Indigenous bahar management practice for improving quality of pomegranate under hot arid climate of Thar Desert

Pomegranate is an ancient fruit renowned for its exceptional nutritional value and is deeply rooted in traditional health-care systems. In hot arid climate, pomegranates exhibit three distinct flowering seasons, traditionally known as "ambe, mrig and hasta bahar”. The choice of bahar to be regulated depends on irrigation water availability, market demand and pest/disease incidence. The present investigation was undertaken to optimize bahar management and induce synchronized flowering during optimal climatic conditions to enhance fruit quality while minimizing fruit cracking through indigenous horticultural techniques such as water stress, pruning, de-blossoming and defoliation using ethephon. Data revealed that indigenous horticultural techniques and ethephon had a significant positive impact on fruit quality and marketable yield of pomegranate. Among horticultural techniques (P), the most favorable results were observed with water stress during June with pruning and de-blossoming, which yielded maximum fruit weight of 216.58 g, 64.58 fruits/plant, and marketable yield of 11.59 kg/plant, all while minimizing fruit cracking to 11.51%. The horticultural techniques in combination with ethephon applications (PxC) involving water stress during June, pruning, de-blossoming, and ethephon (2 mL/l) demonstrated remarkable improvements. This treatment resulted in improved fruit weight of 223.58 g, a marketable yield of 13.63 kg/plant, and the lowest incidence of fruit cracking of 9.42%. These findings allowing synchronized flowering, enhanced fruit quality and market value. These insights contribute to the sustainable pomegranate cultivation in rural areas of Thar desert and further support its role in traditional health-care system

Contextualizing traditional water knowledge with modern water challenges in India: A hydrological review

During last few decades many new challenges in the field of water have emerged such as impacts of climate change, declining groundwater levels, decline in groundwater recharge, water logging, encroachment of water sources, decline in green cover, increasing menace of flood and silting due to encroachment of floodplain of rivers, increasing water pollution due to inappropriate and inadequate disposal of solid and liquid wastes, cloudburst, flash flood, cyclone and other disasters, etc. Due to increasing water demand and decreasing water availability, ensuring water security has emerged as a big challenge. India is a unique country where rivers are worshiped and respected since ancient times. Evidences are available in ancient scriptures about hydrological knowledge and importance of water management. Various traditional systems of water harvesting, conservation and management are still available and some are being used since ancient times. In spite of this traditional knowledge and cultural values, the water resources of India are in turmoil due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and materialistic approach towards over-exploitation of natural resources. This paper attempts to contextualize Indian traditional water knowledge with contemporary water challenges in India. Such traditional structures and knowledge, if adopted and practiced prudently, can provide sustainable solutions even today

Phytochemical characterization and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of Amruthotharam kwath, a traditional polyherbal formulation on multidrug resistant clinical isolates from the respiratory tract

Antibiotic resistance is a multifaceted medical issue affecting the global healthcare sector. Despite continued research and development to combat antibiotic resistance, the development of new antibiotics lags behind the rates of drug resistance. Among the various research strategies under development, traditional polyherbal formulations have greater potential to resolve infectious conditions caused by antibiotic resistant pathogens. Unlike monotherapy antibiotics, polyherbal formulations contain a variety of secondary antibacterial metabolites and their enhanced synergistic action renders them potent therapeutic agents. Multitarget action of phytocompounds at low concentrations poses very low selection pressure that prevents bacteria from developing new resistance mechanism against polyherbals. The study was focused on exploring the antibacterial efficacy of a traditional polyherbal formulation Amruthotharam kwath which had been used to treat respiratory tract infections, one of the leading infectious conditions prevalent in our country. Respiratory tract infection caused by multidrug resistant gram-negative pathogens leads to ineffective empirical treatments and worsens the situation. The study involves preliminary phytochemical analysis, quantification of phytoconstituents, metabolite profiling of the formulation and its antibacterial effect on multidrug resistant clinical isolates from the respiratory tract. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of various classes of phytocompounds with antibacterial activity. Antimicrobial assays reported promising antibacterial effect. MIC values were found to be in the range of 6.25 mg/mL-12.5 mg/mL and its MBC ranges from 6.25 mg/mL-128 mg/mL. The formulation exhibited bactericidal effect on majority of the isolates.LC-MS/QToF revealed the presence of 76 secondary metabolites, majority of which possessed antibacterial activity. The SEM image analysis confirmed complete destruction of cell wall as well as cell membrane of the pathogens. This study suggests the promising herbal therapy of Amruthotharam kwath which can be proposed as an alternative for treating infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens

Gamosa, the Traditional Handloom Artefact of Assam: A Case Study

Gamosa, the Traditional Cultural Expression (TCE) of Assam is a handloom cloth, which usually has a white background, withred stripes on its three sides and floral motifs on the fourth side towards its breadth, possessing a sacred value and is offered as asign of love, affection, and respect. Gamosa is also available in yellow, green, blue, and chocolate colour as per the regionalvariations in the state. This is a widely consumed product for its varied innumerable utility. Increasing demand of the productresulted in its rapid commercialization through power loom replicas affecting the social and economic output of indigenousweavers. This led to the present-day infringement of Gamosa, trademark violation and revenue leakage. This paper tries todiscuss about the current condition of Gamosa industrially and socially along with the importance of protecting this handloomartefact via quasi-legal tools such as IPR instruments. The methodology used in the study is ethnographical and select interviewsconducted with the subject matter experts and stakeholders. The research finding is about the gap which is acting as catalyst forthe present condition of Gamosa. The gap indicates on what the demand side (consumers) wants in the product and what thestakeholders are producing as per the common market demand which lacks the authenticity of the product. The limitation of thepresent study lies in the absence of the detailed ethnographic study of Gamosa which varies from district to district in the state,which can be done shortly soon

Traditional methods of soaking or sprouting pulses reduce the flatulence causing raffinose family alpha-galactosides in regularly used nutritious edible legumes

Pulses are an alternative sustainable and inexpensive source of protein. They are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. The total soluble sugars in pulses include monosaccharides, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides. Legume seeds contain raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) as their primary source of sugar reserves, which drive seed germination and improve seed vigor and longevity. The RFOs are also critical during plant growth and development in unfavorable environments. However, because monogastric animals, including humans, lack the enzyme alpha-galactosidase, they cannot digest the RFOs present in legume grains, leading to the accumulation of flatus due to microbial fermentation of RFOs in the large intestine. Subsequently, large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen build up in the intestine due to flatulence. Flatulence, being induced by water-soluble RFOs, it is possible to reduce the levels of RFOs in the dietary pulses by traditional soaking of legumes. Herein, we report the RFOs levels of 21 common dietary pulses consumed in various forms, such as dry grains, soaked grains, and seed sprouts. We show that seed sprouts accumulate lower levels of RFOs compared to fresh vegetables. We hypothesize that the RFOs levels increase when the filled grains desiccate to mature and decrease when the desiccated seed commits to germination. Our study suggests incorporating highly nutritious pulses, such as sprouts, into diets to combat flatulence

Lactogenic efficacy of Ricinus communis L. 3X and Calcarea carbonica 3X in Jersey crossbred (JX) cows

In order to evaluate the lactogenic effect of Ricinus communis L. and Calcarea carbonica in Jersey crossbred cows, a study was conducted at Post Graduate Research Institute in Animal Sciences (PGRIAS), Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai. Eighteen apparently healthy, pluriparous, Jersey crossbred cows within 3 months post-partum were selected for the study and randomly allotted into three groups as Group I (Control), Group II (5 mL of R. communis L.3X P/Oper day for 10 days) and Group III (5 mL of Calcarea carbonica 3X P/Oper day for 10 days). All the selected crossbred cows were maintained under uniform managerial conditions. There was no significant influence (p>0.05) observed in feeding, watering habits, physical and behavioral changes in all the crossbred cows. The mean rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate during different phases of treatment regimens did not significantly differ (p>0.05) in all the groups. The status of conjunctival mucus membrane and vaginal mucus membrane did not show any significant variations (p>0.05) during the entire period of study. The fat, solid not fat and total solid percentage in milk were significantly (p<0.01) increased in cows treated with R. communis L. 3X than the cows treated with Calcarea carbonica 3X. The results demonstrated the potent galactogogue activity of R. communis L. 3X in yielding a good milk promoting response and favorable milk composition which is essential to improve the economic status of the agrarian community. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic action of the drug needs to be characterized by further studies

