Water quality shapes aquatic fauna. However, no information is available about water quality and its effect on fish diversity of Mahakali River. This study was conducted to measure the temporal variation of physicochemical parameters of water and their effects on fish composition in the lower reaches of Mahakali River, Nepal in between September 2022 to August 2023. Measurements of water quality parameters and fish collection were carried out on a monthly basis. Shannon-Weiner diversity index was calculated to measure fish diversity and multiple regression analysis was computed to analyze the effects of physicochemical parameters of water in fish composition. This study revealed that physicochemical parameters of water at lower reaches of the river were in the range of fish tolerance and support good fish diversity (H = 3.06). Changing physicochemical parameters of water, instead of affecting the overall species, affected the species-specific manner and had significant effect on the species composition of Anguilla, Schizothorax, Mystus, Amblyceps, Bagarius, Ompok, Garra, Acanthocobitis, Schistura, Lepidocephalichthys, Xenentodon, Mastacembelus, Glossogobius and Channa fish species but had no effect on the species composition of Salmophasia, Barilius, Raimas, Puntius, Tor, Chagunius, Labeo and Botia. This study suggests that in snow fed perennial river high fish diversity, dominated by cyprinids, is found in autumn followed by winter season associated with clear river water, moderate temperature and more hardness in water containing more total dissolved solids.

Background: In the global fight against HIV, the development of novel antiviral drugs targeting critical viral entry mechanisms remains a pressing need. This study aimed to identify potential CCR5 receptor inhibitors as promising candidates for anti-HIV drug discovery. From an initial pool of 122,276,899 compounds obtained from the ZINC database, Lipinski's rule of five was applied to filter for favorable pharmacokinetic properties, resulting in 52,272,894 ligands. A pharmacophore model was then generated using the standard drug Maraviroc. The generated pharmacophore model was used to screen the 52,272,894 ligands, yielding 38,402,967 compounds for further evaluation. Molecular docking simulations were performed using AutoDock 4.0 against the CCR5 receptor protein (PDB: 4MBS). The top 20 ligands were selected based on RMSD values and analyzed in detail. The results revealed that two compounds, ZINC000128130021 and ZINC000257322186, exhibited superior binding energies of -8.27 kcal/mol, surpassing the standard drug Maraviroc (-6.75 kcal/mol). These top compounds demonstrated extensive hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with key active site residues, as well as remarkably low inhibition constants of 871.63 nM and 862.99 nM, respectively, compared to Maraviroc (11.37 μM). The comprehensive screening and selection process, combined with the promising in silico results, suggest that ZINC000128130021 and ZINC000257322186 warrant further in vitro and in vivo evaluation as potential CCR5 receptor inhibitors with therapeutic potential for the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

This study investigates the microbial interferences occurring in overripe rice grains and their implications for food safety and preservation. Overripe rice grains, often discarded due to potential spoilage, present a unique environment where various microbial communities interact. This research work aims to identify the dominant microorganisms present in overripe rice and to evaluate their roles in grain deterioration and quality management. Using culture-dependent and bio-chemical analysis, we isolated bacteria from rice samples at different stages of over ripeness. The findings reveal that the microbial communities present in the vicinity of overripe rice are actively takes part in plant growth promoting activities as MS-01 and 03 shows positive results for Catalase, HCN and IAA activity. Apart from that MS-05 only gives fruitful results during siderophore analysis. Specific species of Bacillus and Pseudomonas are likely to be there predominantly suppressing the growth and pathetic nature of Aspergillus, and other fungal species, which contribute to enzymatic breakdown and off-flavor production. Furthermore, the isolated microorganism MS-05 was gone through with HPLC and FTIR analysis respectively and reflects the traces of 2-4 DAPG (retention time 20.7 and 20.6 for HPLC) a bacterial metabolite responsible for PGP activity.

