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Abstract Background and purpose Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a powerful tool, which might go a long way in reducing radiation doses to critical structures and thereby reduce long term morbidities. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of IMRT in reducing the dose to the critical normal tissues while maintaining the desired dose to the volume of interest for thoracic malignancies. Materials and methods During the period January 2002 to March 2004, 12 patients of various sites of malignancies in the thoracic region were treated using physical intensity modulator based IMRT. Plans of these patients treated with IMRT were analyzed using dose volume histograms. Results An average dose reduction of the mean values by 73% to the heart, 69% to the right lung and 74% to the left lung, with respect to the GTV could be achieved with IMRT. The 2 year disease free survival was 59% and 2 year overall survival was 59%. The average number of IMRT fields used was 6. Conclusion IMRT with inverse planning enabled us to achieve desired dose distribution, due to its ability to provide sharp dose gradients at the junction of tumor and the adjacent critical organs.

AimsDryness of the mouth is one of the most distressing chronic toxicities of radiation therapy in head and neck cancers. In this study, parotid function was assessed in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with or without chemotherapy. Parotid function was assessed with the help of a questionnaire and parotid scintigraphy, especially with regards to unilateral sparing of the parotid gland.Materials and methodsIn total, 19 patients were treated with compensator-based IMRT between February 2003 and March 2004. The dose to the clinical target volume ranged between 66 and 70 Gy in 30-35 fractions to 95% of the isodose volume. Ipsilateral high-risk neck nodes received an average dose of 60 Gy and the contralateral low-risk neck received a dose of 54-56 Gy. Eight of 19 patients also received concomitant chemotherapy.ResultsSubjective toxicity to the parotid glands was assessed with the help of a questionnaire at 0, 3 and 6 months and objective toxicity was assessed with parotid scintigraphy at 0 and 3 months. The mean dose to the ipsilateral parotid gland ranged from 19.5 to 52.8 Gy (mean 33.14 Gy) and the mean dose to the contralateral gland was 11.1-46.6 Gy (mean 26.85 Gy). At a median follow-up of 13 months, 9/19 patients had no symptoms of dryness of the mouth (grade I), 8/19 had mild dryness of the mouth (grade II) and only 2/19 had grade III xerostomia, although the parotid gland could only be spared on one side in most of the patients.ConclusionsMinimising the radiation dose to one of the parotid glands with the help of IMRT in patients with advanced head and neck cancers can prevent xerostomia in most patients and parotid scintigraphy is a useful method of documenting xerostomia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is an irreversible and continuous biological process involving intricate and interconnected mechanisms. The present work is focused on unravelling the anti-aging mechanisms of mealworm protein and protein-enriched fruit bar and vegetable soup in D-galactose-induced aged mice. Mealworm protein and enriched products significantly enhanced body weight, organ indices, and gut health. Behavioral assessments reflected enhanced neuroprotective effects. Mealworm protein and its enriched products demonstrated protective effects through anti-inflammatory activity with the highest reduction of TNFα (17.1 %), IL-6 (55.5 %), and IL-1β (75.1 %) levels and upregulated the anti-inflammatory marker (IL-4). Gene expression studies confirmed the induction of anti-aging effects by promoting metabolism, reducing cellular senescence, and enhancing anti-oxidant enzyme activity. The treatments extended telomere lengths by 3-4 times, further affirming the potential anti-aging efficacy of mealworm protein and its enriched products. Mealworm protein demonstrated positive effects on weight gain, anti-inflammatory responses, and telomere length; while fruit and vegetable products enhanced antioxidant activity, and positively influenced gut health. Further, a synergistic effect was observed by combining them, which resulted in improved overall anti-aging effect. The present work provides valuable insights into the multifaceted anti-aging mechanisms associated with mealworm protein and enriched products, highlighting their potential as functional foods with significant health-promoting effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Under-utilized fruits and vegetables are rich in nutraceuticals and have several medicinal properties. A large group of people widely consumes gummies and jelly candies, which can serve as an excellent vehicle to increase the intake of functional components. In the present study, jelly candies were developed by incorporating fruit extracts from commonly wasted segments of two under-utilized fruits (Surinam cherry and Spine gourd). Jelly candies were evaluated for their anthelmintic efficacy against Caenorhabditis elegans along with various physicochemical, microbial, colour, texture, and sensory parameters immediately after preparation, as well as during 150 days of storage at two conditions (ambient and accelerated). Ready-to-consume jelly candies (5 g) contained 0.21 g of fruit extract in Surinam cherry and 0.35 g of fruit extract in Spine gourd jelly candies. Jelly candies exhibited TSS in the range of 70.40 - 71.37°Brix, pH 2.33 to 2.84, a w 0.70-0.75, moisture 10.57-15.88%, a* value 5.33-1.27, b*value 10.66-1.28, no microbial contamination, and acceptable sensory parameters. Surinam cherry extract candy (4 mg/ml) showed a higher anthelmintic effect than Spine gourd extract candy (6.66 mg/ml) based on egg inhibition, larval death, and average adult worm paralysis time assays. These fruit extract-incorporated candies can be a novel healthier food product with anthelmintic potential, which can be an alternative to commonly used anthelmintic drugs., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-024-05967-5., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Chitin-glucan complex (CGC) is an emerging novel prebiotic with numerous physiological activities in amelioration of clinical manifestations. In the present work, natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), ultrasonication, and submerged fermentation using probiotic microorganisms were deployed for the extraction of CGC from Shiitake fruiting bodies. CGC obtained through non-ultrasonication assisted fermentation employing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum exhibited maximum polysaccharide yield (27.86 ± 0.82 % w/w). However, based on antioxidant potential, NADES combination of urea: glycerol (1:1 M ratio) was selected for further characterization. The rheological behavior of CGC under optimized conditions showed shear thinning property in both 0.1 M NaCl and salt-free solution. FTIR, 1 H-(1D), and 2D 1 H 1 H Homonuclear NMR spectra displayed distinctive patterns associated with β-glycosidic linkage and β-d-glucopyranose sugar moiety. XRD profiles of CGC exhibited characteristic peaks at 2θ = 23°, 25°, and 28° with corresponding hkl values of (220), (101), and (130) lattice planes, respectively. Enhanced radical scavenging activities were noticed due to the triple helical structure and anionic nature of CGC. CGC exhibited potential prebiotic activity (prebiotic score 118-134 %) and short chain fatty acids liberation (maximum 9.99 ± 0.41 mM by Lactobacillus delbrueckii). Simulated static in-vitro digestion demonstrated that CGC withstands