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Cold stress is one amongst the major stresses that affects the plants growing in low temperature conditions by the excessive production of Reactive oxygen species (ROS). Plants have fully developed antioxidant defense system to combat the oxidative stress caused by this. This system includes hydrophilic and lipophilic metabolites and protective enzymes. In the present study, the leaf part of a high-altitude medicinal plant, Picrorhiza kurroa, was used to study the effect of the altitude on the non-enzymatic antioxidants. The growing leaves of P. kurroa were collected from Pothivasa (2200 masl) and Tungnath (3600 m asl) regions of Uttarakhand, located in India. To determine the non-enzymatic antioxidant potential, methanolic extracts of the leaves of P. kurroa were prepared and checked for their antioxidant potential by studying total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using Phosphomolybdenum assay, free radical scavenging by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. The results showed higher antioxidant potential by the leaves of P. kurroa growing at higher altitudes, i.e., Tungnath. This study states that the non-enzymatic antioxidants play a crucial role in helping this plant to scavenge ROS and adapt to cold climatic conditions. Further studies can be performed to find out other physiological and molecular changes occurring in P. kurroa in order to combat the stress conditions and survive in high altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The match between dry fish supply and nutrient needs is vital to support the health and well-being of the increasing human population. The depleting fisheries resources also suggest a corrective measure to define accurately the amount and quality of nutrients supplied by dry fish. Dry fish is increasingly becoming a vital factor in providing high-quality proteins, healthy fats (including long-chain omega-3 fatty acids like eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), and a unique source of essential nutrients such as iodine, zinc, copper, selenium, and calcium. Our knowledge on contribution of dry fish towards food and nutritional security is largely based on limited scattered data which is unsatisfactory. The aim of our work consequently to put together dry fish information all about nutrition and its safety aspects. We show that dry fish gives basic supplements of high bioavailability which are found in constraining sums in the eating regimen of developing countries. The review also assesses the economics and health risks associated with consumption of dry fish and consequently, the necessary measures and steps to reduce such risks in order to have a safer food for the consumers and profitability to fish farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coleus forskohlii is an important medicinal plant native to India. It grows wild across a wide range of altitudes in the Indian Himalayan region and contains some important phytochemicals that possess remarkable medicinal properties. This plant is the only known source of a medicinally important terpenoid, forskolin, found in its roots. This study was conducted looking at its availability over a wide altitudinal range and medicinal importance. Samples of the five C. forskohlii populations were collected from five altitudes of Uttarakhand, India. HPTLC and HPLC were employed for metabolic diversity analysis. Secondary metabolites were extracted using the Soxhlet extraction, followed by HPTLC fingerprinting and HPLC. Significant differences observed in the HPTLC chromatograms across altitudes. Maximum bands were observed in the HPTLC chromatogram of Gopeshwar population (1488 m a.s.l.). HPLC revealed differences in forskolin quantity among studied populations with the Pipalkoti population (1339 m a.s.l.) showing highest forskolin accumulation. Thus, the present study confirms that altitude and changing environment can affect the nature and quantity of secondary metabolites in C. forskohlii and might be contributory factors for intraspecific metabolic diversity. The Pipalkoti and Gopeshwar populations were found suitable for forskolin and other metabolite production; further, these two populations can be propagated for commercial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]