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This in silico study has been designed to validate ethnomedicinal properties of some Himalayan fermented ethnic beverages against varied high-altitude sicknesses. Traditional beverages like tongba, chhyang, nigar and finger-millet raksi (supplemented with ethnomedicines like khokim and chimphing) were considered in this study which were sampled from villages situated in Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas. Seven major metabolites such as ethyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside; meranzin; auraptene; cis-vaccenic acid; cyclo(pro-gly); cyclo(leu-pro); and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one were investigated in silico to provide insights to their efficiency in alleviating major altitude illnesses (pulmonary edema and hypoxia); high-altitude respiratory infections; pain or inflammation; cardiovascular problems; gastrointestinal diseases and disorders; and high-altitude neurological diseases and disorders. Computational tools such as Molinspiration Chemoinformatics, SwissADME, Molsoft program and vNN-ADMET were employed to evaluate physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and ADMET parameters. Binding affinities were computed using Auto Dock Tools. In silico pharmacokinetics and ADMET revealed bioactivity potentials of selected metabolites which are associated to treat high-altitude sickness. A total of 175 combinations of receptor-ligand docking interactions were considered out of which 141 combinations exhibited a binding energy score of ≤ -5 and 29 combinations scored ≤ -7. Outcome of this computational research affirm the effectiveness of high-altitude’s traditional drinks in healing high-altitudinal stresses.

Over the past years, the tea industry in India has started to suffer from various drawbacks, i.e. issues regarding low productivity and rising input costs (namely the uneconomic age profile of tea bushes across the tea estates of North Bengal), leading to a decline in the industry and dramatic expansion of small tea growers. Accordingly, the vast expansion of small tea plantations in North Bengal prompted this study to examine the purpose and outcome of such an expansion concept. In the present study, Bhotepatty, Maynaguri (the Jalpaiguri district), was considered due to an immense conversion of agricultural land into numerous small tea plantations in the region. The study focuses on the agricultural shift from potato fields to small tea gardens. Initially, a cumulative approach encompassing the preliminary survey work and analysis of soil physicochemical characteristics was adopted to assess the adequacy of this agricultural shift. The survey conducted revealed the lack of proper land preparation, land rehabilitation before planting, sound soil nutrient management, and soil testing programs after shifting (responsible for the depletion of major nutrients such as potassium and phosphorus in the tea soil, which can be resolved with proper and timely manuring practices). Sulphur and the organic matter, organic carbon and available nitrogen of the top soil were detected in huge amounts compared to the optimum values suggested by the Tea Board of India.

Leguminous shade trees are ubiquitous parts of tea plantations of the Terai region. However, their shed leaves might have an effect on the soil microflora under those shade trees, so it is important to find out how leaf litter affect the soil microflora. Isolation of soil microbial consortia followed by downstream experiments were conducted to observe the tolerance/susceptible pattern of those soil microflora against the fallen leaves. Sample from under Albizia odoratissima has higher organic carbon, organic matter and nitrogen content but the same property was found to be low in the sample collected under Melia azedarach. Isolation of consortia was done on nutrient agar. In vitro tolerance assay was conducted to find out the tolerance pattern against leaf extracts, heavy metal salts, pesticides, antibiotics and antifungals. Heavy metals salts like Arsenic trioxide (AS2O3) and Cupric chloride (CuCl2); and pesticides like Thiamethoxam; Spiromesifen; Phorate etc. showed no inhibition against all the isolated consortia. Co-Trimoxazole and Augmentin have not showed any inhibition except consortia under Derris robusta, whereas no antifungals but Itraconazole had an impact over all the consortia. Shade trees, being a crucial member of the tea plantations, cannot be removed but replacement of these with other species could be a probable option, besides this limited use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers should be taken into consideration strictly to restrain the microbial population in tea garden soil. So, this study has disclosed the acceptability of each and every shade tree used in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carcinogenesis, oncogenesis or tumourigenesis is a complex biomolecular mechanism that could progressively transform normal cells to malignant forms. Proper diet constituting natural fruits and vegetables enriched in bioactive components can reduce the risk factors of several forms of human cancer and other critical ailments. Endemic and endangered Cucurbitaceous climber of Darjeeling hills, Herpetospermum darjeelingense (C.B. Clarke) H. Schaef. & S.S. Renner [Edgaria darjeelingensis C.B. Clarke] is a repository of bioactive anti-cancer metabolites as depicted by the presence of fourteen anti-carcinogenic molecules explored via GC-MS analysis, which could potentially minimize the threats of various forms of cancer. The anti-cancer compounds cover about 79.22% of total GC-MS area percentage out of the total thirty four compounds detected. The explored cellular biosynthesis pathway of these anti-carcinogenic metabolites seems to follow a systemic metabologenesis pattern that may be required for the day-to-day survival of the plant and not a mere chance factor, which could have stressed the plant to produce those biochemical molecules. Isolation, pharmaceutical screening of these compounds and their medical application can revolutionise the dimension of the global cancer research in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is an essential tool for metabolomics. In this research we have selected photosynthetic organs- leaf and sepal of a wild Indian tea tree from north-east India to study wild tea metabolites. The result of this study reveals that photosynthetic parts of wild Indian tea tree are rich in 'patchouli' components unlike established cultivated varieties which are known to be rich in polyphenols or flavonoids. Twenty six compounds were detected in sesquiterpene rich leaf while nineteen were detected in the waxy sepal. The remarkable outcome of this study is presence of fourteen 'patchouli' compounds including patchouli alcohol as the major compound (44.81% in leaf and 19.59% in sepal) which can promote this plant to a top-notch position in fields of botany, pharmaceuticals and essential oil industry by occupying the throne of patchouli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]