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Utilization of fruit peel wastes to grow thraustochytrids for nutritional enrichment of wastes will lower environmental and economic costs associated with feedstock specific for aquaculture industries. In this study, high-carbohydrate content agricultural wastes, such as orange, pineapple, banana, and mausambi fruit peels were enriched with essential fatty acids producing thraustochytrids Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276. Characterizations of fruit peels revealed the presence of high carbohydrate content (9–16%) and reducing sugars essential for the growth of thraustochytrids. Optimization for lipid production of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276 was carried out using response surface methodology (RSM) in combination with different concentrations of fruit peels in solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions. Fruit peels composed of SSF experiments were designed using a central composite design. Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276 cells efficiently utilized the sugar components of fruit peels for their growth and lipid accumulation. Different SSF composites made of fruit peels were significantly enriched with fatty acids of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276 cells. Culturing Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276 cells with these waste materials demonstrated distinct responses towards lipid accumulation at different compositions. The optimized SSF composite consists of 9.91 g 100 mL−1 orange, 5 g 100 mL−1 mausambi, 4.12 g 100 mL−1 pineapple, and 8.01 g 100 mL−1 banana peels and was enriched with 8.37% of Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276-derived lipids. This study expands the benefits and bioprocessing potential of essential fatty acids producing Aurantiochytrium sp. ATCC276 along with fruit peel wastes which a frontier in circular bioeconomy and valorizing waste for usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A readily distinguishable and indigenous member of the plant kingdom in the Indian subcontinent is the 'drumstick tree', i.e. Moringa oleifera Lam. In addition to India, this drought-tolerant and rapidly evolving tree is currently extensively disseminated across the globe, including subtropical and tropical areas. The plant boasts a high nutritional, nutraceutical and therapeutic profile, mainly attributing to its significant repertoire of the biologically active components in different parts: protein, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic acids, tannin, isothiocyanate, lipids, minerals, vitamins, amongst others. M. oleifera seeds have been shown to elicit a myriad of pharmacological potential and health benefits, including: antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective properties. Additionally, the seed cakes obtained from post-extraction process are utilized for: coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation purposes, benefiting effluent management and the purification of water, mainly because of their capability in eliminating microbes and organic matter. Despite the extraordinary focus on other parts of the plant, especially the foliage, the beneficial aspects of the seeds have not been sufficiently highlighted. The health benefits of bioactive components in the seeds are promising and demonstrate enough potential to facilitate the development of functional foods. In this review, we present a critical account of the types, characteristics, production and isolation of bioactive components from M. oleifera seeds. Furthermore, we appraise the: pharmacological activities, cosmetic, biodiesel, lubricative, modern farming, nutritive and wastewater treatment applications of these functional ingredients. We infer that there is a need for further human/clinical studies and evaluation, despite their health benefits. Additionally, the safety issues need to be adequately clarified and assessed, in order to establish a conventional therapeutic profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With newer anti-obesity medications (AOMs) being introduced at a rapid pace, it is prudent to make a concise and updated clinical practice document that may help busy clinicians in daily clinical practice. A group of metabolic physicians, diabetologists, endocrinologists, and bariatric surgeons assembled during the Integrated Diabetes and Endocrine Academy 2023 Congress (IDEACON, July 2023, Kolkata, India) to compile an update of pharmacotherapeutic options for managing people with obesity in India. After an extensive review of the literature by experts in different domains, this update provides all available information on the management of obesity, with a special emphasis on both currently available and soon-to-be-available AOMs, in people with obesity. Several newer AOMs have been shown to reduce body weight significantly, thus poised to make a paradigm shift in the management of obesity. While the tolerability and key adverse events associated with these AOMs appear to be acceptable in randomized controlled trials, pharmacovigilance is vital in real-world settings, given the absence of sufficiently long-term studies. The easy availability and affordability of these drugs is another area of concern, especially in developing countries like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelargonium graveolens L., essential oil (EO) has various therapeutic properties, including aromatherapy. The present experiment was designed to investigate chemical makeup of the P. graveolens (Geranium) EO from Northeast India using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID), and the pharmacological potential was determined using a range of assays along with Allium cepa assay for genotoxicity study. GC-MS analysis of the EO revealed the presence of 11 compounds with a total 97.43% identified area, with citronellol (32.84%), geraniol (23.62%), and citronellyl formate (12.14%) as the major compounds. The essential oil exhibited type-II anti-diabetic properties with an IC50 6.66 μL/mL and skin whitening potential IC50 of 1.89 μL/mL. P. graveolens EO (IC50 26.16 μL/mL) was found to possess comparatively weaker anti-inflammatory agent than the standard diclofenac (IC50 9.24 μL/mL) in the protease inhibitory test. The EO demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 22.68 μL/mL than ascorbic acid IC50 12.53 μL/mL in the ABTS assay. The EO was found to moderately affect the mitotic index (15.32%) and induce chromosomal aberrations (11.40%) at a concentration of 1 μL/mL after 72 h of exposure. Based on the findings the Northeast Indian variety of P. graveolens EO exhibits promising type-II anti-diabetic and skin whitening properties, which could be further utilized in the formulation of anti-diabetic and skin whitening agents after validation through clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, comparative analysis of skeletal muscle transcriptome was carried out for four biological replicates of Aseel, a fighter type breed and Punjab Brown, a meat type breed of India. The profusely expressed genes in both breeds were related to muscle contraction and motor activity. Differential expression analysis identified 961 up-regulated and 979 down-regulated genes in Aseel at a threshold of log2 fold change ≥ ±2.0 (padj<0.05). Significantly