Insights into the cumulative effect of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium acutatum causing anthracnose-twister disease complex of onion.

Colletotrichum is an important plant pathogenic fungi that causes anthracnose/-twister disease in onion. This disease was prevalent in the monsoon season from August to November months and the symptoms were observed in most of the fields. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity and cumulative effect, if any of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Fusarium acutatum. The pot experiment was laid out to identify the cause responsible for inciting anthracnose-twister disease, whether the Colletotrichum or Fusarium or both, or the interaction of pathogens and GA3. The results of the pathogenicity test confirmed that C. gloeosporioides and F. acutatum are both pathogenic. C. gloeosporioides caused twisting symptoms independently, while F.acutatum independently caused only neck elongation. The independent application of GA3 did not produce any symptoms, however, increased the plant height. The combined treatment of C. gloeosporioides and F. acutatum caused twisting, which enhanced upon interaction with GA3 application giving synergistic effect. The acervuli were found in lesions infected with C. gloeosporioides after 8 days of inoculation on the neck and leaf blades. Symptoms were not observed in untreated control plants. Koch's postulates were confirmed by reisolating the same pathogens from the infected plants.

Dietary polyphenols represent a phytotherapeutic alternative for gut dysbiosis associated neurodegeneration: A systematic review.

Globally, neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease are common and growing causes of morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiology of this group of diseases encompasses various factors from oxidative stress to gut microbial dysbiosis. The study of the etiology and mechanisms of oxidative stress as well as gut dysbiosis-induced neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and Huntington's disease has recently received a lot of attention. Numerous studies lend credence to the notion that changes in the intestinal microbiota and enteric neuroimmune system have an impact on the initiation and severity of these diseases. The prebiotic role of polyphenols can influence the makeup of the gut microbiota in neurodegenerative disorders by modulating intracellular signalling pathways. Metabolites of polyphenols function directly as neurotransmitters by crossing the blood-brain barrier or indirectly via influencing the cerebrovascular system. This assessment aims to bring forth an interlink between the consumption of polyphenols biotransformed by gut microbiota which in turn modulate the gut microbial diversity and biochemical changes in the brain. This systematic review will further augment research towards the association of dietary polyphenols in the management of gut dysbiosis-associated neurodegenerative diseases.

Modulation of calcium-influx by carboxymethyl tamarind­gold nanoparticles promotes biomineralization for tissue regeneration.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been reported to modulate bone tissue regeneration and are being extensively utilized in biomedical implementations attributable to their low cytotoxicity, biocompatibility and simplicity of functionalization. Lately, biologically synthesized nanoparticles have acquired popularity because of their environmentally acceptable alternatives for diverse applications. Here we report the green synthesis of AuNPs by taking the biopolymer Carboxymethyl Tamarind (CMT) as a unique reducing as well as a stabilizing agent. The synthesized CMT-AuNPs were analyzed by UV-vis spectrophotometer, DLS, FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM and TEM. These results suggest that CMT-AuNPs possess an average size of 19.93 ± 8.52 nm and have long-term stability. Further, these CMT-AuNPs promote the proliferation together with the differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast cells in a "dose-dependent" manner. Additionally, CMT-AuNPs are non-toxic to SD rats when applied externally. We suggest that the CMT-AuNPs have the potential to be a suitable and non-toxic agent for differentiation and mineralization of osteoblast cells in vitro and this can be tested in vivo as well.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Madhuca longifolia (Mahua) Stem Extract Against Streptococcus mutans: An In Vitro Study.