acidic environment of gastric phase, which indicated its suitability for use as a prebiotic in nutraceutical-enriched food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The booming mushroom industry envisages economic merits, and massive unutilized waste production (∼ 20 %) creates an opportunity for valorization. Chitosan, a bioactive polysaccharide, has drawn immense attention for its invaluable therapeutic potential. Thus, the present study was conducted to extract chitosan from mushroom waste (MCH) for its prebiotic potential. The structural characterization of MCH was carried out using NMR, FTIR, and XRD. The CP/MAS- 13 CNMR spectrum of MCH appeared at δ 57.67 (C2), 61.19 (C6), 75.39 (C3/C5), 83.53 (C4), 105.13 (C1), 23.69 (CH3), and 174.19 (C = O) ppm. The FTIR showed characteristic peaks at 3361 cm -1 , 1582 cm -1 , and 1262 cm -1 attributed to -NH stretching, amide II, and amide III bands of MCH. XRD interpretation of MCH exhibited a single strong reflection at 2θ =20.19, which may correspond to the "form-II" polymorph. The extracted MCH (∼ 47 kDa) exhibited varying degrees of deacetylation from 79 to 84 %. The prebiotic activity score of 0.73 to 0.82 was observed for MCH (1 %) when supplemented with probiotic strains (Lactobacillus casei, L. helveticus, L. plantarum, and L. rhamnosus). MCH enhanced the growth of Lactobacillus strains and SCFA's levels, particularly in L. rhamnosus. The MCH also inhibited the growth of pathogenic strains (MIC of 0.125 and 0.25 mg/mL against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively) and enhanced the adhesion efficiency of probiotics (3 to 8 % at 1 % MCH supplementation). L. rhamnosus efficiency was higher against pathogens in the presence of MCH, as indicated by anti-adhesion assays. These findings suggested that extracted polysaccharides from mushroom waste can be used as a prebiotic for ameliorating intestinal dysbiosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The involvement of the commensal microbiota in immune function is a multifold process. Biotics, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and paraprobiotics, have been subjected to animal and human trials demonstrating the association between gut microbes and immunity biomarkers leading to improvement in overall health. In recent years, studies on human microbiome interaction have established the multifarious role of biotics in maintaining overall health. The consumption of biotics has been extensively reported to help in maintaining microbial diversity, enhancing gut-associated mucosal immune homeostasis, and providing protection against a wide range of lifestyle disorders. However, the establishment of biotics as an alternative therapy for a range of health conditions is yet to be ascertained. Despite the fact that scientific literature has demonstrated the correlation between biotics and immune modulation, most in vivo and in vitro reports are inconclusive on the dosage required. This review provides valuable insights into the immunomodulatory effects of biotics consumption based on evidence obtained from animal models and clinical trials. Furthermore, we highlight the optimal dosages of biotics that have been reported to deliver maximum health benefits. By identifying critical research gaps, we have suggested a roadmap for future investigations to advance our understanding of the intricate crosstalk between biotics and immune homeostasis., (© 2023 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Fruits and vegetables are rich in essential nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants; however, they have short shelf life. Freezing is a superior method of preservation compared to other techniques with respect to nutrient retention and maintenance of sensory attributes. However, several physical and textural quality changes associated with freezing and thawing pose a serious problem to the quality of frozen products. Some of the disadvantages associated with the currently employed methods for freezing fruits and vegetables include low rates of heat exchange in blast freezers, shape limitation in plate freezers, high cost of operation in cryogenic freezing, and freezing solution dilution in immersion freezing. Therefore, novel freezing technologies have been developed to achieve controlled ice nucleation and crystallization, enhanced freezing rate, decreased phase transition time, and maintained temperature stability. This review discusses some of the most recent approaches employed in freezing and points to their adoption for maintaining the quality of fruits and vegetables with extended storage., (© 2023 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Pomegranate (Punica grantum L.) fruit juice was concentrated by forward osmosis or thermal evaporation and the samples were stored at ambient (25 °C) and accelerated (37 °C) storage conditions. The anthocyanin content of raw, reconstituted forward osmosis as well as reconstituted thermally evaporated pomegranate juice were 421.1, 414.4 and 357.2 mg/kg respectively. The physicochemical attributes of pomegranate juice concentrate such as anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, browning index, and hydroxymethyl furfural showed that the quality of the concentrate was markedly affected by storage conditions. Based on the hydroxymethyl furfural content (≤25 mg/kg), it was concluded that the forward osmosis concentrated juices could be stored at ambient and accelerated conditions for ∼101 and ∼66 days, respectively. While, thermally concentrated juice could only be stored for less ∼31 and ∼3 days, respectively. Forward osmosis could be a method to concentrate pomegranate juice with minimum effect on quality attributes with extended shelf life., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: The objective of the study is to use multiple tube phantoms to generate correction factor at different spatial locations for each breast coil cuff to correct the native T 10 value in the corresponding spatial location of the breast lesion. The corrected T 10 value was used to compute K trans and analyze its diagnostic accuracy in the classification of target condition, i.e., breast tumors into malignant and benign., Materials and Methods: Both in vitro phantom study (external reference) and patient's studies were acquired on simultaneous positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) Biograph molecular magnetic resonance (mMR) system using 4 channel mMR breast coil. The spatial correction factors derived using multiple tube phantom were used for a retrospective analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI data of 39 patients with a mean age of 50 years (31-77 years) having 51 enhancing breast lesions., Results: Corrected and non-corrected receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a mean K trans value of 0.64 min -1 and 0.60 min -1 , respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and overall accuracy for non-corrected data were 86.21%, 81.82%, 86.20%, 81.81%, and 84.31%, respectively, and for corrected data were 93.10%, 86.36%, 90%, 90.47%, and 90.20% respectively. The area under curve (AUC) of corrected data was improved to 0.959 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.862-0.994) from 0.824 (95% CI 0.694-0.918) of non-corrected data, and for NPV, it was improved to 90.47% from 81.81%, respectively., Conclusion: T 10 values were normalized using multiple tube phantom which was used for computation of K trans . We found significant improvement in the diagnostic accuracy of corrected K trans values that results in better characterization of breast lesions., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Medical Physics.)

Ulcerative colitis is a recurrent inflammatory illness of the colon with an elevated risk of developing colon cancer. The drugs presently used to treat UC cause adverse effects and are limited to symptomatic treatments. To overcome these constraints, naturally derived novel alternative therapies are being tested. Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is used as a folk medicinal plant to treat stomach aches, diarrhea, and dysentery. Previous research has shown that a peel dioxane (PD) fraction obtained from a ripe peel aqueous extract of E. superbum Roxb. Cheesman possesses in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-colon cancer effects. Furthermore, it has been shown to alleviate 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in rats. The current study intended to evaluate its efficacy as a functional dietary component added to cold pressed orange juice in colitic rats, and deduce the molecular processes involved in UC amelioration. The PD fraction in orange juice ameliorated colitis by modulating the oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters in the damaged tissue with improved healing activity as indicated by a lower disease activity index (DAI) score. The ameliorative effect was related to the inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway by downregulating the expression levels of NFκBp65, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, followed by the recovery of epithelial barrier integrity. The ameliorating effects were statistically similar ( p > 0.05) to those of the standard sulfasalazine treated population. The results suggest that PD fractions can be used as a new functional food and as an adjuvant to prevent IBDs due to their anti-colitic effect; however, it needs to be confirmed in clinical trials.

Recently, black carbon (BC) has been identified as a potential transmitter for COVID-19 besides being responsible for climate change and serious health hazards. To mitigate the dreaded consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India declared a nationwide lockdown on March 24, 2020. Accordingly, observations on equivalent black carbon (EBC) aerosols using AE 51 Aethalometer were performed during different lockdowns in Doon Valley. During April, May, June, and July, the monthly average EBC mass concentration recorded 2.12 ± 1.14 μg m -3 , 2.58 ± 1.46 μg m -3 , 2.74 ± 1.49 μg m -3 , and 2.12 ± 1.32 μg m -3 , respectively. A comparison of diurnal variation patterns with earlier studies indicates a significant reduction in EBC mass concentration levels. Bipolar NWR analysis for April and May depicts that relatively high EBC concentration was experienced with prominent south-easterly winds. The EBC concentration level during daytime was high compared to nighttime hours. Preliminary visualization of scanning electron micrographs indicates the variable morphology of aerosols. The bulk particle EDX spectral analysis indicates C, O, Na, F, Al, Si, K, Ca, and Ti elements with a dominance of C and O. Windblown dust seems to be the major contributor to the ambient aerosols. Furthermore, MODIS recorded the fire anomaly (attributed to the wheat stubble burning) starting from mid of April to early-June along the Indo-Gangetic Basin. Heavy loading of polluted aerosols was visible in CALIPSO data imageries. HYSPLIT cluster trajectories indicate that the study region is strongly influenced by the air mass transporting from the Gangetic Plain, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Gulf region., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of fever and diarrhea. On a preliminary screening, the ripe peel aqueous extract (PA) exhibited higher cytotoxicity (cell viability of 49% against HCT-15 at 75 µg/ml; and 46% against Caco2 at 50 µg/ml), superior anti-inflammatory (IC 50 of 0.49 µg/ml), and greater anti-mutagenic activity at 500 µg/plate compared to the aqueous extracts of seed (SA), flower (FA) and bract (BA). Therefore, we further evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of PA and its fractions. The ability to inhibit the growth of cell lines (HCT-15 and Caco2) was used for the bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds in PA using chromatographic techniques. Multiple extractions of the PA yielded the peel dioxane fraction (PD), and column fractionation of PD yielded eight compounds, of which three (Compound D-PDD, Compound E-PDE, and Compound G-PDG) possessed higher cytotoxic activity. At 10 µg/ml, the cell viability of HCT-15 was 50.1%, 46.5%, and 61.9%, respectively; Caco2 was 98.2%, 62.9%, and 64.7%, respectively, for PDD, PDE, and PDG. These compounds also showed apoptotic effect as evidenced by measuring the mitochondrial membrane potential, dual staining (acridine orange/ethidium bromide), DNA fragmentation, and the ROS status in colorectal cell lines. The UPLC-HRMS/MS, FTIR, and NMR data revealed the active compounds as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone. These findings indicate the anti-proliferative potential of PA, and warrant further investigation of its active principles in the amelioration of colorectal cancer in in vivo models. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The potential of an underutilized crop as a source of therapeutic agents for colon cancer was established, as the study showed a high cytotoxic activity of wild bananas against HCT-15 and Caco2 cell lines. Bioactivity guided fractionation of peel fraction identified the active compounds present in wild banana, and their anticancer activity was attributed to the induction of cell death. The study indicated that wild banana has the potential to inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells., (© 2021 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The present study provides the first multi-year (2015-2020) random observation of black carbon (BC) aerosols from pristine localities along the Gangotri Glacier Valley in the north-western Indian Himalaya. Due to the harsh climatic conditions and inaccessible terrain, hardly any BC observation is available from glaciated Himalaya. To investigate the background concentration of BC in the high Himalaya, random measurements are conducted at five locations at variable microclimates with different anthropogenic influences along a 24-km-long Gangotri Glacier Valley trek, viz. Gangotri (~ 3200 m amsl), Chirbasa (~ 3600 m amsl), Bhojbasa (~ 3800 m amsl), Gaumukh (~ 4000 m amsl), and Tapovan (~ 4400 m amsl). A relatively high concentration of BC (up to 2.23 ± 0.57 μg m -3 ) was recorded at Gangotri which is a famous Indian pilgrimage centre which remains highly crowded during the peak tourist season, i.e. May-June and Oct-Nov every year. Surprisingly, we also recorded high BC (up to 1.27 ± 0.57 μg m -3 ) at Tapovan, which is a high altitude meadow surrounded by high ice-snow peaks, viz. Bhagirathi Peak (6856 m amsl), Shivling (6543 m amsl), and Meru Parvat (6660 m amsl). The HYSPLIT cluster trajectory and CALIPSO data images suggest that besides local anthropogenic activities, polluted air mass-produced