Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) is a diverse group of oncogenic viruses and causative agent of bovine papillomatosis which affects the cattle industry by contributing significant economic losses. The present study was aimed to detect and characterize BPV by molecular methods viz., polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. The wart samples (n = 10) were aseptically collected from clinically affected cattle and buffalo cases. DNA extraction was carried out directly from the wart samples and then PCR was performed to detect BPV by using BVP specific L1 gene. All wart samples were positive for BPV by PCR targeting the L1 gene with an amplicon size of 480 bp. The histopathological examination of wart samples revealed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, fusion of rete pegs and characteristic rete pegs with koilocytes. The DNA sequencing of highly conserved L1 gene was carried out for molecular typing of BPV prevailing in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu (India). The sequences showed 95.9 to 100% identity with BPV type 1 of genus Deltapapillomavirus. Phylogenetic analysis of L1 region indicated that all sequences were clustered with BPV 1. It may be concluded that nucleotide sequencing of L1 fragment of BPV showed efficiency in identification and typing of BPV cases. In this study BPV 1 strains were found to be the cause for cutaneous warts in cattle and buffalo.

In Mizo traditional medicine, the scholar tree (Echites scholaris) is a therapy for various illnesses including blood disorders and malarial infection. To evaluate its antimalarial property, the bark extracts were prepared using solvents (chloroform and petroleum ether) of differing polarities. The plant extracts were tested on two strains of human malarial parasite, a drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum (Pf3D7) and a multidrug-resistant strain (PfK1). In a notable finding, the plant extracts were effective against both the strains. The chloroform-based extract exhibited high activity showing a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 14.0 µg mL-1 against Pf3D7 and 10.0 µg mL-1 against PfK1. The petroleum ether-based extract was slightly less potent with IC50 of 22.0 µg mL-1 against Pf3D7 and 26.7 µg mL-1 against PfK1. In terms of potentiality of drug resistance, the petroleum-based extract exhibited extremely low level of resistance (Ri = 1.2), while chloroform-based extract at all showed no resistance (Ri < 1). Cytotoxicity test against VERO C1008 cells revealed that the plant extracts were highly safe, having half-maximal cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) far exceeding the toxicity threshold. From gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis, cis-3-hexenyl acetate and 3-decyn-2-ol were identified as major phyto-compounds in chloroform-based extract, while linoelaidic acid, phthalic acid, and 2-ethylbutyl nonyl ester were predominant in petroleum ether-based extract. Computational binding of compounds against vital proteins such as Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (VAR2CSA) and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) indicated high ligand binding capacity. This study validates the antimalarial application of the plant and the rationale for further molecular and pharmacological investigations.

Climate variability plays a crucial role in regulating the phenological patterns of plants and the developmental dynamics of associated insects. This study examined the phenology of willow (Salix alba) and the developmental stages of the gypsy moth (Lymantria obfuscata) over two consecutive years (2022- 2023) using Julian dates and accumulated degree days (DD). Significant inter-annual variations were observed in both the plant and insect development. In 2022, vegetative bud burst occurred earlier (Julian day 53, 0.55 DD) than in 2023 (Julian day 60, 3.86 DD), with similar delays observed in flowering and late season events. Increased DD requirements in 2023 suggest climatic influences on phenological timing. Gypsy moth development also shifted temporally. In 2022, key stages such as egg hatching and adult emergence occurred earlier and at lower DD thresholds as compared to 2023. Adult emergence was recorded at Julian day 158 (945.30 DD) in 2022 and at day 165 (492.22 DD) in 2023, indicating altered developmental dynamics. Population peaks differed between years, with a mid-June peak in 2022 (40 individuals, 608.65 DD) and a delayed, smaller peak in 2023 (35 individuals, 593.88 DD). These findings highlight the influence of temperature on plant insect synchrony and demonstrate the value of degree day models for predicting phenological responses under changing environmental conditions.