Sulphur is considered a neglected plant nutrient. However, soil scientists and plant nutritionists are increasingly investigating the nutritional value of sulphur due to its significant role in crop production. A green-house experiment was carried out at North-West University Research Farm to investigate the effect of soil types and sulphur fertilizer rates on the performance of pea. The experiment design was 4 × 2 factorial fitted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatment factors included two soil types and four sulphur fertilizer rates. Plant performance was evaluated by examining parameters such as plant height, numbers of leaves, branches, flowers, pods/plants, pod length, pod mass and seed mass. The pea planted on sandy soil at 56 and 70 DAP achieved heights of 13.82 and 20.7 cm, respectively. The pea supplied with 60 kgS/ha had highest number of leaves (25.10 and 42.20) at 56 and 70 DAP. The highest number of pods/plants (1.00) was recorded in pea cultivated on sandy loam. Pea fertilized with 90 kgS/ha had the highest number of pods/plants (4.04) and seed mass (0.82 g). Notably, soil types were positively and significantly associated with yield parameters (R2 = 0.5630 and 0.5214). Sulphur fertilizer rates were positively but not significantly associated with growth and yield parameters of pea. This showed that sandy loam was suitable for the performance of pea. The sulphur rate at 60 kg S/ha enhanced the growth of pea while 90 kg S/ha improved yield production of pea.

Nachos are a very popular ready-to-eat food product. However, their traditional composition may not be suitable for the dietary needs of women with conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is linked to obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and infertility. The objective of this study is to develop a healthier alternative to traditional nachos using chickpea flour (Cicer arietinum), whole wheat (Triticum aestivum), and dried citrus pulp powder from lemon (Citrus limon), orange (Citrus sinensis), and lime (Citrus aurantiifolia). The nutritional composition of the product, especially fiber and antioxidants, was evaluated, owing to their roles in the PCOS symptom management. The Multi-Attribute Hierarchical Process (MAHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods were used to perform the sensory evaluation. The dried citrus pulp powder, chickpea flour, and whole wheat flour combination in EP1, EP2, EP3, EP4, and EP5 are (20 + 45 + 35) g, (25 + 45 + 30) g, (30 + 45 + 25) g, (35 + 45 + 20) g, and (40 + 45 + 15) g, respectively. EP1 is rated best among all five samples in appearance, taste, color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability. The nachos, which are newly developed, contain a high amount of fiber (11.6 g). The nachos contain 378.43 Kcal of calories. In addition, it contains high antioxidant content (5.2 mmol TEAC). The nachos could be a suitable food product for individuals with PCOS and related metabolic disorders. The nutritional profile of the product included high fiber and antioxidants from plant-based ingredients and citrus fruits.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate Ritha (or, Reetha) herbal soap formulated with bioactive herbal extracts recognized for their ethno-pharmacological and dermatological properties in Ayurveda. The formulation incorporated extracts from Acacia nilotica, Aloe barbadensis, Azadirachta indica, Citrus lemon, Cocus nucifera, Curcuma longa, Ocimum sanctum, and Sapindus mukorossi. These plant materials were processed using appropriate extraction techniques tailored to their specific constituents. The soap was prepared by combining the extracts with fatty oils and sodium hydroxide (lye) using the hot decoction method. The prepared herbal soap was compared to commercially available soaps in terms of its physical and chemical properties, including appearance, color, and odor. Key parameters of the soap were measured, yielding the following results: pH (8.38), % free alkali content (0.34), foamability (17 cm), foam stability (15 cm), moisture content (6.4%), and alcohol-insoluble matter (2.25%). Additionally, antioxidant and antibacterial activities were assessed, demonstrating that the soap exhibited potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This study demonstrates that high-quality herbal soap can be effectively formulated using the hot decoction method, incorporating parameters such as skin compatibility and the bioactive potential of the selected herbs.

An important criterion for the potency assessment is that the source of cheap substrate for L-asparaginase production is much needed. Isolation of novel actinobacteria from a termite mound was performed by conventional pretreatment isolation and enzyme screening by plate assay method to compare the effect of carbon and substrate over L-asparaginase produced by submerged fermentation state with minimal medium. The enzyme production was studied by the Nesslerization method. Following heat treatment, the results indicated that the isolate decreased the eubacterial colony-forming unit. Out of the ten pre-heated samples, one soil tested positive for actinobacteria and nine tested negative. The isolate detected as asparaginase-positive was annotated as TS5 morphologically showed aerial and substrate mycelia formation and was identified as Streptomyces sp. The production of L-asparaginase among four different carbons revealed that lactose was an inducer. Further the cheap substrate such as rice bran is evaluated under substrate state fermentation and a good result on enzyme production is noted on both defatted and raw rice bran. The highest peak activity of the enzyme production (183 ± 9.11 U/mL) was attained at 10% raw rice bran with 66.3 ± 0.26 mg/mL protein. These results provide evidence that agro-waste substrate within the investigated parameters increased the LA generation. These findings are expected to promote the industrial utilization of important actinomycetes from termite mound.

