THE AMAZING THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF DHATURA-A SHORT REVIEW

Plants have always played a major role in the treatment of human traumas and diseases worldwide. Dhatura is a widespread annual plant from the Solanaceae family. The species of Dhatura can be found throughout the world. The plant grows in sandy flats, plains, areas up to 2, 500 feet above sea level. Dhatura is one of the widely well known folklore medicinal herb. Dhatura is a plant with both poisonous and medicinal properties and has been proven to have great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage as folklore medicine. In Ayurvedic text it is established as a poisonous plant but having good therapeutic properties after Shodhan process. After Shodhan process its poisonous properties are diminished but therapeutic properties get improved. So in most of the Ayurvedic preparations we use the Shudha Dhatura, Shudha vatsanabha, Shudha Bhanga etc. There are so many generic preparations available in old text to treat various diseases like sanity, gastric ulcer, fever, rhinitis, Bronchial asthma, seizures etc., having Dhatura as a main constituent. The phytochemical investigations showed the presence of saponins, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and glycosides. Atropine and scopolamine are competitive antagonists of muscarinic cholinergic receptors and are central nervous system depressants. This paper presents an exclusive review work on the traditional uses, Ayurvedic purification process, phytochemical, pharmacological actions of Dhatura

Soil and Water Conservation Measures for Agricultural Sustainability

Limited natural resources are available on the planet under immense pressure due to the ever-increasing population and changing climate. Soil and water are fundamental natural resources for the agricultural production system. Anthropogenic and adverse natural activities are the major factors for the deterioration of natural resources. Among the various degradation processes, soil erosion is one of the serious threats for the deterioration of soil and water resources. In India, about 68.4% of the total land area has been degraded by the water erosion process. Intensive agricultural practices accelerate the soil erosion process. Similarly, increased exploitation of groundwater resulted in depletion of groundwater level. Hence, the holistic management of soil and water resources is indispensable for agricultural sustainability as well as for the protection of the natural ecosystem. Development and adoption of improved technologies, judicious use of natural resources, and effective management practices are the need of the hour for protection of soil and water from degradation. This chapter highlights the status of natural resource degradation, erosion processes and, soil and water conservation strategies for agricultural sustainability and soil health in the long run

Soil Amendments: An Ecofriendly Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Sustainable Oilseed Production

Oilseed crops are major part of human diet providing energy, used for cosmetics, health supplements and other purposes. Intensive agricultural practices, overexploitation of natural resource and climate change pattern have adverse impact on soil health, thus becoming serious concern for oilseed crop production and livelihood security of farmers. Maintenance of soil health with amendments can restore, revitalize and regain the soil quality for sustainable agriculture. Soil amendments, therefore have definite advantage by improving soil health and facilitating nutrient supply to oilseed crops. Soil organic amendments such as animal manure, compost, vermicompost, biosolids/sewage sludge, biochar etc. and inorganic amendments such as gypsum, zeolite, pyrite etc. are the most commonly available amendments which can be directly applied to soil after treatments. Direct and indirect effect of soil amendments on soil chemical, physical and biological properties significantly influences soil-plant-continuum, beneficial for soil health improvement, carbon sequestration and oilseed yield improvement. Soil organic amendments could substitute nearly 25–50% of synthetic fertilizers, enhance nutrient use efficiency and influencing oilseed yield response. Soil amendments may sustain or increase oilseed productivity at reduced production and environmental cost, thus, improve soil health and water use efficiency and its quality, and mitigating climate change impact

LAIR-1 Limits Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation

Neutrophils are crucial to antimicrobial defense, but excessive neutrophilic inflammation induces immune pathology. The mechanisms by which neutrophils are regulated to prevent injury and preserve tissue homeostasis are not completely understood. We recently identified the collagen receptor leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor (LAIR)-1 as a functional inhibitory receptor on airway-infiltrated neutrophils in viral bronchiolitis patients. In the current study, we sought to examine the role of LAIR-1 in regulating airway neutrophil responses in vivo. LAIR-1-deficient (Lair1−/−) and wild-type mice were infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or exposed to cigarette smoke as commonly accepted models of neutrophil-driven lung inflammation. Mice were monitored for cellular airway influx, weight loss, cytokine production, and viral loads. After RSV infection, Lair1−/− mice show enhanced airway inflammation accompanied by increased neutrophil and lymphocyte recruitment to the airways, without effects on viral loads or cytokine production. LAIR-1-Fc administration in wild type mice, which blocks ligand induced LAIR-1 activation, augmented airway inflammation recapitulating the observations in Lair1−/− mice. Likewise, in the smoke-exposure model, LAIR-1 deficiency enhanced neutrophil recruitment to the airways and worsened disease severity. Intranasal CXCL1–mediated neutrophil recruitment to the airways was enhanced in mice lacking LAIR-1, supporting an intrinsic function of LAIR-1 on neutrophils. In conclusion, the immune inhibitory receptor LAIR-1 suppresses neutrophil tissue migration and acts as a negative regulator of neutrophil-driven airway inflammation during lung diseases. Following our recent observations in humans, this study provides crucial in-vivo evidence that LAIR-1 is a promising target for pharmacological intervention in such pathologies