Isolation of genomic DNA of high-quality is a prerequisite for molecular genetic characterisation of any plant. Genomic DNA is usually extracted from plant leaves for downstream applications such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Plants have to be grown in field or pots for leaves. In white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir), raising the plants in fields is a challenging task due to tuber dormancy in many genotypes. DNA can be directly extracted from yam tubers, obviating the need to raise plants in fields. However, high concentrations of secondary metabolites like polyphenols and polysaccharides in yam tubers may affect the genomic DNA extraction. A simple, rapid, inexpensive CTAB based modified method with high PCR fidelity was standardised for DNA isolation from tubers without using liquid nitrogen. Fresh tubers and tuber samples prepared by alcohol-drying, freezing and oven-drying were employed for genomic DNA isolation. The quantity, quality and PCR-fidelity of DNA isolated from various methods were verified and compared with the DNA isolated using liquid nitrogen. Alcohol-dried tuber tissues provided consistent, high-quality genomic DNA with absorbance ratio A 260/280 of 1.787-1.854 and a concentration of up to 1.8 µg µL-1 with ISSR profile comparable to that of tuber DNA isolated using liquid nitrogen.

Initial trials on MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells with the crude methanolic extracts of Asparagus racemosus tubers (MAR) and Boerhaevia diffusa leaves (MBD) revealed pro-oestrogenic and anti-oestrogenic activities, respectively. To evaluate their effects on steroidogenic pathway, the present study assessed the modulation of expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P45011A1 (CYP11A1), and aromatase (CYP19) genes in extract-treated MCF-7 cells. Naringenin, a known CYP450 inhibitor, served as the positive control. Shade-dried plant materials were extracted in methanol, and cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay to determine IC₅₀ values. The IC₅₀ of MAR, MBD and naringenin were 267, 170, and 395 µg mL-1, respectively. Cells were treated with IC₅₀, half, and double IC₅₀ doses of the test materials for 96 h, followed by RNA extraction and qRT-PCR analysis using GAPDH as a reference gene. MBD and naringenin significantly downregulated StAR and CYP19, indicating antioestrogenic effects, whereas MAR upregulated CYP11A1 expression, suggesting enhanced steroidogenesis. The findings indicate that A. racemosus promotes oestrogen biosynthesis and may be beneficial in hormone deficiency, while B. diffusa exhibits antioestrogenic and potential anticancer activity in hormone-responsive cancers.

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder caused due to inadequacy of insulin or resistance leading to the increase in blood glucose level. This study was aimed to use plant-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for its anti-diabetic potential. The AgNPs of drumstick (Moringa oleifera), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) and periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) were prepared using green synthesis approach. Characterization of plant-based AgNPs was performed to confirm the synthesization of nanoparticles by three methods viz., UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). UV-visible spectroscopy showed surface plasmon resonance peak at 400 nm for M. oleifera-AgNPs (MO-AgNPs), and 401 nm for both C. roseus-AgNPs (CR-AgNPs) and A. esculentus-AgNPs (AE AgNPs). FTIR was used to determine various functional groups present in these AgNPs. FESEM showed spherical nanoparticles of 12-22, 21-46 and 13-49 nm for AE-AgNPs, CR-AgNPs and MO-AgNPs, respectively. The size distribution of AgNPs was done using dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis which showed maximum AgNPs at 50 nm (CR-AgNPs), 70 nm (AE-AgNPs) and 40 nm (MO AgNPs). The plant-based AgNPs showed significant antidiabetic potential against carbohydrate digestive enzymes like amylase and glucosidase. All the three synthesized AgNPs showed increase in the -amylase and -glucosidase enzyme. D-glucose diffusion retardation index (GDRI) of AE AgNPs and MO-AgNPs was almost same as the standard drug, acarbose, used for diabetes treatment. Hence, the above plant-based AgNPs possess anti-diabetic potential and can be used in diabetic related medicine formulations.

