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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur
The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively.
Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively.
On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs.
In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc.
During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU).
Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.
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ThesisItem Open Access Molecular characterization and construction of population structure of selected tomato genotypes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under high temperature stress condition(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Shanija, Shaji; KAU; Beena, RThe study entitled "Molecular characterization and construction of population structure of selected tomato genotypes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under high-temperature stress conditions” was undertaken during 2019-20 at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The study was undertaken to evaluate the molecular variation between different tomato genotypes using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the construction of the population structure of tomato genotypes. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most important vegetable crop, cultivated worldwide in both temperate and tropical regions. High-temperature stress is one of the major abiotic stress affecting tomatoes and significantly reducing their fruit yield and quality. Molecular markers linked to high temperature can be used for marker-assisted selection for high-temperature tolerance in tomato genotypes. Hence the present study was focused on the identification of molecular markers linked to high-temperature tolerance in tomato. The study included an experiment, in which twenty two tomato genotypes (KAU released varieties, NBPGR accessions including wild relatives of tomato) were raised in pot trays and the genomic DNA from one-month-old leaf samples was isolated by CTAB method. The quality and quantity of the isolated DNA from the twenty-two genotypes were analyzed. After checking the quality and quantity of DNA samples, they were screened using twenty-five microsatellite primers. PCR reaction was carried out using 25 selected primers of which 3 primers SSR 80, SSR 331, SSR 341 did not show any amplification and hence they were not used for further analysis. Out of the twenty-two; fifteen SSR markers viz., SSR450, SSR 602, SSR20, SSR111, SSR70, SSR 124, SSR 293, SSR 19, SSR115, SSR 304, SSR 276, SSR 47, SSR 75, SSR 134 and SSR 4 amplified monomorphic banding patterns, hence they were not considered for further analysis. Seven markers were thus selected for final analysis. The polymorphic 114 markers for temperature tolerance were SSR 96, SSR 63, SSR 13, SSR 270, SSR 356, SSR 605, and SSR 248. Among the 7 SSR markers, distinct polymorphic bands for temperature tolerance was shown by markers SSR 63 and SSR 96. The value of polymorphic information content (PIC) is commonly used in genetics, which provides an estimate of the discriminatory power of a locus or loci, taking into account not only the number of alleles expressed but also the relative frequencies of those alleles, and is a measure of polymorphism for the locus marker used in linkage analysis. The PIC values for polymorphic markers ranged from 0 to 0.65. The primers which showed the highest PIC values were SSR96 (0.65) followed by SSR63 and SSR 248 (0.612). The population structure of the 22 genotypes was performed using the Bayesian model-based scoring software STRUCTURE v2.3.4. Structure analysis divided the 22 genotypes into four subpopulations, in which tolerant genotypes were grouped into one sub-population, whereas the moderately tolerant, susceptible genotypes, genotypes which showed mixed characteristics were grouped into separate sub-populations. The presence of a band was scored as 1 and absence was scored as 0. In the NTedit program of NTSYSpc (Numerical Taxonomy SYStem) version 2.10 software, binary data generated for all varieties for the polymorphic markers were entered. The phylogenetic tree was constructed using UPGMA (Un-weighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) using NTSYSpc cluster analysis software, resulted in the dendrogram and divided the 22 tomato genotypes into four major clusters. The pattern of grouping genotypes into the clusters was similar to that in the study of the population structure. Phenotypic data of the same genotypes were collected from the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani was utilized for the interpretation of molecular data, the grouping of genotypes obtained from population structure and cluster analysis. Based on the interpretation of all the data obtained, among the 22 tomato genotypes; Kashi Vishesh, Anagha, Vellayani Vijay 115 were grouped as tolerant varieties. IIHR-2200, Manuprabha, Akshaya were categorized as moderately tolerant varieties. Varieties that showed mixed characteristics were Nandi, Vaibhav, Pusa Ruby, Manulakshmi, Arka Alok, Sakthi, IIHR-26372, Arka Vikas, Arka Abha, IC-45, Arka Samrat and PKM-1. Genotypes that were categorized as susceptible varieties were Arka Saurabh, Pusa Rohini, Palam Pride, and Arka Rakshak. Among the markers, distinct polymorphism for temperature tolerance between temperature tolerant (Kashi Vishesh, Anagha, and Vellayani Vijay) and susceptible varieties (Arka Saurabh, Pusa Rohini, Palam Pride, and Arka Rakshak) was shown by SSR 63 and SSR 96.ThesisItem Open Access In vitro studies on anti-infective properties of leaf and root extracts of selected medicinal plants against gastro intestinal bacterial pathogens.