Horizon e-Publishing Group (HePG): E-Journals
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Comparative financial analysis of public and private sector firms in the Indian seed industry
Get PDFOne of the fastest developing industries in India is the seed sector. The sector aids in the advancement of agriculture in the country, which is vital with regard to increasing productivity at the farm level and food security. The Indian seed market is expected to reach USD 3.82 billion by 2025 and increase by a further USD 5.01 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 5.56% during this period. These trends indicate that seed companies are making significant investments in R&D to produce new and modernized varieties that exhibit desirable features such as disease and drought tolerance. The Indian seed companies’ financial performance is not consistent, as it depends on their market share, degree of innovation, and efficiency in operations. This research intends to examine the financial performance of the Indian seed industry, highlighting public and private sector seed firms in India between 2015 and 2023. This study concludes that financial stability is a must for the better performance of seed sector in India. However, seed sector in India is financially helpless, the private sector companies perform better when compared with public sector companies
Antigiardial efficacy of portulaca oleracea extract in vitro and prevalence of infection in sheep in Anbar Province, Iraq
Get PDFThis study aimed to determine the incidence of giardiasis in sheep of Anbar Province by inspecting 660 faecal specimens. An examination using a flotation technique confirmed the presence of Giardia lamblia in 46.2 % of specimens. The gender had no significant effect on the infection percentage, as it was similar for males (46.9 %) and females (45.4 %). The highest infection rate was 61.7 % for animals aged 1 month to 2 years. During the summer, the infection rate was 61.8 %, whereas it was 27.8 % during the winter, which clearly depicts the seasonal variation in the parasite infestation. The current study systematically evaluated the impact of Portulaca oleracea against G. lamblia. An aqueous extract was prepared by macerating dried the plant material in distilled water, yielding a 15 mg/mL stock solution, which was serially diluted to concentrations of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 mg/mL, the extract exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect over 48 hrs, with a concentration of 7.5 mg/mL significantly reducing parasite viability. However, complete eradication was not achieved and requires statistical confirmation. As cytotoxicity assays on host cells were not conducted, the safety of the extract remains unverified. Giardiasis was found to be widespread among sheep in Anbar Province. In contrast, the extract demonstrated promising in vitro anti-Giardia activity. Further studies, particularly those examining cytotoxicity and in vivo evaluations, are necessary before recommending it as an alternative treatment
Insights into Iraqi pharmacists’ perspectives, awareness and use of herbal medicines
No full textWith the rising use of herbal remedies and a lack of dependable information available to consumers, pharmacists play a critical role in offering accurate and informed advice on these products’ potential benefits and risks. This study sought to assess the knowledge, perceptions and professional behaviours of community pharmacists concerning herbal medicines. It also aimed to examine how pharmacists influence patient decisions about herbal product use and to pinpoint areas in need of professional development. A structured and anonymous questionnaire was distributed through email, social media and in-person methods. The survey encompassed demographic details, assessments of pharmacists\u27 views and routines related to herbal medicine, the impact of their educational background on confidence levels and a 10 question quiz measuring factual knowledge. Data analysis was conducted using Qualtrics and Excel. Out of 156 community pharmacists surveyed, 42.9 % reported feeling confident in counselling patients about herbal products. Only 22.4 % regularly asked patients about their use of herbal medicines and 28.2 % recorded this information in their documentation. A small proportion (5.1 %) stated they never discussed potential adverse effects, while 9 % consistently addressed possible interactions between herbal and conventional medications. The mean knowledge score was 5.63 out of 10, indicating room for improvement in pharmacist preparedness regarding herbal medicine. The findings underscore the urgent need to strengthen pharmacists education on herbal medicines and ensure access to reliable resources. Enhancing these areas will improve patient safety and counselling quality
Isolation, characterization of lignan compound Pinoresinol in Iraqi Mesembryanthemum Cordifolium
Get PDFAmong the Aizoaceae family, Mesembryanthemum cordifolium remains significantly understudied regarding its therapeutic properties despite its abundance. This large family is mostly native to Southern Africa and counts at least 120 genera. M. cordifolium\u27s traditional anti-inflammatory and antidepressant uses are scientifically supported. Its antioxidant, analgesic and cytotoxic properties and promising antidepressant activity, highlight its significant pharmacological potential, warranting further research. This study addresses this research gap by conducting the first investigation into the phytochemical components of Iraqi M. cordifolium and the isolation of a key compound. For 24 h, the entire plant powder, 100 g, was immersed in 100 mL n-hexane to remove any fat. After that, the defatted plant material was extracted with eighty-five percent methanol using the Soxhlet apparatus until it was entirely exhausted. The extract undergoes sequential liquid-liquid fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity: petroleum ether, chloroform and ethyl acetate, using a separatory funnel. This process allows for the separation of compounds based on their differential solubility in immiscible solvents. The results of the phytochemical analysis show that the methanolic crude extract contains steroids, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and saponins. Pinoresinol compound was identified using the technique of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Pinoresinol was isolated using preparative layer chromatography (PLC) and its identification was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Analyses revealed that the plant contains lignan compounds with useful medicinal properties, so additional research into the M. cordifolium plant is necessary because it contains a wealth of components with promising health benefits for humans