This work describes a new method for fermentative ethanol production using a triple waste substrate mixture of olive oil wastewater (OOWW), milk whey (MW), and sugarcane molasses (SCM). Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed using a commercial enzyme complex, Natuzyme, at concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%. Fermentation was performed at 30 °C, pH 5.5, and 150 rpm using immobilized cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) previously isolated from OOWW. The ethanol yields produced by immobilized S. cerevisiae ranged from 16.56 g/L to a maximum of 34.56 g/L at the 0.5% enzyme concentration, demonstrating an optimal balance between hydrolytic efficiency and yeast activity. Four different fermentation formulations were prepared by varying the proportions of the waste components, resulting in different substrate compositions and fermentation outcomes. These results demonstrate the potential of valorizing heterogeneous waste streams for the sustainable production of ethanol. This study advances environmentally responsible waste management and opens a promising avenue for large-scale ethanol production using yeast immobilization techniques.

Spodoptera frugiperda is a maize plant pest that has caused significant losses in various parts of Indonesia, especially the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). Since Klaten Regency is adjacent to DIY, the potential of Klaten to contribute to the country’s demand for corn products needs to be extensively monitored, particularly by controlling the existence of S. frugiperda and it’s predatory insects. This study was conducted to identify and analyse the abundance of diurnal predatory insects of S. frugiperda in Klaten Regency. The research was conducted in October 2023-May 2024 on maize fields in Klaten District. Sampling locations were determined using the survey method, while the villages used were determined based on the stratified method. Maize fields used for diurnal predator insect collection were investigated using a purposive method. The data obtained were analysed using correlation tests to reveal the relationship between the abundance of predatory insect species with abiotic factors. The analysis identified 14 species of diurnal predators, with the most species being C. sexmaculatus (86 individuals), while the least was Rhynocoris sp. (4 individuals). Coccinellidae was the insect predator family with the highest species of S. frugiperda. Coccinellids were the most weather-tolerant predatory insects against a wide range of environmental parameters. Furthermore, Coccinellids were found in all research sites. Biological control using natural enemies is a preferred approach for managing S. frugiperda populations, as it offers a straightforward and cost-effective solution.

Today, the goal of obtaining good health is a very difficult task for all people, especially those suffering from metabolic disease. In general, refined wheat and rice flour are used in the preparation of a vegetable (sevaiyyan) that is not healthy for diabetes and obese patients, because it contains high calories and increases the glucose level in the blood. Cucumber’s glycemic index is only 14, and it belongs to the low GI category. The high concentration of nutritional fibers ensures that cucumbers are slowly digested and do not increase blood glucose levels. Germination is one of the most widely accepted methods in cereals to help decompose and leach antinutrients such as protein and protein inhibitors and to activate the enzyme system that catalyzes the hydrolysis of reserve compounds such as proteins, starch, and mineral solubility to improve the bioavailability of nutrients. Therefore, the research idea was to develop food products (sevaiyyan) that everyone liked, but to make them healthier by replacing unhealthy ingredients with healthy ones to avoid harmful health effects. The A, B, C, and D samples of sevaiyyan were prepared in the ratio of 10:20:70, 15:25:60, 20:30:50, and25:35:40, using dried cucumber powder, germinated buckwheat flour, and wheat flour. Sensory evaluations of all products were conducted by 20 panel members based on taste, color, texture, firmness, stickiness, and general acceptance. Sample A (10:20:70) was strongly accepted by the panel members, while the least accepted sample D (25:35:40) included dry cucumber powder, germinated buckwheat dry flour, and wheat flour. The developed sevaiyyan has energy (318.1 Kcal), carbohydrate (63.22 g), protein (10.88 g), fat (1.48 g), and dietary fiber (9.48 g), and also has a low price as prepared from locally available product such as Cucumber.

A lot of health problems are observed worldwide; among them, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is more serious. Urgent formulations of antimicrobial agents from natural sources and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) are needed. The ITK belongs to different tribal communities for their day-to-day traditional practices. Those communities are storehouses of traditional therapeutic values that need to be explored. Santhal, a tribal community in India and more developed has sound knowledge of forest foods, forest products, sustainable agriculture, and medicinal plants. They use the local plants as food, nutraceuticals, medicinal agents, and as a source of livelihood, which should be documented for the formulation of new antimicrobial agents to mitigate the global health problems. Therefore, in the present study, the Santhal community was selected and enumerated 120 medicinal plants along with their uses and local names used by them. The active constituents of 31 medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities are also documented. 34 nutraceuticals and 10 economically important plants were enumerated through a field survey and presented. Since less documentation is available on plants used by the Santhal community, the present study focuses on their medicinal uses, pharmacological activities, and their nutraceutical potential to provide sources of future medicinal foods and antimicrobial agents to cope with the global health problems.