(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Anjana, Babu; KAU; Shiburaj, SugathanThe thesis entitled “in vitro studies on anti-infective properties of leaf and root extracts of selected medicinal plant against gastro intestinal bacterial pathogenes” was carried out in the Microbiology division of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, during 2018-2019 academic years.The objective of the study was Screening of medicinal plant extracts for anti infective property against gastro intestinal bacterial pathogens and identification of lead compounds, targeted efficacy testing of selected compounds against FtsZ proteins through in vitro and in silico approaches, demonstrating the effect of the compounds identified on virulence factors and bio-film formation of enteropathogens. Diarrhoeal diseases remain a leading cause of preventable death, especially among children under five in developing countries. Acute watery diarrhoea mainly affecting children of developing countries that results in dramatic dehydration and it is most dangerous in the very young. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli or Vibrio cholerae are most common causative agent of acute watery diarrhoea. Diarrhoea also cause huge economic burden on people of impoverished countries. There is need for novel anti-infective agents that can prevent disease and economic burden of diarrhoea. Developing countries are rich source of traditional knowledge and natural resources. These resources can be channelized to develop novel anti-diarrhoeal agents that can prevent emergence and dissemination of gastrointestinal pathogen including drug-resistant strains. Many diarrhoeal diseases are known to be treated with herbal remedies throughout the history of humankind. Even today, plant materials continue to play a major role in primary health care as therapeutic remedies in many developing countries. For centuries, many secondary metabolites present in leaves are found to have an outstanding role in medical world. Most of these compounds belong to alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, quinones, coumarin and tannins. Leafs and roots are been extensively used in folk and modern medicine for treating various diseases. 105 We have explored anti-infective activity of the leaf and roots ethanol extract of five medicinal plants Moringa oleifera, Bixa orellana, Persicaria glabra, Pimenta dioica and Homonia riparia against enteropathogens like E. coli, V. cholera, E. faecalis, S. Typhi and S. aureus. Among these extractes hot ethanol extracts of persicaria glabra exhibited antibacterial activity against gastrointestinal pathogens such as E. coli, V. cholera, E. faecalis, S. Typhi and S. aureus. It also induced filamentation of Bacillus subtilis 168 which is an indication of cell division inhibition. The active compound present in persicaria glabra extract was identified to be querecetin, this compound can be used to develop novel anti-diarrhoeal agents.ThesisItem Open Access Assesment of multiple abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in rich (Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Alif Ali, B S; KAU; Beena, RThe study entitled “Assessment of multiple abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa L.)” undertaken at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2018-19. The objective was to study the multiple abiotic viz. drought, salinity and high temperature stress tolerance mechanisms in rice and to validate the identified QTLs for stress tolerance in rice. The investigation comprises four experiments, In experiment I initial screening of 20 rice genotypes for single abiotic stress tolerance was studied. Stresses were induced using different concentrations of PEG6000, NaCl and temperature controlled incubator for providing drought, salinity and temperature stresses respectively. Germination study was carried out using paper towel method. In the first experiment drought stress were given at concentrations -1bar, -3bar, 5bar and -7bar water potentials of PEG6000, salinity stress was given at 100mM, 150mM, 200mM, 250mM NaCl and temperature stress were given at 350C, 400C, 450C and 500C for all 20 rice varieties with two replications. The physio-morphological and biochemical parameters were studied on 14th day of germination. The highest level drought, salinity and temperature stresses at which germination occurred was selected as Dh (-5 bar), Sh (250mM NaCl) and temperature (Th) (350C) respectively. Among 20 rice varieties, PTB-7, PTB-60 and PTB-35 showed maximum seedling vigour at highest level of drought stress (Dh) stress condition Vyttila-9, MO-18 and Vyttila-3 recorded maximum seedling vigour index at highest tolerated level of salinity (Sh) stress condition and N-22, NL-44 and Vyttila -6 showed maximum seedling vigour index at highest