Ankur Patwardhan - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ankur Patwardhan

International journal of biodiversity, bioprocessing and development, 2014

Plants from the Western Ghats Mountains (a global biodiversity hot-spot) in western India are inc... more Plants from the Western Ghats Mountains (a global biodiversity hot-spot) in western India are increasingly gaining importance for their newfound disease curative properties. One such example is an extract of the plant, Salacia chinensis Linn., the compound Salacinol which (along with related compounds) is increasingly being used in the treatment of diabetes. Of late, demand for this extract has increased at a rapid pace, leading to widespread overharvesting of Salacia roots (the plant part predominantly used for extraction) and consequent population decline by over 50%. Such overexploitation in a global biodiversity hotspot threatens the ecological sustainability of this fragile ecosystem and global health care, as well as local livelihoods. One strategy to relieve the harvest pressure on wild population while attempting to cater to the ever increasing demand of raw material by the pharmaceutical industry is to utilize alternative plant parts and raise viable commercial cultivation. With a view to developing a sustainable harvest strategy, this paper presents an assessment of anti-diabetic activity of alternative plant parts (stems, seeds, leaves). We present the results of in-vitro evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibition activity by S. chinensis extracts with respect to parameters like plant part, age of plant and effective solvent system. Promising αglucosidase enzyme inhibition results were obtained from crude extracts of stems and seeds. The highest inhibition levels demonstrated by aqueous extracts of roots and stems were 80.43 ± 1.14 % (IC 50-22.17 µg/ml) and 81.2 ± 0.41 % (IC 50-22.23 µg/ml) respectively, whereas for successive aqueous extracts of seeds inhibition levels were 56.0 ± 1.30 % (IC 50-79.04 µg/ml). By demonstrating that stems and seeds of S. chinensis can be used as an alternative to roots, our study has the potential to form the basis for a sustainable path forward for the harvesting of this plant for medicinal purposes.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, May 26, 2014

Subramanian et al. 2008). Records of these insects on global biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. ... more Subramanian et al. 2008). Records of these insects on global biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. 2000), are known to support number of Odonata species. Around

Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology, Jul 28, 2021

Field investigations were conducted in the Saswad-Waghapur region near Pune city to study the spe... more Field investigations were conducted in the Saswad-Waghapur region near Pune city to study the species composition and seasonal variation of butterflies; and the impact of disturbances on them. The species diversity and abundances were noted using "Pollard Walk method" and the disturbances at every site were quantitively measured in every season. Alpha and Beta diversity indices and correlation tests were performed to analyse the data. A total 1285 individuals representing 53 species and 37 genera belonging to 5 families were observed from August 2020 to May 2021. Family Nymphalidae accounted for the most species richness (36%) with 19 species, and Family Hesperiidae contributed the least (2%) with just one species. Maximum unique species (10) were seen in the wild areas of grassland and least unique species (5) were seen in the impacted agricultural area. Shannon index (H) values ranged from 2.64 to 2.74 indicating similar diversity at the three sites, whereas Margalef richness value ranged from 4.95 to 5.98 indicating higher species richness at the wild habitats. Species diversity was maximum during the monsoon months with many species such as Eurema hecabe (Common Grass yellow) and Ypthima Asterope (Common Threering) showing their peaks during this period. A steady decline was observed from the end of December extending till summer with few species like Lampides boeticus (Pea blue) showing their peaks during winter. Disturbances such as Fire, Grazing and construction activities played a significant role in determining the species composition at various sites. Thus, the present investigation provided insight into the butterflies of Saswad-Waghapur region and the effect of anthropogenic activities onthem.

PubMed, Dec 1, 2005

Several species of fungi are currently being considered for operational use in the microbial cont... more Several species of fungi are currently being considered for operational use in the microbial control of mosquito larvae. The oomycetous fungi are the prominent ones amongst them because of their ability to complete life cycle in water. During our studies on zoosporic fungi from riverine waters of Mula and Mutha flowing through Pune City, Maharashtra, India, Aphanomyces laevis de Bary (Oomycetes: Saprolegniales) was isolated from polluted waters. After critical observations it was found to be mosquito larvicidal. Sporulating hemp seed cultures when inoculated under laboratory conditions revealed that it causes 80%/ mortality after seven days to Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. Laboratory assays were conducted to determine the effects of water quality on the ability of the isolate to infect mosquito larvae in varying degrees of pollution levels. In all the experiments, a non sexual strain of Aphanomyces (zoospores) was found to be the pathogenic agent for the Culex larvae.

