Examining the microbial composition of natural springs in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Natural springs are the main source of water supply for domestic and agricultural use for humans living in the mountainous regions of Asia. Increasing anthropogenic activities with associated waste load, coupled with inadequate sanitation, and contamination of natural water resources and the environment are emerging as important public health issues. We performed a prospective microbiological and physicochemical investigation of water samples from seven distinct natural springs situated at an altitude of 1615 m in the Bhaderwah region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Bacterial groups belonging to opportunistic pathogens such as members of Moraxellaceae (Acinetobacter), Arcobacteraceae (Pseudoarcobacter), Pseudomonadaceae (Pseudomonas), Oxalobacteraceae (Massilia), and Flavobacteriaceae (Flavobacterium) were observed. The total coliform test indicated an intermediate level of risk of fecal contamination of the springs, except for one site. Through a questionnaire-based survey of the local population, we discovered that around 40% of participants had suffered from waterborne diseases including typhoid (~14%) and diarrhea (~11%). Our data suggests that increased surveillance of fecal contamination and heterotrophic opportunistic pathogens is needed to enhance water quality and reduce health risks for people living in mountainous regions.

Spatial water quality assessment of a mountain stream in northwestern India using multivariate statistical techniques.

The water quality of Himalayan rivers and streams is deteriorating due to multitude of anthropogenic and natural influences and the changes are more pronounced in smaller hill basins with high human influx. Inadequate data and lack of monitoring further exacerbate the situation. The surface water quality of one such hill stream, Neeru was evaluated for potability and irrigation quality. The water quality parameters were analysed at 25 sampling stations over a stretch of 30 km across four seasons during a 2-year study from January 2014 to December 2015. The CCME Water Quality Index (WQI) indicated excellent water quality in upstream stations, while the midstream and a few downstream stations revealed varying degrees of impaired water quality. Although the irrigation quality of the stream was excellent, pollution levels near urban areas were rather high, necessitating considerable treatment for human consumption. The factor analysis yielded seven components with Eigenvalues greater than one that accounted for 83.656% of the variance and enabled the grouping of selected parameters based on comparable characteristics. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of the water samples indicated that they lie within the zone of rock dominance, while the trilinear diagram depicted the Ca-bicarbonate rich stream water. The study concluded that the upstream stations revealed pristine water quality, which significantly degraded towards human settlements. It thus calls for regular and long-term monitoring of the surface water quality to ensure the continuous and sustainable use of this important water body.

Potable water quality assessment of traditionally used springs in a hilly town of Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

The quality of spring water and its suitability for human consumption is determined by examining its physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. Preliminary investigations were conducted to determine the potability of seven traditionally used springs in the highly populated hill town of Bhaderwah in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The water analysis was performed for various physico-chemical and microbial parameters during April 2019-March 2020. Water temperature, TDS, EC, pH, DO, free CO2, total alkalinity, total hardness, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO32-, HCOֿ3, Cl‾, NOֿ3, PO43-, SO42-, total coliforms, and thermotolerant coliforms were all measured. Eleven physical and chemical characteristics were used to generate the Water Quality Index. The Piper diagram demonstrated the predominance of Ca2+-HCOֿ3 water types, whereas the Schoeller diagram indicated that all springs had a similar lithological origin. The chemical composition of springs tested met the required criteria for drinking water quality. The microbiological indicators, on the other hand, did not satisfy the criteria except for Eidgah spring, which lacked thermotolerant coliforms. Our results on spring water potability indicate that the town's most dependable springs are susceptible to anthropogenic contamination and therefore need treatment prior to use. Apart from frequent monitoring, the responsible municipal corporation is expected to develop comprehensive plans to rehabilitate and revitalise these vulnerable drinking water sources.

Antianxiety activity of Gelsemium sempervirens.

CONTEXT: The clinical applications of well-known benzodiazepines as anxiolytic agents are limited because of their side effects. Therefore, the development of new pharmacological agents, from medicinal plants, is well justified. OBJECTIVE: Among medicinal plants, Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) Aiton. (Loganiaceae) has been recommended for relief of anxiety in traditional folk medicines. Nevertheless, no pharmacological studies have so far evaluated it in this regard. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anxiolytic effects of various extracts of the roots and rhizomes of G. sempervirens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol, and water extracts of G. sempervirens were prepared by successive extractions using a Soxhlet apparatus, and subsequently evaluated for antianxiety activity using the elevated plus maze model. Diazepam was used as standard drug. RESULTS: Among various extracts, the methanol extract of G. sempervirens exhibited significant increases in open arm entries and mean time spent in open arms at the dosage of 150 mg/kg. A fraction (F9.4) derived from the methanol extract was also observed to exhibit significant anxiolytic activity at the dose level of 10 mg/kg in the elevated plus maze test. CONCLUSION: The present study clearly demonstrated that the methanol extract exerts an anxiolytic effect on mice, and it could serve as a new approach for the treatment of anxiety.