Catalase

Adhatoda vasica Nees, Boerhaavia diffusa L. and Parthenium hysterophorus L are common weeds of mixed habitats growing throughout the state of Rajasthan. Although higher plants develop their own defense strategies to overcome high temperature stress effects, these often are not enough, therefore substantial damage is observed. The metabolism in plants is altered in response to high temperature stress. Among the abiotic stresses, high temperature stress is one of the most detrimental stresses threatening higher plant productivity and survival throughout the world. Of all the enzymes studied in these three weeds, after PRO, catalase was found to be most tolerant to high temperature treatment In general, both GOT and GPT were also found to be relatively thermo stable. GOT and GPT enzymes of Adhatoda sp. exhibited comparatively better thermo tolerance than those of Boerhaavia sp. and Parthenium sp. In response to climatic changes, weeds pose challenges to crop plants. Further studies on the interactive relations between the two could give functional solutions leading to yield enhancement of crop plants in the proceeding decades.

Ginkgo biloba is one of the important traditional medicines mentioned in the Chinese pharmacopoeia as an antiasthmatic against polyuria and for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was undertaken to investigate antioxidant efficacy of extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves. In cholesterol fed wistar rats. Result of the study showed a significant (P < 0. 01 ) increase in lipid peroxidation (TBARS level) with a concomitant decrease in glutathione (GSH) content (P < 0.01 ) and catalase (P < 0.05 ) activity in liver of cholesterol fed rats . Simultaneous treatment of Ginkgo bilobaleaves extract at 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg b.wt./day doses, orally for 90 days along with cholesterol feeding significantly prevented the rise of liver, TBARS level and improved the levels of glutathione and catalase in liver. The results of the present study suggest that extract of Ginkgo bilobasignificant antioxidant activities in Wistar rats.