Phytoconstituents analysis of ripe Pithecellobium dulce seeds and coats: Insights from Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and bioactivity assessment

Pithecellobium dulce is a tropical tree known for its medicinal properties, which are traditionally used in folk medicine to treat ailments such as diabetes and inflammation. Recent research has focused on exploring its bioactive compounds to validate its therapeutic potential. This study investigates the antioxidant and amylase inhibitory potential of methanolic extracts from the ripe seeds and coats of P. dulce, previously overlooked plant parts. Phytochemical analysis of both seed and coat extracts was conducted using standard qualitative methods, revealing the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, tannins, proteins, phenols, and terpenoids. The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) in ripe seeds was 9.11±0 mg GAE/g, while the fruit coat measured 3.056±0.5 mg GAE/g. Quantitative assessment of Total Flavonoids Content (TFC) indicated the presence of 36.4±0.8 mg RE/g in the seed extract and 31.64±0.4 mg RE/g in the fruit coat. The seed extract displayed substantial saponin content (118.4±14.1 mg/g dry extract saponin equivalents). Phytoconstituents identified with GC-MS showed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, including Phytol, n-Hexadecanoic acid, cis-Vaccenic acid, 9,11-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester (E,E), Oleoyl chloride, Eugenol, Benzofuran, 2,3-dihydro, and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural. Antioxidant activities, assessed through DPPH, reducing power, and metal chelating assays, demonstrated IC50 values of 1378.3 µg/mL and 36.7 µg/mL (DPPH scavenging) for seed and coat extracts, respectively. Significant inhibition of α-amylase activity was observed, with the coat extract exhibiting the highest inhibition at 55%. This study enhances the understanding of the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of ripe seeds and coats of P. dulce, providing a foundation for future research to fully realize the plant\u27s therapeutic benefits. ​

Total phenolic content and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant activity of microbial extract of defatted biomass of mutant Pseudochlorella pringsheimii EMM2

Microalgal biomass is considered to be a renewable source for organic antioxidants. The present study aimed to evaluate the defatted biomass (DB) of the mutated green microalga Pseudochlorella pringsheimii EMM2 for increasing total phenolic content (TPC) extraction and antioxidant activity via microbial fermentation. Three distinct bacterial strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Accession number: KT276356), B. stearothermophilus (Accession number: KT282130), and B. subtilis (Accession number: KT282131) were obtained from sago industrial wastewater, utilized the hydrolysate from the DB of P. pringsheimii EMM2 as the exclusive medium for fermentation in this work. Among these bacterial strains, B. stearothermophilus was chosen for further investigation due to its effectiveness in enhancing the extraction of TPC and antioxidant activity of the hydrolysate of DB through fermentation. The fermentation conditions were optimized using a classical method, identifying the optimum physical parameters as a pH of 7.0, a temperature of 55 °C, an agitation speed of 150 rpm, and a fermentation time of 40 hours for maximizing the antioxidant activity of the hydrolysate of DB. Under these optimal conditions, a 6.11-fold increase in DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in the hydrolysate. Consequently, this study demonstrated that the DB of the mutant microalga P. pringsheimii EMM2 is a valuable source for TPC production through fermentation with B. stearothermophilus.

Response to nitrogen management through different sources and modes on the productivity of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) in the North Cauvery deltaic zones of Tamil Nadu

Intensive agriculture with mono-cropping leads to many losses in terms of soil fertility concerns. Similarly, the inclusion of quality protein and dietary fibre in food consumption is quite alarming due to the majority of health issues faced by human beings. However, several crops are on the list, and only a few crops, pseudo-cereal like quinoa, can survive in climate-resilient conditions with higher protein content in their grain. Though quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a new emerging crop in India, the present study aimed to ascertain its productivity response for different sources and modes of nitrogen. The field experiments were conducted in farmers\u27 fields in Sivapuri village, Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, from February to May 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments and replicated thrice. The growth parameters and yield components of quinoa increased due to nano fertilizers sprayed under the vegetative and flowering stages. The results exposed that positive influence noticed on the growth and yield attributes such as Plant height (139.7), Leaf Area Index (LAI) (2.44), Dry Matter Production (1018.8 kg ha-1), Number of branches plant-1 (38.08) yield attributes such as panicle length (35.9) number of panicle plant-1 (8.69) number of grains panicle-1 (3182.5), grain yield  2655 kg ha-1 and stalk yield of 3331.8 g ha-1 in RDF (NF) + 0.5% N through Nano Urea (Foliar) imposed treatment (T8) over other combination of fertilizers sources and modes of treatments which added another platform to the beginners of quinoa growing farmers in north Cauvery deltaic zones of Tamil Nadu.

