Search

Piper sylvaticumRoxb., (Family: Piperaceae), commonly known as pahaari peepal, is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatic pain, headache, asthma, chronic cough, diarrhea, and wounds. To provide scientific proof for its traditional use, the present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of methanol extract of P. sylvaticumstem (MEPSS) in pain models. Additionally, computational studies viz. molecular docking, ADME and toxicological property predictions were performed to identify the potent phytochemicals of this plant for antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities with good oral bioavailability and safety features. Quantitative phytochemical analysis of MEPSS was performed using established protocols. The antinociceptive activity was determined using acetic acid and formalin test in mice at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg while paw edema induced by carrageenan used for anti-inflammatory activity. Molecular docking study was performed by Schrödinger Maestro 10.1 whereas the SwissADME and admetSAR were used for ADME and toxicity prediction respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of MEPSS were 93.39 and 53.74 mg gallic acid and quercetin equivalent/g of extract respectively. The methanol extract exhibited significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental pain models. Also, our docking study showed that piperine, piperlonguminine, and sylvamide have the best binding affinities to cyclooxygenase enzymes with good ADME/T properties. This study confirmed that MEPSS possess significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities which could be due to the presence of phytochemicals and three bioactive compounds (piperine, piperlonguminine, and sylvamide) were found to be most effective in computational studies.

This study examines the plight of hilsa fishers in Bangladesh, grappling with challenges such as poor market access, scant capital, and shrinking fish stocks. This situation led to the seasonal dadonloan system, which provides immediate financial aid but often traps many fishers in a relentless debt cycle. We adopted a socio-ecological systems (SES) framework to examine the interconnected social and ecological dynamics of the hilsa fishery industry. Using a blend of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, we assessed the impact of the dadon loan system on small-scale fishers across four fishing locales in Bangladesh. The results indicate that the dadonloan system is a temporary financial prop for fishers but perpetuates debt cycles and curbs long-term financial security. Factors such as restricted access to formal credit, high fishing costs, and inadequate government support drive this system. This study identifies potential alternatives, such as government-backed loans, community finance schemes, and the promotion of alternative livelihoods, which could reduce reliance on the dadon loan system and improve fishers’ socioeconomic conditions. Implementing these strategies may dismantle the debt cycle, boost fishers’ welfare, and strengthen the socio-ecological resilience of fishing communities.