due to burning of forest and agriculture biomass and fossil fuels, etc. transported from Indo Gangetic Basin might be playing a potential role in ambient BC concentration in the study area. The present preliminary investigations of BC in the Gangotri Glacier Valley open new vision and possibilities for further extensive ground-based observation of aerosol air pollutants in Himalayan glacier valley systems., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Mushrooms have been recognized for their culinary attributes for long and were relished in the most influential civilizations in history. Currently, they are the focus of renewed research because of their therapeutic abilities. Nutritional benefits from mushrooms are in the form of a significant source of essential proteins, dietary non-digestible carbohydrates, unsaturated fats, minerals, as well as various vitamins, which have enhanced its consumption, and also resulted in the development of various processed mushroom products. Mushrooms are also a crucial ingredient in traditional medicine for their healing potential and curative properties. The literature on the nutritional, nutraceutical, and therapeutic potential of mushrooms, and their use as functional foods for the maintenance of health was reviewed, and the available literature indicates the enormous potential of the bioactive compounds present in mushrooms. Future research should be focused on the development of processes to retain the mushroom bioactive components, and valorization of waste generated during processing. Further, the mechanisms of action of mushroom bioactive components should be studied in detail to delineate their diverse roles and functions in the prevention and treatment of several diseases., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Fruit and vegetable consumption has increased due to their tremendous health benefits. However, recent studies have shown that contaminated products may serve as vehicles for foodborne pathogens and harmful chemicals. Therefore, fresh vegetables must be decontaminated before consumption to ensure food safety., Results: In this study, the combined decontamination treatment of lactic acid (2.5 mL L -1 ) and ozone (9 mg L -1 ) for 10 min showed better efficacy in the removal of contaminants from fresh vegetables as compared to individual treatments. The combined treatment resulted in a reduction of 1.5-3.5 log CFU of native mesophilic bacteria per gram and 1.6-2.9 log CFU of artificially inoculated Escherichia coli per gram from tomato, cucumber, carrot and lettuce. The combined treatment also removed spiked pesticides, which represent artificial chemical contamination (28-97% chlorpyrifos and 62-100% λ-cyhalothrin residues), from fresh vegetables. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in various sensory attributes of vegetables was observed between untreated and treated (lactic acid and ozone) vegetables., Conclusions: The combination treatment provides a novel approach to target two groups of contaminants using a single procedure. The combination treatment can be used as an alternative to currently used decontamination techniques for the supply of safe vegetables to consumers. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Ensete superbum Roxb. Cheesman (wild banana) is used as therapeutic edible by various ethnic groups around the world. The antioxidant potential of ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of E. superbum ripe peel, seed, flower, and bract was tested using in vitro and ex vivo models, and their polyphenolic constituents were determined by RP-HPLC and LC/MS-ESI-TOF. E. superbum extracts were rich in anthocyanins, flavonols, flavone, biflavonoid, and phenolic acid derivatives. The Partial Least Square Regression analysis highlighted the contribution of individual phenolics toward the antioxidant activity. Bract aqueous extract demonstrated best antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging activity assay (IC 50 of 21.97 μg/ml), Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity assay (207.97 µM TE/g) with highest Antioxidant Activity Index (1.79), and showed the highest cellular antioxidant activity (67.02 µM quercetin equivalents/g) in Caco2 cells. These findings highlight the potential of E. superbum as valuable source of natural antioxidants, which can be used as pharmaceutical and functional food ingredient. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Wild banana has been used as a medicinal plant for ages throughout the world. However, the systematic analysis of its constituents and their beneficial effect is lacking. Our approach to search the effective plant part showed that the bioactive ingredients are concentrated in aqueous extracts of bracts. This study provides a basis for the antioxidant mechanisms of various wild banana plant parts, and will promote the utilization of an under-utilized wild edible plant., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We describe here a multiproxy dataset (grain size, environmental magnetism, stable carbon isotope, total nitrogen, and total organic carbon) generated on a ~116 cm long trench profile from the high altitude alpine Badnikund lake in the Central Himalaya. The dataset also includes environmental magnetic and organic geochemistry data on catchment soils of the Bednikund lake. The presented data is related to the research article "Middle Holocene Indian summer monsoon variability and its impact on cultural changes in the Indian subcontinent" [1]. The chronology of the Bednikund lake trench (BBK) profile is well established with seven AMS 14 C dates. The multiproxy data is provided in tabular format in an excel file along with ages in Mendeley Data Repository. The multiproxy data can be significantly utilized for regional correlation of Indian summer monsoon (ISM) variability during the middle Holocene as well as for correlation of global climatic events. The data can also be reutilized in paleoclimate modelling for precipitation change over the past ~6000 years., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships which have or could be perceived to have influenced the work reported in this article., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Background: Native T1 relaxation time (T1 0 ) presents an important prerequisite to reliably quantify pharmacokinetic parameter like K trans (volume transfer constant). Native T1 value can be varied because of the inhomogeneity in the breast coil, thus influencing the K trans measurement., Purpose: The current study aims to design and use a phantom with multiple tubes for both breast cuffs to assess native T1 inhomogeneity across the dedicated molecular magnetic resonance (mMR) breast coil and adopt corrective method to spatially normalize T1 values to improve homogeneity., Materials and Methods: Two phantoms with multiple tubes (19 tubes) specially designed and filled with contrast medium with known T1 value were placed in each mMR breast coil cuff. Native T1 at various spatial locations was calculated applying dual flip angle sequence. Correction factors were derived at various spatial locations as a function of deviation of the native T1 value from phantom and applied to correct the native T1 relaxation time., Results: A statistically significant difference between native T1 values of the right and left anterior ( P = 0.0095), middle ( P = 0.0081), and posterior ( P = 0.0004) parts of the breast coil. No significant difference was seen in the corrected T1 values between anterior ( P = 0.402), middle ( P = 0.305), and posterior ( P = 0.349) aspects of both sides of the breast coil., Conclusion: Inhomogeneity in the native T1 value exists in dedicated mMR breast coil, and significant improvement can be achieved using specially designed external phantom with multiple tubes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Medical Physics.)

