Ethnoveterinary practises of medicinal plants used for the treatment of different cattle diseases: A case study in East Khasi Hill district of Meghalaya, North East India.

Introduction: For generations, the inhabitants of Meghalaya have relied on medicinal plants to maintain the health of their livestock and treat various illnesses that may afflict their animals. Due to the lack of survey for use and documentation, these plants have never been undertaken. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the diversity, utilization, and phytochemical profile of these plants and quantitatively analyse the data to identify important medicinal plants. By doing so, we can better understand the potential of these plants for developing novel drugs. Methods: Frequent field trips were made for the collection of ethnoveterinary data of medicinal plants from local animal-keepers, traditional healers (THs) and inhabitants of different age groups. This information was gathered through semi-structured interviews, individual discussions, direct field-use observation, and questionnaires. A total of 52 informants (35 females and 17 males) were interviewed from seven rural villages and the information obtained from them were quantitatively analysed using the informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL). Additionally, for each documented plant, available published literature was extensively surveyed to identify the presence of bioactive chemical compounds responsible for their therapeutic effects. Results: During the present study, a total 96 plants, distributed into 87 genera and 43 families were identified and recorded for their use in ethnoveterinary practices against more than 25 diseases. Out of the recorded plant species, the Fabaceae family was found to be the most dominant with seven species, followed by Poaceae and Lamiaceae with six species each, and Moraceae with five species. The leaves (50.00%) and seeds (12.50%) were the most frequently used plant parts, while the paste (30 species) was the common mode of application. Aegle marmelos Correa exhibited a fidelity level (FL) of 100% for indigestion, while Tagetes erecta L. had a fidelity level of 94.11% for wound treatment, making them the most promising candidates for further study. The highest FIC value of 1.00 was recorded for the treatment of neurological disorder (1.00), followed by foot and mouth disease (FIC 0.91), which depicted that some species were frequently utilized to treat multiple livestock ailments. Conclusion: The study presents trustworthy information about medicinal plants and their associated indigenous ethnoveterinary knowledge. It has been scientifically proven that these plants contain bioactive compounds responsible for their therapeutic properties. However, this knowledge is in danger of being lost due to factors like socioeconomic changes, environmental and technological alterations, and lack of interest from younger generations. Therefore, it is essential to document this empirical folklore knowledge systematically and take measures to protect and conserve it.

Effect of the combination of biological, chemical control and agronomic technique in integrated management pea root rot and its productivity.

Root rot of pea caused by Fusarium spp. is one of the important diseases of pea (Pisum sativum L.). The causal fungus of the disease isolated from naturally infected pea plants was identified as Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi (Jones). Evaluation of four bio agents and nine fungicides was done in vitro against Fusarium solani. Trichoderma harzianum was the most effective bio agent in inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. solani by (82.62%). Carbendazim 50 WP was the most effective fungicide in inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. solani by (91.06%). Carbendazim at the rate of 0.1% and T. harzianum at concentration of 109 cfu when used as seed treatment under field conditions were evaluated along with three planting techniques v.i.z, raised beds, ridges and flat beds. It was found that Carbendazim at the rate of 0.1% when given as seed treatment in raised beds exhibited the lowest disease incidence (10.97%), intensity (2.89%) and the maximum pod yield (89.63 q ha-1) as compared to control.

Combination of Strobilurin and Triazole Chemicals for the Management of Blast Disease in Mushk Budji -Aromatic Rice.

