Aim: The aim of present study was to investigate the nutritional composition, phytochemical constituents and in vitro antioxidant activities of a wild edible fruit in order to document data for further basic research needs or to widen its use among common people. Methods: The fresh fruits of Grewia sapida Roxb. ex DC. were collected from the Chirang district of Bodoland Territorial Area Districts of Assam, identified and freeze dried. Proximate composition, minerals content and phytochemical constituents were analyzed following standard and reported methods. The antioxidant activities of methanol extract were evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) assays. Results: The results obtained were reported and discussed. The phytochemical screening of different solvent extracts revealed that fruits contained a number of medicinally active secondary metabolites. The study showed antioxidant properties having IC 50 value of 257.666 ± 2.516 μg/mL (DPPH) and 134.33 ± 4.041 μg/mL (ABTS). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents in G. sapida fruit were found to be 294.353 ± 4.696 mg GAE/g dried extract and 116.95 ± 10.71 mg QE/g dried extract respectively. Conclusion: The study suggests that G. sapida fruit could be a good source of minerals and natural antioxidants, and studied further for its beneficial effect in human health.

In plants, the mechanosensitive channels have important roles in proprioception, gravity sensing, growth of pollen tube and controlling the shape and size of plastid. In the present study, we performed computational analysis and identified the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance like (MscS) gene family in Cicer arietinum (chickpea). Six C. arietinum MscS-like (CaMSL) genes were identified. These six genes were distributed on four different chromosomes. A detailed overview of CaMSL genes in C. arietinum is explored by using a total of 33107 proteins from chickpea. On the basis of BLAST analysis, presence of complete ORF and evolutionary relationship we identified 6 genes (named as CaMSL1, CaMSL2, CaMSL3, CaMSL4, CaMSL5 and CaMSL6). Further, the transmembrane regions, subcellular localization, physico-chemical properties, gene structure analysis and genome structure annotation of the identified genes confirmed that the identified genes might act as transmembrane proteins. Prediction of their subcellular localization demonstrated three genes to be located in the plasma membrane, two in the chloroplast membrane, and one in the mitochondrion. Thus, further analysis of the data obtained from this study will help to make a baseline to increase the understanding of involvement of MSL gene families in plant growth, development and other functions in C. arietinum.

The purpose of present study was to investigate the nutritional composition, phytochemical contents and antioxidant capacities of two wild edible fruits viz. Eugenia operculata Roxb. and Antidesma bunius L. from Assam of North-East India. The fruits showed variable amounts of proximate and mineral compositions which are reported herein and discussed. The phytochemical screening of different solvent extracts exhibited the presence of many phytochemicals which are biologically important. The antioxidant activities were examined using DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2, 2 -Azinobis (3ethylbenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt), H 2 O 2 (Hydrogen peroxide) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays. The fruits showed antioxidant properties with DPPH IC 50 value of 92.330 ± 4.163 g/mL (E. operculata) and 395.002 ± 3.605 g/mL (A. bunius), ABTS IC 50 value of 52.660 ± 1.154 g/mL (E. operculata) and 105.331 ± 3.055 g/mL (A. bunius), H 2 O 2 IC 50 value of 20.566 ± 0.208 g/mL (E. operculata) and 24.366 ± 0.057 g/mL (A. bunius), and FRAP value of 281.583 ± 8.799 M TE/g DE (dry extract) in E. operculata and 61.583 ± 3.818 M TE/g DE in A. bunius. The total phenolic content (TPC) in E. operculata and A. bunius fruits were found to be 226.741 ± 2.099 mg GAE/g DE and 119.356 ± 1.395 mg GAE/g DE, respectively, while the total flavonoid content (TFC) were 108.761 ± 7.015 mg QE/g DE and 64.323 ± 8.828 mg QE/g DE, respectively. The fresh fruits of A. bunius and E. operculata were found to contain vitamin C of 7.30 ± 1.452 mg/100 g and 6.60 ± 1.123 mg/100 g, respectively. The studies revealed that E. operculata fruit had stronger antioxidant activity than A. bunius fruit showing better DPPH, ABTS and H 2 O 2 scavenging activities, and higher FRAP value, TPC and TFC. TPC and TFC showed a strong positive correlation with antioxidant activity assayed by FRAP. A strong positive correlation of antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and H 2 O 2 ) was also found with vitamin C.

No abstract

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious public health problem, with >300 000 affected births worldwide each year. About 73% of the SCD-affected people in India belong to the tribal population. The Government of India is planning to implement a programme for SCD and hence people's knowledge of SCD is crucial. This paper reports the SCD-related knowledge among the Indian tribal population. Methods As part of a formative assessment before an intervention, data were collected from 9837 adults from 24 primary health centre areas of six states. Each community's knowledge of SCD was elicited through an interviewer-administered pretested questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results Overall, 32.1% (CI 31.2 to 33.1%) of participants had heard of SCD, 7.9% (CI: 7.3 to 8.4%) knew that SCD is hereditary, 19.4% (CI: 18.7 to 20.3%) knew that a blood test can diagnose SCD and 23.9% (CI: 23.1 to 24.8%) knew that SCD is treatable. Only 13.1% (CI: 12.4 to 13.8%) knew that SCD can be prevented. No more than 16% knew about any SCD symptoms. Multiple logistic regression revealed some predictors of basic knowledge (i.e. had heard of SCD). Conclusions There is a gross inadequacy of knowledge about SCD in the Indian tribal population. This study warrants implementing a health education programme as a part of the SCD programme.