Role of Virechana Karma in the Management of Vicharchika w.s.r. to Eczema - A Case Study

The bulk of skin conditions are seen in Ayurveda as being within the category of Kushtha, or "Ayurvedic dermatology." It is listed as among the “Ashta Mahagada”. Eczema is the most prevalent skin condition with societal repercussions. Up to 20% of children and up to 3% of adults might have eczema, and existing data reveal that it is becoming more common, especially in developing nations. The clinical picture of eczema resembles with Vicharchika – a variant of Kshudra Kustha that Ayurvedic dermatologists frequently meet and is marked by the symptoms of Kandu (itching), Srava (discharge), Pidaka (vesicles), and Shyava varna (discoloration). Aim: to assess how Samshodhana and Samshamana Karma contribute to the treatment of Vicharchika w.s.r. to eczema. Material & Method: A 66 years old male patient came to NIA OPD no 25 on 06/04/2022 with complaints of Atikandu (severe itching with thick edematous skin) on forearms, forehead and anterior to neck region having cracks with discharge for 5 years. He took contemporary medicines for the problem but did not get significant relief. Intervention: We started Aragvadha Patra lepa and Panchtikta Ghrit Pana followed by Virechana Karma by giving Trivrita Avaleha. Marked relief was found in sign & symptoms within 7 days and cured within 21 days of treatment. Conclusion: Study concluded that the above Ayurvedic treatment can prove to be an effective alternate management in eczema with proper diet and regimen

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Not AvailableThe transplanted puddled rice (TPR) is a water, labour and energy intensive practice, and also emits vast amount of green-house gasses (GHG), particularly methane. The water guzzling nature of TPR and escalating labour prices drives towards the search for alternative methods of rice production. Among different methods of rice cultivation, direct-seeded rice (DSR) received much attention in this way; however, major constraints in DSR are identified as poor crop establishment, weed infestation, nematode occurrence and imbalanced nutrient and faulty water management practices. This paper summarises the improved production technologies for DSR viz. precision levelling, early-maturing varieties, seed priming, effective water, nutrient and weed management. It is evident from the review that grain yield, water productivity and net income could be enhanced by laser land levelling as compared to traditional levelling. Alternate wetting and drying method of irrigation in DSR resulted in less water requirement without any yield penalty. Application of Pendimethalin @1 kg a.i. /ha as pre-emergence followed by post-emergence application of bispyribac sodium @ 25g a.i./ha recorded higher grain yield and better weed control efficiency. Use of Trichoderma viride@ 2.5 kg/ha was found effective to control nematode infestation in DSR. Moreover, compared to TPR, DSR had less methane emission and global warming potential. Thus, DSR is a feasible alternative to TPR with a good potential to save water, reduce labour requirement, and to mitigate the climatic risks in Indian agriculture.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableImmensely and unremitting rise in cost of fertilizers bound us to review the different management practices including utilizing crop residues and green manuring with some new findings, which can enhance soil fertility and lower the burden of high cost of cultivation. Approximately 500–550 million tonnes (Mt) crop residues are generated through different crops every year in the country. Traditionally crop residues have various uses such as animal feed, fodder, fuel, roof thatching, packaging and composting. It is estimated that one tone rice residues contains 6.1 kg nitrogen (N), 0.8 kg phosphorus (P), and 11.4 kg potassium (K). Nevertheless, a large part of the residual harvest being handle inappropriately, which fragile the world's food–production and contribute to undesirable bio–spheric changes. Such malpractices are common in developing countries, where only a small amount of residue are being recycled, while unacceptably large amounts are burned. Green manure crops are another important source for recycling of plant nutrients. Incorporation of one tonneSesbania aculeatagreen matter approximately accumulated 30.3 kg N, 7.0 kg P and 13.0 kg K ha–1. Generally farmers are unaware about systematic utilization of crop residues and green manure crops and their usefulness in maintaining soil nutrient balance and overall health, because of which either they keep out themselves from these practices or unable to perform appositely. In this article, efforts were made to quantify residue production by different crops as well as green manure crops, their nutrient compositions, decomposition mechanism of residues in soil and finally we explained the ways and means for crop residue management and green manuring practices for efficient nutrient recycling, supported with findings from our research.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableThe Multipurpose legume species are deliberately associated with the agricultural environment because of their specific use. Cassia auriculata, L., is one of the important dye yielding as well as medicinal plants in India. This is an indigenous perennial leguminous shrub; growing semi-arid region and having high tolerant capacity compare other cassia species. It is commonly grown in entire Aravalli hill tracts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra widely used as traditional medicine to cure diabetics by the rural peoples in India. The normal seedlings were compared with albino seedlings with regards to growth trait. Albinism in plants is characterized by a lack of chlorophyll in normally green tissues. It is characterized by partial or complete loss of chlorophyll pigments and incomplete differentiation of chloroplast membranes. This in turn impairs photosynthesis and the plants eventually die at a young stage without reaching maturity. Albino seedlings in perennial shrubs are rare occurrence because Cassia auriculata is cross-pollinated species and it is pollinated by a wide variety of insects and sunbirds. However, such seedlings can be used as a genetic marker for the estimation of mutation or natural mating and selfing in species if one is able to identify such genotypes which are carrier for albinism.Not Availabl

