In the present study, the genetic variations of leaf calli regenerants of Musa paradisiaca cv Karibale-Monthan has been analyzed using AFLP markers. The highest (86.66%) frequency of compact callus formation was obtained when leaf explants were cultured on MS media, containing 3mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L BAP. The optimum shoot formation and multiplication (5.70±1.49) was achieved from the leaf derived callus on MS medium fortified with 3mg/L BAP+0.5mg/L TDZ. The 3-4 cm small shoots produced distinct roots on MS media containing 0.5mg/l NAA with 0.2% activated charcoal. The AFLP analyses produced 1012 monomorphic bands from total 1094 bands with 7.5% polymorphism between mother plant and callus derived regenerants. The percentage of monomorphism for individual primer combinations was very high and varied from 90.3% (EcoRI-AG×MseI-CCG) to 97.6% (EcoRI-AT×MseI-CGA). The result showed lack of polymorphism is due to genetic integrity of the plants that was not altered indifferent to the hormonal treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the chemical composition, antibacterial and antioxidant properties of stem bark essential oil of Litsea glutinosa C. B. Rob. Methods:The essential oil isolated from stem bark of L. glutinosa and their chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the stem bark essential oil was investigated against eight human pathogenic bacterial clinical isolates using agar disc diffusion method and MIC value was determined by modified resazurin microtitre-plate assay. The antioxidant activity of essential oil was measured by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2, 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate radical cation (ABTS) and β-carotene bleaching assay.Results: GC-MS analysis of stem bark essential oil resulted in the identification of 37 compounds, off which 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (62.57%), hexadecanoic acid (12.68%), stigmast-5-en-3-ol (6.87%) and vitamin E (2.51%) were the main constituents representing 84.63% of the oil. The determination of in vitro antibacterial activity of stem bark essential oil resulted in significant inhibition zone (15.00±0.57 mm) and MIC value (0.15±0.15×10 -2 Conclusion: L. glutinosa stem bark essential oil showed potential antibacterial activity against the Vibrio cholera. The results of this investigation supported the ethnomedical claim of essential oil as a demulcent, antidiarrheal and antioxidant drug. mg/ml) against the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholera followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi. The results of DPPH radical scavenging (IC50:4.540±0.06 µg/ml), ABTS (IC50:256.02±0.06 µg/ml) and β-carotene bleaching assay (%I: 78.51±0.42 %) showed significant in vitro antioxidant property.