Rice blast is considered one of the most important fungal diseases of rice. Although diseases can be managed by using resistant cultivars, the blast pathogen has successfully overcome the single gene resistance in a short period and rendered several varieties susceptible to blast which were otherwise intended to be resistant. As such, chemical control is still the most efficient method of disease control for reducing the losses caused due to diseases. Field experiments were conducted over two successive years, 2018 and 2019, in temperate rice growing areas in northern India. All the fungicides effectively reduced leaf blast incidence and intensity, and neck blast incidence under field conditions. Tricyclazole proved most effective against rice blast and recorded a leaf blast incidence of only 8.41%. Among the combinations of fungicides, azoxystrobin + difenoconazole and azoxystrobin + tebuconazole were highly effective, recording a leaf blast incidence of 9.19 and 10.40%, respectively. The chemical combination mancozeb + carbendazim proved less effective in controlling the blast and it recorded a disease incidence of 27.61%. A similar trend was followed in neck blast incidence with tricyclazole, azoxystrobin + difenoconazole, and azoxystrobin + tebuconazole showing the highest levels of blast reductions. It is evident from the current study that the tested fungicide combinations can be used as alternatives to tricyclazole which is facing the challenges of fungicide resistance development and other environmental concerns and has been banned from use in India and other countries. The manuscript may provide a guideline of fungicide application to farmers cultivating susceptible varieties of rice.

Phylogeny and Optimization of Trichoderma harzianum for Chitinase Production: Evaluation of Their Antifungal Behaviour against the Prominent Soil Borne Phyto-Pathogens of Temperate India.

Trichoderma is the most commonly used fungal biocontrol agent throughout the world. In the present study, various Trichoderma isolates were isolated from different vegetable fields. In the isolated microflora, the colony edges varied from wavy to smooth. The mycelial forms were predominantly floccose with hyaline color and conidiophores among all the strains were highly branched. Based on morphological attributes, all the isolates were identified as Trichoderma harzianum. The molecular identification using multilocus sequencing ITS, rpb2 and tef1α, genes further confirmed the morphological identification. The average chitinase activity varied from 1.13 units/mL to 3.38 units/mL among the various isolates, which increased linearly with temperature from 15 to 30 °C. There was an amplified production in the chitinase production in the presence of Mg+ and Ca2+ and Na+ metal ions, but the presence of certain ions was found to cause the down-regulated chitinase activity, i.e., Zn2+, Hg2+, Fe2+, Ag+ and K+. All the chitinase producing Trichoderma isolates inhibited the growth of tested pathogens viz., Dematophora necatrix, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum and Pythium aphanidermatum at 25% culture-free filtrate concentration under in vitro conditions. Also, under in vivo conditions, the lowest wilt incidence and highest disease control on Fusarium oxysporum was observed in isolate BT4 with mean wilt incidence and disease control of 21% and 48%, respectively. The Trichoderma harzianum identified in this study will be further used in formulation development for the management of diseases under field conditions.

Assessment of cold tolerance in chickpea (Cicer spp.) grown under cold/freezing weather conditions of North-Western Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Chickpea is one of the most important grain legume crops in the world. India is the largest producer, consumer as well as importer of chickpea. Cold stress (temperature < 15 °C) is one of the important abiotic stresses limiting chickpea production by hampering its growth and vigor at all phenological stages. This study was aimed to characterize a diverse set of 366 chickpea genotypes for cold tolerance and identify most promising cold tolerant chickpea genotypes in the Western-Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The 366 genotypes used during the present study including genotypes belonging to cultivated, primary and secondary gene pools of chickpea. Two important approaches were used including visual screening under field conditions and screening under controlled conditions by measuring cell membrane stability through electrolyte leakage tests. The analysis of trait data collected through both the approaches led to the identification of five most promising/candidate cold tolerant chickpea genotypes including one wild genotype "Ortan-066" from secondary gene pool species (C. echinospermum), one wild genotype "Cudi 1-022" from primary gene pool species (C. reticulatum) and three genotypes (IC 116783, ICC 15200 and AGBLG 170004) from the cultivated species (Cicer arietinum). Wild genotype "Ortan-066" was found best cold tolerance source with the mean Cold Tolerance Rating (CTR) of 2 and Electrolyte Leakage Index (ELI) of 10.82%, followed by wild genotype "Cudi 1-022" (CTR = 3, ELI = 18.89%), and three cultivated genotypes viz., IC 116783, ICC 15200 and AGBL-G-170004, with the mean CTR of 3 and an estimated mean ELI of 21.26%, 21.58% and 21.94%, respectively. The promising, candidate cold tolerant genotypes identified during the present study could be used in chickpea breeding programs aimed at improving cold tolerance of cultivated chickpea worldwide. The candidate lines can be also used for developing bi-parental mapping populations, wild × cultivated introgression lines, transcriptomics and for differential expression analysis of cold tolerant genes in chickpea. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00997-1.