Industrial Crops and Products, Sep 1, 2017

Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde Syn. Saraca indica Linn belonging to the family Leguminosae, is one... more Saraca asoca (Roxb.) De Wilde Syn. Saraca indica Linn belonging to the family Leguminosae, is one of the ancient medicinal plant of India and its bark is used in Ayurvedic preparations. In the present work, the barks were collected from mature trees of different geographical locations. Besides, one of the best chemotype is cultivated under different fertilizer treatments and the barks from 4 year old plants were taken up for analytical studies. The barks were extracted with methanol as well as aqueous-methanol solvent systems, and chemical compositions were compared using RP-HPLC-PDA-RI analysis. Different classes of compounds viz. pinitol, flavonols and polyphenols were detected through the analytical protocol developed by our laboratory. It was found that the barks collected from Uttar Pradesh (BLA, BLK), Sirsi, Karnataka (BSS) and Empress Garden, Pune (BEG) gave higher yield of the extracts and were more enriched with the above classes of compounds. For getting barks in a short period of time, the BSS plant saplings were experimentally cultivated under different fertilizer treatments. It was found that the plants treated with a combination of fertilizers such as poultry waste + biofertlizer, vermicompost + biofertlizer and farm yard manure + biofertlizer + diammonium phosphate yielded reasonably higher amounts of extracts, which were chemically close with the parent bark extracts. Among these treatments, the vermicompost + biofertlizer gave pinitol (729 mg), flavonoids (2872 mg) and polyphenols (1150 mg) in 100 g bark extracts. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicalscavenging assay and interestingly it was noticed that the extracts contained improved percentage of flavonoids and pinitol showing better activity.

Sixty-two localities from Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra State, India, were surveyed for hab... more Sixty-two localities from Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra State, India, were surveyed for habitat correlates of Odonata diversity. Proximate habitat variables (canopy cov - er, area of water spread on transect, and altitude) and broad scale environmental variables derived from climate database were used. Seventy species were recorded during the sur - vey. Vestalis apicalis was found to be the most abundant species. Multiple regression analysis failed to resolve relationship among variables. Proximate habitat variables, except altitude, showed slightly higher contribution in shaping species richness and diversity than broad- scale habitat variables. Canonical correspondence analysis based on species abundance data and multiple variables suggested that canopy cover and area of water on the transect are driv - ing species assemblages. Almost all of the Western Ghats endemics recorded during the sur - vey were found to be associated with high canopy forests and streams, suggesting the critical habitat requirement of these species. The study provides baseline and local habitat associa - tion data on Odonata, which can be used as evidence in the conservation of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve corridor which is under threat of forest felling.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, Jan 26, 2023

Journal of Ecological Society

The study focuses on tree diversity in the Pune Corporation Area (PCA) and nearby hills during 19... more The study focuses on tree diversity in the Pune Corporation Area (PCA) and nearby hills during 1999 and 2000. A total of 380 tree species were recorded, with two-thirds being cultivated exotics and one-third native. Although there were some losses of certain species due to human influences like cutting and fires, the overall floristic richness in the area remained relatively stable. Popular plantation trees are mostly exotic species, leading to a decline in local fruit tree populations over the last few decades. The study suggests the need for quantifying tree census data to make informed recommendations for conservation and management.

Indian Forester, 2023

Net zero emissions goals, recently accepted globally, provide huge scope for vigorous agroforestr... more Net zero emissions goals, recently accepted globally, provide huge scope for vigorous agroforestry growth to increase India's tree cover in 10 years from 25% of country's land area to 33% by 2030. However, agroforestry may be able to meet 25% of the ambitious target of 2.5-billion-ton CO equivalent 2 offset pledged by India by then. Forestry is already carbon +ve sector but can absorb more carbon by promoting selective forest tree felling to trigger young trees growth. Green buildings code and certified timber initiative can help in it and need to be promoted rather than "hands-off" forestry. Organic farming practices can sequester double this amount of carbon if promoted countrywide. Sacred groves i.e. forest patches dedicated to deity provide traditional vistas of balancing conservation and utility as depicted here with a case study from Pune district. Their declaration as "heritage sites" under The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 can help in their future sustenance.

Arthropod-Plant Interactions

Indian saline habitats and management and utilization of high salinity tolerant plants with indus... more Indian saline habitats and management and utilization of high salinity tolerant plants with industrial applications for rehabilitation of saline areas. In Desertification in the Third Millennium (eds Alsharhan, A. S. et al.

Retrieved from www. ranwa. org …, 2008

... published studies. The soil carbon content of tropical dry deciduous forests have been calcul... more ... published studies. The soil carbon content of tropical dry deciduous forests have been calculated by Sachan et. al. (1980), Singhal et al. (1983), Kumar et. al. in 1987, and R.Singh et. al. in 1990 . On the basis of their studies, it is estimated ...

Chemistry & Biodiversity

Proceedings of The 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology, 2021