Introduction Madhuca longifolia is one of the important folklore medicinal plants with a plethora of established pharmaceutical properties. Its twigs are used as chewing sticks (toothbrushes), and it is believed that if a person uses it daily, it will make their gum healthy and strong. No study has ever been conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effect of M. longifolia extracts against oral microorganisms. Materials and methods Fresh stem twigs (Madkam Kaarkad) of M. longifolia were collected and dried. The dried stem was cut into small pieces, 5 g of which was mixed with 50 ml distilled water (in the ratio 1:10) and kept for two days for maceration. After two days, the liquid was filtered and the final filtrate was obtained, from which dry pellets were made and stored in the refrigerator at 4°C. Brain heart infusion agar was used as a medium to grow the lyophilized bacteria. Pure strains of Streptococcus mutans 890 were obtained from the Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) and MTCC-suggested protocol was followed for the revival of lyophilized bacteria. The agar well diffusion method was used to determine the zone of inhibition. The extract of stems with different concentrations (10%, 7.5%, 5.0%, and 2.5%) and at different volumes (100 µl, 150 µl, 200 µl, and 250 µl) was transferred to the agar plates. Chlorhexidine 0.2% was used as a control and it was also transferred to agar plates, which were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24 hours. Antibacterial activity was interpreted from the size of the diameter of zones of inhibition measured in millimeters using a measuring scale in all the agar plates. Results The minimum zone of inhibition of 11 mm at 2.5% concentration and 100 µl volume of M. longifolia extract and the maximum zone of inhibition of 20 mm at 10% concentration and 250 µl volume was notified. While for chlorhexidine at 0.2% concentration, the zone of inhibition obtained was 9.5 mm at 40 µl volume. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of M. longifolia was found to be 35 mg/ml. Conclusion M. longifolia showed marked antibacterial activity against S. mutans and has a high MIC value. Therefore, this plant can be considered an effective agent against oral diseases like dental caries.

Pharmacological Management of Orofacial Pain.

Orofacial pain is a category of complex disorders, including musculoskeletal, neuropathic and neurovascular disorders, that greatly affect the quality of life of the patient. These disorders are within the fields of dentistry and medicine and management can be challenging, requiring a referral to an orofacial pain specialist, essential for adequate evaluation, diagnosis, and care. Management is specific to the diagnosis and a treatment plan is developed with diverse pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities. The pharmacological management of orofacial pain encompasses a vast array of medication classes and approaches. This includes anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and anesthetics. In addition, as adjunct therapy, different injections can be integrated into the management plan depending on the diagnosis and needs. These include trigger point injections, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injections, and neurotoxin injections with botulinum toxin and nerve blocks. Multidisciplinary management is key for optimal care. New and safer therapeutic targets exclusively for the management of orofacial pain disorders are needed to offer better care for this patient population.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-arthritic Properties of Mucuna gigantea Plant Extracts: Establishing by Molecular Docking Study.

Background Mucuna giganteais a traditional plant reported in the management of nervous disorders, male infertility, etc., and also exhibits aphrodisiac, anti-oxidant, and anti-diabetic properties. Very few studies are conducted on Mucuna gigantea. It has not been pharmacologically evaluated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In RA, the body's natural defence mechanism gets confused and begins to target the healthy tissues in the body, which leads to joint pain, swelling, bone erosion, and joint stiffness. It is a condition that is classified as an auto-immune disorder. Methods In-silico docking depicted that beta-sitosterol is present in Mucuna gigantea out of ligand library prepared based on a literature survey using computational analysis. Inflammation was induced by carrageen and chronic inflammation was induced by Freund's complete adjuvant in the plantar surface of the rats. The petroleum ether, ethanolic and aqueous extracts in three divided doses (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg) were administered orally. Diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg), prednisolone (5 mg/kg), and methotrexate (0.5 mg/kg) were used as standard. The statistical significance between means was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's multiple range test. The values are expressed as mean ± SD for each group (n=6), and aP<0.0001, bP<0.001, and cP<0.05 were compared with a negative control group. Results Ethanolic and petroleum ether extracts showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect at 3hr with 300mg/kg effect in analgesic activity, whereas aqueous extracts showed statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect at 1.5hr with 150 and 300mg/kg. In the carrageen-induced model, all three extracts at 300 mg/kg showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect from 2- 4hr. In Freund's adjuvant model, all three extracts at all doses showed a statistically significant aP<0.0001 effect. Also, Mucuna gigantea remarkably ameliorated altered WBCs, rheumatoid factor, and positively modified radiographic and histopathological changes. Conclusion Taken together, these results support the traditional use of Mucuna gigantea as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agent that may be proposed for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Journal of Religion and Health: Sixty Years of Publication (1961-2021).