enriched KEGG pathways in Aseel included metabolic pathways and oxidative phosphorylation, with higher expression of genes associated with fatty acid beta-oxidation, formation of ATP by chemiosmotic coupling, response to oxidative stress, and muscle contraction. The highly connected hub genes identified through gene network analysis in the Aseel gamecocks were HNF4A, APOA2, APOB, APOC3, AMBP, and ACOT13, which are primarily associated with energy generating metabolic pathways. The up-regulated genes in Punjab Brown chicken were found to be related to muscle growth and differentiation. There was enrichment of pathways such as focal adhesion, insulin signaling pathway and ECM receptor interaction in these birds. The results presented in this study help to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with fighting ability and muscle growth in Aseel and Punjab Brown chicken, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatotoxicity caused by the overdose of various medications is a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury. Overdose of drugs causes hepatocellular necrosis. Nutraceuticals are reported to prevent drug-induced liver failure. The present article aims to review the protection provided by various medicinal plants against hepatotoxic drugs. Ayurveda is considered a conventional restorative arrangement in India. It is consistently used for ages and is still used today to cure drug-induced hepatotoxicity by focusing on antioxidant stress response pathways such as the nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf-2) antioxidant response element signaling pathway. Nrf-2 is a key transcription factor that entangles Kelch-like ECH-associating protein 1, a protein found in the cell cytoplasm. Some antioxidant enzymes, such as gamma glycine cysteine ligase (γ-GCL) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), are expressed in Nrf-2 targeted genes. Their expression, in turn, decreases the stimulation of hepatic macrophages and induces the messenger RNA (mRNA) articulation of proinflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor α. This review will cover various medicinal plants from a mechanistic view and how they stimulate and interact with Nrf-2, the master regulator of the antioxidant response to counterbalance oxidative stress. Interestingly, therapeutic plants have become popular in the medical sector due to safer yet effective supplementation for the prevention and treatment of new human diseases. The contemporary study is expected to collect information on a variety of therapeutic traditional herbs that have been studied in the context of drug-induced liver toxicity, as nutraceuticals are the most effective treatments for oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity. They are less genotoxic, have a lower cost, and are readily available. Together, nutraceuticals exert protective effects against drug-induced hepatotoxicity through the inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Its mechanism(s) are considered to be associated with the γ-GCL/HO-1 and Nrf-2 signaling pathways. The liver is the most significant vital organ that carries out metabolic activities of the body such as the synthesis of glycogen, the formation of triglycerides and cholesterol, as well as the formation of bile. Acute liver failure is caused by the consumption of certain drugs; drug-induced liver injury is the major condition. The chemopreventive activity of nutraceuticals may be related to oxidative stress reduction and attenuation of biosynthetic processes involved in hepatic injury via amelioration of the nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf-2) signaling pathway. Nrf-2 is a key transcription factor that is found in the cell cytoplasm resulting in the expression of various genes such as gamma glycine cysteine ligase and heme oxygenase-1. Nutraceutical-rich phytochemicals possess high antioxidant activity, which helps in the prevention of hepatic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify a preferred and cost-effective drug among Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) for Indian patients with T2DM. We performed a systematic literature search using standard databases for relevant literature. Original studies comparing the efficacy and/or safety of different DPP4Is were included. Two authors independently performed the literature search, screening, and collected relevant data from the selected studies. The costs of all brands of individual DPP4Is were noted and compared for lowest, highest, and average cost. Finally, we summarized the information with respect to Efficacy, safety, suitability, and cost to find the most cost-effective DPP4I. We found 13 eligible studies containing data on 15,720 subjects. These studies showed similar efficacy (or better) and safety with teneligliptin as compared to other DPP4Is. Teneligliptin also showed additional benefits other than the glycemic control. The average cost per tablet of teneligliptin 20 mg was markedly lower as compared to sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and other commonly used DPP4Is. Teneligliptin also outscored other commonly used DPP4Is in India in suitability and seems to have better patient compliance. Teneligliptin 20 mg could be considered as the preferred and most cost-effective agent among commonly used DPP4Is for the effective management of patients with T2DM in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saline and alkaline habitats of the Okha coastline, Gujarat, India, were explored for the diversity of actinobacteria. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity, nine haloalkaliphilic actinobacterial strains were characterized and identified. The PCR amplification of 16S rDNA using universal and genus-specific primers corroborated the trends that emerged through cultural and physiological characterization. Streptomyces was the most abundant genus amplified with the Streptomyces-specific primers (StreptB/E, StreptB/F), whereas other actinobacterial strains were amplified by the universal primers U1 and U2. Further molecular diversity was investigated by the gradient PCR-DGGE as a fingerprinting tool that generated group-specific DGGE patterns. Based on the nucleotide homology and phylogenetic analysis, strains OK-1 and OK-2 were identified as Streptomyces somaliensis. At the same time, OK-3 and OK-7 were detected as Streptomyces sp., while OK-5, OK-6, OK-8, OK-9, and OK-10 belonged to Nocardiopsis alba. Further, the cluster analysis using the UPGMA method generated 3 clusters based on biochemical characterization, sugar utilization, and enzyme production. The dendrogram based on the DGGE band pattern created with Jaccard-distance revealed two major clades with 33.33% similarity. Further, the study of alpha diversity calculation using phenotypic characteristics discloses highly diverse sugar utilization abilities. Moreover, a stress value of 0.1236 was obtained based on the NMDS analysis of the plots using Bary-Curties dissimilarity. Overall, the distinct phenotypic, metabolic, and molecular profiling illustrated the diversity among marine actinobacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants produce variety of secondary metabolites in response to stress. The study aimed to evaluate the soil moisture stress on oil content & composition of German chamomile conducted in, 2020 and 2021 at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant, Research Centre, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India. The treatments were T1 (just before irrigation), T2 (24 h after irrigation), T3 (72 h after irrigation), T4 (120 h after irrigation), and T5 (168 h after irrigation). Results showed that maximum oil content (0.26 & 0.57 ml/100g) was found in fresh and dry flowers, respectively of T2 & oil content decreased as the days to irrigation increased. GC results showed that the percentage of major compounds was lowest (74.02%) while maximum in acute drought conditions i.e. before irrigation (92.12%). Results suggest that soil moisture stress reduces the oil content however, the quality of oil is enhanced due to increased production of secondary metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was carried out for three consecutive kharif season of 2018, 2019 and 2020 to evaluate the performance of different levels of chemical phosphatic fertilizers and FYM in combination with PSB inoculant on groundnut growth, yield, quality and nutrient uptake in an acidic Red and Laterite soil. Application of higher dose of phosphatic fertilizer along with PSB inoculant yielded better results with respect to groundnut plant height, nodulation, pegs and pods plant−1, weight of mature pods plant−1, kernel and haulm yield, protein and oil content, and nutrient uptake. Treatment combination T7 (60 kg ha−1 of P2O5 + PSB inoculant) was observed as the best treatment combination for deriving maximum growth, yield and nutrients uptake of kharif groundnut crop. Treatment T6 (application of 40 kg ha−1 of P2O5 + PSB inoculant) reported similar results. However, maximum profit ($862), benefit cost ratio (2.7) and net return per unit cost of input was significantly higher in T7 compared to T6. Thus, we recommend application of 60 kg ha−1 of P2O5 with PSB inoculant (T7) for the light textured acid soils of Red and Laterite zone of India for higher production and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and its pools is important for understanding C budgeting and ecosystems services of any land use. The present study was conducted to quantify SOC stock and its pools of different oxidizability (very labile, labile, less labile and non-labile C), microbial biomass C and mineralizable C at different depths (0–0.15, 0.15–0.30 and 0.30–0.50 m) of selected 26 rice growing Inceptisols located in the subtropical Manipur valley, India. Results of this study showed that organic C stock in 0–0.50 m depth of the rice growing Inceptisols varied from 55.7 to 133.5 Mg ha−1 and there was a decrease in SOC stock along depth. The rice growing Inceptisols under subtropical climate of northeast India are characterized by cooler climatic conditions and soil acidity, which are favorable for SOC accumulation. The study also showed that more than two-third (72.0%) of SOC is present in active pools with rapid turnover. Therefore, much of the SOC in these soils is very susceptible to changes in management practices such as increased tillage intensity, inappropriate cropping without legume and inadequate fertilization and in weather conditions such as increased temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human migration in response to past climate change has been recorded globally. The pastoralist Todas are believed to have colonised the higher elevations (>2000 m asl) of the Nilgiris, Western Ghats, India, after ∼2000 cal. yr BP. During the late Quaternary, climate-induced vegetation shifts in tropical montane forest-grassland mosaic of the Nilgiris have been well-documented using stable carbon isotopes and pollen, but there have been no corresponding investigations of human activity. We used several proxies to infer the human ecology of this region. Radiocarbon-dated (∼22,000 cal. yr BP to the present) peat from Sandynallah (2200 m asl) was used to reconstruct fire history, animal abundance, and human presence since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). While macro-charcoal records fires at the LGM, macro- and micro-charcoal indicate intense fire at ∼3500 cal. yr BP, coprophilous fungal spores indicate abundant herbivorous mammals, n-alkane signatures point to arid grassland vegetation, and steroid biomarkers show human faecal remains for the first time. We infer that a pastoralist people, most likely the Todas, migrated to the montane Nilgiris along with their buffaloes in response to prolonged or abrupt climate change in peninsular India ∼3500 cal yr BP or ~1500 years prior to what historical accounts assume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clausena excavata Burm. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Rutaceae. It is well known for its ethnomedicinal uses and therapeutic activities. This plant has been used in different traditional systems of medicine for the treatment of various diseases worldwide. In the present study, the chemical composition of essential oil and phytochemical contents of methanol extract of C. excavata leaf were performed. Further, the therapeutic activities of essential oil and methanol extract of C. excavata leaf were evaluated. The chemical composition of essential oil was analyzed by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Myristicin (33.92%), terpinolene (21.29%), and sabinene (13.65%) were found to be the major compounds in leaf essential oil. Similarly, the phytochemical composition of the methanol extract of C. excavata leaf was analyzed using standard procedures. The phenolic content (165.23 mg GAE/g DW) was found to be the major phytoconstituents followed by alkaloids (89.30 mg/g DW) in leaf methanol extract. Furthermore, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities of the essential oil and methanol extract were evaluated. C. excavata essential oil showed more antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 15.92 μg/mL; ABTS IC50 41.85 μg/mL; FRAP IC50 39.9 μg/mL) compared to leaf methanol extract. Similarly, essential oil exhibited higher antidiabetic activity (in terms of α-amylase inhibitory capacity) (IC50 97.50 μg/mL) compared to methanol extract and lower antidiabetic activity in comparison to the standard (IC50 71.9 μg/mL). The anticancer activity of essential oil was found to be more effective against the PC-3 cell line (IC50 39.1 μg/mL) while leaf methanol extract was more effective against OVCAR-3 (IC50 47.5 μg/mL), MCF-7 (IC50 48.1 μg/mL), and h-1299 (IC50 45.9 μg/mL). C. excavata essential oil exhibited lower antimicrobial activity compared to leaf methanol extract. In summary, this study on the characterization of phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities of C. excavata leaf essential oil could be helpful in exploiting its therapeutic potential sustainably as well as the discovery of new lead molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health problem. Tobacco smoking as a risk factor for anemia is often ignored. To study the tobacco smoking-associated risk for IDA. This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Dehradun, India from January 2019 to December 2020. One hundred ten patients having IDA (serum ferritin < 15 mcg/l) and an equal number of controls were randomly selected and assessed regarding their tobacco smoking status and type, quantity, and duration of tobacco used. Seventy-six (69.1%) patients with IDA were tobacco smokers and were predominantly males (51cases, 67.1%) and beedi smokers (52 cases, 68.4%). The odds ratios (ORs) for the association of smoking tobacco (cigarette and beedi collectively), cigarette, and beedi with IDA were 7.60 (p < 0.0001), 2.79 (p = 0.01), and 5.68 (p < 0.0001), respectively. OR for developing IDA was more among light smokers (OR = 7.72, p < 0.0001) and increased with duration of smoking (p < 0.0001). IDA was not significantly associated with confounding risk factors like malnutrition (OR = 1.00, p = 1.00), low socioeconomic status (OR = 0.64, p = 0.21), dietary habits (OR = 1.43, p = 0.45), and place of residence (OR = 0.93, p = 0.88). Tobacco smoking has a strong association with IDA. Both beedi smoking and cigarette smoking have a significant association with IDA. The risk of IDA is more among light smokers and is duration-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The Kadaknath, an Indian fowl, is popular for its taste and health benefits. However, there is scarcity of information on its histology, haematology and biochemistry. 2. Histology was conducted on various organs, including brain, heart, intestine, liver, kidney and the lung. For haematology investigation Mispa Count Plus was used (AGAPPE Diagnostic, India). 3. Biochemical analysis involved determination of blood sugar, serum creatinine, serum urea, serum bilirubin, SGPT, serum protein and the alkaline phosphatase. The organs contained significant amounts of proteins characterised by strong amide (amide I-β-sheet) bands within mid and NIR region. 4. Hydrated fatty acids were not found in mid IR region, although NIR revealed traces substantiated by strong – OH bending within 10 680/cm -10 400/cm. 5. This work reported the usefulness of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) in understanding nutritive benefits of Kadaknath chickens and can assist avian practitioners in the detection of infections or pathological conditions. This work sheds a light on histology & biochemical features of an Indian black fowl Kadaknath. The studied organs demonstrated significant amount of proteins characterised by strong amide (amide I-β-sheet) bands within mid and NIR region. NIR revealed traces of hydrated fatty acid substantiated by strong – OH bending within 10 680 cm-1–10400 cm-1. This work assist avian practitioners to detect any associated infection or pathological condition of the fowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as the most prevalent cause of death in India. Pro-protein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) gene has been found to be associated with lipid levels and a biomarker for susceptibility of CVD. To study the association of PCSK9 SNPs rs505151 & rs562556 and their haplotypes with CVDs in the Indian population. The present study comprised of 102 angiographically proven CVD patients & 100 healthy subjects. To study polymorphism, Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used. Biochemical parameters were analysed by enzymatic methods or automated analysers. Haplotype analysis was done using SHEsis software. The dominant genetic model with an odds ratio (confidence interval) of 4.71 (2.59 − 8.5), (p value =.0001), shows the risk of CVDs. However, rs562556 (I474V) variant was not found to be associated with clinical parameters and risk of CVDs (p value >.05). Out of four haplotypes, H3 (G-A) was found to be associated with the CVDs (OR- 3.137, p value =.0001). This study concludes that G allele of rs505151 SNP (PCSK9) and the H3 (G-A) haplotype of rs505151 & rs562556 were found to be risk factors for CVDs in the Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have increased at an alarming rate, recently. In India, stubble burning and air pollution due to the burning of agricultural and forest residues have also increased over the past decade causing environmental and health hazards. This work evaluates the anti-biofilm property of the aqueous phase obtained from pyrolysis of wheat straw (WS AQ) and pine cone (PC AQ) against an MRSA isolate. The WS AQ and PC AQ compositions were determined by GC-MS analysis. The minimum inhibitory concentration was found to be 8% (v v−1) and 5% (v v−1) for WS AQ and PC AQ, respectively. The eradication of biofilms was performed on hospital contact surfaces namely, stainless steel and polypropylene and found to be 51% and 52% for WS AQ and PC AQ, respectively. Compounds identified from the aqueous phase of WS and PC docked against AgrA protein showed good binding scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus plants have a secure and important place in human health. Citrus is not only significant for its delicious fruits but also because of certain medicinal and pharmacological properties. The presence of secondary metabolites like flavonoids, limonoids, alkaloids, phenolics and coumarins has dramatically increased its efficacy in treating bacterial and fungal infections. Emergence of new and improved extraction techniques has helped researchers to isolate novel phytochemicals from citrus species, and there is a greater attention. Numerous studies throughout the world have focused to isolate novel metabolites from citrus plants. There is a rich biodiversity of citrus species in the Indian subcontinent based on climatic condition which supported the growth and maintenance of diverse varieties. Analysis of metabolomic and medicinal properties of local citrus plant will aid in understanding their importance in pharmacological industry. The present review is focused on the medicinal and secondary metabolite profile of citrus plants from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the taxonomic resolution of fossil pollen identification and establishing the kinship and similarity among phylogenetically related plant groups are inevitable for advancing the Quaternary palaeoecological, palaeoclimatological and palaeoenvironmental research. We, in the present study, examined and determined the pollen morphological characteristics of nine plant taxa belonging to seven families from central India by a combined light microscopic (LM) and confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) study. The prime object was to observe, document and describe, as well as illustrate the prevalent variation in pollen shape, size, aperture number and diameter, diameter of the polar axis and equatorial distance, as well as exine thickness and pattern (i.e. pollen wall architecture) of the studied plant taxa. Pollen identification key was developed to demonstrate variations in pollen features and delimit taxa for correct identification. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggests exine and aperture number as dominant characters, as well as hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), applied to the pollen morphological characters of nine plant taxa to understand the variability among the taxa, and to cluster them, respectively, suggest three clusters. The cophenetic correlation coefficient also substantiates the three group of clustering. The present study has significance in taxonomy and systematics, as well as in phylogeny and evolution. In addition, the preservation potential of different pollen grains has been ascertained, based on the pollen wall architecture. The study, moreover, will improve the precise fossil pollen identification, which is critical for advancing Quaternary palaeoecology in India and also in similar tropical and subtropical areas of the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current mixed-method study uses Food Frequency Questionnaires and 24-hour dietary recalls (n = 41) to assess the food/nutrient intake; and qualitative interviews to identify local perceptions of food among 41 early postpartum women in Belgaum, India. The results show that total energy, protein, and most micronutrient intake were significantly lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance of India (p <.05 individually); ninety percent of mothers restricted the consumption of some specific fruits, vegetables, and other foods during postpartum due to their perceptions of foods, folk medicines, and health beliefs. Culturally sensitive programs relevant to postpartum diet practices for women should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sundarbans mangrove is a transitional zone between terrestrial land and sea, a unique location in our global geography. This study identifies the richness and population dynamics of bacterial populations along different seasons in the rooted and unrooted regions of soil sediments in Sundarbans, West Bengal. Throughout the year, bacterial populations were higher in the rooted sediment zone, than the unrooted area. The rooted zone contains more silt and clay but the unrooted zone harbours more silty, sandy soil. Salinity is lower in the unrooted zone. The heterotrophic bacterial populations were higher than other types of bacteria in both regions irrespective of seasonal variation. The results revealed that the most varied seasons were the monsoon season in the rooted and unrooted sediment region. The changes identified in this study were most likely due to variances in the microhabitat associated with mangrove root, physicochemical parameters and seasonal fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) supply and harvest timing through 'reaping and re-growth' method are critical determinants of yield and quality in hydroponically grown leafy vegetables. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was chosen as a test crop for evaluating the effect of nitrogen applications and harvesting times. In India, farmers often apply N without guidance and improperly harvest leafy vegetables. Therefore, it is essential to determine the optimum N supply and harvesting time for yield and quality enhancement of hydroponically grown lettuce. We studied the effect of different levels of N (4, 6, 8 and 10 mmolL−1) and two harvest timings on the growth attributes and quality of lettuce. The higher N levels (10 and 8 mmolL−1) showed pronounced positive effects on growth, yield, and quality of lettuce. However, the dry matter yield and ascorbic acid content decreased with the increase in N levels. For a continuous supply of fresh cut leaves of lettuce and to optimize leaf nitrate content, the plants has to be harvested by adapting cut and come again method during winter season. The average growth rate, showed significant positive response to N. The present study demonstrates that optimum levels of N (10 mmolL−1) and harvest through cutting (after 45 days of harvesting) significantly increase the leaf yield and quality of the lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypericum gaitii (Hypericaceae) is an endemic and endangered perennial shrub having ethnobotanical and medicinal importance. In the present study, the variation in the yield and chemical composition of essential oil (EO) isolated from aerial parts of plants belonging to seven wild populations of H. gaitii from Eastern India was investigated for the first time. The essential oil yield obtained through hydrodistillation varied in the range of 0.20 and 0.45% (vol/wt) on fresh weight basis. GC-FID and GC-MS analysis led to the identification of 83 chemical constituents accounting for 79.04%–99.7% of the total oil. The essential oils were rich in α-pinene (0.09%–58.55%), allo-aromadendrene (0.32%–24.54%), δ-cadinene (0.09%–22.17%), n-nonane (5.04%–16.23%), β-caryophyllene (0.08%–14.00%) and α-selinene (0.18%–20.64%). Agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) and principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the essential oils of H. gaitii populations into three different chemotypes: chemotype I (α-pinene), chemotype II (allo-aromadendrene) and chemotype III (δ-cadinene). The result demonstrated that geographical origin of populations and environmental factors greatly influence the yield and chemical composition of the essential oil of H. gaitii. The chemical polymorphism detected in the studied populations would facilitate selection of genotypes with specific compounds or desired essential oil properties suitable for specific industrial applications and for conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-water shrimps are non-conventional culinary delicacies due to the presence of essential nutrients, although they are predominantly unexplored marine fishery resources. The nutritional composition of deep-water shrimp species Aristeus alcocki, Heterocarpus chani, Plesionika quasigrandis, Solenocera choprai, and Metapenaeopsis andamanensis captured from Arabian Sea (southwest coast of peninsular India) was determined. The shrimp demonstrated a well-composed essential/non-essential amino acids ratio (0.76-0.84). Among other deep-water shrimps, protein content, total aromatic, and sulfur-enclosing amino acids were substantially higher in A. alcocki (12.69 g 100 g-1, 344 and 270 mg 100 g-1 wet tissue, respectively). The C20-22n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid analogues (docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid) were found to be in appreciable quantities (82-130 and 56-120 mg 100 g-1 wet edible portion, respectively) in the studied deep-water shrimp species. Lower thrombogenicity and atherogenicity indices (0.16-0.32 and 0.35-0.53, respectively) acknowledged the studied deep-water shrimp species as valuable health food items for cardioprotection and anti-platelet aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the end of 2019 and 2020s, a wave of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) epidemics worldwide has catalyzed a new era of 'communicable infectious diseases'. However, the world is not currently prepared to deal with the growing burden of COVID-19, with the unexpected arrival of Hantavirus infection heading to the next several healthcare emergencies in public. Hantavirus is a significant class of zoonotic pathogens of negative-sense single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA). Hemorrhagic renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) are the two major clinical manifestations. Till date, there is no effective treatments or vaccines available, public awareness and precautionary measures can help to reduce the spread of hantavirus disease. In this study, we outline the epidemiology, virology, clinical aspects, and existing HFRS and HCPS management approaches. This review will give an understanding of virus-host interactions and will help for the early preparation and effective handling of further outbreaks in an ever-changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although stable hydrogen (δ2H) and carbon (δ13C) isotopic compositions of bird feathers have been increasingly used to understand the migration of birds through assignment of individuals to established isoscapes, far less is known about the structure of feather isoscapes based on stable sulphur isotope (δ34S) assays. While δ2H isoscapes have been used to investigate the migratory origins of the Globe Skimmer (Pantala flavescens) dragonfly in India, no isotope studies have been applied to avian migration patterns in that region. Here, based on museum collections, we report the feather δ34S values of 13 avian species that included marine birds with expected 34S enriched feathers, resident birds throughout India and a single migratory species, Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus). Feathers from the marine birds were the most enriched (20.6 ± 1.2 ‰, n = 10; range = 4.4 ‰) in 34S but terrestrial resident species also showed unexpectedly high δ34S values (11.7 ± 4.8 ‰, n = 74; range = 19.9 ‰) throughout most of India but the Himalayan region and Gangetic plain typically showed δ34S values less than 6.4 ‰. Our results show the utility of feather δ34S studies to decipher avian and other animal migration between these two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objectives of this study were PHEs concentration meta-analysis (Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cd) in eggplant irrigated by wastewater and the following estimation of non-carcinogenic (n-CR) risk for the consumers based on countries. According to the results, the rank order of PHEs concentration in eggplant was Fe (88.3 mg/kg -dry weight) > Zn (10.1 mg/kg -dry weight) > Pb (3.0 mg/kg -dry weight) > Ni (2.7 mg/kg -dry weight) > Cu (1.1 mg/kg -dry weight) > Cd (0.9 mg/kg -dry weight) > Cr (0.05 mg/kg -dry weight). Moreover, n-CR risk showed that all investigated countries (China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Jordan) except for United Arab Emirates (UAE) had a considerable n-CR in both age groups (adults and children). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesua ferrea Linn. is used traditionally in India and South East Asian countries as an antiseptic, antidote and a brain tonic. Recent pharmacological studies on the plant have highlighted M. ferrea to be a rich source of secondary metabolites, with proven therapeutic applications. Since the toxicity of a plant following repeated exposure is of higher clinical significance, the present investigation was conducted to establish the subacute toxicity profile of the ethanolic extract of Mesua ferrea flowers (MFE). The study was conducted in accordance with the OECD Guideline 407, wherein MFE was administered orally to groups of male and female rats (n = 5/group/sex) at the doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg, over a period of 28 days. Repeated administration of MFE had no adverse effect on the growth rate and hematological parameters of the animals. There were no changes in the biochemical parameters, except for a slight decrease in the CHOL (total cholesterol) levels, and an increase in the levels of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase), at the highest dose. The latter corroborated with the histopathological findings exhibiting mild lymphocytic infiltration and hepatocyte degeneration observed in the liver tissues of both sexes. According to the study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of M. ferrea in the 28-day repeated dose toxicity study in rats was 500 mg/kg. Though the overall effects of the extract at the highest dose did not translate into any serious complications, its effect on hepatic function needs to be established over a longer period of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triterpenoids and fatty alcohols were identified from the sediments of five mangrove ecosystems (Kunjimangalam, Pazhayangadi, Pappinissery, Thalassery, and Kadalundi) in the northern Kerala coast, India, to illustrate the organic matter sources. Straight chain fatty alcohols in the range C12–32 were detected, and among these the long chain fatty alcohols (C20–32) were exclusively even chained compounds. Branched fatty alcohols (6,10,14-trimethyl-pentadecan-2-ol and 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecanol) of bacterial origin were detected in a few observations. Twenty triterpenoids were detected from the study region in which 13 of them were sterols. Triterpenoids originated from higher plants such as stigmasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, taraxerol, lupeol, germanicol, β-amyrin, α-amyrin, and betulin were identified in the study. Brassicasterol, a diatom marker and dinosterol, a dinoflagellates marker were also detected in the study region. An elevated % composition of dinosterol and dissolved oxygen super-saturation were noticed in Kunjimangalam during pre-monsoon, which may suggest elevated input of algal organic matter in the mangrove system. Cholesterol transformation products such as coprostanol and epi-coprostanol were detected, which indicated the presence of fecal contamination in the sedimentary organic matter. From the ternary diagram, it was recognized that the organic matter contribution from marine algae was feeble as compared to terrestrial input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigeon Pea is a well-received traditional nutritious and medicinal plant in India since ancient times. The plant is identified for its impressive pharmacological activities like antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antitubercular, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antihypertensive, antihyperglycemic and anticancer properties. The metabolites from Pigeon Pea leaves methanolic extract were identified using hyphenated instruments namely Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopic (LC-MS) method. GC and LC chromatogram showed proper separation and presence of several bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, essential oils, alkaloids, and coumarins. LC-MS investigation reported the presence of Selidin (coumarin) and Tamarixetin (monomethoxyflavone) in the Pigeon Pea Leaves. The present investigations have demonstrated that methanolic extract of Pigeon Pea leaves exhibited impressive antibacterial activity against E. coli and antifungal activity against C. albicans with MIC values 50 μg/ml 250 μg/ml respectively. The extracts studied here have demonstrated to be a new remedial source used against diseases caused by these microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophytes, being oldest terrestrial plants, are still relatively less explored for their bioactive compounds and therapeutic potential. In the present study nine bryophytes collected from Mount Abu (72.7083°E 24.5925°N) Rajasthan, India, showed significant total flavonoid and phenolic contents. Overall, the study projects the selected bryophytes as potential antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants growing in alkaline soil are prone to iron (Fe) deficiency. Under the effect of Fe deficiency, plants produce high amounts of reactive oxygen species, which are toxic to plant tissues and cellular components. Antioxidant enzymes play a crucial role in protecting plants from the deleterious effect of Fe deficiency. Blackgram is extensively grown in India preferring loamy soils with pH 6.5–7.8 leading to Fe deficiency. In the present study, antioxidant responses of two contrasting blackgram cultivars, "Sonkush SB23-5" and "Manas SB32-13", have been studied under Fe deficiency. A significant decrease in growth and biomass was observed in stressed plants as compared to control. "Sonkush" recorded higher hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents. Maximum decline in catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase and polyphenol peroxidase activities was recorded for "Sonkush" in leaves and roots. An increase in superoxide dismutase content was positively correlated with ferric chelate reductase and negatively with other antioxidative enzymes under Fe deficiency. The antioxidative responses as observed for both cultivars infer that a part of their tolerance against Fe deficiency is contributed by antioxidants. However, the work also holds the potential for further studies to explore the other tolerance mechanisms included against the stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is to establish the adaptive capabilities of wild and captive Indian Sloth Bear based on changes in the biochemical responses influenced by the gender, age and habitat. The free-ranging and captive sloth bears that were residing in Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre, Bangalore, Karnataka, India were chosen for this study. An analysis of serum biochemical variables like glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), albumin, total protein (TP), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase/alanine aminotransferase aspartate aminotransferase (SGPT/ALT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase/aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT/AST), urea, alkaline phosphatase, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) was determined in Indian sloth bear. The study was conducted during the years 2017 and 2018 in the state of Karnataka, India. Statistically, no difference was found in the biochemical variables between the sexes. Instead, age and habitat-related significant differences were found in certain biochemical variables like cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, urea and AST. The findings of this analysis serve as a reference to assess the health and physiological status of Indian sloth bear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The beneficial effects of many substances have been discovered because of regular dietary consumption. This is also the case with curcumin, whose effects have been known for more than 4,000 years in Eastern countries such as China and India. A curcumin-rich diet has been known to counteract many human diseases, including cancer and diabetes, and has been shown to reduce inflammation. The effect of a curcumin treatment for neurological diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy; Alzheimer's disease; Parkinson's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; multiple sclerosis; and others, has only recently been brought to the attention of researchers and the wider population. Methods: In this paper, we summarise the studies on this natural product, from its isolation two centuries ago to its characterisation a century later. Results: We describe its role in the treatment of neurological diseases, including its cellular and common molecular mechanisms, and we report on the clinical trials of curcumin with healthy people and patients. Discussion: Commenting on the different approaches adopted by the efforts made to increase its bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has escalated in recent decades, and the risk of diabetes-related mortality has increased dramatically due to the co-existence of hypertension (HTN). DM and HTN, having similar aetiology and disease mechanisms, are influenced by lifestyle factors and greatly contribute to critical health complications. This study attempted to explore the co-existence of DM–HTN and the potential determinants considering the rapid upsurge of both these diseases. National Family Health Survey data were used, which included 7092 adult diabetic individuals, to find out the prevalence rate of HTN in diabetic persons in India. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed to accomplish the study objectives. Prevalence rate of HTN in diabetic individuals was approximately 37%. Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with DM–HTN co-existence. In males, increased age, higher BMI, alcohol consumption, poorest wealth index, and non-smoking (tobacco) were the significant determinants of the co-existence of DM-HTN, while in females, they were increased age, higher BMI, and geographical region. This study unveiled the significance of healthy lifestyle maintenance and equitable health care services to prevent HTN among diabetics, along with promotion of the awareness and management of DM and HTN through appropriate pharmacological treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psyllium gum is a hydrocolloid found in the husk of seeds from Plantago ovata. Psyllium husk has been used in traditional medicine in areas of India and China. Its consumption has been shown to provide nutritional benefits, such as the capacity to reduce the glycaemic index, to minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases, to decrease cholesterol and constipation problems and others. Thus, interest in the incorporation of psyllium in food products is twofold. First, it can be a natural alternative to the use of other gums and hydrocolloids considered additives. Second, it can be used to improve the nutritional properties of products in which it is incorporated. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to add great quantities of psyllium. This review analyses the potential use of psyllium in distinct food products, considering its advantages and inconveniences as well as possible solutions for undesired effects. Among the analyzed products there are bakery products and, in particular, gluten-free breads where psyllium has been used as a gluten substitute. The incorporation of psyllium into dairy products such as yogurts and those derived from fruits, among others, is also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stauroneis Ehrenberg is a species-rich genus that is common and widespread with some variation in frustule morphology. Recently, studies have explored the molecular diversity of the Stauroneis from the temperate region, but there are no molecular data for tropical species. In the present study, four species of Stauroneis were investigated using morphological and molecular data. Morphological characters were analysed using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the features of each taxon were compared with similar species within the genus. For the molecular analyses, Stauroneis strains were isolated, cultured, DNA was extracted, and sequences from rbcL and 18S genes were analysed to determine phylogenetic relationships. Our analysis describes three new species and records one previously known species. The new species are: (1) Stauroneis lateritica Wadmare, Kociolek & B.Karthick, characterized by small frustules with elliptical lanceolate valves and short subrostrate apices, broad central bow-tie shaped stauros, and few moderate striae centrally becoming strongly radiate towards the poles; (2) Stauroneis sholaii Wadmare, Kociolek & B.Karthick, which has broad lanceolate valves with short rectangular stauros and radiate striae; and (3) Stauroneis bartii Wadmare, Kociolek & B.Karthick, which has large, lanceolate valves with rounded apices, a stauros with 4–7 shortened striae and radiate striae. Ultrastructure and molecular data from India for the previously known, widespread species Stauroneis gracilis Ehrenberg are presented. The combined morphological and molecular approach supports recognition of S. lateritica, S. sholaii and S. bartii as new species. This study is the first-ever attempt at molecular species discovery of diatoms from the Indian subcontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The local people of the delta region of Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu, India) were surveyed to explore the therapeutic medicinal plants used in folk medicine in the study area. The people belonged to four agricultural rural villages in the study region. The medicinal plants data was validated using frequency citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), relative importance (RI), cultural importance index (CIi), informant agreement ratio (IAR), informant consensus factor (IFC) and fidelity level (FL). The survey identified 77 indigenous plants from 43 families, of which Fabaceae was used 12% followed by Rutaceae (6%), Lamiaceae and Cucurbitaceae (each 5%), Solanaceae (5%) and others (63%), used for treating 20 ailment categories. Among plant parts, leaves were the most used in the form of powder. Acorus calamus, Bauhinia racemosa, Borassus flabellifer, Myristica fragrans, Sphaeranthus indicus, Withania somnifera and Cissampelos andromorpha warrant further pharmacological investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study was to understand the relationship of menopausal status with BMI and blood pressure. The study area was selected through multistage sampling technique covering six districts of West Bengal, a state located at the eastern part of India. 1400 participants were selected for the study. The participants were divided into four groups on the basis of menopausal status: early and late perimenopausal; early and late postmenopausal. Results shows that menopausal status was significantly associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), after controlling the effect of covariates such as participants' age, reproductive behavior, diet and addiction to tobacco use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work has been aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil of Trachyspermum ammi L., seeds by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method (GC/MS), antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power assay; anti-inflammatory investigation using protein denaturation assay and anti-diabetic activity using the α-amylase inhibitory assay. The essential oil was further evaluated for antibacterial activity against various gram-positive bacteria Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Streptococcus mutans and gram-negative bacteria Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enterica and compared with the standard Ciprofloxacin. Again, the antifungal activity was investigated against Fusarium keratoplasticum, Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cereviaceae, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus and compared with the standard Fluconazole. The GC/MS analysis of Ajwain essential oil revealed the presence of thymol (50.43%) as the major compound followed by other minor and trace compounds. Ajwain essential oil showed better antioxidant activity than that of standard as revealed by DPPH radical scavenging assay with Ajwain essential oil IC50 3.09 μL/mL which was better performing than ascorbic acid with IC50 8.87 μL/mL. The IC50 value of 21.38 μL/mL was shown by Ajwain essential oil followed by ascorbic acid 79.13 μL/mL in ABTS assay. The in-vitro anti-inflammatory assay revealed Ajwain essential oil as a good candidate for strong natural inflammation inhibitory drug formulation with an IC50 value of 93.12 μL/mL in albumin denaturation assay. Significant α-amylase inhibitory activity was also reported with an IC50 = 22.02 μL/mL better than standard acarbose IC50 = 22.46 μL/mL. Weak antimicrobial activity was reported against all the thirteen tested bacterial and fungal strains. From all the aforementioned results it can be concluded that the presence of the polyphenolic compound thymol (50.43%) resulted in strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities of Ajwain essential oil, which resembles the use of thymol in the future as natural, cost-effective and potential antioxidant, inflammation inhibitory and anti-diabetic precursor for drug formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long postpartum anestrus is one of the factors responsible for low reproductive efficiency. The present study was carried out to identify probable follicular fluid protein markers of postpartum anestrum buffaloes by proteomics approach. Ovum pick-up technique was used to collect follicular fluids from 23 buffaloes pertaining to postpartum estrus, anestrus and cystic follicular fluid. Pooled follicular fluids samples from each group were further divided into supernatant and cell lysate and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Densitometric analyses revealed the presence of 767 total protein spot and out of which 34 were unique in the studied groups. With the aid of mass spectrometry, the 34 protein spots were identified and among them apolipoproteins (A-I, A-II, A-IV), serum amyloid A-4, adenylate kinase 2, alpha-fetoprotein, heat shock protein beta-1, protein kinase C-binding protein, complement C1q subcomponent, integrin beta-7 and cadherin-23 have been established to play one or other role in ovarian endocrinology. Moreover, using bioinformatics tool, gene ontology and protein–protein interactions among the identified protein were also analyzed. To our knowledge, this is the first report on identification of proteins involved in postpartum anestrus of buffaloes from India which are to be validated further to establish its relationship with postpartum anestrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria and malnutrition are major public health problems in India, especially in the rural and tribal communities, and also remain primary causes of morbidity and mortality among children younger than five years. Both diseases are synergistic with each other. It is essential to have a better understanding of the intricate relationships between malnutrition and malaria to target interventions in areas where both diseases coexist. This article highlights the synergistic relationship between malnutrition and malaria, and how malnutrition and malaria play a significant role in disease severity and eventually hinder the elimination of these diseases by 2030. The government and several private sectors have made a substantial dent through various programmes and schemes. However, supplementing nutrition-sensitive measures, including easy accessibility to a healthy balanced diet, safe drinking water and improved sanitation, is necessary. Therefore, if India really aims to achieve its dream of disease elimination (malaria and all forms of malnutrition) by 2030, it is imperative that tribal regions are given more attention and all possible strategies are applied in the country's remotest corners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]