Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity Prediction of Compounds from Cardamom (\u3cem\u3eElettaria cardamom\u3c/em\u3e Maton)

In silico approaches are currently not employed in any of the spices to study the toxicity. The aim of this study is to find the most efficacious molecule which does not have any adverse effects. In the present study one hundred and eight compounds from cardamom were used to predict mutagenicity and carcinogenecity. The results of these studies indicate that only four compounds are non-mutagenic and non-carcinogenic. The rest of the compounds do not have the characteristics necessary to become therapeutic agents have been identified early and prevented (i.e., the fail early, fail fast approach) from entering the drug development process

Book Review - Medicinal Value of Indian Spices, AMIT KRISHNA DE (Editor)

The book provides a general account of the medicinal values of various Indian spices. The first part of the book is divided into six chapters, each chapter depicting the role of various spices in therapeutics. The second part describes aspects on cultivation, production, processing and quality control in spices. Most of the chapters in the book are papers presented at the National Symposium on Medicinal Values of Indian Spices, held at Calcutta in 1993, as mentioned in the preface. &nbsp

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Not AvailableBlack pepper is a perennial crop which takes a minimum of five years for yield stabilization. Hence, any seedling character which reflects its productivity may be of use in identifying the probable high yielding types at anearly stage. Present study this to analyse the influence of some physiological and biochemical parameters such asleaf and stem carbohydrate status, nitrate reductase and sucrose phosphate synthase activities and leaf gas exchange parameters during pre-bearing and bearing stages on productivity in black pepper. Field grown plants (1-2 years) were used for the study. Results revealed that leaf starch and sucrose phosphate synthase activity did not show significant correlation with productivity. Leaf photosynthesis, nitrate reductase activity and stomatal conductance showed significant positive correlation while leaf temperature had significant negative correlation with productivity. It was concluded that in black pepper, physiological traits such as high nitrate reductase activity, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance and low leaf temperature may be useful in identifying high yielding types during juvenile stage itself.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableTrend analysis of the climatic parameters (past two decades) in major black pepper growing areas of the country showed in general that rainfall is decreasing while temperature is increasing. Black pepper productivity also showed a decreasing trend. Studies on the relationship between climatic parameters and productivity in black pepper showed that December and January rainfall had negative correlation while April and May rainfall had positive correlation. Minimum temperature had positive correlation in higher elevations while both Tmax and Tmin had negative correlation with productivity in plains. Results on the extent of relationship between climatic parameters and productivity revealed that Tmax and Tmin influenced yield more than rainfall or rainy days. Normalized yield deviations (NYD) were worked out (deviations from the mean for two decades) for different stations based on the climatic data for the past two decades. This was regressed with rainfall, Tmax and Tmin to get regression line which can predict the yield deviations if values for rainfall, Tmax and Tmin are substituted in the equation. However, apart from the weather parameters used for the study, other weather variables such as light and humidity and other factors such as cost of cultivation and price for theproduce, diseases and management practices definitely have a role in production and productivity of black pepper.Not Availabl