Phenolic acids are the most prominent group of bioactive compounds present in various plant sources. Hydroxybenzoic acids and hydroxycinnamic acids, the aromatic secondary metabolites imparting typical organoleptic characteristics to food are the major phenolic acids, and they are linked to several health benefits. Fruit and beverage crops being the richer sources of phenolic acids have been studied in depth, but phenolic acids from vegetables are largely overlooked. Though lesser in quantity in many vegetables, there is a need to explore the health benefits of the phenolic acids present in them. In this review, the importance of vegetables as a significant source of phenolic acids is emphasized. Vegetables being easily accessible throughout the year and consumed in larger quantities compared to fruits in our daily diet will probably contribute to significant health benefits. Since vegetables are often processed before consumption, the changes in phenolic acids as influenced by processing methods are highlighted. Best processing methods, pre-treatments and storage conditions for higher retention of phenolic acids have been highlighted to minimize their losses. The phenolic acids in vegetables and their health benefits have been cluster mapped, which may facilitate further research for nutraceutical development for specific health concerns. The processing stability of phenolic acids coupled with higher consumption indicates that they may be a potential source of phenolic acids in the diet. It is expected that the popularization of vegetables as a source of phenolic acids in daily diet will help in ameliorating the adverse effect of some of the lifestyle diseases., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study was designed to understand the effect of extraction temperature, i.e., room temperature (GLRT), 50°C (GL50), 100°C (hot water; GL100), and 200°C (GL200) on antioxidant and biological activity of G. lucidum. The % yield obtained was 5.3%, 7.6%, 10.7%, and 13.2% at various extraction temperatures; room temperature, 50°C, 100°C and 200°C, respectively. Similarly, phenolic content (51.6, 57.9, 82.9, and 93.1 mg/g extract) and flavonoid content (18.8, 23.2, 34.3, and 36.3 mg/g extract) were observed to be increased with rise in extraction temperature. However, extraction temperature resulted in loss of antioxidant activities above 100°C as evident by chemical assays such as DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and TRP conducted on extracts. In contrast, three bioactive compounds, i.e., adenine (3.26, 3.48, 2.16, and 1.45 mg/g extract), uracil (3.99, 3.21, 2.51, and 1.47 mg/g extract), and adenosine (5.92, 5.62, 2.22 and 0.7 mg/g extract), quantified by high performance thin layer chromatography showed decrease in their content with increasing extraction temperature. Extract prepared at room temperature and 50°C prevented loss of cell viability and generation of reactive oxygen species resulted after hydrogen peroxide exposure; however, cytoprotective efficacy was not significant at 100°C and 200°C The order of cytoprotective effects observed by these extract were in the following order: room temperature ≥ 50°C > 100°C > 200°C. Overall, the optimal temperature conditions for the efficient extraction of G. lucidum with water retaining bioactive compounds and biological activity was found to be below 100°C.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a rich source of micronutrients. However, many foodborne illnesses have been linked to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as they are reported to harbor contaminants such as microorganisms and pesticides. Recently reported foodborne outbreaks have been linked to a diverse group of fruits and vegetables due to the presence of various pathogens including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Also, the increased use of pesticides has resulted in the deposition of chemical residues on the surface of fruits and vegetables, which has led to the adverse health conditions such as cancer, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Fresh commodities are subjected to various treatments to prevent or minimize these outbreaks, and the main targets of such treatments have been the elimination of pathogens and degradation of toxic chemical residues. Here, we have discussed various decontamination methods including simple household washing, chemical treatments, and modern technologies with their mode of action for microbial and pesticide removal. The simple household processes are not very effective in the removal of pathogenic organisms and pesticides. The use of modern techniques like cold plasma, ozone, high hydrostatic pressure, and so on, showed better efficacy in the removal of microorganisms and pesticides. However, their industrial use is limited considering high installation and maintenance cost. In this review, we suggest combined methods based on their mode of decontamination and suitability for a selected fruit or vegetable for effective decontamination of microbes and pesticide together to reduce the treatment cost and enhance food safety., (© 2019 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Neolamarckia cadamba , commonly known as Kadamba, is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industries, however uses of its fruits are not reported. In the present investigation the N. cadamba fruits were analysed for their proximate and mineral content at different stages of maturity, and the ripe fruit was used for nectar preparation. Proximate analysis of the ripe edible fruit showed that it is rich in fat (2.4%) and proteins (2.1%), and has calorific value of 103.7 kcal/100 g. The nectar prepared from the ripe fruits showed mean overall acceptability score of more than 6 indicating its suitability for nectar preparation. The shelf life of nectar was found to be 150 days at ambient conditions (28 ± 3 °C). The nectar was rich in minerals and antioxidants, and can be recommended for consumption by various age groups. However, studies are required to ascertain its physiological effect on consumers., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standardsAll authors declare that they does not have conflict of interest.