Neurological Complications of Acute Rhinosinusitis: Meningitis.

Meningitis remains a rare but potentially life-threatening intracranial complication of acute rhinosinusitis. We describe a case of a 62-year-old man with a background of chronic rhinosinusitis who presented to hospital with confusion, fever and bilateral green purulent rhinorrhoea. After immediate sepsis management, urgent contrast-enhanced computed tomography head revealed opacification of all paranasal sinuses and bony erosion of the lateral walls of both ethmoid sinuses. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics, topical nasal steroids, decongestants and irrigation. Following a turbid lumbar puncture and multidisciplinary discussion, he was admitted to the critical care unit and later intubated due to further neurological deterioration. After 13 days admission and rehabilitation in the community he made a good recovery. This case highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and appropriate management of acute rhinosinusitis and awareness of the possible complications. Joint care with physicians and intensivists is crucial in the management of these sick patients.

Copper nanoparticles: Green synthesis and managing fruit rot disease of chilli caused by Colletotrichum capsici.

The present study was focused on synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles to evaluate their efficacy against fruit rot pathogen of chilli crop. The green synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out by using extracts of Eucalyptus and Mint leaves. The synthesis of copper nanoparticles was confirmed by XRD, PSA, SEM and TEM. The average size of these particles synthesized by Eucalyptus leaf extract (CuNP-E) ranged from 10 to 130 nm, while as size of Mint leaf extract synthesized particles (CuNP-M) ranged from 23 to 39 nm, thus confirming their nano size. These green synthesized copper nanoparticles were evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici where Carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm served as standard checks. The mycelia inhibition of Colletotrichum capsici caused by copper nanoparticles was studied on PDA medium. CuNP-M @ 1000 ppm showed highest mycelial inhibition of 99.78% followed by 93.75% at 500 ppm and CuNP-E @ 1000 ppm compared to standard fungicides, carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm (72.82%), and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm (85.85%). The CuNP-M @ 500 ppm were significantly superior to carbendazim 50 WP @ 500 ppm and copper oxychloride 50 WP @ 2500 ppm, but was statistically at par with CuNP-E @ 1000 ppm. This shows effectiveness of much lower concentration of copper nanoparticles compared to conventional fungicides. In detached fruit method, nanoparticles applied before inoculation of pathogen showed better results with regard to incubation period, lesion number and lesion size than after inoculation of pathogen. The present study reveals a simple, convenient, non-toxic and cost-efficient technique for the synthesis of nanoparticles and their effectiveness against Colletotrichum capsici. CuNP-M first time synthesized and evaluated against Colletotrichum capsici performed better than CuNP-E.

A novel CASR variant in a family with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and primary hyperparathyroidism.

SUMMARY: Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) is a dominantly inherited, lifelong benign disorder characterised by asymptomatic hypercalcaemia, relative hypocalciuria and variable parathyroid hormone levels. It is caused by loss-of-function pathogenic variants in the calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterised by variable hypercalcaemia in the context of non-suppressed parathyroid hormone levels. Unlike patients with FHH, patients with severe hypercalcaemia due to PHPT are usually symptomatic and are at risk of end-organ damage affecting the kidneys, bone, heart, gastrointestinal system and CNS. Surgical resection of the offending parathyroid gland(s) is the treatment of choice for PHPT, while dietary adjustment and reassurance is the mainstay of management for patients with FHH. The occurrence of both FHH and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in the same patient has been described. We report an interesting case of FHH due to a novel CASR variant confirmed in a mother and her two daughters and the possible coexistence of FHH and PHPT in the mother, highlighting the challenges involved in diagnosis and management. LEARNING POINTS: Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) can coexist in the same patient. Urinary calcium creatinine clearance ratio can play a role in distinguishing between PHPT and FHH. Genetic testing should be considered in managing patients with PHPT and FHH where the benefit may extend to the wider family. Family segregation studies can play an important role in the reclassification of variants of uncertain significance. Parathyroidectomy has no benefit in patients with FHH and therefore, it is important to exclude FHH prior to considering surgery. For patients with coexisting FHH and PHPT, parathyroidectomy will reduce the risk of complications from the severe hypercalcaemia associated with PHPT.