In 1961, the Journal of Religion and Health (JORH) commenced publishing articles that examined modern religious and spiritual philosophy in relation to psychology and health. The year 2021 marked the 60th anniversary of the founding of JORH. This research paper retrospectively analyses the journal's content. It provides insight into JORH's publication trends, citation records, prominent themes, authors' collaboration and its aggregate contribution to the field of religion and health. Over time, the number of publications, citations and downloads of JORH articles have substantially increased, as has the journals prominence and diverse contributions to the study of religion, spirituality and health.

Health risk assessment and metal contamination in fish, water and soil sediments in the East Kolkata Wetlands, India, Ramsar site.

East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) is an important site for fish culture in sewage-fed areas, which are major receivers of pollutants and wastages from Kolkata. EKW is internationally important as the Ramsar site was declared on Aug 2002 with an area of 125 km2. EKW is a natural water body where wastewater-fed natural aquaculture has been practiced for more than 70 years. It is ecologically vulnerable due to the discharge of toxic waste through sewage canals from cities. Assessing the EKW to understand the inflow and load of the toxic metal (s) in fish, water, and sediments samples is essential. The field (samples collection from 13 sites) and lab (determination of toxic level of metals) based research were carried out to assess metal toxicity and health risk assessment in EKW. The levels of eighteen metals (18), namely Chromium, Vanadium, Cobalt, Manganese, Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Silver, Molybdenum, Arsenic, Selenium, Tin, Gallium, Germanium, Strontium, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead, were determined using Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in five fish tissues viz. muscle, liver, kidney, gill and brain, along with the water samples and soil sediments in 13 sampling sites. The bioaccumulation and concentration of metals in fish tissues, soil sediments, and water samples were well within the safe level concerning the recommendation of different national and international agencies except for a few metals in a few sampling sites like Cd, As, and Pb. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) was also determined in the soil sediments, indicating moderate arsenic, selenium, and mercury contamination in a few sites. The contamination index in water was also determined in 13 sampling sites. The estimated daily intake (EDI), reference dose (RfD), target hazard quotient (THQ), slope factor and cancer risk of Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb and Hg from fish muscle were determined. Based on the results of the present investigation, it is concluded that fish consumption in the East Kolkata Wetland (EKW) is safe. The effects of bioaccumulation of metals in muscle tissue were well within the safe level for consumption as recommended by WHO/FAO.

Cardio-Oncology: Managing Cardiovascular Complications of Cancer Therapies.

This narrative review explores the complex relationship between cancer medicines and cardiovascular health in the junction of oncology and cardiology, known as cardio-oncology. The study examines the historical development of cancer treatments and highlights the growing importance of cardiovascular problems in patient care. This text delves into the topic of cardiotoxicity, examining both conventional chemotherapeutic drugs like anthracyclines and more recent tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The complex molecular and cellular mechanisms that control cardiovascular problems are explained, including an understanding of how genetic predisposition influences an individual's sensitivity. The narrative expands into the crucial realm of risk stratification and evaluation, revealing advanced instruments for identifying cardiovascular risk in cancer patients. The importance of non-invasive imaging methods and biomarkers in early detection and continuous monitoring is emphasized. The prioritization of preventive tactics emphasizes the need to take proactive measures incorporating therapies to protect the heart throughout cancer treatment. It also highlights the significance of making lifestyle improvements to reduce risk factors. The narrative emphasizes the changing collaborative treatment environment, advocating for merging oncologists and cardiologists in a coordinated endeavor to maximize patient outcomes. In addition to clinical factors, the review explores the critical domain of patient education and support, acknowledging its crucial role in promoting informed decision-making and improving overall patient well-being. The latter portions of the text anticipate and consider upcoming treatments and existing research efforts that offer the potential for the future of cardio-oncology. This review seeks to provide a detailed viewpoint on the intricate connection between cancer treatments and cardiovascular well-being. Its objective is to encourage a more profound comprehension of the subject and prompt careful contemplation regarding the comprehensive care of cancer patients who confront the intricate difficulties presented by their treatment plans.

