Browsing by Author "Sen, Arnab"

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Open Access
Acaricidal and Ovicidal Effects of Vitex negundo, Against Oligonychus coffeae, A Common Pest Found in Tea Gardens of North Bengal, India
(University of North Bengal, 2023) Ghosh, Sandipan; Sen, Gargi; Ghosh, Chandra; Sen, Arnab
Tea, a widely consumed and economical beverage across 65 nations, confronts substantial challenges from pests, notably the destructive Red spider mites, which pose significant hurdles for the industry due to their resilient nature and severe impact. Chemical pesticides, while effective against pests in tea production, degrade tea quality, prompting exploration into natural alternatives like floral diversity for pest control. A study in North Bengal, India, aims to the pest-controlling abilities of common weed found in tea gardens in the Terai and Dooars regions.The aqueous extracts of Vitex negundo L. as biocide employed in this study demonstrated substantial acaricidal and oviposition deterrent action against the tea Red Spider Mite Oligonychus coffeae after 48 hours of application. In the future, this aqueous extract could prove to be a fairly priced and efficient acaricide.
Open Access
Antioxidant Potential of Canna: an overview
(University of North Bengal, 2014-03) Mishra, Tanmayee; Sen, Arnab
Canna, the solitary genus of the family Cannaceae and order Zingiberales, comprises of about 51 species of flowering plants. Canna species are native of South America but with the course of time they have been distributed throughout the world. It is an important plant not only from the ornamental point of view but also it is an important plant for starch production as well as its medicinal values. From the primitive time, village people commonly use Canna as herbal medicines in their daily dealings. Different plant parts like rhizome and leaves of Canna have been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, fever, hypertension, diabetes, menstrual disorders, malaria etc. Phytochemicals with high antioxidant activities reported from the members of genus Canna. Moreover, isolation and identification of chemical compounds shows the presence of derivatives of polysaccharide, anthocyanin and phenylpropanoid compounds. The present study reflects a comprehensive review on biological activities of Canna species with special reference to some other members of Zingiberales.
Open Access
Bioinformatics of codon usage pattern in pathogenic proteobacteria Burkholderia mallei
(University of North Bengal, 2010-03) Ghosh, Manash K; Bothra, Asim K; Sen, Arnab
Burkholderia mallei are pathogenic gram negative ß Proteobacteria those are available in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Central and South America and abundantly known as the causal organism of glanders. In this study, the synonymous patterns of four Burkholderia mallei (Burkholderia mallei ATCC 23344, Burkholderia mallei NCTC 10229, Burkholderia mallei NCTC 10247, Burkholderia mallei SAVP1) genome were compared and analyzed to each other. It was observed that Burkholderia mallei have high G+C content and moderately biased. Using cogon adaptation index (CAI) as a numerical estimator of gene expression level where ribosomal protein coding genes were considered as a reference of highly expressed genes. Here, we also studied the functional analysis of the PHX genes, gene expression level correspondence analysis and horizontally transferred pathogenicity related genes activity. COGs are also associated with metabolism especially those linked to carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid transport.
Open Access
Bioinformatics of pathogenic food bacteria
(University of North Bengal, 2012-03) Mondal, Uttam K; Sen, Arnab; Bothra, Asim K
Cholera is a fatal water borne disease caused by Vibrio cholerae. The primary symptoms include profuse watery diarrhea, muscle cramps and vomiting of clear fluid leading to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. and death in some cases. The causal organism i.e. Vibrio cholerae was first isolated by an Italian anatomist. Filippo Pacini in 1854. With the advent of genome sequencing technology, several Vibrio cholerae strains have been sequenced and available in public domain. This provided the opportunity for the scientists to study their genome in details. In the present review we have looked into the genetics of food pathogen as a whole, with special reference to research on V. cholerae. We have also critically reviewed various aspects of Bioinformatics like codon usage patterns, phylogenetic studies, studies on structural bioinformatics etc. on food borne bacteria. We are confident that the present review will help the researchers of food pathogenic biology to obtain valuable information about the present status of bioinformatics of food pathogenic bacteria and future outlook of these aspects.
Open Access
Diversity and micropropagation of canna from West Bengal and Orissa
(University of North Bengal, 2014-01) Mishra, Tanmayee; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Diversity of frankia associated with alnus nepalensis and casuarina equisetifolia in West Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2012) Bose, Debadin; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Efficacy of anthocyanin in production of remedial tea
(University of North Bengal, 2015-03) Labar, Reha; Sen, Arnab
Tea is consumed as a medicinal beverage from centuries, as the medicinal component includes polyphenols, caffeine, and amino acids. Apart from that it also contains flavonoids; compounds reported to have antioxidant properties with many beneficial effects. Anthocyanins belonging to the flavonoid group are naturally occurring compounds that imparts colour to fruits, vegetables and plants. Apart from that it has an array of health promoting benefits. This article has been reviewed to highlight the importance of anthocyanin as well as to motivate research in exploring tea varieties with abundant anthocyanin so that consumption of anthocyanin rich tea or beverage and also use of natural dye made using anthocyanin would replace harmful effects of chemical drugs and also improve country's economy by flourishing the tea industry with increased consumption.