Anti-diabetic activity of Kataka Khadirādi Kasāyam in Wistar albino rats

Katakakhadirādi Kaṣāyaṃ is an Ayurvedic herbal preparation used for treating diseases such as diabetes, skin, and urinary tract ailments. The objective of present study was to assess antidiabetic potential of Kataka Khadirādi Kaṣhāyaṃ, in Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic Wistar rats for a period of 90 days. Treatment with Katakakhadirādi Kaṣhāyaṃ demonstrated significant efficacy, reducing blood glucose levels to near normal by the 5th week in diabetic rats, showing a 58% reduction compared to day 1 and a 47% reduction in comparison to the diabetic control group's blood glucose levels. However from 7th week onwards, a marked elevation was observed in blood sugar levels of all diabetic rats. Katakakhadirādi Kaṣāyaṃ treatment resulted in 35% reduction in blood level glucose values when compared to that of diabetic control group in 13th week. Hence it can be inferred that, Kaṣāyaṃ had maintained notable hypoglycemic activity despite insulin resistance. Kaṣāyaṃ treatment shows protective nature on liver tissues by reducing the increased levels of serum ALT, AST and ALP. Also it significantly reduced TG levels with a marked reduction in TC, HDL and LDL values. Histological examination also revealed mild to moderate reduction in degenerative changes of liver and kidney tissues and marked regeneration of islet architecture in pancreatic tissues. Katakakhadirādi Kaṣāyaṃ might be able to control the pancreatic beta-cell damage and has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and organ protective potential in STZ -induced diabetic rats. Mechanisms of action during insulin resistance is yet to be explored

Treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum accompanied by metabolic disorders by modified Liujunzi decoction, acupressure combined with rehydration

We aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of modified Liujunzi decoction, acupressure combined with rehydration on hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) (spleen and stomach weakness syndrome) accompanied by metabolic disorders. Two hundred pregnant women admitted from January 2019 to June 2022 were divided into an observation group (n=100) and a control group (n=100) using a random number table. The control group was given rehydration, on the basis of which modified Liujunzi decoction and acupressure were utilized for the observation group. Both groups were treated for 7 d. The total effective rate was higher in the observation group than that in the control group. Blood potassium and sodium levels increased in both groups after treatment, which were higher in the observation group (p<0.05). The observation group had a higher negative conversion rate of urinary ketone body than that of the control group (p<0.05). The scores of physical symptoms and worsening factors, fatigue, mood and restriction as well as total score of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy Quality of Life decreased in both groups after treatment, which were lower in the observation group (p<0.05). No adverse reactions occurred in the control group during treatment, while 1 case of skin allergy and 1 case of stomach distension occurred in the observation group. Modified Liujunzi decoction, acupressure combined with rehydration can effectively and safely restore the electrolyte balance, shorten the time to recovery, alleviate the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients with HG accompanied by metabolic disorders

Evaluation of underutilized fern Cyathea gigantea from Northeast India for its potentiality in food processing

Cyathea gigantea is a species of tree fern found in the North-Eastern part of India in Arunachal Pradesh. Pith of Cyathea gigantea fern is a useful but underutilized part, popularly known as tashe, has traditionally been consumed by the natives of Arunachal Pradesh. From time immemorial, tashe rich in carbohydrates has been consumed as a supplementary food by several tribes like Solungs, Nyishis, Tagins and Adis when faced under natural calamities like famine and earthquake. Tashe being an important source of healthy diet was studied to determine its physico-chemical characteristics to validate the traditional knowledge about its goodness in consumption. The physical and functional properties selected for evaluation were bulk density, colour and pasting properties and nutritional properties selected for evaluation were the content of moisture, ash, protein, fat, crude fibre, carbohydrate, energy value and antioxidant levels as per the standard procedure. From the study it has been found that moisture content in tashe flour is less offering a longer shelf life. The lower fat per cent of tashe makes it an ideal health food option, particularly for those who are overweight. Tashe flour has a low bulk density of less than 1 g/cm3, making it ideal for preparation of complementary foods. It has been concluded from the study that tashe flour can be used to replace traditional flours in a number of flour-based products due to its promising properties