Neurological Manifestations of Infectious Diseases: Insights From Recent Cases.

This narrative review examines the complex connection between infectious diseases and their neurological effects. It provides a detailed analysis of recent instances and insights derived from various pathogens. As we explore the realm of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, a thorough and diverse analysis reveals the intricacies of neurological problems. The review begins by examining viral infections, specifically focusing on how viruses invade the neurological system and its subsequent effects. Significant instances from recent widespread disease outbreaks function as instructive benchmarks, highlighting the progressing comprehension of these ever-changing interconnections. The article examines the complex pathophysiology of neurological problems caused by bacterial infections. It presents current cases that illustrate the various ways these complications might manifest and the difficulties faced in their therapeutic management. Parasitic and fungal infections, which are typically overlooked, are being carefully examined to emphasize their distinct role in causing neurological complications. The mentioned cases highlight the importance of being thoroughly aware of these less-explored areas ranging from protozoan parasites to opportunistic fungal infections. In addition to the immediate effects caused by infectious agents, the review investigates autoimmune responses activated by infections. It provides a detailed examination of specific instances that shed light on the complex relationship between viral triggers and future neurological problems. This text elaborates on the intricacy of autoimmune-related neurological issues, highlighting the necessity for a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating them. The narrative next redirects its attention to the diagnostic difficulties that arise when interpreting the neurological symptoms of viral disorders. This article provides a thorough examination of existing diagnostic tools, along with an investigation into new technologies that have the potential to improve our capacity to identify and comprehend complex presentations. This debate connects to the following examination of treatment methods, where current cases that showcase successful interventions are carefully examined to extract valuable insights into good clinical management. The discussion focuses on the public health implications of preventive efforts against infectious infections, including their neurological consequences. The story emphasizes the link between infectious diseases and overall societal health, advocating for a proactive strategy to reduce the impact of neurological complications. The abstract concludes by providing a prospective viewpoint, highlighting areas of research that still need to be addressed, and suggesting potential future avenues. This narrative review seeks to provide a comprehensive resource for physicians, researchers, and public health professionals dealing with the complex field of neurological manifestations in infectious diseases. It combines recent examples, synthesizes current information, and offers a holistic perspective.

Exploring mitigating role of zinc nanoparticles on arsenic, ammonia and temperature stress using molecular signature in fish.

BACKGROUND: The pollution and climate change in aquatic ecosystems are major problems threatening the aquatic organisms for existence in the recent timeline, which promotes the extinction of the fish species. However, the present study dealt with zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) in mitigating arsenic, ammonia and high temperature stresses in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To studying different gene expressions, an experiment was conducted to mitigate the multiple stressors using dietary Zn-NPs at 0, 2, 4, and 6 mg kg-1 diets. In the present investigation, the gene expressions studies were performed for growth hormone regulator 1 (GHR1), growth hormone regulator ß (GHRß), growth hormone (GR) in liver and gill tissue as well as myostatin (MYST) and somatostatin (SMT) in the muscle tissue. The anti-oxidative genes CAT, SOD and GPx in liver and gill tissues were also analysed. Expression studies for stress responsive heat shock protein gene (HSP70), DNA damage inducible protein, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), immune related genes such as interleukin (IL), tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), toll like receptor (TLR) and immunoglobulin were performed. At the end of the experiment the fish were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila to evaluate the immunomodulatory role of Zn-NPs. RESULTS: In the present investigation, the growth hormone regulator 1 (GHR1), growth hormone regulator ß (GHRß), growth hormone (GR) in liver and gill as well as myostatin (MYST) and somatostatin (SMT) in muscle were noticeably altered, whereas, Zn-NPs at 4 mg kg-1 diet improved gene expressions. The anti-oxidant gene viz. CAT, SOD and GPx in liver and gill tissues were upregulated by stressors such as As, NH3, NH3+T. As+T and As+NH3+T. Therefore, anti-oxidant genes were noticeably improved with dietary Zn-NPs diet. The stress protein gene (HSP70), DNA damage inducible protein, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was significantly upregulated, whereas, Zn-NPs diet was applied to the corrected gene regulation. Similarly, immune related genes such as interleukin (IL), tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), toll like receptor (TLR) and immunoglobulin were highly affected by stressors. Dietary Zn-NPs at 4 mg kg-1 diet was improved all the immune related gene expression and mitigate arsenic, ammonia and high temperature stress in fish. CONCLUSION: The present investigation revealed that Zn-NPs at 4.0 mg kg-1 diet has enormous potential to modulates arsenic, ammonia and high temperature stress, and protect against pathogenic infections in fish.