Open Access
Ethno-medicinal and molecular profiling of fermented beverages consumed by different tribes in North Bengal, India
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Bhattacharjee, Soumita; Sen, Arnab; Ghosh, Chandra
The widespread adoption of preserving food through natural fermentation has ancient origins, primarily stemming from the ancestral wisdom of Tribal communities. Ethnic foods and beverages are described as culinary offerings that have their roots in the heritage and culture of a particular ethnic group, drawing upon their understanding of locally sourced plant and animal ingredients. India houses a multitude of tribal communities spread across diverse geographical regions. Among these communities, alcoholic beverages hold considerable popularity among the tribal population. As a preservation technique, the ancestral practice of natural fermentation has endured through the indigenous knowledge transmitted by ancestors within these tribes. The mildly alcoholic, sweet-flavoured beverages are regarded more as food than alcoholic drinks due to their highcalorie content, vitamins, and beneficial lactic acid bacteria and yeast. Traditionally prepared alcoholic beverages are cereals such as rice, wheat, maize, or ragi, which have been the substrate of choice for their preparation, depending on the habitat of the tribal population. For generations, alcoholic beverages have been consumed at diverse cultural, social, and religious events. Most fermented drinks predominantly use cereals as a base, incorporating many plants and fruits as the primary raw materials. This combination contributes to a distinct and unique taste in the beverage. Numerous traditional ethnic practices have been ignored, resulting in insufficient documentation for scientific analysis. Therefore, the present investigation was conducted to evaluate the appropriate scientific examination of select tribal beverages in North Bengal, India. Initially, various areas inhabited by tribal communities were selected to gather their respective traditional beverages, used plant parts and the starter culture. The initial screening was based on the alcohol content of the beverages. Eu, a millet-based drink utilized by the Toto tribe in North Bengal, Chokot, a ricebased drink consumed by the Rabha tribe in North Bengal, Harchur raksi, and Timboor raksi, traditional medicinal plant-based drinks used by the tribal community in the highaltitude region in Darjeeling Himalaya, and Haria, a rice-based drink consumed by the Orao and Santal communities in North Bengal, were selected for further study. The injection of starter cultures, serving as the source of ethnic microbiota to induce the fermentation process, was also included in the present study. In vitro, the antioxidant study was also conducted to evaluate the most potent among those, as mentioned earlier, low-alcoholic ethnic drinks. The study results show that Eu is the most potent beverage among the other tribal drinks. The Harchur raksi (HR) is a lesserknown beverage consumed by the indigenous people residing in the high -altitude regions of the entire Himalayan range. HR is unique in its traditional processing method, an indigenous knowledge held by the Darjeeling-Himalayan tribal community. This knowledge should be meticulously documented to preserve its uniqueness. Although HR is considered an anti-inflammatory brew with various ethnomedicinal claims by the local inhabitants, there has been no scientific evaluation thus far. A comprehensive survey was conducted across the Darjeeling Himalayan region to unearth the ethnobotanical knowledge related to HR. HR was identified and collected in collaboration with a local expert. This work aims to assess the physical, biochemical, and metabolite profiling of HR using different biochemical tests and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) experiments. To get a deeper understanding of the medicinal properties of HR, in silico molecular docking studies were conducted. The analysis revealed that HR, with a notably low alcohol content (around 6–8%), exhibits high antioxidant activity. GC–MS analysis of the brew identified 27 bioactive compounds, which were further subjected to bioinformatics analysis. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated the inhibitory activity of most of these compounds against oxidative stress, inflammation, and specific potent viral proteins related to their pathogenicity. Timbur raksi is a distilled fermented alcoholic beverage from the highaltitude region of Darjeeling Himalaya. The methanolic extract of the sample exhibited 60% inhibition at a higher concentration (200μg/ml). The GC-MS evaluation of the sample revealed the presence of 43 bioactive compounds, which have potential applications as scavengers for reactive oxygen species, anti-inflammatory agents, and anticancer compounds. 'Choko'/'Chokot' is a rice-based beverage consumed by the ethnic tribal community 'Rabha' in North Bengal and Assam, India. While rice is the main ingredient in this fermented product, introducing the starter culture, popularly known as 'Bakhor or phap,' brings variation to its composition. 'Choko'/'Chokot' constitutes a significant portion of the daily caloric intake for the Rabha tribe. Metabolite profiling was examined through GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the Metagenomic analysis was employed to assess the total microbial load of the starter culture (Bakhor). Reverse ecology analysis delved into the interaction between the microbes present in the brew and humans. The results indicated that the compounds in this beverage mostly exhibit antimicrobial and antifungal effects despite its relatively higher alcohol content than other tribal ethnic drinks. The metagenomic analysis identified several dominant bacterial genera, including Bacillus, Arthrobacter, Lactobacillus, Ilyobacter, Clostridium, and Lactococcus. Haria is a fermented rice beverage crafted using a starter culture (Ranu dabai) to boiled rice grains. It is a casual drink in daily life and is also utilized to alleviate ailments such as fever, headache, and nausea. Including herbal plants in the starter culture enhances the beverage, providing it with beneficial organoleptic and therapeutic properties. While extensive research has been conducted