Nutritional and antioxidant profile of black rice-based (Poireiton Chak-hao and Chak-hao Amubi) traditional foods of Manipur

Black rice becomes a potential source of phytonutrients among the grains. Traditional food is crucial for food and nutrition security in the present food system. It is necessary to have scientific information on the nutritional profile of black rice-based traditional foods to promote the consumption of black rice. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and antioxidant content of black rice-based traditional foods. In Manipur’s Andro Village, black rice is consumed in traditional foods such as kheer, thaotan, tanphut, kabok matum, etc. Two black rice cultivars Poireiton Chak-hao (PC) and Chak-hao Amubi (CA) were used to prepare black rice-based traditional foods such as PC-Kheer, CA-Kheer, PC-Thaotan, CA-Thaotan, PC-Tanphut, CA-Tanphut, PC-Kabok matum. The foods were analyzed for proximate, mineral, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity using the standard procedure. Results showed significant differences (p<0.05) in moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron, zinc, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity among the black rice-based traditional foods. The values are presented on dry weight basis. PC-kheer had the highest antioxidant activity (51.21 % DPPH), protein (13.49 %), fat (5.08%) and polyphenol content (55.56 mg GAE/100 g) among the traditional foods. PC-Kabok matum recorded the highest iron (4.53 mg/100g) and carbohydrate content (84.82%), whereas PC-Tanphut had the highest zinc content (2.7 mg/100 g). Thus, black rice-based traditional foods have a promising role in providing food and nutrition security to black rice consumers.

Efficacy of plant growth promoting (PGP) Rhizobium sp. adopted from Arachis hypogaea nodules and its impact on the host of Sesbania sp.

The intense competition for rhizobia in a variety of niches has resulted in their fitness. Screening of endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting traits has wider uses in crop yield.The present study aimed to evaluate the cross-inoculation of peanut root nodulating Bradyrhizobium sp. on the Sesbania host. The Arachis hypogea L. is the most popular legume collected from Madurai region, India, and was selected for Rhizobium isolation using yeast extract mannitol agar (YEMA) agar. The host specificity of isolated Rhizobium was tested on Sesbania sp. by seed priming, followed by qualitative plant growth promotion efficiency of isolates. Totally seven rhizobial strains were screened for plant growth-promoting traits (PGP), and two were found to be effective PGP and selected for the pot experiment. Isolates AH12 and AH15 were phylogenetically identified as Bradyyrhizobium arachidis PQ119952 and Bradyrhizobium japonicum PQ119954. Data compared the inoculation of seeds with AH12 and AH15 to those without inoculation in Sesbania. Test plants showed high efficiency for growth promotion on both Bradyrhizobial strains. Germination rate (76.6±0.57%), vigour index (547.6 and 552.2), vitality index (206.8 and 214.4), nodulation state, leghaemoglobin (LHB) and chlorophyll (1.48±0.13 and 1.58±0.12) content were increased significantly among the Bradyrhizobium-treated groups. The foliar application of both isolates was found to control the leaf spot Alternaria spp. infection. The cross-inoculation studies on Sesbania seeds showed that Bradyhizobium spp (multi-traits strains) improved all seed viability as well as the growth of plants and could form fully effective symbioses with strains in the genera.

Amelioration of lead nitrate induced pulmonary toxicity by Garlic essential oil in inflammatory markers of Swiss albino male mice

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that causes harmful effects on human health. Its prolonged use interferes with the pulmonary tissue, resulting in alterations in the normal level of transcription factors and cytokines. So, to restore these parameters altered by lead nitrate (LN) Pb(NO3)2 , the present study aimed to test natural therapeutic agents like Allium sativum (AS) and its defensive role in mitigating lead (Pb) induced toxicity in Swiss albino male mice model. For this one-month study, 36 mice were divided into 6 Groups. The Groups were categorised as Group I (control/untreated), Group II a (lead nitrate (LN))(50mg/kg), Group II b (LN+ low dose of garlic essential oil (GEO) (50mg/kg)), Group II c (LN+ high dose of GEO) (80mg/kg), Group II d (LN with standard drug (silymarin) (25mg/kg)), Group II e (LN + vehicle olive oil). The experimental results revealed an elevated level of NF-kB(P< 0.001), TNF-α and IL-6 (P < 0.05 for both) and a decreased level of IFN-ɤ (P<0.05) and IL-10 (P < 0.01) in Lead-intoxicated pulmonary tissues of mice. Conversely, GEO exhibited promising anti-inflammatory properties by attenuating the alterations caused by LN. The present study demonstrated the significant effectiveness of a high dose of garlic bulb essential oil in reducing inflammation in the pulmonary tissues of an animal model exposed to lead nitrate. Notably, the low dose also exhibited efficacy for certain inflammatory markers. Further optimization of Garlic Essential Bulb Oil (GEBO) doses is warranted to enhance its therapeutic potential. This study expands the scope of exploring natural interventions for mitigating lead-induced toxicity.

