Nadeem A. Siddique

The synthetic seed acquaintance has been developed to use somatic embryos and/or other micropropagules as seed analogues successfully in the field or greenhouse, and their mechanical planting at a mercantile level. Synthetic seed development from somatic embryo opens up new vistas in the field of agriculture. The technology provides methods for preparation of seed analogues called synthetic seeds or artificial seeds from the micropropagules like somatic embryos, axillary shoot buds, apical shoot tips, embryogenic calli as well as protocorm or protocorm like bodies. These artificial seeds offer an important packaging system. The technique cut short lengthy choice procedure of the usual recombination breeding and can convey the advancements of biotechnology to the doorsteps of the farmer in a cost-effective manner. Synthetic seeds present a number of return, easy management, storability, compact size of propagules, and transportability. This review provided useful information for the production and utilisation of synthetic seed through encapsulation of differentiating propagules (tissue fragments with shoot primordia) for various species. The present review focuses on the technology developed, its achievements, current scenario, the limitations resisting the application of the synthetic seed technology and the future perspectives.

In present investigation, methanolic extract of different marketed Aegle marmelos formulations (F1, F2, F3, and F4) screened for determination of total phenolic and flavanoid contents.  Highest phenolic (6.145 ± 0.05 mg/kg) and flavonoid (8.134 ± 0.044 mg/kg) contents were noticed in formulation F4. Free radical scavenging activity of all the studied formulations were evaluated by using DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) method. Whereas, each formulation showed good scavenging of DPPH radical with IC50 values (F1-2.185, F2-2.216, F3-2.243 and F4-2.143 µg/ml), and is comparable to standard compounds (BHT, ascorbic acid and rutin). Key-Words: Aegle marmelos, Total phenolic contents, Total flavanoid contents, DPPH  

In the present investigations, methanolic extracts of four marketed Aegle marmelos formulations (F1, F2, F3, and F4) were prepared and subjected to simultaneous quantitative determination of two biologically active compounds; umbelliferone and quercetin. Analysis of umbelliferone and quercetin was performed on TLC aluminum plates pre-coated with silica gel 60F-254 as stationary phase. Linear ascending development was carried out in twin trough glass chamber saturated with mobile phase consisting of toluene: ethyl acetate: formic acid (6:4:1, v/v/v), and densitometric determination of these compounds was carried out at 300nm in reflectance/absorbance mode. The system was found to give compact spots for umbelliferone and quercetin with Rf value of 0.66 and 0.68, respectively. The present method was validated for precision, recovery, repeatability, and accuracy in accordance with International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH Q2) guidelines. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the method is reproducible and selective for estimation of umbelliferone and quercetin. This method may be used for routine quality control and standardization of the herbal drugs and there formulations. Key words: Aegle marmelos, Quercetin, Umbelliferone, HPTLC