tolerated level of temperature stress (Th) stress condition. These nine genotypes were selected for the evaluation of combination stress treatment In the second experiment, The combination stress treatments given were Dh x Sh, Dh x Th, Th x Sh and Dh x Sh x Th. Rice varieties did not germinated at Dh x Sh and Dh x Th. The maximum seedling vigour index at Dh x Sh and combination stress treatment was observed in PTB-7, Vyttila-9, PTB-35 and at Th x Sh was observed in NL-44, MO-18 and N-22 respectively. These rice varieties were selected as tolerant varieties. In experiment III six rice varieties selected from combination stress treatment were evaluated for yield parameters in pot culture experiment. The design of the experiment was CRD with two replications and one control. Drought and salt stress were imposed during reproductive stage for 5 days by applying -5bar PEG6000 and 250mM NaCl solutions respectively into the pots containing rice varieties, Temperature stress was induced using a temperature controlled polyhouse from panicle initiation to maturity stage. Physio-morphological, biochemical and yield parameters were studied under the combination stress treatments. Highest yield under the combination stress treatment of Dh x Sh was observed in PTB-7 and highest yield under the combination stress treatment Th x Sh was observed in N-22. Based on morpho-physiological and yield parameters PTB-7 was selected as the tolerant variety under drought and saline condition and N-22 was selected as the tolerant variety under temperature and salinity condition. In experiment IV all the 20 genotypes were analyzed for the identification of reported markers linked to stress tolerance such as drought salinity and temperature. Reported microsatellite markers linked to drought, salinity and temperature were used to screen 20 rice varieties. Among the markers distinct polymorphism for temperature tolerance between temperature tolerant (N-22 and NL-44) and susceptible varieties was shown by RM 6100. RM 7076 showed distinct polymorphism in tolerant varieties PTB-7 and NL-44 . RM 1287 showed distinct polymorphism for salinity tolerance in PTB-7 and N-22. Drought tolerance between drought tolerant (PTB-7) and susceptible varieties was Shown by RM 490.ThesisItem Open Access Assesment of multiple abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2019) Alif Ali, B S; KAU; Beena, RThe study entitled “Assessment of multiple abiotic stress tolerance mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa L.)” undertaken at the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2018-19. The objective was to study the multiple abiotic viz. drought, salinity and high temperature stress tolerance mechanisms in rice and to validate the identified QTLs for stress tolerance in rice. The investigation comprises four experiments, In experiment I initial screening of 20 rice genotypes for single abiotic stress tolerance was studied. Stresses were induced using different concentrations of PEG6000, NaCl and temperature controlled incubator for providing drought, salinity and temperature stresses respectively. Germination study was carried out using paper towel method. In the first experiment drought stress were given at concentrations -1bar, -3bar, 5bar and -7bar water potentials of PEG6000, salinity stress was given at 100mM, 150mM, 200mM, 250mM NaCl and temperature stress were given at 350C, 400C, 450C and 500C for all 20 rice varieties with two replications. The physio-morphological and biochemical parameters were studied on 14th day of germination. The highest level drought, salinity and temperature stresses at which germination occurred was selected as Dh (-5 bar), Sh (250mM NaCl) and temperature (Th) (350C) respectively. Among 20 rice varieties, PTB-7, PTB-60 and PTB-35 showed maximum seedling vigour at highest level of drought stress (Dh) stress condition Vyttila-9, MO-18 and Vyttila-3 recorded maximum seedling vigour index at highest tolerated level of salinity (Sh) stress condition and N-22, NL-44 and Vyttila -6 showed maximum seedling vigour index at highest tolerated level of temperature stress (Th) stress condition. These nine genotypes were selected for the evaluation of combination stress treatment In the second experiment, The combination stress treatments given were Dh x Sh, Dh x Th, Th x Sh and Dh x Sh x Th. Rice varieties did not germinated at Dh x Sh and Dh x Th. The maximum seedling vigour index at Dh x Sh and combination stress treatment was observed in PTB-7, Vyttila-9, PTB-35 and at Th x Sh was observed in NL-44, MO-18 and N-22 respectively. These rice varieties were selected as tolerant varieties. In experiment III six rice varieties selected from combination stress treatment were evaluated for yield parameters in pot culture experiment. The design of the experiment was CRD with two replications and one control. Drought and salt stress were imposed during reproductive stage for 5 days by applying -5bar PEG6000 and 250mM NaCl solutions respectively into the pots containing rice varieties, Temperature stress was induced using a temperature controlled polyhouse from panicle initiation to maturity stage. Physio-morphological, biochemical and yield parameters were studied under the combination stress treatments. Highest yield under the combination stress