Microbial Diversity in Hotspots, 2022

The sub-global assessment process was dynamic and iterative. Assessments such as the MA that link... more The sub-global assessment process was dynamic and iterative. Assessments such as the MA that link science with policy aim to meet user needs and support decision-making on complex issues by providing a critical, objective evaluation and analysis of information, including indigenous and local knowledge. The three main stages of the assessment process, with some overlap between stages, were: an exploration stage, a design stage, and the implementation of the resulting workplan, which included review, validation, and communication of the findings. Throughout these stages, ongoing communication, user engagement, and capacity building were flexible and iterative components. Each sub-global assessment process was bounded by political, socioeconomic, and environmental circumstances. The heterogeneity of these circumstances, as well as constraints such as the availability of information or particular expertise, necessitated a variety of approaches to using the MA conceptual framework. An exploration of the boundary conditions of each subglobal assessment, including institutions that could potentially implement assessment outcomes, should have been, but was not always, included in the exploratory stages of the assessment work. The sub-global assessments had to overcome multiple constraints to make progress. Constraints included lack of data and limited financial support. Further challenges included meeting the fixed MA timeframe, gaining the trust of various users, establishing and maintaining user engagement, securing technical leadership, and building the capacity to conduct multiscale, integrated assessments. These constraints limited the scope of each sub-global assessment, in terms of the number of ecosystem services and aspects of human well-being that were included, the temporal and spatial scales considered, and the knowledge systems incorporated. However, constraints sometimes led to innovative approaches to overcome them-for example, the development of a novel index for assessing biodiversity intactness (Southern Africa) and a consensus-based approach to the assessment of soil quality by multiple Quechua communities in Peru. Sub-global assessments that incorporated different knowledge systems required more time and resources. Working with assessment users was an important part of establishing the demand for an assessment and identifying the processes that could use the assessment findings. Engagement with users at the beginning of the assessment process helped to shape the assessment around the questions that were most important and useful to users. The sub-global assessments showed three broad categories of need for an assessment: (1) to summarize and synthesize information on complex issues to support decision-making; (2) to strengthen the capacity of users to assess and manage their resources, or to participate in resource management; and (3) to address gaps in knowledge for resource management. For the first two categories especially, the assessments involved strong user engagement throughout the process. A governance structure that provided a forum for discussion was necessary in assessments that involved a wide range of users. Many sub-global assessments considered diverse user needs and needed to manage the tensions among users which often centered on the allocation of resources for competing needs. In meeting user needs, sub-global assessments often prioritized the components of the MA conceptual framework to be addressed. Strong user engagement can result in the assessment process itself being as important as the assessment findings. Ongoing communication with diverse sets of users in the sub-global assessments led to a greater appreciation and understanding of the links between ecosystem services and human well-being. Local capacity was built to undertake assessments. In some cases, such as in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, assessments catalyzed groundbreaking discussions on ecosystem management among different sectors of the local population. Applying the MA conceptual framework to on-the-ground activities proved to be a challenge. The MA conceptual framework, along with the procedural guidelines set out by the MA, guided the work of the 34 sub-global assessments. Some sub-global assessments incorporated multiple temporal and spatial scales and different knowledge systems in their assessments. Incorporating multiple scales necessitated meeting the challenge of developing common variables and measures-a challenge not attempted by most of the sub-global assessments. Most assessments were also not able to fully address the linkages between ecosystem services, human well-being, and drivers of change. The reasons for this were varied and included lack of data, capacity, and/or resources, including expertise in social sciences. During the exploration and design stages, the teams underestimated the effort that would be needed to cover the scope of the work being developed, the number and diversity of the disciplines that needed to be involved, and the challenges of obtaining the wide range of data needed. Capacity-building activities need to be an integral component of any assessment, but especially a complex one such as the MA. The sub-global assessments demonstrated the need to strengthen capacity for conducting integrated assessments. Many sub-global assessments did not have all of the required expertise to assess the various components of the MA conceptual framework, and thus capacity-building activities were initiated within individual sub-global assessments. In addition, the number and diversity of the sub-global assessments participating in the MA provided an ideal opportunity for capacitybuilding across the sub-global network through the exchange of experiences and lessons learned. Future attempts at incorporating sub-global components into global assessment processes will have to invest considerable funds and time in developing the capacity to use common tools or standards across different locations, in order to add insight to the global assessment and increase both capacity and knowledge at sub-global scales. Assessments need champions. In many cases, specific individuals played key roles during different stages of an assessment, for example as external facilitators in determining and establishing the demand for the assessment and in providing leadership and sustaining the assessment process. In some cases, small dedicated teams of people championed the assessment together.

Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2014

Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2022

Plant insect interactions are governed by various factors. Nectar availability and floral nectar ... more Plant insect interactions are governed by various factors. Nectar availability and floral nectar composition play a significant role in deciding the pollinator pool that visits a particular plant species. This study investigates nectar sugar composition and volume from three endemic species from Western Ghats of India viz. Canthium
dicoccum (Gaertn.) Teijsm. & Binn., Ligustrum perrottetii A. DC., and Wendlandia thyrsoidea (Roth) Steud., in their natural habitats. Our results demonstrate intraspecific variation in nectar sugar composition in these endemic plant species. Fructose, mannose and glucose sugars were found in the nectar of all three species. In addition to these three, arabinose was found in Ligustrum and sucrose in Canthium. Nectar volume showed variations in bagged and unbagged conditions. The highest average nectar quantity was found in Canthium (1.27 μl/flower), followed by Ligustrum (0. 31 μl/flower), and Wendlandia (0.14 μl/flower). Floral visitor diversity with a specific
emphasis on butterflies showed the highest number of visitors on Ligustrum i. e., 42 out of 45 total butterfly species across all three plant species. This is the first report of standing nectar crop and nectar-sugar composition data compiled for these plant species.