on Haria, we have not included Haria in our analysis. However, our study does encompass an examination of the plants used in the starter culture of Haria, an area where comprehensive research still needs to be done. The plant-derived phytocompounds demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, suggesting their capacity to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated during oxidative stress. Consuming the beverage may help overcome the growth of cancerous cells and slow the ageing process. Additionally, the herbal plants exhibit active antimicrobial properties, indicating a therapeutic role in inhibiting the growth of humanpathogenic bacteria and protecting the body from severe infections. "Eu" is a traditional mild alcoholic beverage made from millet and consumed by the Toto tribe in West Bengal. The preparation of Eu involves millet fermentation with the locally cultivated starter culture known as "Moaa." Ethnobotanical data and samples were collected through semi-structured interviews. Qualitative assays, such as acute toxicity, antioxidant analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), in vitro anti-inflammatory assay, molecular docking, and physiochemical assessments (pH and alcohol content), were conducted. The findings indicate that Eu has a low alcohol content (approximately 1-3%) and a high antioxidant capacity. GCMS analysis identified thirteen bioactive compounds. The starter culture employed in this brew comprises a diverse microflora. Identifying these microbes will enhance our comprehension of the brew and allow us to quantify its effects on the human system postconsumption. Leveraging advancements in Illumina sequencing technology, meta-profiling of the 16S rRNA (V3–V4 region) has become a valuable resource for scrutinizing the microbiome of various samples. We have utilized this tool to investigate the microbiome population of Eu. The microbial diversity found in the brew primarily consisted of probiotic and fermenting bacteria. Nutrient profiling of Eu assessed the levels of protein, carbohydrates, free amino acids, and free fatty acids. The nutritional content in the brew likely supports the growth of probiotic microflora. Reverse ecology-based network analysis unveiled substantial complementary interactions between humans and the microflora in the Eu. GC–MS analysis identified thirteen potent compounds in Eu, and an extensive network pharmacological study on these compounds revealed the anticancer properties of Eu, particularly against gastrointestinal malignancies. This was achieved by reducing the proliferation of malignant cells and forming pro-inflammatory cytokines. The probiotic microflora and the Eukaryotic Yeast also play a crucial role in fermentation. Several yeast cells were isolated from the starter culture, and from the isolated cultures based on biochemical screening, three strains were selected for identification. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ITS region (ITS1 and ITS4) sequencing of these three yeast isolates showing similarity with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The MTT assay against the ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cell line determined the cytotoxicity of Eu. The brew showed no cytotoxic effect. Whole metagenomic sequencing, or WMS, is particularly valuable in studying complex microbial ecosystems, where diverse microbial communities coexist. Whole metagenomic sequencing was done on the starter culture of Eu; the result showed .42% of Archaea, 60.80% of Bacteria, 22.84% of fungi, 11.95% of protozoa and 2.95% of Viruses within the sample. In vivo, acute and sub-acute oral administration toxicity study was conducted to show the efficacy of the drink Eu on a rat model. In the acute toxicity study, female and male Wistar rats received oral administrations of Eu of doses 250 and 500 mg/kg over 28 days following OECD Guidelines 425. In the sub-acute study, no significant reduction or gain of weight was observed when compared with the control group. The haematological and histopathological study also showed no significant alteration of the parameters when compared with the control. The spleen weight of both males and females was changed slightly compared to the standard, but this change is not dose-dependent. The result of sub-acute toxicity showed that an adequate amount of the drink.
Open Access
Genetic diversity of frankia associated with Hippophae L.In lachen valley of north sikkim
(University of North Bengal, 2011) Basistha, Bharat Chandra; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Medicinal and molecular profiling of selected tea varieties of Darjeeling and Dooars
(University of North Bengal, 2022) Labar, Reha; Sen, Arnab; Bhattacharya, Malay
Open Access
Micropropagation, diversity study and detection of antioxidants in some medicinal Zingibers
(University of North Bengal, 2014-01) Bhattacharya, Malay; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Molecular charecterisation of Frankia and Alder- Frankia symbiosis in Eastern India
(University of North Bengal, 2004) Bajwa, Balwinder Singh; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Persepectives on Extremophilic Actinobacteria - A Review
(University of North Bengal, 2022) Sen, Gargi; Ghosh, Sandipan; Sarkar, Indrani; Sen, Arnab
Actinobacteria are considered as the most potential and biotechnologically viable prokaryotes because of their ability for the production of bioactive metabolites. They have immense biosynthetic prospect that remains unopposed without a competent organism from other microbial collections. But the prospect of finding highly potential actinobacteria from ambient habitats is reduced due to the wide exploitation for antibiotic production. So attention has been diverted to the unexploited extremophilic habitats such as marine sediments, mangroves, deserts, rocks, glaciers, etc. Extremophilic actinobacteria are competent producers of new secondary metabolites that show a wide range of antagonistic activities against bacteria, fungi, cancer and also exhibit insecticidal and enzyme inhibition. This review is an attempt to explore extremophilic actinobacteria that may form the source for the synthesis of novel drugs that could be used to combat resistant pathogens and also for xenobiotic degradation.
