The current study evaluates the cytogenetic effects of chromium (III) oxide nanoparticles on the root cells of Allium cepa. The root tip cells of A. cepa were treated with the aqueous dispersions of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) at five different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100μg/mL) for 4hr. The colloidal stability of the nanoparticle suspensions during the exposure period were ascertained by particle size analyses. After 4hr exposure to Cr2O3 NPs, a significant decrease in mitotic index (MI) from 35.56% (Control) to 35.26% (0.01μg/mL), 34.64% (0.1μg/mL), 32.73% (1μg/mL), 29.6% (10μg/mL) and 20.92% (100μg/mL) was noted. The optical, fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopic analyses demonstrated specific chromosomal aberrations such as—chromosome stickiness, chromosome breaks, laggard chromosome, clumped chromosome, multipolar phases, nuclear notch, and nuclear bud at different exposure concentrations. The concentration-dependent internalization/bio-uptake of Cr2O3 NPs may have contributed to the enhanced production of anti oxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase to counteract the oxidative stress, which in turn resulted in observed chromosomal aberrations and cytogenetic effects. These results suggest that A. cepa root tip assay can be successfully applied for evaluating environmental risk of Cr2O3 NPs over a wide range of concentrations.

Marigold (Tagetes erecta), besides being an ornamental plant, has various medicinal properties—it is nematocidal, fungicidal, antibacterial and insecticidal and aids in wound healing. Our work is focused on the blood clotting activity of its leaf extracts. Extraction was done by conventional as well as the Soxhlet method, which was found to be much more efficient using a 1:1 ratio of ethanol to water as solvent. Blood clotting activity of the leaf extract was examined using prothrombin time test using the Owren method. For both extraction methods, the yield percentage and coagulation activity in terms of coagulation time were analysed. Marigold leaf extract obtained using the Soxhlet method has shown very good blood coagulation properties in lower quantities—in the range of microlitres. Further research is needed for identification and quantification of its bioactive compounds, which could be purified further and encapsulated. Since marigold leaf has antibacterial properties too, therefore, it might be possible in the future to develop an antiseptic with blood coagulation activity.

Capasicum annuum or sweet bell pepper is one of the more economical and agriculturally viable vegetable grown all over the world owing to its antioxidant and other medicinal properties. This review highlights the essential enzymes present and its mode of action using bioinformatics online tools viz. uniprot, swissprot and Brenda enzyme db and ExPAsy protein databases. The enzymes viz. peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, tyrosinase, catecholase, Pectin esterase, Catalase, 9-lipoxygenase, Lasparaginase, Polygalactouronase, Capsanthin and Ribulose-Phosphate 3-Epimerase contribute to its properties by various molecular mechanisms. Understanding of these mechanisms will be helpful for application of these enzymes in food processing and in the production of food ingredients. The increasing sophistication of processing industries creates a demand for a broad variety of enzymes with characteristics compatible with food processing conditions for e.g. shelf life of fruits and vegetables can be increased by decreasing the levels of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase