Unveiling the Impact of Solid Waste Management on Health and Poverty Alleviation in Dhaka City

Dhaka the capital of Bangladesh faces significant challenges in solid waste management This study aims to unlock the transformative power of proper solid waste management SWM in improving the health and economic well-being of disadvantaged urban residents in the city While previous literature has focused primarily on waste collection disposal and recycling this study explores waste management as a powerful catalyst for poverty alleviation unlocking the untapped potential for transformative change Through qualitative and quantitative methods including surveys expert interviews and a systematic literature review the study identifies sources of pollution and factors affecting slum dwellers health and human development indicators It classifies conditions affecting the health-based vitality of slum dwellers The paper highlights the potential of sustainable waste management practices to improve health outcomes reduce disease incidence and alleviate poverty It emphasizes the need for policymakers to prioritize comprehensive waste management initiatives and promote community awareness and participation to address these issue

Bioactivity profiling of native and hybrid varieties of pumpkin peel (Cucurbita maxima Linn.)

The peel part of the two varieties (native and hybrid) of pumpkin are nutritionally enrich, so to make it economically viable it could be an important component in food and pharmaceutical industries. For this purpose, this study focus on to assess the various biological activities of two varieties of pumpkin peel. To evaluate the phytochemical potentiality of the peel of two varieties of pumpkin as a wide-ranging bioactivity profiling, in vitro anti-hyperglycemic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-hemolytic activity and in vitro antioxidant activity along with total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated. The peel of the native variety showed more phenolic contents than that of hybrid one and the values of the phenolic contents of the native and hybrid varieties were 74.76 ± 1.7 and 68.76 ± 0.87 mg GAEs/g respectively. In contrast, the peel of the hybrid variety showed more flavonoid content compared to native one and the values of the flavonoid contents of the native and hybrid varieties were 34.11 ± 0.13 and3 6.66 ± 1.29 mg QEs/g respectively. The two varieties exhibited concentration-dependent moderate antioxidant activity along with intermediate inhibitory activity against two enzymes. These activities were in order: native peel > hybrid peel. In the case of in vitro anti-hemolytic activity, both extracts showed intermediate erythrocyte membrane stabilization activities in order: hybrid peel > native peel. This research presented some supporting evidence for analyzing the comparative biological activities, and the findings could be helpful in enhancing a better understanding of these varieties as well as other pumpkin species. Finally, in this study, the bioactive compounds in the pumpkin peel may validate their enormous potential as a source of bio-based preservatives, an emergent component of functional food in food industries and in pharmaceutical industries as therapeutic agents that may enhance consumers’ health and promote a circular economy