Open Access
Pharmacological Activity of Citrus macroptera: an overview of a medicinal plant
(University of North Bengal, 2019-03) Lala, Mousikha; Bhattachary, Malay; Sen, Arnab
Plants and plant parts have been extensively used as medicine from the dates of early civilization. They are low in cost and have least side effects. In India, the practice of the traditional medicinal can be traced back to 5000 B.C. Citrus macroptera (Mont.) of the family Rutaceae is a bitter fruit bearing plant commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an endangered wild plant of North-eastern India. Various parts of this plant such as leaves, bark, pulp, peel specially fruits have an immense range of medicinal importance and has been used in different kinds of ailments like fever, kidney and liver dysfunction, dyspepsia, cardiovascular disease, stroke and many more to mention. The fruit of this perennial spiny plant has potential antioxidant, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antipyretic and appetite stimulant activity. The principal phytochemical constituents of this plant are Ribalinine, Edulinine, Bergamottin, Psoralen, Marmin, Severine, Geipavarine, β-pinene, α-pinene, ρ-cimene, (E)-ocimene, vanilline, Rutin, kaempferol, sabinene, limonene, γ-terpinene and so forth. Furthurmore thrombolytic, antidiabetic, antidepressant, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective activity have been reported on this plant. This review represents a comprehensive study on the various aspects of Citrus macroptera with respect to their traditional and medicinal usage or better use as alternative medicine for various kinds of treatments.
Open Access
PhytoResp : A Database for Medicinal Plants of Darjeeling, Against Respiratory Ailments
(University of North Bengal, 2022) Das, Anushka; Banik, Ananya; Datta, Sutapa; Sen, Arnab
PhytoResp is a digital, manually curated database developed at the Department of Botany, University of North Bengal (NBU). The database has been created with the help of 200 published research articles and the eleven volumes of ‘Chiranjib Banousadhi’ series, written by Shibakali Bhattacharya. Here, we provide the names of 329 medicinal plants that are available in the Darjeeling district region of North Bengal and are traditionally used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The list of reported plants is included, along with their parts used. They are known to cure 38 respiratory diseases. Among these, 113 plants have already been reported as a cure for COVID-19 (in silico or in vivo). Also, we have taken a step to evaluate the efficiency of the phytocompounds through in-silico methods.
Open Access
Sea buckthorn and its microsymbiont-a review
(University Of North Bengal, 2011-03) Basistha, Bharat C; Sen, Arnab
Hippophae sp. is a versatile plant restricted in distribution to the Himalayas having multipurpose usage including food, fodder, medicine, and controlling soil erosion. Besides, it plays a huge role in increasing the fertility of the soil by harboring symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria called Frankia. In this review we have looked into two main aspects of this symbiosis. First we have made a detailed account of the macrosymbiont i.e. Hippophae. Since Hippophae has food and medicinal properties and are widely used in cosmetic production, we excavated the antioxidant activity of various parts of Hippophae including fruits, seeds, bark and leaf. People of Indo-Tibetan plateau adapt a special agro-technique to cultivate Hippophae. The technique has been discussed here. A detail report of this plant including their distribution and various ecological parameters has also been done. On the other hand we have also elucidate about the microsymbiont present in root nodule of Hippophae i.e. Frankia. Frankia is filamentous actinomycetes which fix atmospheric nitrogen to the soil and therefore increase the soil-fertility. A detailed account of morphology. anatomy, phylogeny and ecology of Frankia has been illustrated here. The diversity of Frankia in soil is another interesting topic and the speciation of this bacterium is an everlasting controversy. We have given a closer look to the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Frankia at intra and inter generic level.
