Defence Life Science Journal

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) - An Underexploited but Promising Oilseed with Multifarious Properties and Applications: A Review

2024-05-02T11:52:25+0530

Hemp commonly known as bhang belongs to the Cannabaceae family. Due to the psychoactive effect, it is often stigmatised; however, recently the Government of Uttarakhand has legalised the cultivation of hemp in the state with <0.3 % 9-tetrahydrocannabinol levels. Hence this review provides comprehensive details on how the whole plant of hemp can be potentially used in various industries. Researchers identify hemp as a rich source of nutrients. Specifically, hemp seeds are being celebrated due to the presence of fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants. The presence of these nutrients makes hemp seeds a valuable ingredient in functional foods. Additionally, several studies recognised hemp for several health benefits viz., managing neurological disorders, preventing several cancers, easing skin problems and promoting better mental health. Alongside the health benefits, the hemp plant is recognised to have diverse applications in other industries such as cosmetics, textiles and construction. However, due to the legal constraints and local stigma large and nation-wide cultivation of hemp is difficult but extensive research into the cultivation and processing of hemp can help to leverage this plant for the associated benefits.

Phytoremediation by Bio-Energy and Aromatic Plants: A Multidimensional and Ecologically Feasible Method of Remediation

2024-09-20T15:57:07+0530

Heavy metals have been considered to be a serious environmental threat that has adverse impacts on human health as well. To reduce its risk, a new integrated phytoremediation-bioenergy approach could be a viable solution. These crops offer double advantage of phytoremediation as well as the production of valuable by-products like essential oil and this approach contributes to the circular bioeconomy. The growth of aromatic and bioenergy plants keeps heavy metals out of the food chain. It allows for the long-term use of contaminated land, which creates new approaches to addressing pollution problems. This review article mainly highlights how phytoremediation is coupled with bioenergy and essential oil production, along with managing post harvested biomass. The current review also offers a thorough summary of these plants’ utilization in years to address pollution issues and their potential to produce essential oil and bioenergy to meet future energy needs.

Pathophysiology of Dermatophytes and Potent Phytochemical Sources as Possible Applications against Trichophyton Spp.

2024-07-16T16:52:27+0530

Trichophyton infections are typically restricted within the epithelial keratinized layer of the skin and therefore grouped among the dermatophytoses. Different species of Trichophyton viz., T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum and T. violaceum are the important causal agents for the dermatophytic disorders. Azole drugs are extensively employed in the therapeutic practice to treat dermatomycosis. Use of synthetic drugs can cause a number of side effects and may induce drug resistance to the patients. Therefore, plant extracts have been widely investigated as alternative for chemical drugs to solve this problem. Literature data revealed that specific plants showed inhibiting effect against particular species of Trichophyton because of their different phytochemical contents. This study is carried out to document different plant species for their antifungal activity against various species of Trichophyton. Total of 107 plant species belonging to 50 families have been gathered for their antifungal activity against nine species of Trichophyton species viz., T. asahii, T. erinacei, T. inkin, T. ovoides, T. schoenleinii, T. longifusus, T. soudanense, T. tonsurans and T. verrucosum.

Extraction and Formulation of Lip Tint from Natural Dye Extracted from Celosia Cristata Linn Flower

2024-05-06T12:21:15+0530

The escalating utilisation of synthetic dyes across diverse industries, including textiles, cosmeceuticals, food, and pharmaceuticals, is projected to witness a notable 6.5 % surge by 2027, notwithstanding the well-documented drawbacks associated with their usage. Synthetic dyes have been linked to adverse effects such as skin irritation, necrosis, genotoxicity, and hyperactivity in children. Acknowledging the imperative need to transition towards safer alternatives, this study investigates the extraction and formulation of a lip tint employing a dye derived from Celosia cristata Linn as a natural substitute for synthetic dyes. The aqueous extraction of Celosia cristata Linn flower unveiled the presence of various phytochemical constituents, including flavonoids, tannins, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, quinones, cellulose, starch, and saponins. Particularly noteworthy is the betalain constituent in the flower extract, which imparts the dye with nutraceutical, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The formulated lip tint underwent a comprehensive evaluation encompassing dye stability, spreadability, melting point, skin irritation, surface anomalies, homogeneity, perfume stability, pH, short-term stability, and colorant yield. The study concludes that the lip tint formulated from Celosia cristata Linn dye represents a viable and safe alternative for various cosmeceutical applications, providing a natural solution to the adverse effects associated with synthetic dyes.

Incidence of Insect Pests on Vegetable Crops in Trans-Himalayan Ladakh India A Survey

2024-09-26T10:01:12+0530

Insect pests are among the most critical constraints limiting vegetable production in trans-Himalayan Ladakh. However, there is limited information about the extent of crop damage, which hinders the development of effective pest management approaches for vegetable growers. The present study, therefore, aimed to identify farmers’ perceptions of the most damaging insect pests of vegetable crops and the extent of crop damage in the Ladakh region. A standard questionnaire was used to interview individual vegetable growers (n=586) about their perception regarding insect pests in four major vegetable-producing valleys in the region. Most farmers (87.9 %) perceived insect pest attacks on vegetable crops have increased in the past ten years. Among the insect pests reported by the growers, onion maggot was ranked the most damaging by 58.4 % of the respondents, followed by aphids (22.7 %), the caterpillar of cabbage butterfly (16.0 %), and cutworms (2.9 % of the respondents). Of the farmers surveyed, 35.5 % of vegetable growers reported that the onion maggot caused over 70 % damage to onion crops. The result of the study will enable the researchers, extension personnel, administrators, and policymakers to prioritize developing strategies for managing these key insect pests in the region. To our knowledge, no such data for the region is available.

Prevalence of Cancer in India with Respect to Leukaemia and their Factorial Relations

2024-07-11T10:34:29+0530

Cancer is a growing burden on the healthcare system. Leukaemia is one such commonly reported cancer. In the United States, leukaemia is thought to account for roughly 3.5 percent of all cancer cases and 4 percent of cancer-related deaths. The present article examines the responsible factors for leukaemia cases in India. For the study, trends of cancer incidence (new cases per year), death, and DALYs (Disability-adjusted life years) attributable to all cancers combined and distinct kinds of malignancies. DALYs were selected as the primary measure for disease burden because it accounts for both death and morbidity and is recommended by India’s National Health Policy for illness monitoring. The preserved blood samples of prior knowledge of cases were taken for study and analysis. The article highlights the total burden of all cancers in terms of DALYs from 1990 to 2020, followed by incidence and fatalities. Patterns of 10 cancer types that account for the majority of cancer-related and leukaemia DALYs important disparities in cancer distribution between men and females in India have been discussed in the paper. Six more cancer types that are in the top ten most common incident cancers in Indian women and men but are not among the top ten cancers generating the most DALYs are also reported from the study. The age-standardised incidence rate of the major kinds of malignancies like leukaemia showed significant inter-state variability, ranging from 3.3 to 11.6 times for the four most common malignancies (lip and oral, breast, lung, and stomach). Leukaemia CML mortality has been steadily declining over the last 20 years, but AML fatalities have been steadily increasing. In conclusion, total cancer incidence did not rise as quickly as previously anticipated among aging Americans; nonetheless, myeloid leukaemia and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) rates dramatically surpassed those of other malignancies. In this paper, we have given a brief overview of the factors responsible for leukaemia and compared to other cancer cases in India, and a major portion is waited for future research.

Composting of Agricultural Waste Residues by Effective Streptomyces rameusKAC3 and Streptomyces mutabilis KAC6 Isolates for the Mass Production of Vermicompost

2024-10-03T11:20:01+0530

Agricultural sector after yield harvest remains plant parts huge environmental pollution issues because not suitable technology makes composting process. In this point of view, present investigation rigorously scrutinizes the agricultural waste decomposition process facilitated successfully completion in 40 days duration compost maturation by use effective of Streptomyces rameus KAC3 and Streptomyces mutabilis KAC6 to increase nutrient availability. Different agricultural crop waste is being used in this composting technology process which stem, root and leaves from multiple crops. The parameters reveled which include temperature, pH, moisture content, microbial populations, and nutrient analysis at various composting maturation stages, Based on findings emerge during degradation process the temperature fluctuation days 10th (34.6±0.06), 20th (49.37±0.14), 30th (62.4±0.06) and end of 40th day (32.7±0.15) and alongside pH elevations increases ranged from 5.2 to 6.53. The 30th day marks the zenith of microbial populations reaching 71.23±0.2 (109 CFU) and 9.28±0.09 (109 CFU), respectively. Furthermore, examination of vermicompost nutrient availability values reveals its superior profile compared to effective microorganism (EM) compost, with organic carbon (12.17%), nitrogen (1.24%), phosphorus (1.39%), potassium (0.76%). Finally, the research concluded that the plant nutrient availability was enhanced through incorporation of effective actinomycetes KAC3 and KAC6 to convert Agro-waste material to mature compost for further processing of vermicompost.

Characterisation, Synthesis, and Antimicrobial Activities of Silver Nanoparticles Formed via Green Synthesis Approach using Aqueous Extract derived from the Bark of Mangifera indica: A Sustainable Resource

2024-07-16T14:54:55+0530

Many research opportunities have arisen as a result of the green synthesis method for nanoparticle creation and the rapid development and breakthroughs in nanotechnology. This study covers the one-step synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) from Mangifera indica bark aqueous extracts. Bark extract is combined with AgNO3 to perform green synthesis of SNP. The synthesised SNPs were characterised by a color change from light yellow to deep brown, as well as UV-VIS spectrophotometry in the 300-700 nm area. Further characterisations were carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) studies, followed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. Phytochemical examination of crude bark extract revealed the existence of secondary metabolites alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, and saponins but no glycosides and starch were present. The antimicrobial activity (AMA) of Bark SNP (BSNP) towards gram-positive bacteria [Staphylococcus Aureus (SA) & Streptococcus Pyogenes (SP)], gram-negative bacteria [E. coli (EC) & Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA)], and Candida species were determined using the disc diffusion technique. A single-factor ANOVA was used for performing the statistical analysis, and p-values < 0.05 designated statistical significance. The green synthesised SNPs were spherical and crystal size ranged between 10 and 12 nm on average. In UV-vis spectroscopy, the absorption spectra peaked at 460 nm. It was discovered that the SNPs’ antibacterial activity was stronger than their antifungal activities. Compared to commercial medicines, the BSNP exhibits a reasonable inhibitory effect. The purpose of the current study was to build a new, affordable, ecologically safe process for a plant-mediated green approach for SNP synthesis and evaluate its antimicrobial activity for sustainable resources.

Commercialisation of Innovations: A Case Study of Liposomal Formulations

2024-10-01T16:50:48+0530

Liposomes are the potential drug delivery systems for various therapeutic categories. During the past 60 years, researchers have explored this drug delivery system which has resulted in a large pool of documents in terms of patents and publications. The paper’s objective is to understand why after 60 years of extensive research with more than 50,000 patent documents and 35,000 research publications, only 17 products based on liposomes are commercially available. After detailed analysis, the authors found that the research publications and patent documents are primarily focused on the basic research aspects and have limited participation from the industry. Therefore, in this paper, it has been emphasised how the research projects on liposomes must re-orient its focus so that it leads to the commercialisation of liposomes. This paper also provides a comprehensive analysis of challenges and opportunities for researchers concerning various research areas of liposomes like manufacturing techniques, characterisations, stability, storage, pre-clinical and clinical evaluations, regulatory requirements as well as pharmaco-economic analysis.

Person-Situation-Behaviour Triad: Exploring Relationships and Behavioural Consistency

2024-09-24T14:19:19+0530

The present paper, a part of a major work in this field, concentrates on exploring the precise relationship of personality and situational elements with behavior. It was also aimed to examine the behavioral consistency across situations. The study was conducted on 200 XIthand XIIth grade students (100 male, 100 female) drawn from various schools of Karnal and Kurukshetra towns in Haryana (India). Participants received the NEO Five Factor Inventory-Revised. The behavior of the participants was observed through a video recording, with their knowledge and consent, in three dyadic experimental situations and then was rated on Riverside Behavioral Q-sort. Although 64 behavioral characteristics were rated on Riverside Behavioral Q-sort, only 34 of them were retained for further analysis in a view of their psychometric properties in the instant study. Results of correlational analysis revealed that personality traits correlated significantly (p<.01) with most of the trait-congruent behaviors. Neuroticism was found correlated with 6 behaviors, Extraversion with 9, Openness with 3, Agreeableness with 6, and Consciousness with 3. Situational dimensions, measured as 8 DIAMONDS, have shown a relatively lower degree of relationship with behaviors in dyadic situations. The data have provided strong evidence for cross-situational consistency in the majority of observed behaviors. The findings of the study were discussed in light of earlier researches in the field and pertinent theoretical models.

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2025-03-20T14:53:33+0530