<div>Background: Conifer Podocarpus elongatus belongs to the family Podocarpaceae and some species of Podocarpus are used in traditional medicine. The present study was undertaken to study the anatomical features of the bark of Podocarpus elongatus&nbsp;(Ait) L.Herit. The study was also focused on the antimicrobial activity and phytochemicals present in the bark extract.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The bark was collected from the P. elongatus from Nilgiri Hills of Ooty, Tamil Nadu. The anatomical structures of the bark were elucidated macroscopically and microscopically by using the sectioning techniques. The phytochemical examination was done to confirm the presence of phytochemical components in the methanol extract. The antimicrobial activity was also studied based on the zone of inhibition. 
 
Result:&nbsp;The surface of the bark was highly distinguished from other related species, in the pattern of colour, stripes and thickness. Microscopical study envisaged that periderm is characterised by well distinct, continuous structures of the branchy sclereids with thick undulate, continuous segments that have been originated from a deeper cortex. TLS and RLS of the bark view elucidated that the phloem component appeared to be a vertical plane in the fibres. Phloem rays were found as uniseriate with wide sieve cells. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities of the bark exhibited potential effects against examined bacterial and fungal strains.</div>

Bark Anatomy of Podocarpus elongatus (Ait) L.Herit and Screening of Phytochemical Constituents with Antimicrobial Potential

<div>A total of 1169 dung samples from domestic ruminants were examined to record the prevalence of paramphistomosis infection. In cattle, the prevalence of infection by direct smear (DS) and sedimentation method (SD) was 17.43% and 31.19%, respectively. In sheep, the prevalence rates were recorded higher than cattle (26.09% and 33.18%). In goats, the prevalence of paramphistomosis was 20.66% and 30.52%. Out of 109 cattle carcasses, 47 were found with flukes in rumen, reticulum and bile duct during slaughterhouse examination (SH). In sheep and goat, the prevalence rates were 42.15% and 40.85%, respectively by SH. Age-wise the highest prevalence was recorded in cattle of 2-4 years (50.0%) by SH. In goats, the prevalence of infection was lower in the age group of &lt;1 year, when compared to their counterparts in sheep. In contrast, the higher prevalence was noticed in &gt;1-2 years old goats (63.27%) than sheep of the same age group (36.85%). Sex-wise, statistically no significant difference was observed between male and female animals. Morphologically identified, Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Paramphistomum cervi, Gastrothylax crumenifer, Fischoederius elongatus and Gigantocotyle spp. In conclusion, an overall prevalence of 24.29%, 32.51% and 42.0% of paramphistomosis infection was recorded in cattle, sheep and goats by DS, SD and SH examinations, respectively.&nbsp;</div>

Bark Anatomy of Podocarpus elongatus (Ait) L.Herit and Screening of Phytochemical Constituents with Antimicrobial Potential

Prevalence of Paramphistomosis in Domestic Ruminants in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India