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Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), commonly referred as eggplant, represents a globally cultivated vegetable crop highly susceptible to numerous pests and diseases. The brinjal shoot and fruit borer (BSFB) emerges as a particularly detrimental pest, causing potential losses ranging from 70–92%. The absence of effective biological control necessitates extensive research to develop brinjal varieties resistant to BSFB as they will have the potential to furnish an eco-friendly, economically viable, and sustainable strategy for pest management in brinjal cultivation. The present study was carried out during 2022 and 2023 at Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala to identify superior lines exhibiting resistance to shoot and fruit borer from early segregating generations (F3 and F4) of the cross Ponni × Vengeri which was moderately resistant to BSFB. Both pedigree and single seed descent (SSD) methodologies were employed, revealing considerable variation in qualitative and quantitative traits, encompassing mean, range, and genetic parameters (GCV, PCV, H2, GA, GAM, skewness, and kurtosis) across successive generations. The persistence of trait variation in the subsequent generation was ensured from the absence of selection during the single-seed descent method. Superior lines, namely 1.2.18.8, 1.2.10.7 and 1.3.10.7 were identified through the pedigree method, while 1.3.11.2, 1.4.13.2 and 1.10.16.4 emerged as superior lines through SSD method, having resistance against BSFB.

The mangosteen fruit is mostly consumed for its pulp, and the rind, which accounts for more than 60 % of the total fruit weight, is discarded making it poor economic worth. The dark purple rind of mangosteen fruit is a rich source of anthocyanin pigment that can be used for food application if extracted using eco-friendly solvents. The aim of the study was to come up with an efficient, cheap and environmentally friendly method of anthocyanin pigment extraction from mangosteen fruit rind. Acidified solvent has shown to have higher recovery percentage of the pigment concentrate having higher TMAC (17,652.54 mg/L), colour density (1596.30 AU), polymeric colour (997.80 AU). Significantly highest recovery percentage (55.03), antioxidant activity measured by DPPH (2.29 l/ml), FRAP (2.83 l/ml), and ABTS (2.02 l/ml), total phenolics (32.25 mgGAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (40.02 mgQE/100 g), as well as the instrumental colour values indicating bright reddish-purple, were observed in microwave assisted extraction method with acidified solvent. By LC-MS/MS analysis, it was also evident that the rind contains a number of beneficial and health-promoting compounds, such as anthocyanins, xanthones, phenolics, flavonoids, coumarins, phoroglucinol derivatives, lignans, retinoids.

Storage pests and the food spoilage they cause are problems of great concern. Using essential oil obtained from different plants as an insecticide against these storage pests can be considered an environmentally friendly pest management option. Lantana camara Linn. (family Verbenaceae) is a flowering species, and is also a noxious weed that can proliferate well in nearly all geographical habitats. A biopesticide derived from the essential oil extracted from this plant can offer an effective solution for controlling storage pests. The goal of this study is to extract and analyse the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from L. camara leaves, and assess its effectiveness as a bioactive substance against three storage pests: Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne, and Callosobruchus chinensis. The yield of essential oil extracted from L. camara leaves was about 0.24 ± 0.014%. By employing the GC-MS technique, the major phytochemicals contained in L. camara leaf essential oil were identified as caryophyllene (69.96%), isoledene (12%), and ɑ-copaene (4.11%). The essential oil exhibited excellent fumigant toxicity (LC50 of 16.70 mg/L air for T. castaneum, 4.141 mg/L air for L. serricorne and 6.245 mg/L air for C. chinensis at 24 h), contact toxicity (LC50 of 8.93 mg/cm2 for T. castaneum, 4.82 mg/cm2 for L. serricorne and 6.24 mg/cm2 for C. chinensis after 24 h) along with effective repellent activity towards the test insects. In addition, the oil showed no significant phytotoxicity on the germination of paddy seeds. This presents the potential to utilize a weed in developing a biopesticide for effectively managing stored product insects because of its strong bioactivity.

Amongst natural colors, blue is probably the most difficult natural color to work with since the sources are scarce; the pigment color is dependant on pH and it is the least stable. Clitoria ternatea L. produces edible flowers that are rich sources of brilliant blue-colored anthocyanins called ''ternatins''. The present study was conducted with the objective of coming up with an efficient, low-cost, and eco-friendly method of anthocyanin pigment extraction from Butterfly pea flowers with the perspective of food application. Amongst different extraction methods used, aqueous method gave significantly higher TMAC (7925.29±36.07 mg/l) and per cent polymeric color (25.28±1.14 %), whereas higher recovery (73.17±1.76 %), antioxidant activity viz. DPPH (3.49±0.59 µl/ml), FRAP (3.99±1.10 µl/ml) and ABTS ((2.42±0.01 µl/ml), total phenolics (29.78±1.79 mgGAE/100 g), total flavonoids (20.13±0.40 mgQE/100 g), instrumental color values indicating brilliant-blue color viz. L* (27.74±0.73), a* (46.90±0.77), b* (-63.25±0.13) and chroma (78.74±0.38) hue angle (306.56±0.50) were observed in microwave assisted extraction (MAE) method. LC-MS/MS analysis of the pigment concentrate resulted in the detection of myristyl sulphate and DL-malic acid, having pharmacological significance. The proposed extraction method is the safest, economic, convenient, and eco-friendly solution for commercial anthocyanin extraction that can be up-scaled as a green-extraction technique at the industrial level.

