Plants described in Ayurvedic literature namely, A. catechu, E. officinalis, F. benghalensis, F. glomerata, and T. arjuna possess significant amount of flavonoids as secondary metabolites. These compounds are reported to exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities. Antioxidant compounds in food play an important role as a health-protecting factor. Scientific evidence suggests that antioxidants reduce the risk for chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease. The flavonoids extracted from bark of these plants were fractionated using HPTLC. These were assessed for the antioxidant potential employing DPPH [1, 1- Diphenyl- 2- picrylhydrazyl] assay. Simultaneously the flavonoids showing comparatively better activity were tested for their Cytotoxicity using MTT [Mitochondrial toxicity test]. The preparation was also subjected for absorption studies in goat intestinal model system.

Glycerol finds a lot of industrial applications in the fields of cosmetics pharmaceuticals and in industries. In the present study the production of glycerol is studied using Candida krusei in a batch reactor. The influence of different carbon source on glycerol production is studied using glucose, sucrose and different combinations of glucose and sucrose mixtures. The effect of initial pH was studied by varying the initial pH from 5.0 to 9.0 in order to find the optimum pH to maximize the concentration of cellmass and glycerol. Initial pH 7.0 was found to be an optimum for glycerol fermentation. The maximum glycerol concentration (0.58g/l) was obtained when glucose is used as a carbon source at a concentration of 200g/l.

Tridax procumbens is a common weed plant belonging to the family Asteraceae. The leaf juice has antiseptic, insecticidal and parasiticidal properties. The present work is based on developing a protocol for the callus induction in Tridax procumbens from various explants like leaf, internodes and shoot apical buds. The sterilized explants were inoculated in MS media containing various combination of auxins such as 2, 4, dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2, 4-D) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and cytokinins such as kinetin and 6 benzyl amino purine (BAP). Leaf and apical bud explants showed early and profuse callus induction whereas internodal explants showed comparatively delayed but profuse callus induction. Leaf and apical bud explants showed maximum response in terms of callus by using MS media with the combination 2, 4-D 0.5mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit which was followed by 2, 4-D 0.5mg/lit and KIN 0.5mg/lit, 2, 4 -D 0.5mg/lit and BAP+KIN 0.5 mg/lit, NAA 0.5mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit, NAA 2mg/lit and BAP 0.5mg/lit respectively. Whereas internodal explants showed maximum callus induction by using a hormonal concentration of 2mg/lit 2,4, D and 0.5mg/lit BAP. In vitro generated callus can be used as a source for the isolation of secondary metabolites from Tridax plant.