A Study on the Willingness to Use Meditation for Maintaining Psychological Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background and objective Several studies have indicated an escalation in the stress and anxiety levels among all sections of the population at large during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this challenging environment, meditation or yoga can help in maintaining the quality of life. This pilot study aimed to assess the willingness to practice meditation as a tool to manage anxiety, perceived stress levels, and psychological well-being (quality of life) during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. Materials and methods Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to characterize the attitude of healthy Indian adults toward meditation as a stress management tool and its impact on psychological well-being. Primary data of 241 participants were collected using Google Forms circulated via email and social media platforms through the snowball sampling technique. The self-reported data on four different psychosocial scales, viz., for anxiety measurement [the Seven-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS)], for stress measurement [Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)], and to quantify well-being levels [the Five-Item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5)], along with those on their perception toward meditation were obtained. Results Our findings suggest that the anxiety and perceived stress scores are lower among those practicing some form of relaxation or meditation than those not practicing it, along with those who already report better psychological well-being and perceived stress. The bivariate results indicated that willingness to meditate among those who were practicing some form of meditation and those not mediating significantly differed based on their age, presence of comorbidities, and GAD and PSS levels. The multivariate logistic regression showed that only those individuals aged 35 years and above and those who have some comorbidity symptoms showed a significant level of willingness to opt for meditation. Conclusions In order to attain proper relief from psychological issues during a pandemic situation such as the current one, a more specific remedial module for meditation procedure needs to be devised as an intervention, and it should be kept in mind that age and comorbidity status also play a significant role with respect to individuals' attitude toward meditation as a tool for psychological relief.

Process Optimization for the Development of Nutritionally Enhanced Nuggets using Ficus geniculata: A Nutritional Approach.

Ficus geniculata (FG) is one of the underutilized fig species in India and throughout the world. However, the different parts of the plant have numerous phytochemicals and have the potential to boom the functional food as well as the pharmaceutical food industry. The plant is still unexplored and needs the attention of researchers and industrialists for its value addition. Therefore, in the present investigation, different parts (shoot, leaves and bark) of FG were exploited and leaves were selected based on physicochemical and phytochemical analysis for nugget supplementation. The FG leaves powder incorporated nuggets were prepared using different variables: FG (0 to 50%), salt (0.07 to 0.92%), and black pepper (0.079 to 0.92%) along with black gram as filler to make it 100%. The optimum conditions for the production of supplemented nuggets were having 0.82 desirability. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) also confirms the retention of bioactive compounds in the nuggets. No remarkable clustering was observed, which indicating the significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect of all the variables on the quality attributes of the supplement nuggets. Thus the developed conditions will be useful for the nugget industry and also may be a good alternative to the vegetarian people.

Folate supplementation during oocyte maturation positively impacts the folate-methionine metabolism in pre-implantation embryos.