treatment of Dh x Sh was observed in PTB-7 and highest yield under the combination stress treatment Th x Sh was observed in N-22. Based on morpho-physiological and yield parameters PTB-7 was selected as the tolerant variety under drought and saline condition and N-22 was selected as the tolerant variety under temperature and salinity condition. In experiment IV all the 20 genotypes were analyzed for the identification of reported markers linked to stress tolerance such as drought salinity and temperature. Reported microsatellite markers linked to drought, salinity and temperature were used to screen 20 rice varieties. Among the markers distinct polymorphism for temperature tolerance between temperature tolerant (N-22 and NL-44) and susceptible varieties was shown by RM 6100. RM 7076 showed distinct polymorphism in tolerant varieties PTB-7 and NL-44 . RM 1287 showed distinct polymorphism for salinity tolerance in PTB-7 and N-22. Drought tolerance between drought tolerant (PTB-7) and susceptible varieties was Shown by RM 490.ThesisItem Open Access Prediction of SSR and SNP markers for anthracnose resiistance in YAM using bioinformatics tools and their validation(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Sahla, K; KAU; Sreekumar, JThe study entitled “Prediction of SSR and SNP markers for anthracnose resistance in yam using bioinformatics tools and their validation” was conducted at ICAR-Central Tuber Crop Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram during October 2107 to August 2018. The objectives of the study is to computationally identify SNPs and SSRs for anthracnose resistance in Greater Yam and the verification of identified markers using resistant and susceptible varieties. The preliminary data set for the identification of SSR and SNP markers was obtained from the EST section of NCBI. A total of 44134 sequences was obtained. The dataset was reduced to 44114 sequences after several pre-processing and screening steps. The resulting sequences were assembled and aligned using CAP3 and 5940 contigs were obtained. SNPs and SSRs were predicted from these datasets using respective prediction tools. The SNP prediction tools such as QualitySNP and AutoSNP were compared for their performance. Analysis was performed to identify the tool with the ability to annotate and identify more viable nonsynonymous and synonymous SNPs. For SSRs the SSR prediction tools such as MISA and SSRIT was compared and analysis was performed to identify the tool having the ability to predict more viable SSRs and the ability to classify them as mono, di, tri, tetra, penta, hexa and poly SSRs. Using QualitySNP, 1789 nonsynonymous SNPs and 73 synonymous SNPs were identified. Using MISA, 359 mono SSRs, 268 di SSRs, 342 tri SSRs, 17 tetra SSRs, 7 penta SSRs, and 9 hexa SSRs were identified. Five sequences from identified SNPs and SSRs which having high hit percentage and low E value were selected for validation and primer designing for anthracnose resistant genes. These primers were validated using 3 resistant and 3 susceptible yam varieties. Among the primers after validation in wet lab, three SNPs (DaSNP1, DaSNP2, DaSNP3) and two SSRs (DaSSR1 and DaSSR2) primer was able to clearly differentiate between the resistant and susceptible varieties which can be used as potential markers in the breeding program for screening anthracnose resistance in yam.ThesisItem Open Access Identification and characterization of viruses in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2015) Jayalekshmi, V S; KAU; Makeshkumar, TThe study entitled "identification and characterization of viruses in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam.) was carried out at the division of crop protection, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Sreekariyam, Trivandrum during 2014-2015. The objective of the study was to diagnose, clone and characterize viruses implicated in mixed infections of sweet potato. Sweet potato samples with various virus infection symptoms were collected from the germplasm repository of CTCRI, Trivandrum and field samples from Bhubaneswar. Samples were screened mainly for Sweet potato feathery mottle virus ( SPFMV ), Sweet potato mild mottle virus ( SPMMV), Sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV ), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus ( SPCSV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), Sweet potato virus C (SPVC), Sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2) using both genus and virus specific primers. Out of 32, 29 samples showed SPFMV infection in PCR with virus specific primers. While mixed infection by SPFMV and SPLCV was found in 15 samples. One sample was infected with SPVG along with SPFMV and SPLCV. SPMMV, SPVC, SPV2 and SPCSV screening through PCR gave negative results for all samples. PCR by virus specific primers of SPFMV and SPLCV amplifying the partial CP gave amplicons size of 411 bp and 446 bp respectively. Rather than the virus specific primers, the group specific primers Pot1/Hrp5 gave an amplicon of 1300 bp lead to the detection of SPVG. After identification, one sample each for SPFMV, SPLCV and the only sample positive for SPVG were cloned and sequenced. The sequence data was analyzed through BLAST and sequence similarity was studied. The 304 nt SPFMV sequence