Effect of cogongrass [Imperata cylindrical (L.) Beauv.) extract as a botanical herbicide on the growth of itchgrass [Rottboellia exaltata (L.) L. F.] in maize (Zea mays L.) plants
No full textWeeds are one of the plant pests commonly found in maize fields. The weed often encountered in maize fields is Rottboellia exaltata at Tarakan City, Indonesia. This will have an impact on reducing the productivity of maize plants, So it is necessary to take measures to control the R. exaltata weed. To control R. exaltata in maize plants, a botanical herbicide derived from Imperata cylindrica is employed. This research aims to determine the influence of I. cylindrica extract as a botanical herbicide on the growth of R. exaltata in maize plants. The study utilizes a Completely Randomized Block Design with one factor and four replications. The treatments are as follows: P0=Control, P1=20% concentration of I. cylindrica extract, P2=40% concentration of I. cylindrica extract, P3=60% concentration of I. cylindrica extract, P4=80% concentration of I. cylindrica extract, and P5=100% concentration of I. cylindrica extract. The observed parameters include the height of R. exaltata weed, the number of leaves on R. exaltata weed, the percentage of leaf damage on R. exaltata weed, the percentage of leaf damage on maize plants, the height of maize plants, the number of leaves on maize plants, the fresh weight of R. exaltata weed, and the dry weight of R. exaltata weed. The data analysis involves Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a confidence level of 95%. If the ANOVA results indicate significant differences, the analysis is further conducted using Duncan\u27s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT) Test. The research results show the study establishes the efficacy of 100% I. cylindrica extract, especially in the P5 treatment, in inhibiting R. exaltata growth. It significantly reduced weed height by 29.59%, leaf number by 27.68%, offspring by 30.69%, and caused leaf damage of 25.83% in the weed and 32.92% in maize. Additionally, it decreased the fresh and dry weights of the weed by 18.89% and 23.43%, respectively
Anti-inflammatory potential of Calotropis gigantea leaf using in silico techniques
Get PDFSecondary metabolites obtained from plants have been extensively studied for their medicinal values. Calotropis gigantea, a species native to Cambodia, Pakistan and Malaysia, is a large shrub that grows up to 4 m (13 ft) tall and produces clusters of waxy flowers of white or lavender colour. Traditionally, it has been widely used in folk medicine. Calotropis gigantea is rich in bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, cardenolides, oxypregnane, oligoglycosides, triterpenoids, terpenes, sterols and proteinase. Extracts and metabolites derived from its leaves, bark and stem exhibit various biological activities, including anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antifungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating diseases like asthma, cold, epilepsy, fever, indigestion, leprosy, piles and various skin diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the leaf of the Calotropis gigantea. Docking of a ligand with the desired protein is a method of approach for tackling the needs for drug discovery through CADD (Computer-aided drug discovery). In this study, we have identified the potential of flavonoids, Azulene-6. 9,1-octanol-3,7-dimethyl -5. 7 and Cis-vaccenic acid-5.9 from leaves against inflammation using COX pathway through docking. The results have revealed that all of these compounds have anti- inflammatory effects, but based on the binding affinity, azulene has been identified as the most potent target
A scientometric study on radiation in bananas in the nutrition industry: Visualization, thematic evolution and emerging patterns
Get PDFThis scientometric study aimed to analyze the literature on banana radiation in the nutrition industry from 1996 to 2023, to visualize the thematic evolution and identify emerging patterns in this field. On May 20, 2024, a literature search was performed in the Web of Science (WoS) database. The retrieved documents were analyzed using Bibliometrix and CiteSpace for the extraction of bibliographic information. Several bibliometric indicators were calculated, such as number of documents, number of sources, annual growth rate, average age of documents, average number of citations per document, number of keywords, and number of authors. A total of 9 documents related to the topic were found in the period from 1996 to 2023. The papers covered a diversity of topics, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the research. There was a strong presence of literature in the field of physics focusing on plant ecology. In addition, the most cited authors, Zaman HU and Sanjay K, appear to have had a lasting impact on this field of study. This study provides valuable insight into the thematic evolution and emerging patterns in banana radiation research in the nutrition industry. These findings may be useful in guiding future research and practice in this field
Effect of row spacings and micronutrients on seed yield and quality of palak
