Aging is a complicated biological process in which functional and structural alterations in a living organism take place over time. Reactive oxygen species is one of the main factors responsible for aging and is associated with several chronic pathologies. The relationship between aging and diet is quite interesting and has attained worldwide attention. Healthy food, in addition to dietary antioxidants, are required to delay the process of aging and improve the quality of life. Many healthy foods such as fruits are a good source of dietary nutrients and natural bioactive compounds which have antioxidant properties and are involved in preventing aging and other age-related disorders. Health benefits linked with healthy consumption of fruit have drawn increased interest. A significant number of studies have documented the advantages of fruit intake, as it suppresses free-radical development that further reduces the oxidative stress created in the body and protects against several types of diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and other cardiovascular diseases that ultimately prevent aging. In addition, fruits have numerous other properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, and have health-promoting effects. Mechanisms of various bioactive compounds that aids in preventing various diseases and increases longevity are also described. This manuscript provides a summary of various bioactive components present in fruits along with their health-promoting and antiaging properties.

The antifungal activity of aqueous extract of Cannabis sativa, Parthenium hysterophorus, Urtica dioeca, Polystichum squarrosum and Adiantum venustum was investigated against Alternaria solani, Alternaria zinniae, Curvularia lunata, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum at different concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20%). At 20%, maximum antifungal potential was observed with the extracts of C. sativa, which recorded excellent inhibitory activity against C. lunata (100%), A. zinniae (59.68%), followed by leaf extract of P. hysterophorus (50%) against A. solani. The application of botanical extracts for disease management could be less expensive, easily available, non-polluting and eco-friendly.

Tapwal A, Kumar R, Pandey S. 2013. Diversity and frequency of macrofungi associated with wet ever green tropical forest in Assam,. A study was conducted in Jeypore Reserve Forest located in Assam, India to investigate the diversity of macrofungi associated with different tree species. The diversity of broad leaves trees and high humidity during monsoon period favours ideal growth of diverse group of macrofungal fruiting bodies. Thirty macrofungal species representing 26 genera belonging to 17 families were collected from six different sites in the study area. Out of these maximum six genera assignable to family Polyporaceae, five genera to Russulaceae, three genera to Agaricaceae, two genera to Ganodermataceae and Cantharellaceae each and rest of the families were represented by single genus only. The ecological preference of the species reveled that maximum (17) species were saprophyte, living on dead substrates or decaying wood debris, ten species were found associated with roots of higher trees, while three species were found parasitic. Overall 20 species were found edible including some species having medicinal utilization. The present study revealed that maximum frequency of occurrence was exhibited by Trametes versicolor and Schizophyllum commune (83.33%), followed by Microporus xanthopus, Pycnoporus sanguineus (66.67%) and Coprinus disseminates (50%). The rest of the species exhibited the frequency distribution ranging between 16.67-33.33%. The maximum density was recorded for Schizophyllum commune (126.67%) followed by Trametes versicolor (120%) and Xylaria polymorpha (93.33%) . The density of rest of the species were ranged between 3.33-6.67%. The key objective of the present study was to generate a database on macrofungal diversity of Jeypore Reserve Forest along with their ecological preferences and utilization, which is not earlier documented.

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Abstract. Kumar R, Tapwal A, Pandey S, Borah RK, Borah DP, Borgohain J. 2013. Macro-fungal diversity and nutrient content of some edible mushrooms of Nagaland, India. Nusantara Bioscience 5: 1-7. The northeast region of India abounds in forest wealth, including variety of flora and fauna. The high humidity during monsoon period provides ideal atmospheric conditions for the growth of diverse group of macrofungal fruit bodies. Nagaland, the northeastern state of India is rich in biodiversity and encompasses large numbers of edible and non-edible mushroom species. Young and matured carpophores of 15 wild edible mushroom species were collected from 12 locations in different districts of Nagaland. Out of these four species belongs to family Agaricaceae, two belongs to Tricholomataceae and rest belongs to Boletaceae, Cantharellaceae, Russulaceae, Sarcoscyphaceae, Auriculariaceae, Polyporaceae, Schizophyllaceae, Pleurotaceae, and Lyophyllaceae. The selected species were analyzed for proximate analysis of nutritional values. The protein content varies from 22.50-44.93% and carbohydrates were recorded 32.43-52.07% in selected species. The documentation of wild edible mushrooms is very scanty in Northeast India. The key objective of the present study was to generate a database on macrofungal diversity, ecology, ethnomycology, utilization and nutrient status of important wild edible mushroom species of Nagaland, which forms a part of the food culture of the native peoples.