Aqueous extracts of Neolamarckia cadamba fruits prepared at different maturity stages were used for the analysis of various phytochemicals, and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities were determined. Ripe fruit extract had highest phenolics (3.14 mM GAE/ g fruit extract) with caffeic acid, tannic acid, syringic acid and quercetin as major phenolic compounds. The ripe fruit extract showed lowest IC 50 values in DPPH radical scavenging assay (231.33 μg fruit extract/ mL), and highest ABTS radical scavenging activity (111.18 μM TEAC/g). Immature fruit extract showed lowest minimum inhibitory concentration against tested bacteria, and the antibacterial activity was probably due to membrane permeation, as was evident by leakage of genetic material and reduction in propidium iodide uptake by bacterium; and by inhibition of sugar and amino acid uptake. The appreciable amount of phenolic compounds and biological activities in the aqueous extracts of N. cadamba fruits suggests it's potential application as natural preservative.

Synthesis of new zerumbone-bicarbonyl analogues by SeO 2 oxidation is reported. Selective oxidation of methyl at C-13 to an aldehyde and a ketone with exo-cyclic double bond between C-13 and C-6 in zerumbone has been recognized. Both these compounds have an additional conjugated-carbonyl-functionality. They exhibited significantly higher antimutagenic activity than zerumbone against Salmonella tester strains. They are more active against Gram positive bacteria than Gram negative bacteria; however zerumbone showed highest activity against E. coli, whereas its derivatives were least effective against E. coli., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Musa acuminata, the wild species of banana is a plant of the tropical and subtropical regions. Over the past few decades, the health benefits of M. acuminata have received much attention. All parts of the plant including fruits, peel, pseudostem, corm, flowers, leaves, sap and roots have found their use in the treatment of many diseases in traditional medicine. Literature review have indicated use of M. acuminata in the treatment of various diseases such as fever, cough, bronchitis, dysentery, allergic infections, sexually transmitted infections, and some of the non-communicable diseases. The reported pharmacological activities of M. acuminata include antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, anticancer, and antimicrobial especially anti-HIV activity. This review presents information on the phytochemicals and pharmacological studies to validate the traditional use of different parts of M. acuminata in various diseases and ailments. A comprehensive assessment of the biological activities of M. acuminata extracts is included and possible mechanisms and phytochemicals involved have also been correlated to provide effective intervention strategies for preventing or managing diseases., Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed on M. acuminata using ethnobotanical textbooks, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, local magazines, unpublished materials, and scientific databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The Plant List, Promusa, Musalit, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) databases were used to validate the scientific names and also provide information on the subspecies and cultivars of M. acuminata., Result and Discussion: The edible part of M. acuminata provides energy, vitamins and minerals. All other parts of the plant have been used in the treatment of many diseases in traditional medicine. The rich diversity of phytochemicals present in them probably contributes to their beneficial effects, and validates the role of M. acuminata plant parts used by various tribes and ethnic groups across the geographical areas of the world., Conclusion: This review presents information on phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of M. acuminata plant parts. Pharmacological studies support the traditional uses of the plant, and probably validate the uses of M. acuminata by the indigenous people to treat and heal many infections and diseases. Some studies on animal models have been carried out, which also provide evidence of efficacy of the M. acuminata plant as a therapeutic agent. These observations suggest that M. acuminata plant parts possesses pluripharmacological properties, and can be used in designing potent therapeutic agents. However, individual bioactive constituent(s) from different parts of this plant need further investigations to confirm various pharmacological claims, and to explore the potential of M. acuminata in the development of drugs and use in functional foods., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An Electric (E-) field sensor based on coplanar waveguide-fed microstrip antenna to measure E-field strength for dual-band operation at 914 MHz and 2.1 GHz is proposed, designed, and characterized. The parametric optimization of the design has been performed to obtain resonance at global system for mobile communication and universal mobile telecommunication system frequency band. Low return loss (-17 dB and -19 dB), appropriate gain (0.50 dB and 1.55 dB), and isotropic behaviour (directivity ∼ 1 dB), respectively, at 914 MHz and 2.1 GHz, are obtained for probing application. Antenna factor (AF) is used as an important parameter to characterize the performance of the E-field sensor. The AF measurement is explained in detail and results are reported. Finally, using the designed E-field sensor, the E-field strength measurements are carried out in a transverse electromagnetic cell. The key sources of uncertainties in the measurement are identified, evaluated, and incorporated into the final results. The measurement results are compared with theoretical values, which are found in good agreement. For comparative validation, the results are evaluated with reference to an already calibrated commercially available isotropic probe.