A field survey on food, ethnomedicinal and phytochemical investigation was carried out followed by toxicity to Artemia salina using three extracts of Streblus asper fruit, a minor wild edible fruit of Odisha, followed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. Results revealed that fruit extracts have diverse secondary metabolites, and methanol extract showed the highest toxicity to A. salina. The aqueous, methanol, and ethanol extracts of S. asper fruits contain tannins, saponins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, and alkaloids. The aqueous, methanol, and ethanol extracts of S. asper fruits exhibit cytotoxicity against brine shrimp nauplii, with death rates ranging from 60 to 100% at concentrations of 25-125 mg/mL. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 mg/mL, resulting in a 100% death rate. Methanol extract shows the highest cytotoxicity at 125 mg/mL (100% death rate). Ethanol extract shows the highest cytotoxicity at 100 mg/mL (100% death rate). Positive control (Vincristine sulfate) and negative control (3.5% saline) showed expected results. Using the TLC analysis showed clear spots for the aqueous and methanol extracts. Rf values for aqueous extract spots: 0.58, 0.70, and 0.88. Rf values for methanol extract spots: 0.81 and 0.60. These findings suggest that S. asper fruit extracts possess bioactive compounds with potential, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which are attributed to phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The brine shrimp nauplii assay indicates the cytotoxic effects of these fruit extracts on cancer cells. There are potential applications in the pharmaceutical and medicinal industries.

Endophytic fungi reside within plant tissues and contribute to plant health by producing bioactive secondary metabolites. This study focuses on the isolation, characterization, and antagonistic activity of endophytic fungi from Muntingia calabura. Healthy leaf samples were collected from Bangalore, India, and processed under sterile conditions. The fungi were isolated using Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and characterized based on macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular techniques using ITS sequencing. Molecular analysis confirmed the isolates as Aspergillus niger and Fusarium thapsinum. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disk diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results showed significant inhibition zones, indicating strong antimicrobial activity. This study highlights the potential of endophytic fungi as sources of natural antimicrobial agents for biocontrol and pharmaceutical applications.

Food products like macaroni are very trendy nowadays. Macaroni is a staple diet for Italian people. There are so many ways of making macaroni. It is normally prepared with wheat flour by adding water or eggs. After the revolution in the food industry, a variety of ingredients are now used to prepare various types of macaroni. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the incorporation of soybeans, lima beans, pea husk powder, and tapioca into macaroni production, with a focus on optimizing the nutritional content, sensory qualities, and sustainability aspects of the final product. By harnessing the individual strengths of these ingredients, this research aims to contribute to the development of healthier and more environmentally friendly macaroni alternatives. Four different samples of macaroni were made using a variation of lima seed flour, pea husk powder, tapioca, soybean flour, and wheat flour. Sample ‘A’ constitutes 20 g lima seed flour and 5 g pea husk powder, Sample ‘B’ constitutes 15 g lima seed flour and 10 g pea husk powder, Sample ‘C’ constitute10 g lima seed flour and 15 g pea husk powder, and Sample ‘D’ constitute 5 g lima seed flour and 20 g pea husk powder. The sensory result showed that Sample A (8.5 ± 1.0) with higher overall acceptability, followed by Sample B, C and D. The result of the MAHP of CI value (Consistency Index) was 0.008, and CR (Consistency Ratio) was 0.005. A CI of less than 0.1 is acceptable. Positive and Negative Ideal Situation of Sample A was found to be 0 and 0.58911, and the ranking by TOPSIS was found to be 1 for Sample A, indicating higher acceptability. The proximate analysis result showed that the newly developed macaroni contains a larger amount of fiber (10.23 g). The calorie content of newly developed macaroni is 380.67 Kcal, and it has a high protein content (22.82 g).

