Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Bioactivity surveys of some medicinal plants in Trat Agroforestry Research and Training Station, Trat Province
Get PDFThis study investigates the bioactivity properties of 16 ethanolic extracts from medicinal plants, representing 8 families, collected from the Trat Agroforestry Research and Training Station in Trat province. The research specifically examines three bioactivity properties: antioxidant activity, anti-diabetic activity and anti-inflammatory activity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and nitric oxide scavenging assays. The anti-diabetic activity was determined by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase, while the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by inhibiting BSA denaturation. The findings indicate that Volkameria inermis exhibited the highest antioxidant potential, as measured by DPPH (IC50 = 0.011 ± 0.005 mg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 57.173 ± 6.901 mg/mL), FRAP (IC50 = 0.070 ± 0.020 mg/mL) and nitric oxide scavenging (IC50 = 0.127 ± 0.071 mg/mL) and was characterized by a significant phenolic compound content (121.92 ± 0.66 mg GAE/g). Moreover, extracts from the Garcinia family, specifically Garcinia cowa and Garcinia hanburyi, demonstrated notable anti-diabetic properties, inhibiting alpha-glucosidase (IC50 = 1.383 ± 0.131 mg/mL) and alpha-amylase (IC50 = 0.233 ± 0.012 mg/mL), respectively. Notably, Gnetum gnemon was the only plant to exhibit substantial anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 0.034 ± 0.011 mg/mL) through its capacity to protect bovine serum albumin (BSA) from degradation. Consequently, further research is warranted to identify the key substances and mechanisms of action that contribute to the development of effective therapeutic agents and medicinal applications
Validation of SSR markers linked to heat tolerance in bread wheat genotypes
No full textParental selection and breeding rely on the existence of genetic diversity and relationships present in germplasms. The objective of this study was to assess the molecular divergence for terminal heat stress tolerance in twenty wheat genotypes, utilizing 25 SSR markers associated with heat tolerance, which are linked to the trait of interest across various chromosomes. For molecular diversity assessment, fourteen polymorphic SSR markers, out of the twenty-five, amplified a total of 33 alleles, which were distributed across nine chromosomes. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 3, with an average of 2.36 alleles per locus. Polymorphism information content (PIC), resolving power (Rp), effective multiplex ratio (EMR) and marker index (MI) values were high for markers viz., Xwmc603, Xwmc161 and Xgwm577, indicating that they had the most discriminatory power. Based on Jaccard\u27s similarity coefficient, the genetic similarity among the 20 wheat genotypes ranged from 0.36 to 0.88. The dendrogram generated from UPGMA cluster analysis revealed two primary clusters: cluster I, which comprised three genotypes and cluster II, which included seventeen genotypes. Genotypes GS/2019- 20/6046, HPYT-2019-20/416 and GS/2019 20/5042 fall in cluster I and the remaining seventeen genotypes are included in cluster II, with similarity coefficient values ranging from 0.70 to 0.79 and 0.36 to 0.88, respectively. The current study demonstrated that there is enoughvariation present among the genotypes at the molecular level and the findings would help to make use of diverse genotypes as parents in future hybridizing programs to improve terminal heat tolerance
Health benefits and neutracuticle properties of palmyra palm - A forgotten treasure
Get PDFPalmyra (Borassus flabellifer L.) a versatile tropical palm, has been extensively utilized across Asia and Africa for its economic, nutritional and medicinal value. Every part of the Palmyra tree from the fruit and sap to its leaves and roots, holds immense potential for human health and nutrition. Nutritionally, palmyra fruit and sap are rich sources of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, including vitamin C, iron, calcium and phenolic compounds. The low glycaemic index of its sugar makes it a suitable alternative for diabetic patients, while the sap is traditionally consumed as a refreshing and nutrient-rich beverage. Pharmacologically, various extracts from the palmyra tree exhibit a wide range of bioactive properties. Studies have revealed that palmyra possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial properties, potentially useful in preventing and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, liver disorders and cardiovascular ailments. The high content of flavonoids, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds in Palmyra has been linked to its role in reducing oxidative stress and promoting overall health. This paper aims to explore the comprehensive nutritional profile of palmyra and evaluate its pharmacological potential in modern therapeutic applications, thereby facilitating its broader use in food systems and as a natural remedy in traditional medicine
Analysis of consumption pattern of livestock products and its demand elasticities of Indian households: Evidence from NSSO data
