is a genus belonging to the Rutaceae family and includes important crops like orange, lemons, pummelos, grapefruits, limes, etc.
essential oils (CEOs) consist of some major biologically active ...compounds like
-/
-pinene, sabinene,
-myrcene,
-limonene, linalool,
-humulene, and
-terpineol belonging to the monoterpenes, monoterpene aldehyde/alcohol, and sesquiterpenes group, respectively. These compounds possess several health beneficial properties like antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, etc., in addition to antimicrobial properties, which have immense potential for food applications. Therefore, this review focused on the extraction, purification, and detection methods of CEOs along with their applications for food safety, packaging, and preservation. Further, the concerns of optimum dose and safe limits, their interaction effects with various food matrices and packaging materials, and possible allergic reactions associated with the use of CEOs in food applications were briefly discussed, which needs to be addressed in future research along with efficient, affordable, and "green" extraction methods to ensure CEOs as an ecofriendly, cost-effective, and natural alternative to synthetic chemical preservatives.
Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) is a medicinal plant used in folk and Ayurvedic medicines throughout India since ancient times. All the parts of the plant are immensely useful due to the presence of ...different compounds of pharmaceutical importance belonging to various groups as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoid, and phenolics. These compounds possess pharmacological properties, which make it anti-diabetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, hepato-protective, and immuno-modulatory. However, due to the increasing population, there is an inadequate supply of drugs. Therefore, this review focuses on phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, clinical application and its conservation strategies so that the plant can be conserved for future generations and utilized as alternative medicine as well as to design various pharmacologically important drugs.
A new Coronaviridae strain, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged from Wuhan city of China and caused one of the substantial global health calamities in December 2019. ...Even though several vaccines and drugs have been developed worldwide since COVID-19, a cost-effective drug with the least side effects is still unavailable. Currently, plant-derived compounds are mostly preferred to develop antiviral therapeutics due to its less toxicity, easy access, and cost-effective characteristics. Therefore, in this study, 124 phytochemical compounds from plants of Lauraceae family with medicinal properties were virtually screened against SARS-CoV-2 M
. Identification of four phytomolecules, i.e., cassameridine, laetanine, litseferine and cassythicine, with docking scores -9.3, -8.8, -8.6, and -8.6 kcal/mol, respectively, were undertaken by virtual screening, and molecular docking. Furthermore, the molecular dynamic simulation and essential dynamics analysis have contributed in understanding the stability and inhibitory effect of these selected compounds. These phytomolecules can be considered for further in vitro and in vivo experimental study to develop anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics targeting the main protease (M
).
Ochratoxins (OTs) are a group of mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. which are ubiquitous. They infect the crops during pre- and post-harvest conditions and contaminate various ...food and feed. Among all the OTs produced, ochratoxin A (OTA) poses serious health issues like neurotoxicity and carcinogenesis. The harmful impact of the toxins is observed in both humans and animals. The toxins get accumulated in the organs of animals through the contaminated animal-feed which further contaminate the products derived from them, such as milk and meat-based products. Therefore, sensitive and robust identification, detection, and quantification methods along with efficient management and control measures are crucial. Spectrometric and spectroscopy techniques are quite sensitive and lead to better detection of the toxin in the food products. Control and preventive measures during harvesting, storage and transportation are found to be effective in managing the production of such toxins. This review insight on the occurrence, chemistry, biosynthesis, effects on human health and agriculture, detections, management, and control strategies of ochratoxins.
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•Ochratoxins are produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium spp.•Contaminations of various food and feed occur in crops during pre- and post-harvest.•Contaminated cereals and cereal-based products are consumed by both humans and animals.•Ochratoxins pose serious health issues like neurotoxicity and carcinogenesis.•Management strategies are required for the safety and security of food and feed.
Background: Ensuring better quality of life to an increasing number of elderly people is emerging as a stiff public health challenge in India. There is paucity of data on impact of functional health ...on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in India. Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore the functional status and its association with different dimensions of HRQOL among elderly individuals in an urban setting of Assam, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 elderly were recruited in a cross-sectional study from the city of Dibrugarh, Assam, India. Eight domains of HRQOL of participants were assessed using short form 36 (SF-36). Functional status was assessed by using Barthel activity of daily living (ADL) tool. ANOVA test and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between ADL status and HRQOL. Results: In all, 34.7% (n = 104) of participants had limitations in one or more ADL items. We also observed a strong graded relationship between ADL and HRQOL scores. Those who scored perfect 100 ADL score also scored highest in all eight HRQOL scales, whereas those with least ADL score scored lowest in all the HRQOL scales. In age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression analysis, the probability of poor health increased with decreasing level of ADL scores. Conclusion: Findings of the study suggest that decline in ADL can negatively impact different dimensions of HRQOL among elderly individuals. The findings indicate that there is need to pay proper attention for restoring functional health at later life in order to improve quality of life among elderly in India.
INTRODUCTION: Feedback is an important part of the assessment process. However, one-to-one structured and constructive feedback to the students is not practiced mostly due to lack of practice and ...feasibility issues. The present study was conducted to understand the perception of students and faculty toward one-to-one structured feedback. METHODOLOGY: All the 3rd MBBS professional students were included in the study. An orientation was given to the faculty regarding the importance of feedback and how to give structured feedback. A standardized format was provided to the faculty for providing the feedback to the students. After completion of the assessments, a one-to-one structured verbal feedback was given to all the students. Thereafter, faculty and student's perception on the feedback process was obtained through questionnaires. A focused group discussion was also conducted among the students. RESULTS: A total of 42 students participated in the study out of 50. A positive response was received from all the students regarding the feedback. Nearly84.34% of the students acknowledged that feedback is important for understanding their mistakes, 92.84% of the students responded positively that feedback helps to build a good rapport with the teacher, and 92.85% of the students reported that they were satisfied with the overall experience of receiving feedback. Most of the faculty (80%) perceived that giving feedback after the assessment was a good idea. The faculty felt motivated to give feedback to the students after the hands-on experience. However, only 20% of the faculty agreed that the process of feedback was easy to carry out (mean score: 2.2 ± 1.09). CONCLUSION: The positive responses received from both the students and the faculty highlight that the students are receptive toward feedback provided it is structured, constructive, and helps them to achieve their learning goals.
Background: Elderly population is growing rapidly in India. To direct public health actions to improve quality of life among elderly, it is important to understand the sociodemographic factors ...associated with quality of life. The aim of study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among urban elderly in a setting of Assam, India, and to examine how HRQOL varied across different sociodemographic groups among the elderly populations. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried among elderly aged ≥60 involving 300 participants. Eight domains of HRQOL of participants were measured using RAND SF-36. Analysis of variance test was used to examine sociodemographic differences in HRQOL. Results: The BP domain had highest (71.78 ± 22.25) and GH had lowest mean HRQOL score (48 ± 16.93). Males had significantly higher HRQOL score than females only in BP domain. Age gradients were observed with respect to HRQOl scores in five domains, with youngest age group having the best and oldest age group having the poorest HRQOL. Financially dependent subjects had lower HRQOL in five domains than those who were financially independent. Significant associations between education and HRQOL were found only in physical components of HRQOL, with lowest educated group being the most disadvantaged in terms of HRQOL. Marital status was found to be significantly associated with lower HRQOL scores. Conclusion: The study highlights sociodemographic inequalities in HRQOL among urban elderly in an Indian setting. The results may help reducing sociodemographic health inequalities among elderly in this region initiating public health actions paying more attention toward more vulnerable sections of populations.