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Groundwater arsenic (As) contamination is a global public health concern. The high level of As exposure (100‐1000 μg/L or even higher) through groundwater has been frequently associated with serious public health hazards, e.g., skin disorders, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory problems, complications of gastrointestinal tract, liver and splenic ailments, kidney and bladder disorders, reproductive failure, neurotoxicity and cancer. However, reviews on low‐level As exposure and the imperative health effects are far less documented. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has set the permissible standard of As in drinking water at 10 μg/L. Considering the WHO and USEPA guidelines, most of the developed countries have established standards at or below this guideline. Worldwide many countries including India have millions of aquifers with low‐level As contamination (≤50 μg/L). The exposed population of these areas might not show any As‐related skin lesions (hallmark of As toxicity particularly in a population consuming As contaminated groundwater >300 μg/L) but might be subclinically affected. This review has attempted to encompass the wide range of health effects associated with chronic low‐level As exposure ≤50 μg/L and the probable mechanisms that might provide a better insight regarding the underlying cause of these clinical manifestations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to create mass awareness about the health effects of chronic low‐level As exposure and planning of proper mitigation strategies. The current review is an attempt to compile the huge arena of health effects due to chronic low‐level As exposure as well as to throw an insight into the probable mechanisms involved with the myriad of clinical manifestations. The objective is to bring the deleterious health effects of As exposure, even at low levels, to the attention of people from both the scientific and the non‐scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackgram, one of the most nutritious legume is under constant threat of viral pathogen Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) causing yield losses of 85–100%. Despite the advances in omics studies, the molecular mechanism associated with viral proliferation and counter resistance thereof, is still not thoroughly understood. The current investigation deciphered transcriptomic dynamics in MYMIV resistant (Mash114) and susceptible blackgram (KUG253) genotypes, in continuation with our previous study on tagging of MYMIV resistance. A total of 10,768 and 19,013 genes were expressed differentially in MYMIV inoculated resistant and susceptible cultivars, respectively. These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) predominantly related to defence mechanism such as protein phosphatise inhibitor, signalling receptor activity, abscisic acid binding, hydrolase activity, and glutathione transferase activity. The genes involved in photosynthesis and ribosomal genes were predominant DEGs among the disease recognition and resistance related DEGs. Beside this hormone induced defence pathway i.e., abscisic acid mediated signaling pathway was enriched by DEGs and could be the plausible mechanism for conferring resistance against MYMIV through restriction of virus by callose deposition at plasmodesmata. Here we identified the four major DEGs i.e. thaumatin like protein, serine threonine protein kinase, putative DNA (cytosine 5) – methyl transferase and chlorophyll a - b binding protein of LHCII type 1-like with putative role in disease resistance against MYMIV , seated in vicinity of previously tagged MYMIV resistance locus on chromosome 6. Chlorophyll a - b binding protein of LHCII type 1-like DEG was aiding viral proliferation in KUG253 with upregulation in susceptible and downregulation in resistant inocultated plants, as compared to its constant expression in uninoculated plants. • MYMIV triggers genes involved in callose deposition at plasmodesmata by ABA signalling to restrict viral movement in blackgram. • Chlorophyll a - b binding protein of LHCII type 1-like DEG was aiding viral proliferation in KUG253. • Four major DEGs were seated in vicinity of previously tagged MYMIV resistance locus on chromosome 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acalypha indica Linn. is a weed, used traditionally for different skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis in various parts of India. There are no previous in vivo studies reported on the antipsoriatic potential of this medicinal plant. The aim of this study was to investigate antipsoriatic activity of coconut oil dispersion of aerial portion of Acalypha indica Linn. Few lipid-soluble phytoconstituents of this plant were subjected to molecular docking studies on different targets to determine phytoconstituent responsible for antipsoriatic activity. Virgin coconut oil dispersion of aerial portion of the plant was prepared by mixing three parts of coconut oil and one part of powdered aerial portion. The acute dermal toxicity was determined according to OECD guidelines. Mouse tail model was used to evaluate the antipsoriatic activity. Molecular docking of phytoconstituents was carried out using Biovia Discovery Studio. In acute dermal toxicity study,the coconut oil dispersion was found to be safe up to the dose of 20000 mg/kg. The dispersion exhibited significant antipsoriatic activity (p < 0.01) at the dose of 250 mg/kg; at 500 mg/kg dose, the activity was similar that of 250 mg/kg dose. In the docking study of the phytoconstituents, 2-methyl anthraquinone was found to be responsible for antipsoriatic activity. This study provides new evidence of Acalypha indica Linn as antipsoriatic plant and justifies its traditional use. Computational studies also endorse the results obtained via acute dermal toxicity study and mouse tail model for evaluation of antipsoriatic potential. [Display omitted] • Aerial portion of Acalypha indica Linn. was dispersed in coconut oil (1:3) to evaluate antipsoriatic activity. • Some lipophilic bioactives were docked on different molecular targets involved in the pathophysiology of psoriasis. • The results indicated safety at the dose of 2000 mg/kg and efficacy at 250 and 500 mg/kg dose levels. • Molecular docking studies also endorsed the antipsoriatic potential of aerial portion of Acalypha indica Linn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]