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Dwindling supplies of fossil fuels and their deleterious impacts on human health and the global environment have intensified the search for substitute energy sources. Biodiesel has been identified as a promising renewable energy substitute for diesel fuel due to several comparable and sustainable properties. However, approximately 95% of biodiesel is derived from edible oil crops, threatening the current food supplies. Therefore, the biodiesel production potential from inexpensive, non-edible, and non-conventional bioenergy crops, such as Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.), has attracted the attention of many researchers, policymakers, and industries globally. Jatropha is considered to be the second-generation biofuel feedstocks for biodiesel production. However, sustainable biodiesel generation from J. curcas oil has not yet been attained, owing to different socio-economic, ecological, and technical factors. This study aimed to synthesize the information from the existing literature on the present status and to identify the knowledge gaps for future research on Jatropha by providing comprehensive information regarding its origin and distribution, morphology, phenology, and reproduction, genetic diversity, its productivity, oil content, and fatty acid composition, the methodology used for extracting biodiesel, and agronomic, economic, and environmental aspects of biodiesel production. The germplasm screening of J. curcas and the exploration of its adaptability and agronomic potential across diverse climates are highly desired to promote this crop as an alternative biofuel crop, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Moreover, future research should focus on developing, optimizing, and modernizing the technologies involving seed collection, the processing of seeds, oil extraction, and the production of biodiesel.

Background: Melanoma is a metastatic type of skin cancer that is difficult to treat and the majority of efforts are directed to the design of new drugs. Medicinal Plants have been the primary source of medicines since life on earth; more than 50% of existing cancer treatments is derived from plants. Bauhinia variegata is well-known medicinal plant used from the ancient era to till date for their medicinal values. Scientific literatures have not documented any evidence of the antitumour potential of Bauhinia variegata against B16F10 melanoma tumor model in C57BL mice. The present investigation was undertaken to explore the antitumour activity of Leaf, stem bark and flower extract of Bauhinia variegata against B16F10 melanoma tumour model in C57BL mice. Methods: Hydro-methanolic extract prepared from the leaf, stem bark and flower of Bauhinia variegata were assessed for their antitumor activity. The extracts at doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg b.wt. were given orally along with cyclophosphamide (chemotherapeutic drug) for 40 days for exploring antitumor activity against melanoma tumor (B16F10) in C57BL mice. Inhibition of tumor growth, increase in survival time of animal with treatment, histopathological studies and antioxidant parameter were determined. Results: The Present investigation showed significant effect of the B. variegata L. in preventing melanoma tumor by B16F10 cell line in C57BL/6 mice. As compared with the tumour control group, the remarkable results especially in the group which received B. variegata extract and cyclophosphamide together were obtained for all of the measured parameters. Dose dependent response was observed in tumor volume, inhibition rate, life span time and antioxidant parameter of extracts. Combination treatment of cyclophosphamide and B. variegata extracts showed more pronounced effect. Conclusions: These findings suggest that B. variegata hydromethanolic extract may contain bioactive compounds of potential therapeutic significance which are relatively safe from toxic effects, and can compromise the medicinal use of this plant in folk medicine.

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Objective: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of 3 rd - and 4 th -year medical, dental, and pharmacy students about hepatitis B (HB) infection at a private medical university, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 482 medical, dental, and pharmacy students of 3 rd - and 4 th -year degree program of Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University to assess their KAP about HB infection using 34 prevalidated questions by convenient sampling method. A questionnaire was administered to the students, and their responses were measured at “yes” and “no” scale. Students' responses were entered in SPSS version 22, and quantitative analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests at P < 0.05. Findings: The medical, dental, and pharmacy students had good knowledge and practice with positive attitude about HB infection. Mann–Whitney U-test determined a significant difference in knowledge ( P < 0.001) and practice ( P < 0.001) scores between medical and pharmacy, attitude ( P < 0.001) scores between medical and dental, and attitude ( P < 0.001) and practice ( P < 0.001) scores between pharmacy and dental students. Students' age was correlated with their attitude, practice, and KAP scores and family income with their knowledge, attitude, practice, and KAP scores. Conclusion: Although students' knowledge and practice were good with positive attitude, all the students did not participate in health education program, screening, and vaccination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection which makes them more vulnerable to occupational HBV infection. Hence, it is recommended to organize a regular health education program for the students on screening and vaccination against HBV to prevent its infection.

Floral resources from native plants that are adapted to the local environment could be more advantageous than the use of nonnative plants. In Australia, there is a dearth of information on the benefits of native plants to natural enemies and their selectivity against pests. Accordingly, we examined the longevity of the parasitoids Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) and Cotesia glomerata (L.) (both Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and Diadegma semiclausum (Hellen) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) exposed to flowering shoots from Australian native plants which was compared with the nonnative buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), often used in conservation biological control. Longevity of parasitoids was significantly enhanced by the Australian natives Westringia fruticosa, Mentha satureioides, Callistemon citrinus, Leptospermum cv. 'Rudolph', Grevillea cv. 'Bronze Rambler', Myoporum parvifolium, Lotus australis, and nonnative F. esculentum. The highest mean survival by native plant species was 3.49 higher for D. rapae with Leptospermum sp. and 4.39 higher for D. semiclausum with M. parvifolium. For C. glomerata, Grevillea sp. increased longevity by 6.99 compared with water only. Longevity of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), a major crop pest, was enhanced by all plants against which it was screened except Acacia baileyana, a species that had no effect on parasitoid longevity. Several Australian native plant species that benefit parasitoids were identified. None of the plant species provided a selective benefit to the parasitoid D. semiclausum compared with its host P. xylostella; however, the benefit of M. parvifolium and Grevillea sp. on the longevity of D. semiclausum was relatively higher compared with the pest. These results suggest the need for field studies to determine whether native Australian plants increase P. xylostella impact in nearby brassica crops.

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