Folic acid is vital for DNA synthesis and methylations through one-carbon (C1) metabolism. Thus, it is essential for cell division during embryonic development. Although the oocytes contain endogenous pool of folates for development, the present study investigated the effect of external folic acid supplementation on oocyte maturation, blastocyst development and the expression of folate transporters as well as folate metabolism enzymes in oocytes and pre-implantation embryos of goat. Immature goat oocytes, matured in maturation medium comprising different folic acid concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100 and 150 µM), were in vitro fertilized and cultured. Cumulus expansion markers (PTX3 and PTGS2) in cumulus cells were highly upregulated after 50 µM folic acid supplementation indicating higher degree of maturation. Supplementation of 50 µM folic acid during oocyte maturation resulted in significantly higher blastocyst production rate, reduction in intracellular ROS levels as well as upregulation of the transcripts for folate transporters and key folate-methionine cycle enzymes in comparison to control. The present study demonstrates the existence of active folate-methionine cycle in oocytes and pre-implantation goat embryos. Supplementation of 50 µM folic acid in maturation medium improves oocyte maturation, the blastocyst production rate, reduces ROS production as well as upregulate the expression of FOLR1 and folate metabolism enzyme, MTR.

A rare complication of Yellow Phosphorous poisoning.

Yellow phosphorous is one of the most common toxins reported to cause fulminant hepatic failure. Yellow phosphorous is a component of rodenticides and fireworks, and is freely available over the counter. The mortality rate as high as 27% from fulminant hepatic failure has been reported following ingestion of yellow phosphorous.1 Multisystem toxicity affecting gastrointestinal, cardiac, renal and central nervous systems occurs.2 There is a paucity of literature on its haematological toxicity. In this case report, we highlight the clinically significant myelosuppression observed in a patient resulting from yellow phosphorous; a small literature review has also been done on this rare complication.

Tree Turmeric: A Super Food and Contemporary Nutraceutical of 21st Century - A Laconic Review.

Since ancient times the medicinal plants have been under use as food and potential therapeutic agent for the management of overall health and the use of all plant parts including fruits, seeds, is well reported in the literature. One such plant is Berberis aristata which is rich in vitamins, minerals, and various phytochemicals amongst which Berberine is the principal bioactive compound with a range of reported health benefits, and some of the commercial formulations like Rasaut, Darvyadi Leha are being used for the treatments of jaundice, malaria, typhoid fever, inflammation, eye infection, diarrhea, wound healing, etc. The hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, antitumor, anti-cancerous, properties are the recent additions to its functional importance. Berberine has significant bioactivities in the treatments of different diseases. Besides its remarkable applications, the berberine has low efficacy due to its low solubility in water, poor absorption, and low bioavailability. This problem can be solved by using some techniques like Nanotechnology which has been found to increase its solubility in water, bioavailability, and absorption and hence provide a better delivery system of berberine. This review illuminates the therapeutic applications of the plant Berberis aristata, scientific validation to its traditional uses, role of berberine in the treatment of various diseases through its different bioactivities, major flaws in berberine treatment, and the role of nanotechnology in minimizing those flaws and increasing its overall efficacy.Key teaching pointsPlant Berberis aristata has been used since ancient times for the treatment of various ailments like jaundice, hepatitis, fever, bleeding, inflammation, diarrhea, malaria, skin and eye infections, chronic rheumatism, and urinary disorders.Berberine is the major and most significant phytochemical among numerous phytochemicals present in plant Berberis aristata.Berberine has significantly shown many potent effect against emerging diseases like cancer and diabetes. Besides that, it has also shown antioxidant, anti-inflamation, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and anti-gastrointestinal disorder properties.Berberine can be very effective in overcoming the demerits of berberine treatment like poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, and poor absorption in the human body in the treatment of various diseases.

Chitosan nanoemulsion: Gleam into the futuristic approach for preserving the quality of muscle foods.