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: There are more than 3000 officially documented plants in the Indian subcontinent that hold great medicinal potential. One such under-explored plant is an evergreen tropical tree Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb.) Bosser (Rubiaceae). It is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world and has therapeutic potential against many diseases such as diabetes, anaemia, stomatitis, leprosy, cancer and infectious diseases. Neolamarckia cadamba has historical existence in India and it is mentioned in mythical stories. There are several reports on medicinal values of root, bark and leaves of N. cadamba; but the literature on its fruits is scanty. Therefore, the present review aims to provide updated comprehensive information on the phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of different parts of N. cadamba tree with special reference to its fruit, in order to open new perspectives for future food and pharmacological research., Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed on N. cadamba using ethnobotanical textbooks, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, unpublished materials, government survey reports and scientific databases such as Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar and other web search engines (Google, Yahoo). The Plant List, International Plant Name Index and Kew Botanical Garden Plant name databases were used to validate the scientific names., Results and Discussion: Neolamarckia cadamba is one of the economically important trees, which is being exploited for paper, pulp and wood industry. In folk medicine, various parts of N. cadamba are used in the treatment of various ailments such as fever, uterine complaints, blood diseases, skin diseases, tumour, anaemia, eye inflammation and diarrhoea. Other reported uses of N. cadamba include antihepatotoxic, antimalarial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic and laxative. Various phytochemicals such as cadambine and its derivatives (dihydrocadambine and isodihydrocadambine) and indole alkaloids (Neolamarckines) were isolated from the leaves; whereas the presence of quinovic acid derivatives have been reported in the bark of N. cadamba., Conclusion: The present review compiles information on an ethnopharmacologically useful plant N. cadamba. Bioactive compounds responsible for its various medicinal properties and their effects at the molecular level need to be investigated in more detail. Furthermore, the detailed study of toxicity and pharmacological properties of extracts as well as molecules in N. cadamba is required to confirm the ethnomedicinal claims of N. cadamba for food and pharmaceutical applications., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The ability of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves of a traditional Indian medicinal plant, Indian borage ( Plectranthus amboinicus Benth) to prevent spoilage of artificially inoculated model food systems (cabbage and papaya) and natural microflora of chicken meat was evaluated. These extracts were able to reduce the bacterial counts in all food systems; however, the effective concentration varied with the complexity of the system (cabbage

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most significant clinical pathogen, as it causes infections to humans and animals. Even though several antibiotics and other treatments have been used to control S. aureus infections and intoxication, bacterium is able to adapt, survive and produces exotoxins. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) has been used traditionally in various medicinal (antimicrobial) preparations, and Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is the major active constituents present in it. In the present investigation the effect of licorice extract on methicillin susceptible S. aureus (FRI 722) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (ATCC 43300) growth and toxin production was studied. The MIC of licorice extract was found to be 0.25 and 2.5 mg GA ml(-1) against S. aureus FRI 722 and S. aureus ATCC 43300, respectively. Inhibition of biofilm formation was observed even at very low concentration (25 μg GA ml(-1)). Gradual decrease in expression and production of exotoxins such as α and β hemolysins and enterotoxin B was observed with the increasing concentrations of licorice extract, however, suboptimal concentration induced the expression of some of the virulence genes. This study indicated efficacy of licorice extract in controlling growth and pathogenicity of both methicillin susceptible and methicillin resistant S. aureus, however, the mechanisms of survival and toxin production at suboptimal concentration needs further study.

Natural additives for the control of microbial growth are in demand because consumers prefer them over synthetic ones. In the present investigation, the antibacterial activity of two natural preservatives, cinnamaldeyde and clove oil alone or in combinations was studied, and their potential as food preservative in model food systems and watermelon juice was evaluated. The cinnamaldehyde and clove essential oil showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at or below 5000 mg/l, and fractional inhibitory studies using both the oils showed synergistic effect. In artificially inoculated barley model food system and cabbage model food system, 2 MIC of oils was able to reduce the growth of the tested bacteria (more than 5 log) during 4 weeks storage at 37 °C, and similar reduction was also observed when combinations of oils were used at one eighth of MIC against Bacillus cereus and Yersinia enterocolitica, and one fourth of MIC against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Natural contaminants of watermelon juice were also reduced by the combination of one fourth of MIC of the oils, which was more effective than individual 2 MICs. These findings may be useful for food applications, but their effect on sensory quality of various foods need to be studied.

This study evaluated the phytochemical and antimicrobial activities and also quantified bioactive nucleoside using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) of five extracts of Indian Himalayan Cordyceps sinensis prepared with different solvents employing accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique. The phytochemical potential of these extracts was quantified in terms of total phenolic and total flavonoid content while antioxidant activities were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Total reducing power (TRP) was determined by converting iron (III) into iron (II) reduction assay. CS(50%Alc) (15.1 ± 0.67mg/g of dry extract) and CS(100%Alc) (19.3 ± 0.33 mg/g of dry extract) showed highest phenolic and flavonoid content, respectively while CS(Aq) extract showed maximum antioxidant activity and the highest concentration of the three nucleosides (adenine 12.8 ± 0.49 mg/g, adenosine 0.36 ± 0.28 mg/g and uracil 0.14 ± 0.36 mg/g of dry extract) determined by HPTLC. The evaluation of extracts for antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains showed CS(25%Alc), CS(75%Alc) and CS(100%Alc) extract to be more effective against E. coli, P. aerugenosa and B. subtilis giving 9, 7 and 6.5 mm of zone of inhibition (ZOI) in 93.75, 93.75 and 45 μg concentration, respectively, whereas CS(Aq) extract showed minimal inhibition against these.

