Anticancer activity of Zea mays leaf extracts on oxidative stress-induced Hep2 cells.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans. It is believed that plants can provide potential bioactive compounds for the development of "new leads" to combat cancer and other diseases. The present study focuses on the ability of the different extracts (aqueous, methanol, and chloroform) of the leaves of Zea mays in influencing the process of apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in Hep2 (laryngeal carcinoma) cells.

Free Radical Scavenging Activity of Majorana hortensis leaves.

Antioxidants are an essential defense mechanism to protect our body against free radical damage. They balance the production of free radicals and detoxify them when in excess. The objective of the study is to determine the free radical scavenging potential of the candidate plant leaves when subjected to a battery of free radical scavenging assays.

Insights from the molecular docking of withanolide derivatives to the target protein PknG from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

A crucial virulence factor for intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival is Protein kinase G (PknG), a eukaryotic-like serinethreonine protein kinase expressed by pathogenic mycobacteria that blocks the intracellular degradation of mycobacteria in lysosomes. Inhibition of PknG results in mycobacterial transfer to lysosomes. Withania somnifera, a reputed herb in ayurvedic medicine, comprises a large number of steroidal lactones known as withanolides which show various pharmacological activities.

A study on the effect of few eco-friendly manures on the growth attributes of carrot (Daucus carota L.).

A pot culture study was carried out at Avinashilingam Deemed University, Coimbatore to assess the effect of few organic manures (herbal microfertilizer, humic acid, farm yard manure (FYM), biofertilizer) and NPK on the growth attributes of carrot. Among the parameters observed, the germination percentage was highest in FYM treated pots on 7 DAS (Days After Sowing) and in NPK treated pots on 21, 28 and 30 DAS. The parameters, such as root length, crown length and vigour index, were studied on 30, 60, 90 and 120 DAS.

Remediation of lead from lead electroplating industrial effluent using sago waste.

Heavy metals are known toxicants, which inflict acute disorders to the living beings. Electroplating industries pose great threat to the environment through heavy load of metals in the wastewater discharged on land and water sources. In the present study, sago processing waste, which is both a waste and a pollutant, was used to adsorb lead ions from lead electroplating industrial effluent.

Suitability and water quality criteria of an open drainage municipal sewage water at Coimbatore, used for irrigation.

Sanganur canal is the major open drainage system which has intricate linkage with storm water supply, domestic sewage and industrial effluent disposal. Water samples from various stations were collected and analysed for physicochemical parameters to assess the water quality of the Sanganur canal system. The study revealed that physicochemical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, COD exceeded the permissible limit, clearly indicating the need of proper treatment of waste water before discharge into the Noyyal river.