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Herbivorous insects are known to be resistant to fungal endophytes that asymptomatically inhabit plant tissues. The insecticidal ability of the endophytic fungus Aspergillus terreus isolated from Catharanthus roseus against Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was assessed in the current study. The survival and growth of S. litura were adversely impacted by the ethyl acetate extract of endophytic A. terreus. Fungal extract supplemented diet caused 14 to 94% larval mortality in comparison to 2% in control. Additionally, retarded insect growth was observed after ingestion of supplemented diet. The fungal metabolites were also observed to have an inhibitory influence on the adult emergence and reproductive potential of adults. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic compounds in the crude extract of endophytic fungus which may be responsible for toxicity. It was also determined how endophyte-infected cauliflower plants affected S. litura's survival and growth. Endophyte-infected plants exhibited resistance to S. litura by causing 54% larval mortality and delaying development by 5.2 days. In comparison to uninfected plants, adult emergence, lifespan, fecundity and egg hatchability of insects was significantly decreased on infected plants. There was a significant decrease in relative growth and consumption rates as well as in the efficiency of food conversion, which indicates toxic and antifeedant effect of the fungus on S. litura. This suggests that endophyte-inoculated plants exhibit antibiosis against S. litura. In conclusion, the endophytic fungi having insecticidal activity could be used to develop alternative ecologically safe control strategies.

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The use of plants in disease treatment is cost effective and relatively safe. This study was designed to investigate anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic activity of ethanolic leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus alone and in combination therapy in hyperlipidemic & diabetic mice. Eight groups comprising five mice each were used. Group A was hyperlipidemic control, group B, C, D received atorvastatin (20 mg/kg), leaf extract (200 mg/kg) and leaf extract in combination with atorvastatin (200 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) orally for 15 days. Group E was diabetic control. Group F, G, H received sitagliptin (40 mg/kg), leaf extract (200 mg/kg) and extract in combination with sitagliptin (200 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg) orally for 7 days. Blood cholesterol levels were measured at 1st, 5th, 10th and 15th day and fasting blood sugar levels were measured at 2, 12, 24, 72 and 168 hours during treatment. One-way ANOVA with tukey- kramer multiple comparison test was used. The chemical characterization of ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus leaves showed presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. Ethanolic extract of Catharanthus roseus has significant anti-hyperlipidemic & anti-diabetic effects (p<0.05, p<0.01) when compared with control but had not cause significantly increase in anti-hyperlipidemic effects of atorvastatin. While significantly increased the antidiabetic effect of sitagliptin (p<0.05)

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With the main objective of evaluate the principals agronomic parameters of soil and organic substrate, as well as nutritional indicators and biomass of medicinal plants used to control for diabetes mellitus: Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, Momordica charantia L. and Azadirachta indica A. Juss, this research was conducted during 2010 and 2011 at El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR). The growth of potted plants was evaluated in nursery phase, analysis of soil, plants and organic substrate were performed according to NOM 021-RECNAT-2000, which allowed to identify significant differences between crop plants and substrates used. The use of organic matter in the soil improved the nutrition indicators in more than 50 percent as well as the biomass increased.

Con el objetivo de evaluar los principales parámetros agronómicos de suelo y sustrato orgánico, así como indicadores nutricionales y biomasa de las plantas medicinales utilizadas para el control de la diabetes mellitus: Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, Momordica charantia L. y Azadirachta indica A. Juss, se realizó esta investigación durante 2010 y 2011 en El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR). El crecimiento de las plantas fue en macetas evaluándose en fase vivero, los análisis de suelo, sustrato orgánico y plantas se realizaron de acuerdo a NOM 021-RECNAT-2000; lo que permitió identificar diferencias significativas entre cultivos de plantas y sustratos utilizados. El uso de materia orgánica en el sustrato mejoró los indicadores nutricionales de los cultivos en más de un 50 por ciento al igual que la biomasa se incrementó.

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As malhas coloridas têm sido utilizadas para manipular o desenvolvimento vegetativo, melhorando a utilização da radiação solar por plantas ornamentais. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho estudar o efeito da redução de 50% da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa sobre o crescimento vegetativo de plantas de Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, por meio de malhas azul e vermelha e malha preta, em comparação com plantas crescidas na ausência de sombreamento (pleno sol). As plantas foram obtidas a partir de sementes e tratadas por 180 dias. Foram avaliados o ganho de biomassa e a distribuição de matéria seca nas plantas, o conteúdo de pigmentos foliares (clorofilas e carotenóides) e de nitrogênio foliar. A malha vermelha provocou um aumento de matéria seca total e de área foliar das plantas em comparação com as malhas azul, preta e ao tratamento a pleno sol, porém, exceto em relação a esse tratamento, a malha vermelha causou menor conteúdo de nitrogênio e pigmentos foliares. A maior relação raiz/parte aérea e relação clorofila a/b, menores razões de área foliar e de massa foliar das plantas crescidas a pleno sol em relação às plantas sombreadas indicam um efeito mais proeminente da irradiância mais alta do que da alteração do espectro de luz. O sombreamento altera significativamente a distribuição de matéria seca e o uso de malhas de diferentes cores modifica o conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos dessa espécie.

Colored shade nets have been used to manipulate the vegetative development, improving the utilization of solar radiation by ornamental plants. This work aimed to study the effect of 50 % reduction of PAR on vegetative growth of plants of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, using blue and red nets, and black net, in comparison to plants growing under full sunlight (lack of shading). The plants were obtained from seeds and treated for 180 days. Biomass increment and distribution, pigment content (chlorophylls and carotenoids) and foliar nitrogen were evaluated. The red net caused an increase of total dry mass and total leaf area of plants when compared to the blue net, black net and the full sunlight treatment, however, except in relation to the last treatment, the red net caused lower contents of foliar nitrogen and pigments. The higher root/stem and chlorophyll a/b ratios and the lower leaf area and leaf dry mass of plants growing under full sunlight in relation to shaded plants indicate a more prominent effect of the higher irradiance than the spectral alteration. Shading alters significantly the dry matter distribution and the use of shade nets of different colors affects the content of photosynthetic pigments of this species.