Trend for consumption of healthy meat without synthetic additives is blooming globally and has attracted the interest of consumers and research sphere to look for enhancement of quality and safety of food. Chitosan is multi-functional marine biopolymer with several befitting properties such as non-toxicity, ease of modification, antimicrobial activity, biodegradability and bio-compatibility, making it suitable for use in meat based food systems, which are highly prone to putrescence due to availability of high level protein, micronutrients and moisture. Bioactive components from plant extracts on account of their natural lineage are exquisite determinants for meat preservation in association with chitosan to replace synthetic molecules, which are considered to evince toxicological effects. Nanoemulsions are viable systems for integrating a myriad of active constituents framed by microfluidization, high-pressure homogenization, ultra-sonication, phase inversion (PIC and PIT) and spontaneous-emulsification with benefits of droplet size reduction, improved solubility, stability and their biological activity. This article summarizes the most important information on formulation, fabrication and advancements in chitosan-based nanoemulsions highlighting their potential benefit for applications in the muscle food system. Supervising the all-around executions of chitosan nanoemulsions for various food systems, the current review has been framed to lay down understandings regarding improvements made in the production and functionality of chitosan nanoemulsions for quality retention of meat products. Furthermore, it highlights the novel trends in chitosan-nanoemulsions application in meat based food systems from a preservation and shelf-life prolongation perspective.

Astaxanthin: A super antioxidant from microalgae and its therapeutic potential.

Astaxanthin is a ketocarotenoid, super antioxidant molecule. It has higher antioxidant activity than a range of carotenoids, thus has applications in cosmetics, aquaculture, nutraceuticals, therapeutics, and pharmaceuticals. Naturally, it is derived from Haematococcus pluvialis via a one-stage process or two-stage process. Natural astaxanthin significantly reduces oxidative and free-radical stress as compared to synthetic astaxanthin. The present review summarizes all the aspects of astaxanthin, including its structure, chemistry, bioavailability, and current production technology. Also, this paper gives a detailed mechanism for the potential role of astaxanthin as nutraceuticals for cardiovascular disease prevention, skin protection, antidiabetic and anticancer, cosmetic ingredient, natural food colorant, and feed supplement in poultry and aquaculture. Astaxanthin is one of the high-valued microalgae products of the future. However, due to some risks involved or not having adequate research in terms of long-term consumption, it is still yet to be explored by food industries. Although the cost of naturally derived astaxanthin is high, it accounts for only a 1% share in total astaxanthin available in the global market. Therefore, scientists are looking for ways to cut down the cost of natural astaxanthin to be made available to consumers.

Nutrigenetic Interactions Might Modulate the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Status in Mastiha-Supplemented Patients With NAFLD.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease with no therapeutic consensus. Oxidation and inflammation are hallmarks in the progression of this complex disease, which also involves interactions between the genetic background and the environment. Mastiha is a natural nutritional supplement known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated how a 6-month Mastiha supplementation (2.1 g/day) could impact the antioxidant and inflammatory status of patients with NAFLD, and whether genetic variants significantly mediate these effects. We recruited 98 patients with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and NAFLD and randomly allocated them to either the Mastiha or the placebo group for 6 months. The anti-oxidative and inflammatory status was assessed at baseline and post-treatment. Genome-wide genetic data was also obtained from all participants, to investigate gene-by-Mastiha interactions. NAFLD patients with severe obesity (BMI > 35kg/m2) taking the Mastiha had significantly higher total antioxidant status (TAS) compared to the corresponding placebo group (P value=0.008). We did not observe any other significant change in the investigated biomarkers as a result of Mastiha supplementation alone. We identified several novel gene-by-Mastiha interaction associations with levels of cytokines and antioxidant biomarkers. Some of the identified genetic loci are implicated in the pathological pathways of NAFLD, including the lanosterol synthase gene (LSS) associated with glutathione peroxidase activity (Gpx) levels, the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier-1 gene (MPC1) and the sphingolipid transporter-1 gene (SPNS1) associated with hemoglobin levels, the transforming growth factor-beta-induced gene (TGFBI) and the micro-RNA 129-1 (MIR129-1) associated with IL-6 and the granzyme B gene (GZMB) associated with IL-10 levels. Within the MAST4HEALTH randomized clinical trial (NCT03135873, www.clinicaltrials.gov) Mastiha supplementation improved the TAS levels among NAFLD patients with severe obesity. We identified several novel genome-wide significant nutrigenetic interactions, influencing the antioxidant and inflammatory status in NAFLD. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03135873.