Cinnamomum species are a group of plants belonging to the Lauraceae family. These plants are predominantly used as spices in various food preparations and other culinary purposes. Furthermore, these plants are attributed to having cosmetic and pharmacological potential. Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm. f.) J. Presl is an underexplored plant in the Cinnamomum genus. The present study evaluated the chemical composition by a GC-MS analysis and antioxidant properties of the essential oil from C. malabatrum (CMEO). Further, the pharmacological effects were determined as radical quenching, enzyme inhibition and antibacterial activity. The results of the GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 38.26 % of linalool and 12.43% of caryophyllene in the essential oil. Furthermore, the benzyl benzoate (9.60%), eugenol (8.75%), cinnamaldehyde (7.01%) and humulene (5.32%) were also present in the essential oil. The antioxidant activity was indicated by radical quenching properties, ferric-reducing potential and lipid peroxidation inhibition ex vivo. Further, the enzyme-inhibitory potential was confirmed against the enzymes involved in diabetes and diabetic complications. The results also indicated the antibacterial activity of these essential oils against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration analysis revealed a higher antibacterial potential for C. malabatrum essential oil. Overall, the results identified the predominant chemical compounds of C. malabatrum essential oil and its biological and pharmacological effects.

Curcuma species are widely used as a food additive and also in various medicinal purposes. The plant is a rich source of essential oil and is predominantly extracted from the rhizomes. On the other hand, the leaves of the plants are usually considered as an agrowaste. The valorization of these Curcuma leaf wastes into essential oils is becoming accepted globally. In the present study, we aim to extract essential oils from the leaves of Curcuma longa (LEO), C. aromatica (REO), and C. anguistifolia (NEO). The chemical composition of these essential oils was analyzed by GC-MS. Free radical scavenging properties were evaluated against the radical sources, including DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide. The antibacterial activity was assessed by the disc diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration analysis against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. Results identified the compounds α-phellandrene, 2-carene, and eucalyptol as predominant in LEO. The REO was predominated by camphor, 2-bornanone, and curdione. The main components detected in NEO were eucalyptol, curzerenone, α-lemenone, longiverbenone, and α-curcumene. Antioxidant properties were higher in the LEO with IC50 values of 8.62 ± 0.18, 9.21 ± 0.29, and 4.35 ± 0.16 μg/mL, against DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. The cytotoxic activity was also evident against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells; the LEO was found to be the most active against these two cell lines (IC50 values of 40.74 ± 2.19 and 45.17 ± 2.36 μg/mL). Likewise, the results indicated a higher antibacterial activity for Curcuma longa essential oil with respective IC50 values (20.6 ± 0.3, 22.2 ± 0.3, 20.4 ± 0.2, and 17.6 ± 0.2 mm). Hence, the present study confirms the possible utility of leaf agrowastes of different Curcuma spp. as a possible source of essential oils with pharmacological potential.

Citrus plants are widely utilized for edible purposes and medicinal utility throughout the world. However, because of the higher abundance of the antimicrobial compound D-Limonene, the peel waste cannot be disposed of by biogas production. Therefore, after the extraction of D-Limonene from the peel wastes, it can be easily disposed of. The D-Limonene rich essential oil from the Citrus limetta risso (CLEO) was extracted and evaluated its radical quenching, bactericidal, and cytotoxic properties. The radical quenching properties were DPPH radical scavenging (11.35 ± 0.51 µg/mL) and ABTS scavenging (10.36 ± 0.55 µg/mL). There, we observed a dose-dependent antibacterial potential for the essential oil against pathogenic bacteria. Apart from that, the essential oil also inhibited the biofilm-forming properties of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. enterica, and S. aureus. Further, cytotoxicity was also exhibited against estrogen receptor-positive (MCF7) cells (IC50: 47.31 ± 3.11 µg/mL) and a triple-negative (MDA-MB-237) cell (IC50: 55.11 ± 4.62 µg/mL). Upon evaluation of the mechanism of action, the toxicity was mediated through an increased level of reactive radicals of oxygen and the subsequent release of cytochrome C, indicative of mitotoxicity. Hence, the D-Limonene rich essential oil of C. limetta is useful as a strong antibacterial and cytotoxic agent; the antioxidant properties exhibited also increase its utility value.

The wastes generated during the post-harvest handling of various agricultural commodities is rather under-utlilized. The peels of citrus fruits are often discarded as waste. Citrus peels are rich in essential oils and exhibit toxicity towards various insect species. The essential oils are also an eco-friendly option for insect pest management. The Citrus maxima peel essential oil (CMEO), a waste product, characterized it, and evaluated its potential for insect pest management. The major terpenoids present in CMEO are Limonene and α-Pinene. The CMEO displayed potentials in controlling the insect pests via contact and fumigant toxicity. Moreover, CMEO showed significant larvicidal activities against Culex tritaeniorhynchus and Aedes aegypti species of mosquitoes; however, Armigeres subalbatus was more resistant. The biological safety of the essential oil was also tested against the stored seeds, where no significant inhibition of seed germination was noticed compared to the control. Utilizing a waste product such as citrus peel for pest management can achieve the dual objective of waste utilization and eco-friendly pest management. Overall, the CMEO is therefore found to be a bioactive essential oil extracted from the wastes of pomelo (C. maxima).