title: Phytochemical and anti-bacterial activity of epidermal glands extract of Christella parasitica (L.) H. Lev.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the morphology, biochemistry and bioactivity of the epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of Christella parasitica (C. parasitica) (L.) H. Lev.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphological studies on epidermal glands were carried out by using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. To prepare the extract, the shade-dried fronds of glandular morphotype were soaked in acetone. For antibacterial studies paper disc method was followed by using various pathogenic bacteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detailed micromorphological, phytochemical and bioactivity studies on a medicinal fern C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. showed its intraspecific variation in antibacterial activity. The presence or absence of the epidermal glands was the key factor for antibacterial activity in the morphovariants of this species. The epidermal glands were orange-coloured, stalked and elongated ones of about 84.2 µm × 45 µm, and distributed on the undersurface of costa, costules and veins in croziers, young and mature leaves. Frequency of glands varied from 15/cm on costa in mature leaves to 140/cm on costules in croziers. The acetone extract of the glands showed antibacterial activities and also toxic effect against mosquito larvae and tadpoles of frog. Preliminary phytochemical analysis and HPLC studies of the gland extract showed the presence of various kinds of terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids in it.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that epidermal glands of the glandular morphotype of C. parasitica (L.) H. Lev. have several bioactive compounds and such rare morphovariant should be conserved in nature. The next step is to isolate the pure compounds and to screen the bioactivity of individual compounds of the epidermal glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, St. Xavier's College (Autonomous), Palayamkottai, India.
authors.forename: Raj K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Irudayaraj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Raja D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Patric
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001001:Anura; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D009033:Culicidae; D029624:Ferns / Q000737:chemistry*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000096:Acetone
keywords: Anti-bacterial activity; Bioactive compound; Bioactivity; Biochemistry; Christella parasitica; Epidermal glands; Flavonoid; Gland extract; Glandular morphotype; Light microscope; Morphology; Morphovariant; Phytochemical activity; Preliminary phytochemical analysis; Shade-dried frond