In this study, Crotalaria hebecarpa (Fabaceae), an ethnomedicinal plant commonly used to treat skin infections, fever and digestive disorders by the ethnic communities was selected to study the phytochemical composition and biological activities. Ethanolic-whole plant extract was used to study the preliminary phytochemical compounds followed by GC-MS analysis. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids and phenols while the GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 17 different phytocompounds, among which dodeconoic acid, trifluro acetic acid and cyclopentene were significant compounds with various biological activities. The IC50 values obtained for C. hebecarpa extract for H2O2, DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activities were 788.24 ppm, 825.05 ppm and 1087.68 ppm, respectively. The IC50 inhibition concentration of C. hebecarpa extract was still lower, 335.4 ppm for alpha-amylase activity and 541.54 ppm for alpha-glucosidase activity. Furthermore, the mosquito larvicidal and pupicidal efficacy of C. hebecarpa extract comprehend the effectiveness of the plant in vector control. Overall, the study implies that the ethnomedicinal plant could be useful for biomedical applications with further scientific investigations.
Ayapana triplinervis (Vahl) R.M. King & H. Robinson belongs to the family Asteraceae, is an erect, perennial, ethnomedicinal, ornamental herb and is widely used in various mystical religious rituals of the various traditional communities in Asia, Africa, and South America. The leaves are used as decoctions, teas, antiviral agents, blood coagulants, cardiac stimulants, expectorants, emetic laxatives, antiscorbutic and are widely used in wounds, bleeding stomachs, diarrhoea, etc. The main aim of the proposed work is the preliminary phytochemical screening, in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxicity and FTIR analysis of crude methanolic leaf extract of A. triplinervis. The preliminary phytochemical analysis reveals the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, tannins and saponins, whereas steroids were absent. In antioxidant analysis, the DPPH radical scavenging assay and the nitric oxide radical scavenging assay were selected. In both the assays, it was shown that the ability of the methanolic leaf extract had the highest scavenging effect on DPPH radical than that of nitric oxide radical, which was increasing with an increase in the concentration of the sample. In in vitro cytotoxic analysis, leaf extract showed potential cytotoxic activity against different cell lines like HCT 116 (Human Colon Cancer Cell Line) and MCF 7 (Human Breast Cancer Cell Line). The cytotoxic effect was expressed as IC50. The IC50 value against the HCT 116 cell line was 80.14±3.12 μg/mL whereas 94.02±2.43 μg/mL against the MCF7 cell line, which indicated that the crude leaf extract of A. triplinervis showed the highest cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines. The functional group identification of the active compounds in the plant samples based on the peak value is mainly done by FTIR analysis. This study revealed that crude leaf extract of A. triplinervis exhibits high antioxidant and cytotoxicity potentials and will be helpful for the sustainable utilization of the plant.
Mushrooms are a vital yet underused biological resource in India, intersecting nutrition, medicine, livelihoods, and ecosystem health. Contemporary research spans medicinal, edible, toxic, taxonomic, phytochemical, and socio-economic fronts. Medicinal genera such as Ganoderma and Pleurotus display antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects, yet translation into standardized clinical practice remains limited. Edible species including Termitomyces, Agaricus, and Lentinus provide high-quality proteins, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fibre, enhancing food diversity and micronutrient intake for rural and tribal households. Toxic species continue to pose a public-health challenge; amatoxins, orellanine, and muscarine can cause hepatic, renal, or neurotoxic syndromes, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and awareness. Taxonomic surveys across Indian hotspots keep revealing extensive macrofungal diversity, while molecular barcoding complements classical morphology for reliable identification. Phytochemical evaluations consistently report phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and saponins that underpin strong antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. Economic assessments show mushrooms are profitable, low-input enterprises that diversify income, create jobs, and support women’s entrepreneurship. Ethnomycological evidence points to deep cultural and therapeutic relevance, even as intergenerational knowledge erodes under rapid socio-economic change. Cultivation and ecological studies provide region-specific guidance on temperature, humidity, substrates, casing soils, and composting, enabling climate-responsive production systems. Overall, mushrooms connect nutrition, culture, ecology, and rural economies. Priority actions include clinical validation of therapeutics, conservation of wild fungal resources, improved toxicovigilance, stronger taxonomy using genomics, and integration of indigenous knowledge with modern biotechnology to realise their full potential for health, livelihoods, and sustainable development. Coordinated policy support, value-chain strengthening, and market linkages will accelerate adoption.
The Pokkali paddy fields of Alappuzha District represent a highly productive ecosystem characterized by rich algal biodiversity. The distribution of algal communities in this region is significantly influenced by climatic variations, biological interactions, physicochemical parameters, and cropping patterns. In the present study, the algal population in the Pokkali paddy fields of Chandiroor, Alappuzha was monitored across post-monsoon, pre-monsoon, and monsoon seasons from February 2023 to January 2024. The physicochemical parameters analyzed include temperature, pH, alkalinity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient analysis such as nitrate, phosphate, and silicate. Water temperature reached its minimum during the monsoon season and was highest in the period preceding the rains. During the post-monsoon season, both pH and salinity levels showed an increase relative to the other seasonal periods. Alkalinity also showed an increase in the post-monsoon period. The concentration of dissolved oxygen increased during the monsoon period compared to the other seasons. Nitrate concentrations peaked during the monsoon, while phosphate content was highest in the pre-monsoon season. Silicate levels were lowest during the monsoon. Cyanophycean members were dominant in the study area, contributing significantly to the nitrogen-fixing biomass in the paddy fields. Among them, species of Oscillatoria were observed to be the most frequent and abundant throughout the study period. A total of fifteen Oscillatoria species were collected and identified using standard taxonomic references.
The present study focused on optimizing the in vitro propagation of Morus indica L. (Mulberry) using varying concentrations of BAP (6-Benzylaminopurine) for shoot induction and NAA (Naphthalene Acetic Acid) for root initiation. The experimental design tested six different concentrations of BAP (0.5 to 3.0 mg/L) and NAA (0.5 to 3.0 mg/L) on nodal explants, with observations taken at 27 days after inoculation (DAI). The results revealed that BAP at 2.5 mg/L (T5) significantly enhanced shoot initiation, with a minimum initiation time of 6.5 days and the highest number of shoots per explant (6.75). The maximum shoot elongation (4.6 cm) was also observed in this treatment. For root initiation, the optimal NAA concentration was 2.5 mg/L (T5), which led to the highest rooting percentage (85%) and root length (4.5 cm). The findings demonstrate that a combination of 2.5 mg/L BAP and 2.5 mg/L NAA is most effective for improving both shoot and root development in M. indica, offering a promising protocol for large-scale in vitro propagation of this economically valuable species. This research holds significant importance for the mass production of M. indica plants, facilitating faster multiplication for commercial and environmental uses, including sericulture, where M. indica serves as a primary food source for silkworms. The optimized protocols from this work can be applied to enhance the efficiency of mulberry plant production, meeting the growing demands for quality mulberry plants in agriculture and industry.