Investigation was carried out to study kinetics of moisture loss, oil uptake and tristimulus colour during deep fat frying of Gethi (Dioscorea kamoonensis kunth) strips. Deep fat frying of Gethi strips of size 6 × 6 × 40 mm was carried out in a laboratory scale fryer at different temperatures ranging from 120 to 180 °C. The investigation showed that the moisture loss and oil uptake followed the first order kinetics equation (r > 0.95, p < 0.05). The kinetic coefficients for moisture loss and oil uptake increased significantly (p < 0.05) with temperature from 0.166 to 0.889 min(-1) and 0.139 to 0.430 min(-1) respectively. The temperature dependency of rate constants for moisture loss and oil uptake values was described using Arrhenius equation (r > 0.99, p < 0.01). The activation energies for moisture loss and oil uptake were found to be 41.53 KJ/mol and 27.12 KJ/mol respectively. The hunter colour parameters were significantly affected by frying temperature and frying time. The hunter lightness (L) value increased with respect to frying time initially, followed by decline and same trend was observed at higher temperatures of frying with elevated rate, whereas hunter redness (a) value increased significantly (p < 0.01) with time as well as temperature of frying and obeyed zero order rate equation. The temperature dependency kinetic coefficients of Hunter (a) value were described by Arrhenius equation and the energy of activation for change in hunter redness was found to be 42.41 KJ/mol (r > 0.99, p < 0.01). The other hunter colour parameters such as chroma, hue angle and total colour difference were markedly affected by frying temperature as well as frying time.

Medical electron linear accelerators with the capability of generating unflat photon (flattening filter-free, FFF) beams are also available commercially for clinical applications in radiotherapy. However, the beam characteristics evaluation criteria and parameters are not yet available for such photon beams. Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) of India constituted a Task Group comprising experts from regulatory agency, advisory body/research and technical institutions, and clinical radiotherapy centers in the country to evolve and recommend the acceptance criteria for the flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beams. The Task Group thoroughly reviewed the literature and inputs of the manufactures/suppliers of the FFF linac and recommended a set of dosimetry parameters for evaluating the characteristics of the unflat photon beam. The recommendations included the evaluation of quality index, degree of unflatness, difference in percentage surface dose between flat and unflat photon beams, percentage depth dose at 10 cm depth, off-axis-ratios and radiation beam penumbra. The recommended parameters were evaluated for FFF photon beams generated by three different models of the linac, and it was observed that recommended evaluation methods are simple and easy to be implemented with the existing dosimetry and quality assurance infrastructure of the linac facilities of the radiotherapy departments. Recommendations were also made for periodic quality control check of the unflat photon beams and constancy evaluation in the beam characteristics.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of natural specimen and laboratory cultured mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis on neuromuscular activity in mice. The powder of natural specimen and laboratory cultured Cordyceps sinensis was orally administered at the dose rate of 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg for 30 days. Natural specimen and in vitro propagated Cordyceps sinensis showed significant (P<0.05) enhancement in neuromuscular endurance and antidepressant activity at 300 and 500 mg/kg as compared to the control group. However, the fungus did not proved to be as effective as fluoxetine in exhibiting antidepressant action. Muscular endurance was determined on a Rota rod apparatus while antidepressant (mood elevating) activity was measured on a photoactometer in Swiss albino mice. The effects produced by both natural specimens and laboratory cultured Cordyceps sinensis were comparable and showed almost equal potency.

The Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (higher Basidiomycetes) is popular because of its health-promoting properties. The effects of G. lucidum extract on cancer, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hepatitis have been reported by many researchers. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the healing efficacy of an aqueous lyophilized extract of G. lucidum from the Indian Himalayan region on dermal excision wound in experimental rats. The extract used in the study was found to be rich in total polyphenol and flavonoid contents. The healing efficacy was comparatively assessed with a reference povidone-iodine ointment. The G. lucidum extract showed significant enhanced healing activity, evidenced by an increase in wound contraction, collagen accumulation (hydroxyproline), hexosamine, and total protein contents. Histopathological findings further supported the biochemical indices. The results suggest that aqueous lyophilized extract of G. lucidum possesses significant wound-healing activity.

Zerumbone, the key constituent of Zingiber zerumbet Smith, is a very important bioactive phytochemical. Two new compounds viz. azazerumbone 1 and azazerumbone 2 were synthesised by ZnCl2-catalysed Beckmann rearrangement of the zerumbone oxime. The structure elucidation of these analogues of zerumbone was carried out by 1D ((1)H NMR and (13)C NMR) and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC and NOESY) spectral analysis. Studies on the antibacterial activity established that azazerumbone 2 had better activity than zerumbone. Among the tested bacteria, Bacillus cereus was the most sensitive and Yersinia enterocolitica was found to be the most resistant. These compounds exhibited strong protection against sodium azide induced mutagenicity of Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 1531. Azazerumbone 2 showed better antibacterial and antimutagenic activity than azazerumbone 1. The antibacterial and antimutagenic activities exhibited by zerumbone and its analogues demonstrate their potential for use as nutraceuticals and in food preservation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)