Get PDFThe experiment was conducted in an open field during the Rabi seasons of 2020 and 2021 at the Vegetable Research Centre, College of Horticulture, BUAT, Banda, to study the effect of three row spacings and four micronutrient levels on the seed yield and quality of palak. The experiment was laid out in a FRBD with two factors, viz., row-spacings (S) and micronutrient applications (M). The first factor had three row-spacings 30 × 10 (S1), 40 × 10 (S2) and 50 × 10 (S3) whereas, the second factor had four micronutrient levels Control (M0), Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate at 20 kg/ha (M1), Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate (20 % B) at 20 kg/ha (M2) and equal quantity of each Zinc Sulphate Monohydrate, Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate with a commercial formulation at 10 kg/ha (M3) in a variety of ‘All Green’. Seeds were sown on November 19, 2020 and all micronutrients were applied through soil at 40 DAS. Results indicated that S3 recorded maximum values for plant height, number of leaves/plant, dry weight of plants, 50 % of flowering (DAS), number of spikes per plant, spike length, spikelet length, hundred seed weight, seedling shoot length, seedling root length, a total length of seedling, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index-I (SVI-I) and seedling vigour index II (SVI-II). Maximum seed yield was found in the closest row-spacing (S1). Germination percentage was noted in S2 and S3, which was significantly higher than that in S1. Among the micronutrients, M2 registered maximum values for most of the crop growth and seed yield traits. In view of high seed yield and quality traits simultaneously, promising treatment combinations were S2M1, S2M2 and S3M3
Evaluation of India\u27s hottest chilli species (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) from various northeastern states to identify high-yielding lines with superior nutritional quality
Get PDFThe present study was conducted to assess the genetic diversity, association ship and identify stable lines of king chilli (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) at Horticulture Research Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region for three consecutive years (2021, 2022 and 2023) keeping in view the vast genetic diversity of king chilli present in the North Eastern Hill Region of India which are yet to explore to its fullest potential. The results of the study reveal that for the economic trait fruit yield per plant, the highest value was recorded in RCML5 (1003.40g) followed by RCML1 (949.85g) and RCNL4 (898.46g). Similarly, for quality parameters the highest dry matter (%), ascorbic acid content (mg/100g), total flavonoid (mg QE/g) and capsaicin (%) was recorded in RCML6 (19.78 %), RCMP6 (693.41 mg/100g), RCNL-1 (5.12 mg QE/g) and RCML16 (5.90 %), respectively. High heritability (˃60 %) coupled with high GA (˃20 %) was observed for desirable traits such as fruit yield per plant, no. of fruits per plant, no. of fruits per cluster and average fruit weight. Among the quality traits, ascorbic acid content exhibits high heritability (˃60 %) and high GA (˃20 %). This indicates the presence of additive gene action and the potential response of these traits towards selection. Cluster analysis revealed that cluster 6th, comprising of 9 accessions, was the largest, while the largest inter-cluster distance based on the Mahalnobis Euclidean Distance was recorded between cluster 8th and 6th (77.28). The Principal Component Analysis revealed that 7 PCs with eigenvalues more than 1 contribute 84.53 % of the total variability. Plant spread (E to W), no. of fruits per plant, ascorbic acid content and capsaicin content were depicted as the major predictors of total variability. The present study identifies accessions RCML5, RCML1 and RCNL4 as the best performers for fruit yield and most of its related traits. It exhibits the potential of giving higher yield in future improvement programmes, while accessions viz., RCML16, RCML5 and RCML10 are promising for capsaicin content. Based on stability analysis accession RCNL1, a moderate yielder and mid-maturity with average capsaicin content, was stable across environments. These identified accessions can served as a gene bank for future crop improvement programme in king chilli
Comparative analysis of salt tolerance in cotton cultivars under saline water stress
Get PDFSoil salinity imposes multiple stresses on cotton (Gossypium spp.) and the use of saline water for irrigation is common in coastal regions. However, the effects of borewell saline water (NaCl) on cotton cultivars remains underexplored. A pot experiment conducted during 2017-2018 aimed to evaluate the morphological, biochemical and physiological responses of six cotton cultivars- G. herbaceum (G-Cot 25, Jayadhar), G. arboreum (Phule dhanwantry, Roja) and G. hirsutum (Suraj, LRA-5166) subjected to NaCl treatments (100, 150 and 200 mM) and a control. All cultivars exhibited a progressive decline in growth parameters with increasing salinity. Among them, Jayadhar and Suraj demonstrated the highest tolerance, maintaining superior growth and physiological performance under NaCl stress. Relative water content decreased significantly across all cultivars; however, G-Cot 25 and LRA-5166 retained higher water content under saline conditions. Biochemically, NaCl stress resulted in reduced levels of total chlorophyll and carotenoids, alongside an increase in protein content, suggesting adaptive responses to salinity. Jayadhar, Suraj and Phule Dhanwantry exhibited greater chlorophyll retention, indicating enhanced biochemical stability. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased under salinity, signifying lipid peroxidation; however, Jayadhar and Suraj accumulated lower MDA levels, suggesting reduced oxidative damage. Proline content increased in all cultivars, with Jayadhar and Suraj showing the highest accumulation, reflecting improved osmotic adjustment. Activities of antioxidant enzyme including superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase were significantly enhanced, particularly in G-Cot 25, Jayadhar and Phule dhanwantry respectively. These findings indicate that antioxidant defense mechanisms play a crucial role in mitigating oxidative damage by scavenging reactive oxygen species under saline conditions. Based on an integrative assessment, the G. herbaceum cultivar Jayadhar demonstrated the highest tolerance to salinity