CLINICAL EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF KUSTHADI CHURNA WITH UDUMBARADI TAILA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KARNINI YONIVYAPAD W.S.R. TO CERVICAL EROSION

Karnini yonivyapad is one of the gynaecological disorders described in Ayurveda under the umbrella of the Yonivyapad. According to the signs and symptoms, it is more nearer to the benign lesion cervical erosion, which occurs due to the replacement of the stratified squamous epithelium of the portio-vaginalis by the columnar epithelium of endocervix. The treatment is designed to destruct the columnar epithelium by any method and to promote the re-epithelization of the squamous tissues. Keeping this point in view, the present clinical trial is taken up with the aim of clinical evaluation of efficacy of Kusthadi churna with Udumbaradi taila in the management of Karnini yonivyapad (cervical erosion). Kusthadi churna along with Yonipichu with Udumbaradi taila group-A, and group-B only Udumbaradi taila yonipichu, and results were assessed on the basis of the epithelization of erosion and improvement in the symptoms. The study reveals that the mixed therapy group showed better results than the group of single drug

Preparation of a New Oxotetracyano- (pyridine)chromate(IV) Anion

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Morphometric analysis of Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don), a critically endangered orchid in cold desert Ladakh region of India

The morphometric study was conducted during 2009 to 2010. About 28 morphological characters were measured under 13 natural populations of Dactylorhiza hatagirea. Geographic variation in morphology reflects phenotypic responses to environmental gradients and evolutionary history of populations and species. At points, beside its broad geographic range (Nubra, Suru and Indus valley) characterization of Dactylorhiza phenotype is normally accomplished by use of morphological descriptors, hence as a first step, phenotype collection and its morphometric analysis was assessed. However, plant height, leaf length, lowermost leaf length, length of second leaf from base and mean length from lowest bract to the top of inflorescence are presented to account for the remarkable variation in morphological characters. Tirith population showed more values of this trait while Skurru showed less value. From this, it is concluded that Tirith showed great morphometric variation as compared to other population. Multivariate morphometric techniques, principal component analysis (PCA), multidimensional scaling (MDS) and cluster analysis were used to determine whether these populations can be reliably morphologically similar or dissimilar. The first two principal components encompass more than 75% variation among population. The results of PCA and MDS analysis were comparable to the cluster analysis, which shows considerable phenotypic variation in morphological and horticultural traits that can be utilized in its genetic improvement. To support this study, further constructive information were provided on the status of the populations of D. hatagirea which may increase the conservation value of this site and resolve the suitable areas with taxonomic and nomenclatural controversies.Keywords: Morphological characters, principal component analysis (PCA), multidimensional scaling (MDS), plant height, leaf length, leaf widt

Age related histological and histochemical studies on the testis of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry

Birds (10) of 2 age group, viz. 5 months (grower) and 13 months (adult) of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry were used. The thickness of tunica albuginea, maximum and minimum diameter of seminiferous tubules, diameter of primary spermatocytes and number of sustentacular cells or Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule were significantly higher in growers and adults of Vanaraja than Aseel whereas, number of interstitial cells per field were significantly higher in growers and adults of Aseel than Vanaraja. The density of connective tissue fibers, PAS activity and AB-PAS activity was more in both groups of Vanaraja than Aseel

Earthworm Grazed-Trichoderma harzianum Biofortified Spent Mushroom Substrates Modulate Accumulation of Natural Antioxidants and Bio-Fortification of Mineral Nutrients in Tomato

The present investigation was aimed at evaluating the impact of earthworm grazed and Trichoderma harzianum biofortified spent mushroom substrate (SMS) on natural antioxidant and nutritional properties of tomato. Results of the investigation reveal that earthworm grazing and T. harzianum bio-fortification led to significant improvement in the physico-chemical properties of fresh SMS and its application increased the accumulation of natural antioxidants and mineral content in tomato as compared to either T. harzianum biofortified SMS or fresh SMS. In particular, the earthworm grazed, T. harzianum biofortified SMS (EGTHB-SMS) was found to inhibit lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation with significant increase in total polyphenol and flavonoid content in tomato. Further, it increased Fe2+/Fe3+ chelating activity, superoxide anion radical scavenging activity compared to other treatments. The results thus suggest an augmented elicitation of natural antioxidant properties in tomato treated with EGTHB-SMS, resulting in a higher radical scavenging activity, that is highly desirable for human health. In addition, the use of SMS to enhance the nutritional value of tomato fruits becomes an environment friendly approach in sustainable crop production

Stress-resilient maize for climate-vulnerable ecologies in the Asian tropics

Most parts of the Asian tropics are hotspots of climate change effects and associated weather variabilities. One of the major challenges with climate change is the uncertainty and inter-annual variability in weather conditions as crops are frequently exposed to different weather extremes within the same season. Therefore, agricultural research must strive to develop new crop varieties with inbuilt resilience towards variable weather conditions rather than merely tolerance to individual stresses in a specific situation and/or at a specific crop stage. C4 crops are known for their wider adaptation to range of climatic conditions. However, recent climatic trends and associated variabilities seem to be challenging the threshold limit of wider adaptability of even C4 crops like maize. In collaboration with national programs and private sector partners in the region, CIMMYT-Asia maize program initiated research for development (R4D) projects largely focusing on saving achievable yields across range of variable environments by incorporating reasonable levels of tolerance/resistance to major abiotic and biotic stresses without compromising on grain yields under optimal growing conditions. By integrating novel breeding tools like - genomics, double haploid (DH) technology, precision phenotyping and reducing genotype × environment interaction effects, a new generation of maize germplasm with multiple stress tolerance that can grow well across variable weather conditions were developed. The new maize germplasm were targeted for stress-prone environments where maize is invariability exposed to a range of sub-optimal growing conditions, such as drought, heat, waterlogging and various virulent diseases. The overarching goal of the stress-resilient maize program has been to achieve yield potential with a downside risk reduction

Maize for Changing Climate - Chasing the Moving Target

The average annual growth rate of harvested maize area from 1993 to 2013 was 2.7% in Africa, 3.1% in Asia, and 4.6% in Latin America (FAOSTAT, 2018). Maize has emerged as the cereal with largest global production, which surpassed rice in 1996 and wheat in 1997, and its production is increasing at twice the annual rate of rice and three times that of wheat (Fischer et al., 2014). Among cereals, including rice, wheat and other coarse cereal, maize has recorded highest increase in area and productivity during 2006-2015 and is projected to keep the momentum during 2016-2025 (OECD/FAO, 2016). Asia, with its 31% share in global maize production from about 34.0% of the total global area harvested, is the second largest maize producer in the world. The current decade continued impressive growth in maize production, as all the sub-regions showed significant increase in maize production (Figure 1), including Southeast Asia -10.8%, Southern Asia - 27.3% and East Asia - 30.6%, which resulted in an overall 27.7% maize production increase in Asia within a short period of 2010-2016 (FAOSTAT, 2018). These gains in maize production were contributed by increase in productivity per unit area and increase in maize growing areas in some countries