Lepidium sativum Linn. has been used in traditional and folklore medicine for the treatment of bronchial asthma, diabetes, local and rheumatic pain. An ethanolic extract of cress (L. sativum L.) shoot, leaf, stem and seed has been studied for antioxidative active against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total glutathione S-transferase assay, reduced glutathione activity, reducing power (Fe3+–Fe2+ Transformation Ability), and ascorbic acid is also estimated. The percentage yields of free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) obtained for different ethanolic extracts of L. sativum. Supreme scavenging activity was detected in shoot (12.19 ± 02%) and least in stem (2.69 ± 05%). The activity of total glutathione S-transferase enzyme was found to be more in seed (9600 ± 56.3 μg/ml) than other plant parts. The reduced glutathione content of the ethanolic extracts of L. sativum was found to be more in leaf (9 ± 0.2 μg/ml). In the reducing power assay, ethanolic extracts gives the optical density in increasing concentration in all plant parts it shows that it has the reducing ability of Fe3+–Fe2+. Presence of vitamin C was tested. It was found that the shoot extract has highest amount of vitamin C. The results of present data were shown that the ethanolic extract of L. sativum L. plant parts have contributed high potential in vitro antioxidant activity.

(TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by a set of closely related mycobacterial strains such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum and others, known collectively as the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) [1]. M. tuberculosis is responsible for more human mortality than any other single microbial species [2]. According to estimates by World Health Organization (WHO), almost 9 million new cases and 1.4 million TB deaths occurred in 2011 [3]. Although there are effective anti-tubercular agents, the misuse of these drugs in addition to inconsistent or partial treatment have led to the development of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The resistant strains coupled with drug hepatotoxicity and lengthy therapy paved the way for TB therapeutic crisis [4-7]. This situation presently acts as a serious challenge to the health care system. Thus it becomes necessary to prioritize the search for new antimycobacterial agents worldwide [8,9]. A number of extracts and isolated compounds from plants are being tested in this context. The literature reports the antimycobacterial activity of many classes of natural products such as alkanes, phenolics, acetogenic quinines, flavonoids and triterpenes [10,11]. Several researchers have studied the possible use of certain plant extracts in the treatment of TB [12].

Five different strains of Actinomycetes were isolated from rhizosphere soil sample taken from Tulsi gardens of Kayathar, Tuticorin District. Heat treated Tulsi growing rhizosphere soil samples (Kayathar, Tuticorin District) were subjected to serial dilution and plated on starch casein medium, incubated at 37 °C for 7 - 14 days. The isolated strains were subjected to morphological, biochemical and cultural characterisation to study their spore morphology, asexual reproductive spores, substrate mycelial growth and enzyme degradation. Tests were performed as per International Streptomyces Project (ISP). Morphological and cultural characteristics showed that the strains AJ1, AJ2, AJ3, AJ4 and AJ5 belonged to the genus Actinomycete. The cultures showed substrate and aerial mycelial growth and also soluble pigments. Based on their morphology the isolates were subjected to antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Antimicrobial activity was performed against seven clinical isolates. AJ1 was found to show maximum activity against Klebsiella, S.typhi and Enterobacter whereas AJ5 was found to show inhibitory activity against Klebsiella.

Avocado (Persea Americana) also known as butter fruit has numerous medicinal properties and is beneficial to health. The pulp and seed were extracted using chloroform and ethanol. The phytochemical analysis determined the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and saponins. In avocado pulp, alkaloids and flavonoids were present in a higher concentration and in seeds, cardiac glycoside and tannins showed lower concentration. Macro molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins and fatty acids were determined. In pulp and seed, fatty acid showed higher concentration while proteins showed the lesser concentration in pulp and seed; carbohydrates however were present in the same concentration. Phenolic contents, cholesterol and amino acid were determined. Amino acid and phenolic content showed higher concentration in case of pulp and seed whereas cholesterol was present in small amount. The extraction of oil was carried out by means of cold extraction process .The lipid profile of avocado oil was determined which included the estimation of cholesterol, fatty acid, iodine number and saponification number. Iodine number was high in pulp and seed. Fatty acid value and acid value were the same in pulp and seed. Saponification number was also the same for seed and pulp. K e y w o r d s Avocado Cold extraction process Ethyl lactate Fatty acid MacromoleculeHow to cite this article: