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Background: Child labor is considered one of the main social problems that affect the community and has a physical and psychosocial impact on a child's health, growth, and development. The study aimed to describe the sociocultural discourses of children involved in child labor. A macroethnographic approach was used to collect the data from the selected community areas of Punjab, India. Materials and Methods: A community-based qualitative study using purposive sampling was carried out among children engaged in child labor (n = 8). The data were gathered through in-depth or semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation under four phases: community context assessment, egocentric network analysis, validation, and dissemination of study findings. The guide for consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) was followed. Ongoing analysis was conducted using Spradley's analysis approach to identify the themes. Results: Thematic analysis resulted in the emergence of various themes related to child labor, namely, adaptability, money-centric attitude, sense of being underserved, social deprivation, work burden, reduced emotional expression, workaholism, abuse, family shoulder, family cohesion, and sense of industry. Apart from that, inhuman living and working conditions, as well as school deprivation among study subjects, were observed. Poverty emerged as the single most compelling factor for child labor in India. Conclusion: The study concluded that child labor had a negative impact on children's overall development. An effective intervention to stop child labor is if vulnerable children are identified through primary healthcare, and a relationship of trust is built that allows for the provision of health care, education, support, and referral to additional services outside the health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Banded leaf and sheath blight (BLSB) of maize is an emerging disease in the northwest region of India. The present study investigates the potential role of defense-related enzymes in imparting resistance against Rhizoctonia solani in seven inbreds, viz., LMDR-2, CM-143, CM-600, LM-11, LM-12, LM-13 and LM-14, and four maize hybrids, viz., PMH1, PMH2, PMH4 and JH3459. The enzyme activities were determined from the leaf sheaths collected at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 h post-inoculation. The results indicated a spike in the expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POX) and catalase (CAT) at 72 h post-inoculation following pathogen challenge in different maize inbreds/hybrids. The moderately resistant group (LMDR-2 and JH3459) showed significantly higher activities than the susceptible group (LM-11, LM-12, CM-600, PMH4 and PMH2). A strong positive correlation was observed between different enzymes at 72 and 96 h after inoculation. Lesion length showed negative correlation with the activities of enzymes studied. Our results indicated that PAL, PPO, POX and CAT played key roles in providing BLSB resistance in maize inbreds/hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania somnifera is commonly known as 'Ashwagandha' and referred to as Indian Ginseng and is a member of family Solanaceae. Withania somnifera and its chemical components possess various toxicological and pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anti-cancer and many antimicrobial activities. These properties strongly suggest a wide range use of Ashwagandha for clinical applications. This review will discuss the areas for which Ashwagandha has shown therapeutic and antimicrobial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Host plant resistance is one of the most promising alternatives to insecticides to manage the shoot fly, Atherigona naqvii Steyskal, which is a major biotic constraint to spring sown maize in northern India. In present studies, Nineteen maize inbreds selected from diverse sources were characterized for resistance traits against shoot fly under its natural infestation using moistened fishmeal. Though the antixenosis to shoot fly for oviposition was not observed in the test genotypes. But, the presence of significant variation in the deadhearts incidence revealed the existence of relative amount of resistance among the test genotypes. The Tolerance (measured in the terms of less proportion of deadhearts out of total shoot fly incidence (leaf injury + deadhearts)) and Antibiosis (in terms of larval and pupal weight, duration and survival) were recognized as key mechanisms of this resistance. Tolerance to shoot fly was significantly more in resistant inbreds, SO1SHYQBBB13B, HK12-6-2-4, DMSC 28, CM 143 and Winpop 8 (29.46–36.56%) in comparison to the susceptible genotypes SE 563 and LM 16 (46.31–47.44%). The correlation and stepwise regression analyses revealed that the more seedling vigor, less leaf area, less number of leaves and thin stem had significant impact on the shoot fly deadhearts incidence and provided resistance against this pest. The total soluble sugars (TSS), proteins and amino acids were significantly higher in the susceptible inbreds; whereas, total phenols and tannins; and activities of defensive enzymes viz. phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were significantly higher in resistant inbreds. Further, the stepwise regression revealed that the larval period, per cent pupation, pupal weight female, pupal weight male and adult emergence of shoot fly were significantly influenced by PAL activity, which explained 71.5, 82.9, 47.0, 29.8 and 39.9% of their total variation, respectively. PPO activity significantly influenced the pupal period (R2 = 59.7%) whereas, the larval weight was significantly influenced by amino acids (R2 = 56.9%), proteins (R2 = 10.2%) and TSS (R2 = 7.7%). So, the correlation and regression analyses revealed that these physico-chemical characters of the maize inbreds can be utilized as reliable markers traits to identify resistant sources to develop shoot fly resistant maize hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern corn leaf blight, caused by Drechslera maydis, is the most prevalent fungal disease in maize growing regions of India. This is the first study that identified genotypic variability among maize genotypes, LM 13, CM 140 and LM 15 (highly resistant, moderately resistant and highly susceptible towards infection, respectively) on the basis of metabolite profiling, using 1H-NMR and FTIR techniques. High intensity peaks of quercetin, ascorbic acid, glycine betaine and flavonoids were observed in the inoculated leaves of LM 13 by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. LM 15 showed intense peaks of alanine, γ- amino butyric acid (GABA), fatty acids and threonine in their leaves. FTIR spectral analysis of the inoculated leaves of LM 13 and CM 140 genotypes showed O–H stretching vibrations of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and the C–O–C bending vibrations of cellulose and hemicelluloses in their cells. These vibrations were absent in the infected leaves of LM 15. Principal component analysis showed that the primary and secondary metabolites contributed significantly towards genotypic variability. It may thus be concluded that the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids and lignin might be responsible for inducing resistance against infection. Threonine, GABA, malic acid, fatty acids and the unassigned metabolite could be regarded as potential biochemical markers for disease susceptibility. • First ever report to explore the utilization of 1H-NMR and FTIR techniques for metabolite profiling of maize genotypes showing differential response towards southern corn leaf blight infection. • 1H-NMR - quercetin, ascorbic acid, glycine betaine and flavonoids contributed resistance against fungal infection. • Alanine, γ- amino butyric acid (GABA), fatty acids and threonine contributed towards the susceptibility of genotype. • Findings supported by score plot of principle component analysis and FTIR analysis. • The metabolites identified - potential markers for disease tolerance/susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is one of the 12 mega diversity countries in the world so it has a vital stake in conservation and sustainable utilization of its biodiversity resources. Plant secondary metabolites have been of interest to man for a long time due to their pharmacological relevance. With this in view, the bark powder of Acacia auriculiformis, A. nilotica, Juglans regia, and the fruit powder of Terminalia bellerica, T. chebula, Emblica officinalis, and a combination drug "Triphala," which are known to be rich in polyphenols, were tested for their antimutagenic activities. Antimutagenic activities of the extracts were estimated by employing the plate incorporation Ames Salmonella histidine reversion assay by using the frame shift mutagen tester strain TA98 and base pair substitution strain TA100 against direct acting mutagens (NPD, sodium azide), and the S9-dependent mutagen 2-aminofluorene(2AF). Acetone extracts of all the plants exhibited significant antimutagenic activities among the other extracts tested, but an acetone extract of Acacia nilotica showed a marked anti-mutagent effect. Furthermore, it was more effective against indirect acting mutagen, 2AF, in both TA98 and TA100 tester strains of Salmonella typhimurium than against the direct acting mutagens. The results indicate that an acetone extract of bark and fruit of the medicinal plants under study harbors constituents with promising antimutagenic/anticarcinogenic potential that could be investigated further., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)