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International Journal of World Research
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
Impact Factor: 0.4327
A STUDY ON PHYLLOSPHERE MYCOFLORA OF TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS, L,
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS AS CRUDE DRUG
Mary Josephine1 & Kanchana2
1
Associate Professor, Department of Botany,Nirmala college for women,
Coimbatore,Tamilnadu,India
2
Scholar, Nirmala college for women, Coimbatore,Tamilnadu,India
ABSTRACT
Leaf samples of Tribulus terrestris, Linn was collected from the waste lands from ten different
locations in valparai, Karanampettai, Maruthamalai, Anaikatti and Siruvani region of
Coimbatore District,Tamil Nadu, India.Qualitative studies made on the Aspergillus mycoflora in
the phyllosphere of Tribulus terrestris plants using the soil-washing technique. Aspergillus
isolates were examined, and the distribution are determined in the phyllosphere .The study
revealed, Aspergillus mycoflora was more abundant in all the selected samples.Aspergillus can
cause disease in three major ways: through the production of mycotoxins; through induction of
allergenic responses; and through localized or systemic infections. Raw part of Tribulus terrestris
carries lot of Aspergillus fungus both in root and leaves. In the point of view of using Tribulus
terrestris as crude drug, it is an important observation.
Key words: phyllosphere, Aspergillus, Tribulus terrestris
INTRODUCTION
Tribulus weed species are summer growing annuals and have high drought tolerance.
with a small yellow flower and spiny fruit, called caltrop (Tribulus terrestris.,L) Plant species are
opportunistic weeds of cultivation, waste lands and degraded pastures.Under certain conditions,
grazing of Tribulus has been associated with nitrate poisoning, photosensitisation and sheep
staggers. Spines on fruit damage the feet of livestock, causing lameness, and fruit can become
embedded in sheep fleece, lowering its value and causing discomfort to shearers.Caltrop is also a
weed of urban areas and is a nuisance on footpaths and playing fields. Caltrop is now found
worldwide, particularly in areas with a Mediterranean climate. It is listed as a weed in 37
countries.
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International Journal of World Research
Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
Tribules terrestris, Linn
Classification :
Class
Sub class
Order
Family
Genus
Common Names :
Eng
Hind
Sans
Ben
Tamil
Mal
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Impact Factor: 0.4327
– Magnoliophyla – Dicotyledons
– Rosidae
– Sapindales
– Zygophyllaceal – Creosote – bush family
– Tribulus – Punturevine
– Small Caltrops
– Chota gokhru
– Ikshugandha
– Gokhuri
– Chrunerincle, Nerinji
– Nerinnil, Neringil
Botanical Description :
Annual or bicnnial, prostrate, densely appressed whitish silky pubescent herb. Stem
hirsute to sericeous, branches spreading. Leaves paripinnate, 2.5 – 5 cm long; Stipculs lanceolate
to falcate, 3-5mm long; leaflets (40) 5-6 (-8) pairs orate to elliptic – ablong, 5-10 (-12) mm long,
3-8mm broad, in-equilateral, acute. Flowers yellow, 1-1.5 cm across; Pedical up to 1.5 (-2) cm
long. Sepals orate – lanwdate 5-6 mm long, c3mm broad, acute. Petals obovate, 6-8 mm long, 34 mm broad, obtuse. Stamens 10, filaments c 3-5mm long, another versatile. Ovary ovoid,
hirsute; style c 1.5mm long, stigmas decurrent. Fruit up to c 1 cm in diameter, 4-8mm long,
mericarps densely crested and tuberculate on dorsal side, densely hairy to glabrescent, with 2
long patent and 2 short downwardly directed spines (rarely all or lower 2 reduced to tubercles)
( Plate 1 )
Uses :
Tribulus terrestris is found to be potent diuretic, nephroprotective and entiurolithiatic. It
is non-irritant diuretic and urinary antiseptic hence outstanding remedy is urinogeital disease
promoting urine flow, soothing the mucosa, and aiding in the excretion of stones and aiding in
the excretion of stones and calculi. It is used in case of dysuria, urinary stone, and incontinence
of urine.
Both the plant and the seeds are used for treatment of phosphaturia, dysuria,
gonorrhea, gleets, chronic cystitis, gout, post partum hemorrhage and to ensure fecundity. It is
used in various herbal formulas to treat headaches, eye problems such as itching, conjunctivitis
and weak vision. It is also used to treat high blood pressure and rib pain. The hormonal balancing
effects of the plant for women makes this herb suitable for prementstrual syndrome and
menopausal syndrome. Tribulus is used in case of impotence and spermaturia as it helps to
increase the level of the luleinizing hormonal in the body and improved the synthesis of the
testicular male sex hormone.Saponin present in T.trerrestris dilates the coronary artery and
improves coronary circulation. The plant contains harmine alkaloids that are most likely to be
responsible for its redative properties. The seeds are strengthening and the ash of plant is good
for external application is rheumarthritis. It also has been reported for its anti angina,
hepathprotective, and anthelmintie activity.
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International Journal of World Research
Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Impact Factor: 0.4327
Phyllosphere
The phyllosphere is a term used in microbiology to refer to leaf surfaces or total aboveground surfaces of a plant as a habitat for microorganisms. The below-ground microbial habitats
(i.e. the thin-volume of soil surrounding root or subterranean stem surfaces) are referred to as the
rhizosphere and laimosphere, respectively. All plants are host to a numerous and diverse
community of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. Some are beneficial to the
plant, others function as plant pathogens and may damage the host plant or even kill it. However,
the majority of bacterial colonists on any given plant have no detectable effect on plant growth or
function.