Relationship Analysis of Phenology, Stress Tolerance, and Mean Productivity in Wilt and Cold Stressed Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Following Synthetic PGRs Application

To understand the phenotypic response to mitigate stress tolerance for achieving maximum mean productivity, a comparative study of four synthetic PGRs—Abscisic Acid (ABA), Naphthyl Acetic Acid (NAA), Salicylic Acid (SA), and Fusaric Acid (FA)—was conducted as a pot experiment against artificially inoculated Fusarium oxysporum (a wilt pathogen) and cold exposure in four chickpea varieties. Additionally, the relationship between traits and PGRS application was looked at to evaluate their role in the stress tolerance mechanism. The results showed that ABA at 5 and 2 ppm was effective in delaying flowering, therefore extending the vegetative development phase in plants. In this way, flowering promotes stress tolerance while evading the damaging impacts of wilting and cold. This resulted in a lower percentage of wilt and a reduced incidence of cold compared to all other treatments, which raised mean productivity. The use of ABA at 5 and 2 ppm has been shown to positively correlate with both the prolongation of vegetative development and the delay of flowering. But fusaric acid (FA), a fungal toxin, is what caused early flowering, which allowed the flower to coincide with the development of wilt and cold. The occurrence of wilt at seedling and cold during flowering accelerated the incidence of wilt and cold, which led to a reduced mean productivity after giving fusaric acid (FA) @ 10 and 20 ppm. According to the investigation, the application of fusaric acid (FA) at 10 and 20 ppm was found to be positively and highly correlated with an increase in the incidence of wilt and cold and consequently negatively correlated with the mechanism possessed by ABA at 5 and 2 ppm

Modeling of soil moisture movement and wetting behavior under point-source trickle irrigation

Abstract The design and selection of ideal emitter discharge rates can be aided by accurate information regarding the wetted soil pattern under surface drip irrigation. The current field investigation was conducted in an apple orchard in SKUAST- Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, a Union Territory of India, during 2017–2019. The objective of the experiment was to examine the movement of moisture over time and assess the extent of wetting in both horizontal and vertical directions under point source drip irrigation with discharge rates of 2, 4, and 8 L h−1. At 30, 60, and 120 min since the beginning of irrigation, a soil pit was dug across the length of the wetted area on the surface in order to measure the wetting pattern. For measuring the soil moisture movement and wetted soil width and depth, three replicas of soil samples were collected according to the treatment and the average value were considered. As a result, 54 different experiments were conducted, resulting in the digging of pits [3 emitter discharge rates × 3 application times × 3 replications × 2 (after application and 24 after application)]. This study utilized the Drip-Irriwater model to evaluate and validate the accuracy of predictions of wetting fronts and soil moisture dynamics in both orientations. Results showed that the modeled values were very close to the actual field values, with a mean absolute error of 0.018, a mean bias error of 0.0005, a mean absolute percentage error of 7.3, a root mean square error of 0.023, a Pearson coefficient of 0.951, a coefficient of correlation of 0.918, and a Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient of 0.887. The wetted width just after irrigation was measured at 14.65, 16.65, and 20.62 cm; 16.20, 20.25, and 23.90 cm; and 20.00, 24.50, and 28.81 cm in 2, 4, and 8 L h−1 , at 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively, while the wetted depth was observed 13.10, 16.20, and 20.44 cm; 15.10, 21.50, and 26.00 cm; 19.40, 25.00, and 31.00 cm, respectively. As the flow rate from the emitter increased, the amount of moisture dissemination grew (both immediately and 24 h after irrigation). The soil moisture contents were observed 0.4300, 0.3808, 0.2298, 0.1604, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 just after irrigation in 2 L h−1 while 0.4300, 0.3841, 0.2385, 0.1607, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 were in 4 L h−1 and 0.4300, 0.3852, 0.2417, 0.1608, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 were in 8 L h−1 at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm soil depth in 30 min of application time. Similar distinct increments were found in 60, and 120 min of irrigation. The findings suggest that this simple model, which only requires soil, irrigation, and simulation parameters, is a valuable and practical tool for irrigation design. It provides information on soil wetting patterns and soil moisture distribution under a single emitter, which is important for effectively planning and designing a drip irrigation system. Investigating soil wetting patterns and moisture redistribution in the soil profile under point source drip irrigation helps promote efficient planning and design of a drip irrigation system