An efficient protocol was devised for rapid callus induction of Solanum nigrum Linn. from young leaves. MS medium supplemented with different concentrations IAA (1-3 mg/l) with BAP (0.5 mg/l) and NAA (1-3 mg/l) with BAP (0.5 mg/l) for callus initiation. The growth of the calli derived from leaves increased with time of incubation and remained almost constant after 30 days. For solasodine estimation, the field grown plant part of young leaves and in vitro callus (0.5 g each) were weighed and extracted thrice with methanol and subjected to HPLC. The solasodine content of field grown leaves extracts was 0.0798 mg g -1 whereas the solasodine content in the in vitro callus extracts were 0.142 mg g -1 in 2.5 mgL -1 IAA + 0.5 mgL -1 BAP, followed by 0.1162 mg g -1 in 2 mgL -1 NAA + 0.5 mgL -1 BAP.

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Mosquito larvicidal activity and antimicrobial screening of ethyl acetate extract of leaves and root of Melia dubia belongs to the family of Meliaceae have been evaluated in the present study. Exposure of the larvae to these extracts for 12 hours led to 98 and 96% mortality, respectively. The results obtained show that this plant material exhibited significant activity and could be considered as potent natural larvicidal agent. The results of in-vitro antimicrobial screening of the crude ethyl acetate extract exhibited a wide range of activity on E.coli, Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi, Klebsilla penemonia, Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts of the leaves and root inhibited the growth of K. pneumonia, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus while only the leaf extract was active against S. typhi and S. paratyphi. The results obtained in this present study have lent scientific justification to some of the uses of the plant in ethno-medicine.