Biswanath College

In view of rising demand and the importance of antifungal drugs, we have synthesized some new benzimidazole derivatives by reacting 4,5-dimethyl benzene-1,2-diamine and substituted aromatic aldehydes in a comparatively eco-friendly method using polyethylene glycol(PEG)-ethanol medium. The structures of the synthesized benzimidazoles were confirmed by spectroscopic methods, viz. UV-vis, FTIR, 1H NMR, HRMS, and crystallographic studies. A theoretical study has also been carried out by performing DFT and molecular docking to back the experimental values. The result of the antifungal study showed that the benzimidazole 5-(5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-methoxyphenol, which is derived from 4,5-dimethyl benzene-1,2-diamine and o-vanillin, has appreciable antifungal activity in comparison to benzimidazoles derived from other aldehydes like 5-bromoindole-3-carboxyaldehyde and syringaldehyde against the pathogen S. Cerevisiae than the pathogen C. Tropicalis. The reactivity of antifungal behaviour against pathogens is also in accordance with the lowest to highest HOMO-LUMO energy gap of the mentioned benzimidazoles.

Microorganisms residing in the host gut collectively known as gut microbiota, plays a crucial role in the health of the host. The gut microbiota influences the immune system, cognitive abilty and other functions in an individual contributing towards the well-being of the individual. These gut colonizers eventually change throughout the life of an individual that are specific in nature. However, there is a set of conserved gut microbiota which is present in every individual. Longevity has been related to healthy aging referring to disease-free health in individuals which is further related to composition of gut microbiota. Life-style and dietary habits have been linked directly to impact the composition of these gut colonizers. An inclusive understanding of impact of gut microbiota interactions in longevity and on human body, are discussed in this chapter.

Eco-physiological traits are key to understanding how plants cope with environmental stress, yet their integrated variation along altitudinal gradients in Himalayan tree species remains poorly understood. This study investigated leaf functional trait variation and plasticity in Quercus griffithii across three altitudinal zones between 1000 and 2800 m a.s.l. in the Eastern Himalaya. Nine leaf traits namely leaf length (LL), leaf breadth (LB), leaf area (LA), chlorophyll a (Chl_a), chlorophyll b (Chl_b), relative water content (RWC), stomatal density (SD), stomatal length (SL), and stomatal breadth (SB)—were quantified using coefficients of variation (CV), plasticity indices (PI), correlation analysis, and PCA. Leaf morphometric traits declined progressively with altitude, whereas stomatal traits showed greater variability and plasticity than physiological traits, indicating a stronger contribution of structural adjustments to altitudinal responses. RWC decreased with altitude, while chlorophyll and stomatal traits showed trait-specific variation across the gradient. Correlation analysis revealed reduced trait coordination at higher altitudes, and PCA identified distinct axes associated with physiological and stomatal traits. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Q. griffithii responds to altitudinal variation through integrated but trait-specific adjustments, offering new insights into intraspecific functional trait variation in heterogeneous Himalayan environments.

Abstract Cuminaldehyde, an oxidized aldehyde monoterpene, present in green cumin seeds (CuminumcyminumLinn,FamilyApiaceae), is traditionally used for the treatment of abdominal colic, dyspepsia , diarrhoea and jaundice. Also, many studies have reported the antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal effects of Cuminaldehyde. Serum albumins are the major soluble and small molecule-binding proteins, present in abundance in the circulatory system of a wide variety of organisms. Studies on the interaction of bioactive molecules with Bovine serum albumin(BSA) and Human serum albumin(HSA) have attracted enormous interest due to its direct consequence on drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic efficacy and drug designing. Our present study is carried out to understand the mechanism of interaction of pharmaceutically important component of spices, Cuminaldehyde with BSA and HSA. Fluorescence spectroscopic measurements confirmed that Cuminaldehyde interacted with BSA and HSA and quenched its fluorescence intensity via static quenching mechanism. The change in secondary conformation of BSA and HSA upon interaction with Cuminaldehyde was explored by UV-Visible absorption studies. The location of binding site for Cuminaldehyde in BSA and HSA was investigated by site probe displacement experiments and the results indicated that Cuminaldehyde was bound to BSA and HSA at site I. Thermodynamic studies revealed that vander Waal’s interaction and hydrogen bonding play a major role in Cuminaldehyde-BSA system while electrostatic interaction plays vital role in Cuminaldehyde-HSA system.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global health challenge owing to its high incidence rate, long-term sequelae, and complex pathophysiology with limited available treatment options. Food supplement rich in polyphenols has shown promising health benefits in TBI. Resveratrol, a phytoalexin stilbenoid commonly found in many plants, including grapes, nuts, and berries, is endowed with several health-promoting effects. In this review, the pathophysiology of TBI and the underlying mechanism for Resveratrol-induced neuroprotection in TBI has been discussed. The spectrum of injuries in TBI, including the acute primary injury, and delayed secondary injury often leading to other forms of neurodegenerative disorders, indicates the dysregulation of multiple pathways following TBI and its complex pathophysiology. Despite poor bioavailability and solubility, Resveratrol as a therapeutic in neurological illnesses, including TBI, is attributable to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, detectable level in the brain, and the lack of unfavorable toxicity. Substantial preclinical evidence has associated Resveratrol with protection against TBI and subsequent secondary brain injury as it has significant anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, emphasizing its promising scope in the treatment of TBI.