Get PDFThe present study aims to examine the consumption pattern and price elasticities of livestock products among rural and urban households in India, utilizing household consumption expenditure survey data for the year 2021-22. It provides insights into budget allocations and consumer responses to price fluctuations. The Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model has been employed to estimate the elasticities. Milk, chicken and eggs dominate livestock-related expenditure, accounting for nearly 80 % of total spending. Milk alone represents 38.45 % of the budget, highlighting its status as a dietary staple, while chicken and eggs follow with shares of 20.09 % and 19.34 %, respectively. Other products such as fish, mutton, beef and pork hold smaller proportions, with fish contributing 13.12 %. The own-price elasticities indicate that the demand for milk, eggs and chicken is inelastic, meaning consumption remains relatively stable despite changes in price . In contrast, beef, mutton and pork though accounting for a smaller portion of total livestock spending, display demand patterns that are either positive or nearly inelastic in response to price changes, suggesting their consumption is concentrated among specific population segments. Cross-price elasticity estimates reveal limited substitutability among major livestock products. These findings underscore the essential role of milk, eggs and chicken in Indian diets and offer valuable insights for policymakers and market strategists aiming to address food security and nutrition in diverse demographic settings
Phytochemical profiling and neuroprotective potential of Garcinia lanceifolia Roxb.: In vitro and in silico insights
Get PDFGarcinia lanceifolia Roxb. is renowned for its medicinal properties, though its neuroprotective potential remains underexplored. This study investigated the methanolic leaf extract of G. lanceifolia (MEGL) to identify its bioactive compounds and evaluate their neuroprotective potential through an integrated in vitro and silico approach. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 56 phytocompounds, with 20 exhibiting favourable pharmacokinetic properties based on Lipinskis’ rule of five. In vitro assays revealed significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, highlighting the extracts’ potential in combating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In silico analysis demonstrated strong molecular interactions of key compounds, such as precocene II, 13-hexyloxacyclotridec-10-en-2-one and methyl ricinoleate, with neuroprotective targets including IL-1α, KEAP1, serotonin, GABA and NMDA receptors. These compounds exhibited binding affinities competitive with or superior to reference drugs like ascorbic acid, diclofenac, ifenprodil, fluoxetine and diazepam. Toxicity profiling indicated minimal adverse effects, suggesting their potential for drug development. Visualizing ligand-receptor interactions provided insights into binding stability and specificity, emphasizing the therapeutic relevance of these phytocompounds. While findings are promising, further experimental validation is required to confirm their neuroprotective efficacy. This study underscores the potential of G. lanceifolia as a source of neuroprotective agents, paving the way for innovative treatments for neurodegenerative disorders
Comparative metabolite profiling of citrus species affected by greening disease
Get PDFCitrus greening disease (CGD), devastating phloem residing proteobacteria, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, has significantly impacted various citrus species in Tamil Nadu, India. A roving survey of citrus species revealed that the infected Citrus aurantifolia from Palamedu, Madurai district, exhibited the highest susceptibility, with a disease incidence (DI) of 67.89 % and disease severity (DS) of 65.89 %. In contrast, Poncirus trifoliata from Thadiyankudisai, Dindigul district, demonstrated the highest tolerance with a DI of 10.46 % and DS of 12.56 %. Molecular assessments using PCR and LAMP techniques confirmed the infection of CGD in symptomatic samples of Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus reticulata and Citrus × limonia, while asymptomatic samples tested negative. Biochemical analyses revealed substantial changes in metabolite compositions due to infection. Healthy acid lime contained 79 metabolites, with organic acids (27.84 %) and sugars (20.25 %) being the most dominant groups, whereas infected samples showed reduced diversity with only 60 metabolites. Similarly, healthy mandarin orange contained 93 metabolites, while infected samples exhibited 68 metabolites, significantly reducing sugars and organic acids. Poncirus and Rangpur lime also demonstrated metabolic shifts under infection, reducing the number and proportion of various metabolites. Comparative metabolic analysis highlighted the changes in key metabolites, with significant upregulation of mannose, hexadecenoic acid and maltose in healthy acid lime and downregulation of talose and shikimic acid in infected samples. Metabolomics revealed that compounds like tetramethoxyflavone, quinic acid and linoleic acid were consistently more abundant in healthy citrus samples. These findings provide insights into the biochemical responses of different citrus species to CGD, emphasizing the potential of tolerant varieties such as Poncirus trifoliata and guiding future disease management strategies through targeted metabolomic interventions
Influence of sowing dates and nitrogen levels on the performance of summer-irrigated sorghum in the western agroclimatic zone of Tamil Nadu
