Drosera peltata: a carnivorous plant

Ashutosh Shashank Shekhar
Chandan Moli Chidambra
Koti Koti Pranam Sambhu
Koti Naman Digmbara

Drosera peltata: a carnivorous plant
Family:Droseraceae
It is commonly known as Shield sundew. It was first described by Carl Peter Thunberg in 1797.Drosera peltata is one of the easiest tuberous Drosera to cultivate, a characteristic that is attributed to its forgiving nature when it comes to water and temperature.
Have a nice day

Scientific validation of tribal claims & microbial infections-3

Prevention is better than cure"
"Change food systems"
"Back to nature"

With these three objectives, we are working on Ethnomedicinal plants & their scientific validation

Cucumis melo L.
Syn: C. acidus Jacq.
C. alba Nakai.
C. aromatica Royle.
Local name: Bhuin dimba
Specific uses: Fruits are edible & Fruits are also used against Dental problems
Scientific validation: Done at Ambika Prasad Research Foundation - APRF against Streptococcus mutans (Streptococcus mutans are gram-positive cocci shaped bacteria. These facultative anaerobes are commonly found in the human oral cavity, and is a major contributor of tooth decay)
Active secondary metabolites: Polyphenols

Urgently need such work to screen new plants/ compounds against pathogenic microbes and have to establish new nutraceuticals as a food in modern menu.

More responsibility on Ethnobiologist & Taxonomist.

a) Plant, b) Discussion on medicinal values, c) Experimental work, d) Hypothesis & validation

Scientific validation of tribal claims & microbial infections-2

The story was started @ 2009, when first time I visited Similipal Biosphere Reserve with Dr. R. C. Misra, Father of My Research, and started work on Ethnobotany. As a student of Biotechnology, started thinking that they are claiming false things but they were correct. This misconception led to start validation of their claims and after lots of discussion with Dr. R. C. Misra, finally we decided to work on Celastrus paniculatus, a vulnerable plant of Odisha and in the year we validated through phytochemical screening. I believe that it was first paper from Odisha of such kind or before it very less report are available from Odisha. Still the paper gives me the opportunity to think on traditional therapeutic systems of plant species and how to validate them for providing baseline data @ advance research.

Scientific validation of Tribal Claims & Microbial infections-1

It was a nice morning of 2012, me and Dr. Prakash Kumar Tripathy, started our journey by bike from Mangalabagh, Cuttack to Jashipur, Objective was, collection of ethnomedicinal values on Dioscorea pentaphylla (Panja Sanga) and Diplocyclos palmatus (Shivlingi). We both, a combination of young & old researchers, started collecting information from Balasore. Journey by Bike was a little bit hectic, but the moment we started till we reached Jashipur, was very enjoyable. We almost covered 330 km in a day . Near Manda village we discussed with Ho community and found that both plant parts are used against skin infections. Both are little tannic and full of saponin derived compounds. About 5 days we stayed at Jashipur and visited Durdura, Handipuhan, Manda, Karanjia, Begunia, Padampur, Rengalbeda, Jambani, Thakurmunda, Mausibadi, Budamara etc villages and discussed with Mankirdia, Bathudi, Ho, Santhal and Hill-Khadia. After 5 days we returned back and designed the experiment as per collected information for the experiment at Ravenshaw University. Remembered those days, when I used to search, test tubes from the dustbin after class in the evening and after 7 pm each day Dr. Tripathy used to come with hot tea and bara. A long discussion till 10 pm on experiment and on 80s Ravenshaw College. He is an ex-student of Ravenshaw College. After all ups & downs, we validated first time claims on Dioscorea species from the state. The plant parts of both species were very effective as per tribal claims against MTCC 1926 (Streptococcus pyogenes), a microbe responsible for bacterial skin infections. Read the both paper/ abstract and will get knowledge how to handle microbial infections using local plants.