Cultivation of the raja bulu banana (Musa paradisiaca var. raja bulu) is carried out on a large scale through tissue culturing. However, the slow growth of raja bulu banana seeds necessitates the use of PGRs to improve the growth of the cultured explants. This optimization was studied at the Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, UNS Surakarta, April-August 2024. A completely randomized study design was used with two factors: the concentrations of jasmonic acid (JA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP). The same concentrations were used (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 ppm) with three repetitions. Observational data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and if the treatments were significantly different, then processed by DMRT at a 5% significance level. The results showed that a combination of JA and BAP in MS media could increase the root lengths of Raja Bulu banana subcultures. The number of leaves could be increased in the absence of additional JA. JA at 0.5 ppm shortened the time of root emergence by 15.9%, and at 1 ppm shortened the time of shoot emergence by 8.92%. BAP at 1.5 ppm could increase the number of shoots of Raja Bulu banana subcultures by 64.72%. JA at 1 ppm and BAP at 0 ppm was the best combination for increasing the length of the roots of Raja Bulu banana subcultures, by up to 12.12%.

Plant viruses and viroids cause extensive losses with reduction in crop productivity worldwide. The emergence of high-throughput sequencing technologies, commonly referred to as ‘Next-generation sequencing’ together with the metagenomics approach has led to a rapid increase in our understanding of plant viral communities. The utilization of high throughput NGS technologies has proven to be effective in the detection of previously unidentified disease-associated with new pathogens including viruses. Virome analysis using high-throughput sequencing technologies leads to the exploration of different viruses. These technologies, in combination with automation, artificial intelligence can allow for the efficient utilization of plant disease clinics in virome diagnostics. High-throughput sequencing methods have advantages of identification and genomic characterization of viruses and are important for diversity studies of plant viromes. Plant virome studies have the capability to carry out the detection of unknown viruses in mixed infection to reveal the presence of novel viruses. Further, the new machine learning/deep learning tools have enabled the detection of new viral sequences in already available host nucleotide sequences, enabling us to identify lysogenic viruses. In the era of metagenomics, plant-specific virome studies will help in checking the potential epiphytotic soon. Therefore, the present review highlights the successful utilization of high-throughput sequencing technologies in characterizing plant virome.

This paper looks at the innovation activity of micro-organisms (novel, isolated or discovered) in India to decipher the trends in the past twenty years (1995-2022) under the Indian Patents Act, 1970 (hereinafter Patents Act). As of today, the Patents Act expressly specifies that a microorganism is patentable, a result of the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2002. Prior to 2002, the Indian Patent Office (IPO) refused the grant of a patent to a method of producing a vaccine containing a live microorganism on the ground that the term ‘manufacture’ does not include a process with a living substance as its end product. The Calcutta High Court, however, negated the decision of the IPO as the assessment of the method of manufacture does not concern live or dead micro-organism, and directed the grant of patent. Twenty years on, this paper analyses the patterns and trends based on the response of the IPO regarding the grant/refusal of the patents related to micro-organism. Few observations that emerge from this paper include the distribution of novel and not novel micro-organisms that constitute the patenting landscape in India; contributions of foreign and India patent holders; major sectors where novel micro-organisms are used; the involvement of the applicant and the examiner in the grant/rejection of patents before the IPO, major objections that applicants face before the IPO, and the connection between the Indian guidelines on patenting activity of micro-organisms and the patenting activity before the IPO.

The need for reduced climate impact in agriculture and an increased interest in self-sufficient food production in Sweden serves as the main background for the study. The study examined if conversion of Swedish agriculture following principles of Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA) could be a realistic alternative in addressing both those issues, and what the resulting price for that food would be. Case studies of 30 ERA farms were performed. These farms show substantially lower climate impact compared to the national average, through 75% lower commodity purchases and twice the amount of carbon sequestration in soil thanks to more ley cropping. An alternative diet including less meat and more grain, vegetables and dairy products was defined. Two different methods were used for matching production with consumption. The results are presented in scenarios where different combinations of the farms’ staple food production are upscaled for a Swedish population of 10.5 million inhabitants. Results are presented in kg produced, hectares of arable land, CO2 equivalents, kg of surplus N, and production costs per capita. It is shown that an 80-95% reduction in climate impact is possible, and that it is within range for Sweden to become self-sufficient in staple foods based on the available acreage of arable land by adopting Ecological Recycling Agricultural principles in a manner similar to the studied farms. However, diets need to change in a lacto-vegetarian direction. Production costs would be slightly higher for most products, but consumers’ food expenses could be lower if they also change their diet. Possible political instruments are proposed to realize these scenarios.