Biochar influences nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in two texturally different soils.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are vital for crop growth. However, most agricultural systems have limited inherent ability to supply N and P to crops. Biochars (BCs) are strongly advocated in agrosystems and are known to improve the availability of N and P in crops through different chemical transformations. Herein, a soil-biochar incubation experiment was carried out to investigate the transformations of N and P in two different textured soils, namely clay loam and loamy sand, on mixing with rice straw biochar (RSB) and acacia wood biochar (ACB) at each level (0, 0.5, and 1.0% w/w). Ammonium N (NH4-N) decreased continuously with the increasing incubation period. The ammonium N content disappeared rapidly in both the soils incubated with biochars compared to the unamended soil. RSB increased the nitrate N (NO3-N) content significantly compared to ACB for the entire study period in both texturally divergent soils. The nitrate N content increased with the enhanced biochar addition rate in clay loam soil until 15 days after incubation; however, it was reduced for the biochar addition rate of 1% compared to 0.5% at 30 and 60 days after incubation in loamy sand soil. With ACB, the net increase in nitrate N content with the biochar addition rate of 1% remained higher than the 0.5% rate for 60 days in clay loam and 30 days in loamy sand soil. The phosphorus content remained consistently higher in both the soils amended with two types of biochars till the completion of the experiment.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. - anticancer properties and phytochemicals: current trends and future perspectives.

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, and conventional cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy often result in undesirable and adverse effects. Natural products have emerged as a promising alternative for cancer treatment, with comparatively fewer side effects reported. Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., a member of the Cactaceae family, contains a diverse array of phytochemicals, including flavonoids, polyphenols, betalains, and tannins, which have been shown to exhibit potent anticancer properties. Various parts of the Opuntia plant, including the fruits, stems/cladodes, and roots, have demonstrated cytotoxic effects against malignant cell lines in numerous studies. This review comprehensively summarizes the anticancer attributes of the phytochemicals found in Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill., highlighting their potential as natural cancer prevention and treatment agents. Bibliometric metric analysis of PubMed and Scopus-retrieved data using VOSviewer as well as QDA analysis provide further insights and niche to be explored. Most anticancer studies on Opuntia ficus-indica and its purified metabolites are related to colorectal/colon cancer, followed by melanoma and breast cancer. Very little attention has been paid to leukemia, thyroid, endometrial, liver, and prostate cancer, and it could be considered an opportunity for researchers to explore O. ficus-indica and its metabolites against these cancers. The most notable mechanisms expressed and validated in those studies are apoptosis, cell cycle arrest (G0/G1 and G2/M), Bcl-2 modulation, antiproliferative, oxidative stress-mediated mechanisms, and cytochrome c. We have also observed that cladodes and fruits of O. ficus-indica have been more studied than other plant parts, which again opens the opportunity for the researchers to explore. Further, cell line-based studies dominated, and very few studies were related to animal-based experiments. The Zebrafish model is another platform to explore. However, it seems like more in-depth studies are required to ascertain clinical utility of this biosustainable resource O. ficus-indica.

Mineral Content Variation in Leaves, Stalks, and Seeds of Celery (Apium graveolens L.) Genotypes.

Celery is an important nutritionally rich crop in the family Apiaceae. It is cultivated worldwide for food as well as for use in pharmaceutics. It is an excellent source of minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals. Identification of superior genotypes with improved nutritional content is the requirement to develop cultivars for commercial cultivation. For mineral analysis of celery, an experiment was carried out taking 20 diverse genotypes. These genotypes were analysed for macro- and micronutrients which include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and sodium (Na). The study revealed high content of K (20.3-26.1 mg/g dry weight (DW)) and Zn (0.09-0.14 mg/g DW) in leaves while the stalks were rich in Ca (41.5-51.3 mg/g DW) and Na (5.2-8.0 mg/g DW). High contents of P (5.2-6.8 mg/g DW), Fe (0.41-0.56 mg/g DW), Cu (0.015-0.026 mg/g DW), and Mn (0.020-0.029 mg/g DW) were observed in seeds. Based on the mineral content, three genotypes, viz., PAU2, PAU4, and PAU7, were found to be superior in terms of mineral composition in leaves, stalks, and seeds. Cluster analysis divided the genotypes into two major groups. These genotypes can be used in crosses as they showed great potential for use in biofortification. This study opens newer avenues for future research, encouraging researchers to enhance the product quality and production efficiency of the leaves, stalks, and seeds valuable for human consumption.

Comparison of Mineral Composition in Microgreens and Mature leaves of Celery (Apium graveolens L.).

Celery (Apium graveolens L.), a medicinal crop, occupies a significant position in the human diet possessing several essential macro- and microelements. For proper proximate analysis, an experiment was executed by taking 20 celery genotypes. The genotypes were analyzed for macro- and microminerals which include nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn). Results from analysis revealed that the  amount of N, P, Ca, Na, and S was higher in microgreens, whereas a higher value for K was found in mature leaves. Zn, Cu, and Mn contents were found to be higher in mature leaves, while no significant difference was observed for Fe content in microgreens and mature leaves. The inclusion of celery microgreens in our daily diet would fulfill a significant portion of our daily mineral requirement. This is the first report on mineral comparison between microgreens and mature leaves of celery. It opens a new avenue for further enhancement of minerals via biofortification of this medicinal wonder crop through systematic breeding efforts. On the basis of mineral analysis, three genotypes, namely PAU2, PAU4, and PAU16, were found superior in terms of mineral composition in microgreens and mature leaves of celery. Principal component and cluster analyses divide the genotypes into two different clusters on the basis of variability in mineral composition.

A Review on Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and its Role against Cancer.

Cancer is a fatal disease with a collection of related diseases in various body parts. The conventional therapies cannot show the desired results of treatment due to their imprecise targeting, deprived drug delivery, and side effects. Therefore, it is required to make the drug engineered so that it can target only cancerous cells and inhibit its growth and proliferation. Nanotechnology is a technology that can target and differentiate between cancerous cells and the body's normal cells. Silver itself is a good anticancer and antibacterial agent and employing it with phytochemicals with anticancer properties, and nanotechnology can give the best approach for the treatment. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts is an economical, energy-efficient, low-cost approach, and it doesn't need any hazardous chemicals. In the present review, we discussed different methods of synthesis of silver nanoparticles using herbal extracts and their role against cancer therapy along with the synergistic role of silver and plant extracts against cancer in the formulation.

Medicinal Plants Used as an Alternative to Treat Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

For various ailments, natural remedies have been traditionally used. To defend against common disorders, medicinal plants are progressively used as nutritional supplements. Gingivitis and periodontitis are widespread and can affect most of the world's population. Gingivitis is a very common, nondestructive inflammatory disease of gums that causes redness and irritation of the gingiva (gums), but periodontitis causes permanent damage to teeth' subsidiary structures. Herbal medicines are getting popular for the treatment of such types of disorders due to being economical with their medicinal effectiveness, compatibility, and nontoxicity. Traditional chemical therapies can cause cell toxicity along with their disease-curing effects. In this article, we discussed the medicinal plants that can be used as an alternative for the treatment of gingivitis (early-stage gum disease) and periodontitis (chronic-stage gum disease).