Get PDFSorghum is an important Nutri-cereal and stable food crop for majority of the populations in the semi-arid tropical regions. Climate change is predicted to have a detrimental impact on growth and the productivity of sorghum. Optimising the sowing windows and nitrogen levels are the major agronomic management practices which determine the better productivity of the crop. The field experiment was conducted in split plot design with three levels of replications. The main plots consist of five dates of sowing viz., D1-First fortnight of April, D2-Second fortnight of April, D3-First fortnight of May, D4-Second fortnight of May and D5-First fortnight of June. The sub plots include three different levels of nitrogen viz., N1-75 % RDN, N2-100 % RDN and N3-125 % RDN. The sorghum crop variety K 12 was used in this experiment and it was raised fully under summer irrigated conditions during 2023. The results indicated that sorghum sown on second fortnight of May (D4) recorded significantly higher the grain yield (4230.3 kg ha-1) and the yield increases were 15.9 % compared to first fortnight of April (D1-3649.5 kg ha-1). Regarding varied nitrogen levels125 % RDN (N3) registered highest grain yield (4063.6 kg ha-1) which increase of 5.8 % compared to the 100 % RDN (N2) (3839.5 kg ha-1). Further the delayed sowing of sorghum combined with increased nitrogen level give the highest gross return (Rs. 134424 ha-1), net return (Rs. 90100 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.03) under summer irrigated condition
Polymer-mediated delivery of agrochemicals
Get PDFA major challenge in modern agriculture is the inefficient delivery and utilization of agrochemicals, which often leads to their overuse, causing environmental pollution and harming beneficial organisms such as earthworms and bees. This challenge can potentially be addressed by using advanced and efficient methods such as polymer-mediated delivery systems. Polymers offer the potential to enhance the efficiency of agrochemicals used in agriculture. Incorporating polymers into agrochemical delivery systems can overcome the limitations associated with conventional methods. This article aims to analyse the potential role of polymers in agrochemical delivery system. Polymer can enable the precise delivery of active ingredients, nutrients, pesticides and herbicides into plants, making the process more resilient to agrochemical loss associated with conventional delivery methods. Enhancing our understanding of polymers and their properties may improve the efficiency and efficacy of agrochemicals by influencing their interaction with plants, carrier capabilities and release mechanisms
Shelf-life extension of guava and eggplant fruits using chitosan-sodium alginate based antimicrobial composite coating functionalized with clove-soy lecithin nanoemulsion
Get PDFIn the present study, effects of chitosan-sodium alginate composite coatings functionalized with clove-soy lecithin nanoemulsion were investigated on the postharvest shelf life and quality characteristics of guava and eggplant fruits at room storage condition (23±3 °C, RH- 60-65 %). The postharvest characteristics such as weight loss, acidity, TSS, respiration rate, antioxidant activity and visual appearance of the fruits were determined up to 12 days of storage. The results revealed that the application of chitosan-sodium alginate composite effective to maintained higher postharvest characteristics of guava and eggplant fruits as compared to control and coating with alone chitosan and sodium alginate. The F3 (50:50, chitosan-sodium alginate) composite coating was found most significant with retarded the weight loss in guava and eggplant. On 12 days of storage, the significantly (p>0.05) lower weight loss (9.24 %, 10.9 %), respiration rate (22.48 mg CO2kg-1h-1, 18.78 mg CO2kg-1h-1), total soluble solids (9.87°Brix, 4.96 °Brix) with higher maintained of titratable acidity (0.49 %, 0.36 %), antioxidant activity (53.745 %, 33.09 %) and total phenolic content (129.74 mg/100g, 49.09 mg/100g), respectively was found in guava and eggplants fruits treated with F3 composite coating formulation followed by F4 and F2 coating formulations. The control (distilled water) samples showed higher weight loss (18.02 %, 21.84 %), TSS (10.78 °Brix, 5.78°Brix), with lower values of acidity (0.29 %, 0.22 %), antioxidant (39.12 %, 23.01 %) and total phenolic content (89.64 mg/100 g, 32.86 mg/100 g), respectively in both guava and eggplant fruits, respectively.
Enhancing finger millet yield and grain quality through stale seedbed and live mulch strategies
Get PDFFinger millet grains are highly nutritious and contain higher amount of mineral nutrients compared to other cereals and millets. However, weed infestation remains a major biological constraint that significantly reduces its productivity. To address this challenge, field experiments were conducted during the Rabi and summer seasons of 2022–23 to assess the impact of non-chemical weed management practices on the yield and grain quality of finger millet. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications, incorporating two factors: seedbed preparation methods (normal seedbed [NSB], stale seedbed [SSB] with light raking and SSB with flaming) and live mulching treatments (control and three different leguminous live mulches). Live mulches were incorporated into the soil at 40 days after sowing (DAS) using a wheel hoe weeder. Pooled data indicated a significant interaction between seedbed and live mulching treatments. The highest grain yield (885 kg ha-1) was recorded under SSB with light raking combined with cowpea live mulching. This combination also enhanced grain phosphorus (0.180 % in Rabi, 0.165 % in summer) and protein content (14.50 % in Rabi, 14.23 % in summer). Meanwhile, SSB with flaming combined with green gram live mulch significantly increased grain potassium levels (1.49 % in Rabi, 1.46 % in summer), while the highest starch content was found with SSB + flaming and cowpea mulch (74.03 % in Rabi, 82.17 % in summer). These results highlight the effectiveness of integrating stale seedbed preparation with live mulching to improve both the productivity and nutritional quality of finger millet under non-chemical weed management systems