A strain of Streptomyces, MBRL 179(T), isolated from a sample from a Limestone quarry located at Hundung, Manipur, India, was characterized by polyphasic taxonomy. The strain formed a monophyletic clade with Streptomyces spinoverrucosus NBRC 14228(T) (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.3 %) in the Neighbour-joining tree. DNA-DNA hybridization experiment gave a DNA-DNA relatedness value of 34.7 % between MBRL 179(T) and S. spinoverrucosus NBRC 14228(T). Strain MBRL 179(T) contained LL-diaminopimelic acid, xylose, glucose, and mannose in the whole cell-wall hydrolysates along with small amount of ribose. The major polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositolmannoside, with other unknown phospholipids and aminophospholipid. MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4) were the predominant menaquinones detected. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C16:0 (28.1 %), iso-C16:0 (20.3 %), C16:0 (9.4 %) and anteiso-C17:0 (8.3 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.1 %. Based on the polyphasic experiment results, the strain MBRL 179(T) merits recognition as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces for which the name Streptomyces muensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is MBRL 179(T) (=JCM 17576(T) = KCTC 29124(T)).

Pratia begonifolia (Wall.) Lindl. belongs to the Campanulaceae family, which is traditionally used for treating kidney stones. The present study investigates the elemental, functional groups and bioactive compounds of Pratia begonifolia (Wall.) Lindl. using Graphite Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (GF-AAS), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-Resolution Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (HR-LCMS). The elemental analysis using GF-AAS revealed the presence of Chromium as the highest concentration (1.46±0.001ppm). The weight percentage of 5 elements was identified by SEM/EDAX analysis, which shows that Potassium has the highest weight percentage. In FT-IR analysis, 9 functional groups of the compounds present in the plants were identified with the wavelength of the dominant peak obtained from absorption spectra. GCMS analysis of the methanol extract revealed the presence of 12 compounds, Cyclotrisiloxane, Hexaphenyl; Methyl 11,14-Octadecadienoate; Phytol; Methyl 11,14,17-Eicosatrienoate; D-fructose,1,3,6-trideoxy-3,6-epithio-; Methyl 10-methyl-undecanoate; Beta. -d-lyxofuranoside, o-nonyl-; Ascaridole epoxide; Z, Z-6,28-Heptatriactontadien-2-One; 2,4,4-Trimethyl-1-Pentanol; Beta. -D-Mannofuranoside, 1-O-(10-Undecenyl)-; Chloroacetic Acid, 2,2-Dimethylpropyl Ester; among them Cyclotrisiloxane, Hexaphenyl (4.8%) was found to have the highest percentage area. Chloroform extract revealed the presence of 17 compounds viz. Pentacosane; Eicosane, 2-Methyl-; Hexacosane; Pentatriacontane; Dotriacontane; Phytol; Z, Z-6,28-Heptatriactontadien-2-One; Dotriacontane; Squalene; Triacontane; Eicosane; Hentriacontane; Octadecane, 2,6,10,14-Tetramethyl; Tritetracontane; Octatriacontane, 1,38-Dibromo-; 1 Octadecanoic Acid, 2-Oxo-, Methyl Ester; Eicosane, 2,6,10,14,18-Pentamethyl- and Phytol and Squalene, which have anti-bacterial properties, were also present. HR-LCMS analysis revealed the presence of Hydroxysalmeterol; 2’,4’-dihydroxychalcone; Ipecac (methylpsychotrine); Rhoifolin; Genkwanin; Anabasamine; Cuscohygrine; Eicosanedioic acid; Docosanedioic acid; Oleamide; Khayanthone as a positive ion. 2-Isoprenylemodin; Quinalizarin; Luteoline; Isoeugenitol; Ensulizole; O-Desmethylquinidine; Descarboethoxyloratadine as negative ion.

Background: From time immemorial medicinal plants are used in treating urolithiasis in ayurvedic system and other forms of traditional health practitioners. In Manipur, local traditional health practitioners used Cissus adnata Roxb. and Cissus discolor Blume for treating kidney stone problems. However, proper scientific validation is not well studied and evaluated. Methods: The present study investigates the inhibitory effect of the chloroform extract of Cissus adnata Roxb. (CAc) and Cissus discolor Blume (CDc) on calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal nucleation and aggregation using spectrophotometer. Furthermore, phytochemical studies of both plants were performed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS), Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Results: CDc exhibited significantly higher inhibitory effect on nucleation and aggregation of CaOx than CAc and Cystone (p<0.05). GC-MS analysis of the CDc and CAc revealed presence of nine compounds, the highest area percentage occupied by stigmasterol in CAc and gamma-sitosterol in CDc. Elemental analyses of both plants detected twenty elements, strontium being the dominant element. The reduction in CaOx nucleation and crystal aggregation by CAc and CDc observed in this study could be attributed to calcium replacement by strontium. Conclusion: This study reported the inhibitory effect on CaOx crystal aggregation and nucleation by CAc and CDc in the in vitro assay. Further in vivo studies are necessary to validate the inhibitory effect of the studied plant extracts.

Aim: The present study aims to investigate the phytochemical, antimicrobial and acute toxicity assay of methanol extract of Citrus medica L. fruit (CMF) and Citrus hystrix D.C. fruit (CHF). Place and Duration of Study: Fruit samples were collected between February to August 2018, at the Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University. Methodology: Phytochemical studies were conducted using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), HR-LC-MS (High Resolution-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), Graphite Furnace-Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GF-AAS), and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) respectively. The standard filtered disc-diffusion method was used for antimicrobial assay. Acute toxicity was performed using 423-OECD guidelines. Results: GC-MS and HR-LC-MS analysis showed presence of Ranitidine, 4-Methylesculetin, Diosmin and Avobenzone in CMF whereas 9-Octadecenamide, Gamma-Sitosterol, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol, Rhoifolin, Diosmin and Phytosphingosine in CHF. GF-AAS and ICP-OES study prominently showed Pb content in both the samples. Highest element in CMF was Pb (4.26±0.120 ppm) while in CHF was Cr (4.35±0.70 ppm). Antimicrobial study exhibited highest inhibitory effect of CMF against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia while CHF against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus than Gentamicin (p<0.05). No toxicity behaviour and mortality in mice were observed during acute toxicity study period even at a dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight. Changes in serum constituent level were observed however, no genotoxicity was recorded. Conclusion: We concluded that CMF and CHF cultivation site selection should be the first step to avoid Pb content. The CMF and CHF have many health beneficial constituents. From this study also concluded that CMF and CHF may be a potential source of antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiarthritic, diuretic, antiinflammatory and anticancer effects. However, further study to understand whether changes in serum constituent level for prolonged period usages as medicine or nutraceuticals is highly recommended.