Among natural products the phytochemicals are emerging as an important area of research, wherein lichens have attracted immense attention for their exceptional potency to cure various diseases. To explore the phytochemical and medicinal importance of lichens from India Heterodermia boryi, H. diademata and Lobaria retigera were analysed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Hexane-, chloroform- and methanolic-extracts of each lichen were assessed for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The methanolic extracts of lichens showed the presence of 68 phytochemicals like hydroxychalcone, normethadol, pinostilbene, pipemidic acid, iodohiistidine, pyridine, pheophorbide a, chromone, isoorientin, dimethoxyflavone, perchloryl fluoride, sulforaphane and carvacrol. Methanol extracts of all the three species showed highest zone of inhibition ranging from 10.7±0.06 to 26.8±0.06 mm. All the extracts of three species exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against S. typhi followed by K. pneumoriae. Of the three extracts methanol extracts of both H. boryi and H. diademata showed the highest antioxidant activity with 0.899 and 0.62 mg g-1 ascorbic acid equivalent, respectively. While hexane and chloroform extracts of H. boryi showed highest radical scavenging activity followed by hexane and chloroform extract of H. diademata and hexane extract of L. retigera.

A field experiment was conducted under arid conditions of western Rajasthan (India) to evaluate the efficacy of pre- and post-emergence herbicides for weed management in chia (Salvia hispanica L.). The study employed a randomized block design with ten treatments, comprising of two doses each of bentazon (500 and 750 g ha-1), fluazifop-p-butyl (100 and 200 g ha-1), sulfentrazone (50 and 75 g ha-1), and pendimethalin (200 and 400 g ha-1), and weed-free control, and a weedy check. Key weed control indices viz., weed control index (WCI), weed persistence index (WPI), crop resistance index (CRI), and herbicide efficiency index (HEI), were assessed along with crop growth and yield parameters. The results revealed that sulfentrazone @ pendimethalin @ 400 g ha-1, applied as pre-emergence herbicides, provided superior early-season weed control with WCI values of 85.4 and 82.7% at 30 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. Among post-emergence treatments, bentazon gave highest WCI (83.2%) at harvest and demonstrated superior CRI (9.33) and HEI (2.45), indicating strong crop safety and herbicide effectiveness. The highest seed yield (554 kg ha-1) was obtained in weed-free treatment, followed by bentazon @ 750 g ha-1 (495 kg ha-1) and sulfentrazone @ 75 g ha-1 (467 kg ha-1) treatments, showing the respective yield increases of 90.4 and 60.5% over weedy check. The study suggested that an integrated weed management approach, combing pre emergence herbicides (sulfentrazone or pendimethalin) with post-emergence bentazon, can significantly improve weed control and productivity in chia under arid farming systems.

The study was carried out to formulate and evaluate the suitability of different germinated millet flour incorporation in mango, pineapple and pomegranate ready-to-serve (RTS) beverages. Incorporation of germinated foxtail millet or little millet flour @ 1% in mango, pineapple and pomegranate RTS beverages showed high dialyzable iron in germinated foxtail millet incorporated (GFMI) mango (2.47 µg mL-1 (1.65 µg mL-1 ), GFMI pineapple (2.68 µg mL-1 ) and GMFI pomegranate ) RTS beverages as compared to the germinated little millet incorporated (GLMI) mango (1.51 µg mL-1 ), GLMI pineapple (1.11 µg mL and GLMI pomegranate (1.38 µg mL-1-1 ) RTS beverages and respective control samples. Similarly, predicted glycemic index (GI) was 95.76 to 105.91, 93.86 to 103.90 and 98.62 to 110.60 in germinated foxtail millet flour, little millet flour incorporated beverages and their control samples, respectively; even though the GI of all the samples did not fall under low GI range. The findings suggest that germinated millet flours can be incorporated to increase dialyzable iron content and reduce GI of fruit beverages with further increasing the incorporation amount in fruit beverages and validation with adequate in vivo studies.

Colon cancer is the 3 rd most prevalent cancer globally, presenting significant epidemiological and economic challenges. Natural products have shown promise as effective alternatives to hemotherapy. The present study was aimed to study the anticancer potential of rat’s ear Commelina forskaolii) on HT-29 colon cancer cells, focusing on cytotoxic activity, antioxidant potential, and underlying molecular mechanisms. The cytotoxic activity of the ethanolic extract of C. forskaolii was assessed by measuring IC 50 value on HT-29 cell lines, enzymatic antioxidant potential and heme oxygenase activity. Gene expression and cell cycle analyses were performed to explore molecular mechanisms. The extract demonstrated significant cytotoxic activity with an IC 50 mL-1 value of 27.4 ± 0.25 µg . Cell cycle analysis showed that C. forskaolii effectively arrested the cells at G0/S phase. Additionally, the study revealed an increase in lipid eroxidation and intracellular iron accumulation, leading to the formation of lipid-iron radicals and triggering ferroptosis. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was found to regulate cellular iron levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, where moderate HO-1 activity offered cytoprotection, but excessive activity in cancer cells led to oxidative cell death. The findings suggest that C. forskaolii may serve as a valuable natural treatment for colon cancer, targeting oxidative processes that induce cancer cell death and anticancer activity.