Deep learning of backpropagation neural network algorithm for long-term predicting rainfall in the Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan province of Indonesia

Climate change and global warming significantly impact rainfall patterns in various regions. This can lead to more frequent and intense flooding and an increased risk of landslides. As a result, it causes unstable rain variability patterns in various regions, including Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Almost every year, the area experiences floods and landslides. The area, directly adjacent to the Indonesia-Malaysia region, can potentially disrupt community activities, including military operations guarding the border, which require a lot of manpower. This study aimed to minimize future disasters as it is vital to anticipate rainfall patterns based on previous data from databases. The Backpropagation Neural Network (BPNN) approach is one of the best at predicting long-term rainfall. Rainfall data from NASA was utilized from January 2003 through December 2020, totalling 216 data sets. The input or training data ranges from January 2003 to December 2010, whereas the training goal data is from January 2011 to December 2015. The validation data was also determined from January 2016 to December 2020. With a learning rate of 0.3 and an Epoch of 9,999, the best predictive architecture model was 8-6-9-6-5. The prediction accuracy was pretty excellent, with a mean square error (MSE) of 0.012157 and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 24.026. The highest rainfall was recorded in December 2019 at 606.672 mm/month. The prediction results are expected to serve as a reference for mitigating disasters such as floods and landslides to facilitate security operations in border areas.

Analysis of climate adaptability in four tropical fruit trees: Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.), Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), Pulasan (Nephelium ramboutan-ake (Labill.) Leenh.) and Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) through leaf anatomy evaluation

The tropical fruit species Dimocarpus longan (Longan), Litchi chinensis (Lychee), Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan), and Nephelium ramboutan-ake (Pulasan) demonstrate significant ecological adaptability, enabling their cultivation under diverse tropical conditions.  This study uses light and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the adaptive significance of leaf micromorphological, anatomical, and histochemical traits in these species. Fresh leaf samples were collected from cultivated habitats in Kerala, India, a tropical monsoon zone. Microscopic evaluations revealed a unique combination of evergreen and xerophytic traits. Evergreen features, including robust internal anatomy, extensive photosynthetic area, and well-developed vein vasculature, support adaptation to high light intensity and fluctuating humidity. Xerophytic characteristics, such as thick abaxial and adaxial cuticles, stomatal index of less than three, and compartmentalised photosynthetic areas, enhance drought resilience. Defensive adaptations like papillated cuticles, trichomes, crystals, phenolic compounds, mucilage, and domatia mitigate herbivory, UV stress, and thermal load. These traits collectively ensure survival in challenging tropical environments. The findings underline the critical role of leaf anatomy in the ecological adaptability and economic viability of these species, providing valuable insights for crop selection and cultivation strategies. Promoting such adaptive traits in tropical horticulture can enhance productivity while minimising environmental impact, contributing to sustainable agriculture and ecosystem stability.

Chronosequence variation in soil properties of sandstone quarry spoil surrounding Aizawl, Mizoram and its impact on the growth of Coriandrum sativum

Sandstone quarrying is a major income-generating enterprise inAizwalCity of Mizoram, India. The by-product, sandstone dust, is dumped near the mining area, potentially affecting soil and water quality. The present study seeks to understand the soil development process over time by analyzing soil parameters in chronosequence, viz. fresh, 2-year, 4-year, 6-year, 8-year, 10-year, and 12-year-old dumps,  and evaluating growth parameters of Coriandrum sativum (Coriander) in soils of different ages under greenhouse conditions. The soil moisture content of the soil increased with the age of the soil and freshly dumped sandstone quarry spoil had the highest levels of pH (7.7) and electrical conductivity (13.16 dS/m), which dramatically dropped to 5.4 and3.45dS/m, respectively, as the soil grew older. Other soil qualities, which included water-holding capacity, soil organic carbon (from 0.46%-0.78%), available nitrogen (from 38kg/ha-217.33kg/ha), and available potassium (from11kg/ha-22kg/ha) also improved with age. Although significant variation was observed in germination parameters among dumps of various ages, germination was not deterred in fresh dumps. Growth parameters improved as the soil matured, with maximum values observed at 12 the old dump. However, the slow development of coriander, even after 12 years, indicates that soil amendment techniques should be used to accelerate the recovery of plant attributes and eco-restoration of such sites.

Organic production of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) for agricultural sustainability and healthy nutrition: An overview

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) is a versatile and nutritionally dense cruciferous vegetable with a long worldwide history of cultivation. This review explores the organic production methods of cabbage, emphasizing their pivotal role in fostering agricultural sustainability and promoting healthier nutritional practices. Organic farming principles, excluding synthetic pesticides and fertilizers in crop production, improve soil health, biodiversity conservation, and ecological balance. In cabbage cultivation, organic farming practices play a crucial role in promoting environmental health and human well-being. By avoiding synthetic chemicals, these methods help prevent water and soil pollution while fostering natural ecosystems. Organic techniques like crop rotation and composting enhance soil fertility naturally, improving overall soil health. This approach also benefits human health by reducing exposure to potentially harmful substances, resulting in safer food for consumers and a healthier work environment for farmers. Ultimately, organic practices offer a sustainable model for agriculture that balances productivity with environmental stewardship and health consciousness. Furthermore, organic cabbage production aligns with consumer preferences for chemical-free, nutritious foods, offering higher levels of essential nutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals than conventionally grown counterparts. The review delves into various organic management strategies for cultivating cabbage using organic fertilizers derived from recycled plant and animal wastes alone and in combination with microbes. Overall, this review underscores the significance of organic farming practices in advancing agricultural sustainability and ensuring access to nutrient-rich (carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers) cabbage to promote human health and well-being.