A study evaluating the effects of throat packs during nasal surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

The aims of this study were to identify differences in post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and throat pain between throat packed and non-packed patient groups in nasal surgery. This was a prospective, double blind, randomised controlled trial. A water-soaked throat pack gauze was inserted in the mouth to occlude the oropharynx was used in the throat pack group. The second group received no throat pack. A validated PONV questionnaire was completed 6 h post-operatively. Visual analogue scores (VAS) for throat pain were completed in recovery, 2, and 6 h post-operatively. 80 patients were enrolled (40 into each group based on power calculation). With regard to the primary outcome measure, mean PONV score for the throat pack group was 2.75 [median 0, standard deviation (SD 10.86)] and the mean PONV score for the non-packed group was 0.36 (median 0, SD 1.39). The difference in PONV was not statistically significant [P value 0.375, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.19 to 3.32]. With regard to throat pain VAS scores (our secondary outcome measure), in recovery, the mean throat pain VAS score for the throat packed group was 2.5 (median 1, SD 2.8) and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 1.3 (median 0, SD 2.5). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups with the throat pack group experiencing more throat pain in recovery (P value 0.018 (95% CI 1.13-2.52). At 2 and 6 h post-operatively, the mean throat pain VAS scores for the throat packed group were 2.1 and 2.3, respectively, and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 2.3 and 1.4, respectively. Statistical analysis showed non-significant difference between the two groups at 2 and 6 h post-operatively. The use of throat packs in nasal surgery does not confer PONV reduction benefit. The use of throat pack, however, is associated with a small but statistically significant more throat pain in the initial recovery period from nasal operations.

Alleviation of cadmium toxicity in Brassica juncea L. (Czern. & Coss.) by calcium application involves various physiological and biochemical strategies.

Calcium (Ca) plays important role in plant development and response to various environmental stresses. However, its involvement in mitigation of heavy metal stress in plants remains elusive. In this study, we examined the effect of Ca (50 mM) in controlling cadmium (Cd) uptake in mustard (Brassica juncea L.) plants exposed to toxic levels of Cd (200 mg L(-1) and 300 mg L(-1)). The Cd treatment showed substantial decrease in plant height, root length, dry weight, pigments and protein content. Application of Ca improved the growth and biomass yield of the Cd-stressed mustard seedlings. More importantly, the oil content of mustard seeds of Cd-stressed plants was also enhanced with Ca treatment. Proline was significantly increased in mustard plants under Cd stress, and exogenously sprayed Ca was found to have a positive impact on proline content in Cd-stressed plants. Different concentrations of Cd increased lipid peroxidation but the application of Ca minimized it to appreciable level in Cd-treated plants. Excessive Cd treatment enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase, which were further enhanced by the addition of Ca. Additionally, Cd stress caused reduced uptake of essential elements and increased Cd accumulation in roots and shoots. However, application of Ca enhanced the concentration of essential elements and decreased Cd accumulation in Cd-stressed plants. Our results indicated that application of Ca enables mustard plant to withstand the deleterious effect of Cd, resulting in improved growth and seed quality of mustard plants.

Necrotizing sialometaplasia of the nasopharynx with parapharyngeal extension: Case report and brief review of the literature.

We report a rare case of necrotizing sialometaplasia of the right lateral nasopharynx with extension into the right parapharyngeal space in a 39-year-old man. Since this is a self-limiting condition, the patient began to improve spontaneously over the next few weeks, and he experienced a complete recovery. Necrotizing sialometaplasia is an uncommon condition that is known to involve the palate; nasopharyngeal involvement is very rare, and to the best of our knowledge, extension into the parapharyngeal area has not been previously reported in the English-language literature. This condition poses a diagnostic dilemma because it closely mimics a malignancy, and failure to recognize it can result in unnecessary investigations and extensive surgery. We also review the literature on necrotizing sialometaplasia of the oropharyngeal area.