The use of natural carotenoids in fish-feed to intensify the colouration is a sustainable and cost-effective choice for ornamental fish farmers to meet the demand of radiant ornamental fish within budget. Onion (Allium cepa) peel powder in formulated feed was used to restore natural colour in Indian rosy barb (Pethia conchonius) fish. A basal diet was prepared by using fishmeal, soybean meal, groundnut oil cake, rice bran, wheat flour, starch powder, soya oil and vitamins & minerals. Experimental diets were prepared by replacing equivalent rice bran with onion peel powder at three concentrations viz., 5% (D1 ), 10% (D 2 ), and 15% (D 3 ) of the basal diet (D 0 ). The feeding trial was conducted for 60 days. At the end of feeding trial, a significant increase in total carotenoids concentration (4.3 ± 0.2 µg g-1 ; p < 0.05) and weight gain (35.17%) was observed in rosy barb of D 2 (10%) diet. All the tanks showed 100% fish survival. The result revealed that 10% inclusion of onion peel powder in diet of Indian rosy barb can give a fruitful impact on restoration and retention of rosy barb’s natural colour in home aquaria.

Twelve castor genotypes were evaluated across ten environments in India during kharif 2022 to assess the genotype performance and to identify the stable and high-yielding genotypes. Genotype plus genotype x environment interaction (GGE) biplot for seed yield were employed to evaluate the genotype × environment interaction (GEI). The polygon view of GGE biplot revealed the "which-won-where" pattern of genotypes across different environments, with ‘SHB-1082’ and ‘SHB-1083’ occupying the vertices of the polygon. ‘SHB-1083’ emerged as the top performer in Bengaluru, while ‘SHB-1082’ excelled in S.K. Nagar for seed yield ha-1. The genotypes ‘ANDCH-1936’ and ‘SHB-1083’, with the shortest vectors from the average environmental coordinates (AEC) line, were identified as highly stable across the test environments, exhibiting higher mean seed yield ha-1 as compared to the checks. In contrast, genotypes ‘SKI-416’ and ‘DCS-107’, positioned opposite to the AEC arrow, were identified as lower-performing across the environments. Among the genotypes, ‘SHB-1082’ and ‘SHB-1083’ stood out for their significantly higher seed yield potential and stability across the test environments, as demonstrated by GGE biplot analysis.

Conservation agriculture (CA) based zero-tillage system has gained prominence for its potential to improve soil health, enhance nutrient cycling, and increase carbon sequestration in soil. Knowledge about the changes in soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics under no-tillage and different cropping systems is necessary to assess the feasibility of adopting conservation agriculture to sustain soil health and productivity. This study compared conventional tillage (CT) and zero-tillage (ZT) systems, and three cropping systems (soybean-wheat, maize-wheat and maize-chickpea) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The experiment was established in 2010 on a Vertisol in Bhopal, India. After the completion of the 14th cycle of the experiment (2023-24), soil samples were collected from each plot and analysis processes were executed. The soil under ZT had found significantly higher concentrations of soil organic carbon (0.93%), total organic carbon (1.23%), very labile pool (0.55%), labile pool (0.19%), non-labile (0.36%) and total carbon (1.39%) than CT at 0-10 cm depth. Available nitrogen (229.83 kg ha-1) and total nitrogen (0.133%) also had significantly higher in ZT than CT at surface soil. Tillage and cropping systems had no significant impact on soil inorganic carbon and mineral nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate nitrogen). Therefore, under Vertisols, 14 years of ZT practices are likely to improve organic carbon concentration and increase the availability of nitrogen in soil, allowing a positive trend for soil preservation and carbon sequestration in soil.