Research into the characteristics of microbial life in the phyllosphere is of great
commercial importance to the agricultural industry for two reasons. First, understanding the
survival of plant disease-causing bacteria and fungi is vital for developing new ways to control
their spread. Second, there has been a recent rise in the number of food poisoning cases
associated with fruit and vegetables contaminated with bacteria, such as Salmonella and E.coli.
This is particularly true of fresh fruits and salads which are not cooked prior to consumption.
Preventing these outbreaks by developing better decontamination strategies is important to
protect public health.
Review of Literature
The above-ground parts of plants are normally colonized by a variety of bacteria, yeasts,
and fungi. While a few microbial species can be isolated from within plant tissues, many more
are recovered from the surfaces of healthy plants. The aerial habitat colonized by these microbes
is termed the phyllosphere, and the inhabitants are called epiphytes. Bacteria are by far the most
numerous colonists of leaves, often being found in numbers averaging 106 to 107 cells/cm2 (up
to 108 cells/g) of leaf (Andrews and Harris, 2000; Kim and Sundin, 2001).
The microbial communities of leaves are diverse and include many different
genera of bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeasts, algae, and, less frequently, protozoa and
nematodes. Filamentous fungi are considered transient inhabitants of leaf surfaces, being present
predominantly as spores, whereas rapidly sporulating species and yeasts colonize this habitat
more actively (Andrews and Harris, 2000).
The phyllosphere supports numerous microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, yeast, and
protozoa (Andrews and Harris 2000; Beattie and Lindow 1995; Hirano and Upper 2000; Kinkel
1997; Leveau 2006; Lindow and Leveau 2002; Lindow and Brandl 2003). Bacteria are the most
abundant members of the phyllosphere community, and have been shown to colonize leaves at
densities of up to 108 cells cm−2 . The description of microbial community structure and the
quantification of microbial diversity associated with leaf surfaces has been much improved by
the application of culture-independent methods. These have provided many new insights into the
microbial species that are common and unique to all plant leaf surfaces, the specific adaptations
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International Journal of World Research
Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Impact Factor: 0.4327
that bacteria and fungi possess and express to meet the chemical and physical challenges of the
phyllosphere environment, and the factors that determine community composition, such as the
plant species and weather conditions.
Materials and Methods
Leaf Sampling for Phyllosphere study
Leaf samples of Tribulus terrestris, Linn was collected from the waste lands from ten different
locations in valparai, Karanampettai, Maruthamalai, Anaikatti and Siruvani region of
Coimbatore District,Tamil Nadu, India. Leaf samples were collected from the month of
December to February,2012-2013.The leaves were selected randomly and directly extracted
from the leaf surface by washing the leaf surface. The leaves were homogenized with sterile
quartz sand and 9 mi of sterile saline (9 %.), one gram of fresh weight of leaves were taken from
the collected samples. Samples were replicated three times. The dilutions were plated on Potato
Dextrose Agar media suitable for the fungus group. Developed colonies were observed by using
Compound microscope to find out the occurrence of Aspergillus fungus.
Results and Discussion
The phyllosphere study showed the colonies of Aspergillus were found to be occur in all
the samples collected(Plate 2). Similar results were obtained (Abdel-Hafez.,1984). Qualitative
studies made on the Aspergillus mycoflora in the phyllosphere of Tribulus terrestris plants using
the soil-washing technique. Aspergillus isolates were examined, and the distributions were
determined in the phyllosphere .
Aerosolized Aspergillus spores are found nearly everywhere. So we are routinely and
almost constantly exposed to them. Such exposure is a normal part of the human condition and
generally poses no adverse health effects. Aspergillus can and does cause disease in three major
ways: through the production of mycotoxins; through induction of allergenic responses; and
through localized or systemic infections. The most common pathogenic species are Aspergillus
fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus. Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxin which is both a toxin
and a carcinogen and which can potentially contaminate foods such as nuts.
Aspergillosis is an infection or allergic reaction caused by various kinds of mold (a type
of fungus). In traditional medicines the various parts of the plant materials are used as raw. These
raw extracts contain Aspergillus. Raw part of Tribulus terrestris carries lot of Aspergillus fungus
in the leaves. In the point of view of using Tribulus terrestris as crude drug, it is an important
observation.
References
1. Andrews, J. H., and R. F. Harris. 2000. The ecology and biogeography
of microorganisms on plant surfaces. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol.38:145-180.
2. Beattie, G. A., and S. E. Lindow. 1995. The secret life of foliar bacterial pathogens on
leaves. Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 33:145-172.
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Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Impact Factor: 0.4327
3. Hirano, S. S., and C. D. Upper. 2000. Bacteria in the leaf ecosystem with emphasis on
Pseudomonas syringae—a pathogen, ice nucleus, and epiphyte. Microbiol. Mol. Biol.
Rev. 64:624-653.
4. Kim, J. J., and G. W. Sundin. 2001. Construction and analysis of photolyase mutants of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae: contribution of photoreactivation,
nucleotide excision repair, and mutagenic DNA repair to cell survival and mutability
following exposure to UV-B radiation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67:1405-1411.
5. Kinkel, L. L., M. Wilson, and S. E. Lindow. 2000. Plant species and plant incubation
conditions influence variability in epiphytic bacterial population size. Microb. Ecol. 39:111.
6. Lindow, S. E., and J. H. J. Leveau. 2002. Phyllosphere microbiology. Curr. Opin.
Biotechnol. 13:238-243.
Plate 1
Plate 2
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Print-ISSN: ISSN: 2347 – 937X
December 2013, Issue IXI: Volume: I
Impact Factor: 0.4327
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