Open Access
Selected underutilized fruits of Northeast India for overall health improvement of humankind
(University of North Bengal, 2023) Banerjee, Swarnendu; Sen, Arnab
The North-Eastern hill region in India is a significant agro-biodiversity hotspot with underutilized ethnomedicinal fruits essential for rural life. However, these fruits are often unknown due to lack of documentation, shrinking forest areas, and disappearance of indigenous culture. Plantderived products, particularly fruits, offer numerous benefits and are a promising alternative to current health -promoting medications due to their less expensive and less harmful side effects. Hence, the present study was conducted to collect wild edible fruits with ethnomedicinal values from India's North-Eastern hill region, considering their ethnomedicinal importance. Since these fruits are ethnomedicinal and nutritionally essential, this present investigation aims to explore bioactive phytocompounds from underutilized fruits and their health-beneficial role against some diseases. Fourteen fruit samples were collected from different locations in three states (West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura) among them four fruits: Elaeagnus pyriformis (EP), Baccurea ramiflora (BR), Phyllanthus acidus (PA), and Prunus nepalensis (PN) were selected for further experiments while the remaining fruits were not considered based on DPPH assay. These four fruit extracts [EP (80.91±0.264%), BR (78.864±0.11%), PA (78.053±0.78%), PN (81.56±0.57%) at 200 μg/ml] exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity than the others when compared to the respective standard (ascorbic acid). With increasing concentrations of extracts (50-200 μg/ml), these fruit samples showed promising reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging power in the case of other in vitro assays [hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and hypochlorous and total antioxidant assay]. The study showed a strong positive correlation between antioxidant scavenging assay and total phenol and flavonoid content for all four fruit extracts, where EP showed the highest phenol (73.74631 ± 1.171 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoid content (39.3726±0.6661 mg QE/g DW). High phenol and flavonoid content have been proved by FTIR analysis where EP, BR, PA, and PN extracts indicated the presence of significant peaks for polyphenolic OH, alkane, carboxylic acid, and amide-I at around (3419- 3439 cm-1), (2920-2927 cm-1), (1732- 1740 cm-1) and (1625-1648 cm-1) respectively. The present study was extended to analyze the identification of active phytocompounds in EP, BR, PA, and PN extracts using the GC-MS method. A total number of 38 phytocompounds have been identified in EP (11 compounds), BR (8 compounds), PA (8 compounds) and PN (11 compounds). It has been reported that fatty acids like octadecanoic acid (stearic acid), dodecanoic acid (lauric acid), and hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) were present in the fruit extracts that humans need in their diets. Apart from these, ellagic acid, Ƴ-sitosterol, 1,2- Longidione, n-hexadecanoic acid, and octadecanoic acid, 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5 -dihydroxy-6-methyl each have anticancer, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, hypocholesterolemic, antibacterial, and antiinflammatory properties. Therefore, based on the study above, it is possible to indicate that EP, BR, PA, and PN extracts can potentially become powerful antioxidative agents in the future. Further LC-MS analysis allowed the identification of more than 75 polyphenols, including flavanols, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, alkaloids, steroids, vitamins, triterpenoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, and derivatives from four fruit samples (EP, BR, PA, PN). It has been reported that vitamin B9 has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties among these bio compounds and reduces the chances of lipid peroxidation. Reports suggested that flavonoids (trifolin, quercetin-3β-D-glucoside, kaempferol), flavonols (rutin), anthocyanidins (malvidin), phenolic acids (quinic acid, gallic acid, phenolic acid), phenylpropanoids (rosmerinic acid) are potent antioxidant and ROS scavengers. These have high antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and immunomodulatory properties. Fruit extracts were investigated against two Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium) pathogenic bacterial strains to see antimicrobial activity. Among all fruit extracts, PA showed perfect growth inhibitory activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria at low doses (5mg/ml). At high doses (10mg/ml), EP, BR, PA, and PN (all four fruit extracts) showed a significant zone of inhibition against S. typhi (11.576 mm), E coli (14.256 mm), B. subtilis (13.964 mm), S. aureus (15.382 mm) respectively. The study demonstrated that active phytocompounds (beta-sitosterol, octadecanoic acid, γ-sitosterol, and squalene from fruits like EP, BR, PA, and PN, respectively) have potential growth inhibitory activities against pathogenic strains, which suggests these fruits could be used as herbal remedies for microorganism-related disorders. When the ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cell line was exposed to varying doses of four fruit extracts (EP, BR, PA, and PN), after 48 hours of treatment, the MTT test results offered an interesting concentrationdependent decrease in cell viability, which ranges between 45% to 49% at the highest dose (300 μg/ml) of four (EP, BR, PA, and PN) fruit extracts. This MTT assay data was also supv ported by in silico molecular docking analysis where selected phytocompounds (Malvidin, Rosmerinic acid, Ellagic acid Quercetin for EP, BR, PA, and PN respectively) showed potential inhibitory activities against the MDM2 protein, which is a positive regulator for adenocarcinoma. Probably, this was the first report on the cytotoxic effects of these underutilized fruit extracts on the ACHN cell line. An increasing dose ((5, 10, 20, 40 mg/ L) of resveratrol (a potent polyphenol from EP) demonstrated protection against H2O2-induced oxidative injury and increased sperm viability by upregulating several frontline antioxidant and non-antioxidant enzymes such as SOD (165-172%), GSH (18.5- 91.43%) respectively, reducing ROS level [NOX (39-55%)] improving altered lipid metabolism and histological architectures (Sertoli cells and seminiferous tubules regenerates). In silico molecular docking study also supports this data where resveratrol showed good inhibitory potential (- 7.8kcal/mol) against stress protein NOX2. The different resveratrol treatments had better antioxidant activities than the standard antioxidant, ascorbic acid (AA). Therefore, this phyto compound might be a promising medicine against stress-mediated male infertility problems. Fruit wines (fermented alcoholic beverages) are traditionally popular in the cool climatic zones of Northeast India. A study on fruit wines in Northeast India found high antioxidant activity, medicinal potential, and significant anti-cancer activity in breast cancer cell-line studies. Metagenomic analysis revealed diverse probiotic bacterial species in the wine sample's microbial population, playing an essential role in anti-cancer properties. Overall, the study suggests wine has therapeutic and health benefits. The study also describes the green synthresis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from silver nitrate utilizing EP fruit juice in an optimized process, which caused the solution's color to shift from yellow to brownish. UVVis spectroscopy, SEM, FESEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR were used to characterize the AgNPs thoroughly to determine the existence and degree of bioactive compounds as a capping and reducing agent. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of AgNPs against human pathogenic microorganisms was shown to be substantial, and their antioxidant effectiveness was assessed. The anti-apoptotic protein Bcl- XL was employed in an in-silico molecular docking investigation to determine the efficacy of AgNPs as a powerful anti-cancerous agent. According to the results, nanoparticles are deemed harmless as they can alter how cancer cells typically initiate cell death by blocking their ABC transporters. A similar study was done using BR fruit juice, and surface morphology, size, and stability of biogenically synthesized AgNPs were determined by SEM, FESEM, HRTEM, EDX, XRD, and DLS. In this study, DPPH and other in vitro antioxidant assays explored the effect of these nanoparticles in treating oxidative stressrelated disorders. The antimicrobial assay revealed that AgNPs have potent antibacterial activity against both above mentioned gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Two human breast cancer cell lines were used in an MTT test to determine the anticancer effects. Results indicated that AgNPs were cytotoxic to the cell lines in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 110 mg/ml and 140 mg/ml, respectively, after 48 hours of treatment. We may conclude from this work that AgNPs are highly effective in preventing cancer. The study synthesized nanoparticles from Phyllanthus acidus fruit juice to investigate its clinical effects. The study compared the efficacy of raw fruit juice and nanoparticles on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in a mouse model. The present study administered gentamicin (negative control) intraperitoneally to induce nephrotoxicity in the mice model. Several in vivo antioxidant and biochemical tests were performed to measure the efficacy of low and high doses of fruit juice and juicesynthesized nanoparticles in preventing renal injury. Results revealed that creatinine and urea levels significantly deteriorated by up to 1.13% and 1.49% in the high-dose P. acidus nanoparticles (PANH) group compared to the negative control group. After the application of PANH, major antioxidant (SOD, CAT) and nonantioxidant (GSH) enzymes were significantly enhanced compared to the gentamicin-treated group. Histopathological examination revealed that the glomerulus structure reappeared significantly in the PANH group. In silico molecular docking, analysis showed an inhibitory effect of fruit juice and fruit juice synthesized nanoparticles against inflammatory protein NFƙb. Findings indicated that PANH was more ameliorative over a high dose of P. acidus fruit juice (PAJH) towards kidney injury. Our findings generate scopes to explore the therapeutic potentials of PANH in treating kidney disorders. Now a days arsenic, a toxic metalloid, poses a significant threat to human health and agriculture. In India, the highly nutritious Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper (Blackgram) pulse crop, Urad, is highly contaminated, leading to failure in germination and reduced crop yield. This contamination is particularly prevalent in West Bengal, Murshidabad, and Malda districts, where blackgram is cultivated alongside other cash crops. The build-up of arsenic in grains endangers agricultural productivity and food security because arsenic stress inhibits seed germination and plant growth. To reduce Asphytotoxicity in plants and seedlings before they reach the reproductive stage, this study investigated the viaviii bility of seed-priming black gram plants with biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs). ZnONPs under stress considerably increased the germination rate of blackgram seeds (20– 23.33%) and other morphophysiological characteristics. Adding ZnONPs reduced the accumulation of malondialdehyde (21–69%) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (hydrogen peroxide) by 23–67%. ZnONPs also led to an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase by 28–68%, catalase by 20– 42%, guaiacol peroxidase by 19–49%, and ascorbate peroxidase by 26–39%) and the accumulation of osmoregulators. The findings suggest that ZnONPs significantly reduce Astoxicity by preventing its transfer from the root to the shoot. This work provides the first proof that ZnONP-based nano-priming effectively reduces Asstress in blackgram, indicating the possible application of this technique as a stress-relieving agent in Ascontaminated regions to boost yield and growth. Another important legume in the food chain such as peas (Pisum sativum L.) are rich in nutrients. However, arsenic (As) in the agroecosystem provides a considerable bottleneck to its productivity because of its severe effects on ontogeny, particularly in Southeast Asia. This work proposes biogenic ZnONPs as a rhizospheric nanoremediation technique to avoid Asgenotoxicity and increase crop production. In the negative control, germination rate, shoot length, and root length dropped by 62%, 16%, and 14.9%, respectively, above the normal control. As-toxicity caused fast oxidative bursts with worsening morphophysiological properties. Negative control experienced membrane damage (82.75% increase) and electrolyte leakage (2.6-fold increase) as a result of ROS buildup (12.8 and 9-fold increase in leaves and roots), overworked antioxidant defense, and loss ix of cellular homeostasis. According to the study, root tip cells under stress significantly increase nuclear area, nuclear fragmentation, and micronuclei formation. These findings suggest severe genomic instability and increased programmed cell death (with a 3.3-fold increase in early apoptotic cells) due to leaky plasma membranes and unrepaired DNA damage. ZnONPs adsorb into the rhizosphere and reduce As-toxicity, they improve the antioxidant response and reduce As-uptake in peas. As-interference is reduced by increased vacuolar sequestration of As due to improved phytochelatin fabrication. Better photosynthetic activity (1.3–1.9-fold increased chlorophyll autofluorescence), increased pollen viability, and less genotoxicity (reduced tail DNA in comet assay) were observed. The flowering time was also better (7.74– 19.36% reduction in flowering delay) with greater transcript abundance of GIGANTIA (GI), CONSTANS (CO), and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes. Pod number and seed zinc concentration increased up to a maximum of 37.5% (1.67-fold), whereas seed arsenic content was reduced when treated with ZnONPs. In our experiment, the maximum ZnONPs dose (400 mg/L) caused NP-toxicity in pea plants; however, up to 300 mg/L, the best stress alleviation was seen. Although blackgram and pea are highly significant pulse crops, the use of nanoparticles in reducing heavy metals or metalloid stress in these crops has never been reported. Through this investigation, we hope to fully assess the viability of using ZnONPs to reduce stress caused by As. Therefore the detailed study on underutilized fruits have shown their potentiality against several diseases like cancer, infertility, nephrotoxicity and improves human health in a drastic way.
Open Access
Studies on the selected tea garden weeds for the promotion of tea plant health
(University of North Bengal, 2024) Ghosh, Sandipan; Sen, Arnab; Ghosh, Chandra
Tea, cherished worldwide as a beverage of choice, holds a dominant position in India's agricultural landscape, representing 75% of the country's tea production. The North East region of India holds immense importance, making a substantial contribution of approximately 75% to the overall output. However, despite its paramount importance, tea production faces numerous challenges, chief among them being pest attacks. These attacks pose a significant threat, often leading to substantial losses that can range from 30% to 50%. Among the array of pests, the Red Spider Mite (RSM) poses a significant threat, characterized by a short life cycle and prolific reproductive capacity. In North East India, the economic threshold level for RSM is identified at 5 mites per leaf. The persistent use of conventional pesticides, coupled with the mite's rapid life cycle, has fostered considerable pesticide tolerance, leading to recurrent and challenging resurgences, thereby impacting the Indian tea trade. The tea plant is susceptible to diverse pests, including tea mosquito bugs, red slugs, red spider mites, thrips, jassids, etc. Among these, red spider mites and tea mosquito bugs stand out as predominant pests in the region, causing substantial crop losses in the tea industry annually. The association of Oligonychus coffeae with tea dates back to the inception of tea production in Assam, North East India, in 1868. While Nietner initially discovered O. coffeae on coffee plants (Coffea arabica) in Sri Lanka in 1861, it was Wood -Mason who, in 1884, designated it as a new species, Tetranychus bioculatus. However, Pritchard and Baker's 1955 studied on the family Tetranychidae prompted a revaluation, leading to the recognition of T. bioculatus as a synonym of the coffee mite, eventually placing it under the name Oligonychus. According to early data, the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner, (Acarina: Tetranychidae), is one of the most significant pests of Indian tea, and causing up to 35–40% of the crop to be lost. Red spider mites and tea mosquito bugs are seasonal pests. The former occurs during the summer months and the latter during rainy winter. RSM is a polyphagous pest that feeds on coffee, rubber, indigo, grape, cashew nut, citrus, mango, Camellia, camphor, mulberry, oil palm, and many other tropical plants. It normally infests the upper surface of mature tea leaves, feeds along the midrib and veins, and gradually spreads to the entire surface of the leaf, thereby changing the color of the leaf to ruddy bronze. Larvae, nymphs, and adult mites wreak havoc on the tea plant by feeding on the sap of the leaves and sporadically on the petioles. In severe infestation, it damages the younger and older leaves and ultimately leads to defoliation and debilitation of the tea bush causing a crop loss of 14–18%. In South India, the economic threshold level (ETL) of RSM in tea is reportedly 4 mites per leaf. and 2–3 mites/cm2 in North EastIndia. However, ETLs vary from area to region and even from field to field due to crop phenology, the cost of pesticides and manpower, weather patterns, etc. The RSM lives under the cover of a silken web spun on the leaf surface as protection against inclement weather. Leaf temperature and light penetration within tea bushes also influence mite distribution; O. coffeae prefers the middle zone of the bush (30 cm below the plucking surface) because of optimum temperatures associated with plant shading. The temperature in the upper zone of the tea plant may reach 40– 45 0C yet shading can bring down the temperature of the middle tier of a bush to ambient levels of 30–32 0C. Tea plantations use synthetic pesticides to manage pests, but researchers need to explore plants' bio pesticidal properties for environmental problems. Native plant materials like oils, extracts, and secondary metabolites protect against pests and illnesses. Plant-based preparations, including powders, solvent extracts, essential oils, and insecticidal properties, are also used as biopesticides. Botanicals play a vital role in organic tea production by effectively controlling pests such as red spider mites and keeping their population below the Economic Threshold Level (ETL). Consistent use of plant extracts from the same species mitigates herbivore responses and minimizes the risk of pest resistance development. Numerous studies from previous literature affirm that plant materials are abundantly accessible within local regions. The utilization of crude or raw plant extracts, containing a diverse amalgamation of bioactive components, emerges as a straightforward and economically feasible solution. This approach, exemplified by the utilization of aqueous extracts derived from various indigenous plants in India, underscores the practicality and cost effectiveness of harnessing natural resources for various applications. Plant based remedies for the red spider mite have included Clerodendron infortunatum L., Acorus calamus L., Aegl e marmel os (L.) C orrêa, Xanthium strumarium L., Terminalia chebula Retz., Duranta repens L., and neem kernel. The selection of plants should not limit the available plants to guarantee a wide range of protectants, and ongoing research into more potential plants is encouraged. It is significantly more important to carry out multiple bioassays when evaluating botanical pesticides. So objective of our study is the survey and documentation and characterization of plants used in preparing bio formulation for managing the pest. In different tea estates of tarai and dooars region and tea research institute start to introduce some cultural practices in combating tea pest using some locally available weed plants. With such information in together, we chose ten weed plants based on the results of the survey data. Then collect those plant and prepare a bioformulation. We also prepared individual plant aqueous extracts to know which plant is more effective than a formulation and found Clerodendron infortunatum L., Artemisia vulgaris L., and Justicia adhatoda L. confer better results than other plants when applied to a red spider mite in a laboratory condition. Next, we formulate bioformulations using locally sourced plants, drawing upon both existing literature and the traditional knowledge of tea garden inhabitants. Initially, to evaluate the effectiveness of these bioformulations, greenhouse experiments were conducted, administering them at different dosages to infected samples. Following the acquisition of promising outcomes, we advanced to field trial experiments carried out in two distinct tea estates, situated in both the Terai and Dooars regions. As part of our ongoing exploration into the composition of the bioformulation, we embarked on comprehensive GCMS analysis, revealing the presence of specific compounds within its formulation. To gain deeper insights into the potential impact on insect pests, particularly the two-spotted red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), we selected relevant proteins from the PDB database. Employing molecular docking studies, we substantiated that the presence of these identified compounds in the bioformulation could be a contributing factor to the mortality of the insect pest. Additionally, our findings are in line with earlier literature studies that underscore the pesticidal activity linked to these compounds. In the metagenomic approach applied to the bioformulation, an intricate exploration of the microbial flora within the bioformulation was unveiled. Furthermore, the reverse ecology study lends support to the notion that there exists a robust interaction among the bacteria, influencing their impact on the pest population. Upon inflicting damage to the pest, the ensuing generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) triggers the activation of antioxi dantenzymes. Our investigation involved the collection of leaves from both infected plants and those treated with the bioformulation, alongside a positive control. Subsequent analyses, including various enzymatic and nonenzymatic tests, revealed that our bioformulation contributes to the reduction and mitigation of biotic stress. Moreover, our bioformulation demonstrated a positive influence on the activity of Plant Growth-Promoting activity by inducing changes in soil physiochemical composition. This, in turn, resulted in improvements in plant height, leaf count, and flushes, showcasing the multifaceted benefits conferred by our bioformulation.
Open Access
Study of genetic diversity and micropropagation of bamboos of North Bengal
(University of North Bengal, 2013) Goyal, Arvind Kumar; Sen, Arnab
Open Access
Study of genetic diversity and standardization transformation in Camellia Sinensis (L) O Kuntze
(University of North Bengal, 2007) Gill, Manprit; Sen, Arnab