obtained in the study showed maximum similarity of 96% to Sweet potato feathery mottle virus isolate Fe polyprotein gene, partial cds (Accession EU021070). The 251 nt SPVG sequence obtained showed maximum similarity of 90% to sweet potato virus G isolate IS103, complete genome (AccessionKM014815). While the 418 nt SPLCV sequence obtained showed maximum similarity of 96% to Sweet potato leaf curl virus DNA A, complete sequence (Accession AF104036) and Sweet potato leaf curl isolate CTCRI TVM M1, complete genome (Accession KM 050768). The phylogenetic tree was constructed with similar sequences using phylip. Phylogenetic analysis clearly revealed that the sequences obtained in this study belongs to SPFMV for the sample S1294, SPLCV for the sample S1294, SPLCV for the sample S684 and SPVG for the sample S270 as they grouped along with their respective virus sequences used for comparison analysis. Since the diagnosis of virus infections based on symptoms is unreliable due to complicated mixed infections in sweet potato with multiple viruses and isolates, it is necessary sensitive diagnostic tests are developed region wise to confront this issue. As a prerequisite to this, virus detection and identification has to be carried out in sweet potato to determine the viruses geographically.ThesisItem Open Access Identification of lead compounds with anti-tuberculosis activity in indegenous spices of Kerala(College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Arun, Jyothi P V; KAU; Sreekumar, STuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the second worldwide killer infectious disease and it kills annually 1.4 million people globally and 30,000 people in India. Although drugs are available to treat tuberculosis they have several limitations including long term treatment, side effects, emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) mutants and adverse effect to immune system in patients co-infection with HIV. Therefore, discovery of novel faster, cheaper and better drug is become the need of the hour. Since time immemorial several herbal remedies have been used against tuberculosis in the traditional systems of treatment especially in India and in African countries. The indigenous spices of Kerala are well known for its use to treat human respiratory system. But its efficacies and mode of action are seldom investigated. In the present study the phytomolecules reported from Elettaria cardamomum, Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale were screened through in silico and in vitro methods. For in silico screening Decaprenylphosphoryl-beta-D-ribose epimerase (DprE1), an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of arabinan, the virulent factor in M., tuberculosis was selected as the target molecule. The 3-D structure of the molecule was retrieved from PDB (PDB id 4FDO). The active site DprE1 was detected using the tool PDBsum. Information regarding the chemical molecules reported in the selected spices was collected through literature survey and databases. The canonical SMILES of the phytochemicals were retrieved from open access chemical databases and 3D structures were created using CORINA. Total 448 phytochemicals (C. longa – 211, Z. officinale – 183 and ¬E. cardamomum – 54) were screened. Out of 448 phytochemicals structures of 373 (C. longa –137, Z. officinale –182 and ¬E. cardamomum –0) were retrieved from databases and remaining compound’s structures were created using Chemsketch. All selected phytochemicals were docked into the binding site of DprE1 using the tool, AutoDock 4.2. The docked structures having ΔG less than -5 kcal mol-1 were selected as best hit molecules. Out of 211 compounds screened in C. longa 101, out of 183 compounds screened in Z. officinale 63 and out of 54 compounds screened in E. cardamomum 22 of them showed free energy of binding -5 kcal mol-1 and these molecules were further analysed by Lipinski's rule of Five. To nullify the errors in lead identification the top ranked hit molecules were again docked using the tools Hex server, iGEMDOCK, FireDock and SwissDock. The docked results were statistically analysed following DST and Zhang rule and selected the top ranked molecules from each plant viz. 2-methyl-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)-2-hepten-4-one from C. longa, Alpha-ylangene from E. cardamomum and Farnesal from Z. officinale as lead molecules. Mature seeds of E. cardamomum and mature rhizomes of Z. officianale and C. longa were air dried and extracted with 99% ethanol using a Soxhlet apparatus for 6-8 hours. The extracts were concentrated to dryness using a rotary evaporator and tested anti-mycobacterial activity by Luciferase reporter phage (LRP) assay against standard strain of M. tuberculosis H37RV at three different concentrations (25, 250 and 500 μg/ml). The results revealed that all the three plants have potential antituberculosis activity. In the order of merit Z. officinale rank first E. cardamomum rank second and C. longa rank third respectively. The results revealed the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis activity and the responsible phytomolecules in each plant. It also insights the discovery of novel drugs with desirable qualities from these plants that should be safe, effective and affordable to the poor people.
