Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Madras carpet
Distribution: Angola, Congo, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand
Habitat: Edges of ponds, canals, and ditches, dry river, pond beds
Description: It is a hairy branched herb, spreading from the roots, and growing
to a maximum height of 70 cm. Leaves are alternate, deeply cut, stalkless,
and divided into toothed lobes. Yellow lowering heads are borne opposite
the leaves and are short stalked, rounded, and 10 mm across. Flowers are
small and very numerous.
Compounds and activities: Two new 5-deoxylavones, viz., 6-hydroxy-2′,4′,5′-
trimethoxylavone and 6-hydroxy-3′,4′,5′-trimethoxylavone, and a known
lavone, 7,2′,4′-trimethoxylavone, possessing antioxidant, antifungal, anal-
gesic, and antispasmodic activities, have been isolated (Patel et al., 2009;
Rao et al., 2009). Its phenolic and lavonoid compounds are responsible for
its free radical scavenging and antioxidant capacity. Using the methonolic
extract of this species, IC
50
values of 46.55 ± 1.67, 120.73 ± 0.694, 30.54 ±
1.11, and 209.73 ± 4.63 µg/ml were obtained for DPPH radical scavenging
activity, NO scavenging activity, H
2
O
2
scavenging activity, and β-carotene
bleaching assay. The corresponding values with standard antioxidant, viz.,
ascorbic acid, were 24.96 ± 1.95, 236.37 ± 1.394, 57.34 ± 1.29, and 339.16 ±
5.30 µg/ml, respectively (Patel et al., 2009).
CAESULIA AXILLARIS
ROXB
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Common name: Pink node lower
Distribution: India, Pakistan
Habitat: Shallow waters, wet meadows, banks of irrigation canals, ditches,
rice ields
