant Azima tetracantha was analysed for screening of phytochemical and antimicrobial activity. The In-vitro antimicrobial activity was studied against human pathogens gram positive strains Bacillus subtillis, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, and gram negative strains Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and three fungal strains: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus using disc diffusion method. Phytochemical analysis of Azima tetracantha leaf extracts result reveals that the hexane extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, phenol, protein and flavonoids, chloroform extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, phenol, protein, flavonoids and tannins, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, phenol, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids. The In-vitro antibacterial activity of Azima tetracantha leaf showed the maximum zone of inhibition in methanol and ethyl acetate extract against gram positive bacteria S. aureus at 1000µg concentration. In-vitro antifungal activity of Azima tetracantha leaf showed the maximum zone of inhibition in methanol and ethyl acetate extracts against fungi A. fumigatus at 1000µg concentration. The In-vitro antibacterial activity of Azima tetracantha leaf showed the maximum zone of inhibition in chloroform and hexane extracts against gram positive bacteria B. cereus at 1000µg concentration. In-vitro antifungal activity of Azima tetracantha leaf showed the maximum zone of inhibition was found in chloroform and hexane extracts against fungi A. fumigatus at 1000µg concentration. This result justifies the presence of secondary metabolites and their activity.

Abstract: CARLQUIST, S. (Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105). Wood and bark anatomy of Salvadoraceae: relationships, ecology, histology of interxylary phloem. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 129:10-20. 2002. Quantitative and qualitative data are presented for stem wood of one species each of Azima, Dobera, and Salvadora and for root wood of Salvadora. The liquid-preserved material of Salvadora permitted analysis of interxylary phloem: abaxial to most strands a "residual meristem" adds sieve-tube elements and companion cells to each strand, crushing earlier-formed phloem. Current opinion that Salvadoraceae are a sister family to Bataceae is supported by wood anatomy: they share such features as bands of mostly nonsubdivided axial parenchyma cells, wide multiseriate rays, and and storied structure. Nonbordered perforation plates, found also in other Capparales, are newly reported for Salvadoraceae. Koeberliniaceae have tracheids, Bataceae fibertracheids, thought more primitive than the libriform fibers of Salvadoraceae. Wood of Azima is moderately mesomorphic, perhaps because it grows near beaches where saline or brackish water is available to roots; Dobera and Salvadora have highly xeromorphic wood. The terms "foraminate included phloem" and "concentric included phloem" are misnomers and must be rejected.