Foraging for the future: traditional culinary uses of wild plants in the Western Himalayas-Kashmir Valley (India).

Background: In the intricate tapestry of food security, wild food species stand as pillars, nourishing millions in low-income communities, and reflecting the resilience and adaptability of human societies. Their significance extends beyond mere sustenance, intertwining with cultural traditions and local knowledge systems, underscoring the importance of preserving biodiversity and traditional practices for sustainable livelihoods.

Methods: The present study, conducted between February 2022 and August 2023 along the Line of Control in India's Kashmir Valley, employed a rigorous data collection encompassing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and specific field observations facilitated through a snowball sampling technique.

Exosome-Based Macromolecular neurotherapeutic drug delivery approaches in overcoming the Blood-Brain barrier for treating brain disorders.

Delivering drugs to the brain is a complex challenge in medical research, particularly for disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The blood-brain barrier restricts the entry of many therapeutic molecules, hindering their effectiveness. Nanoparticles, a potential solution, face issues like toxicity and limited approvals.

A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Medicinal Plant Utilization among the Four Ethnic Communities in Northern Regions of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Medicinal plants are utilized around the globe for the treatment of a wide range of ailments. This study is an attempt to document the utilization of medicinal plants across the four different cultural groups residing in the rural and remote villages of the northern districts of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. To gather information related to medicinal plants and health care practices among the local folk, field surveys were conducted from February 2018 to May 2021.

A review of records of the Trimeresurus albolabris Gray, 1842 group from the Indian subcontinent: expanded description and range extension of Trimeresurus salazar, redescription of Trimeresurus septentrionalis and rediscovery of historical specimens of Trimeresurus davidi (Reptilia: Viperidae).

We revisit the identities of Trimeresurus albolabris records from India and Nepal, based on a re-examination of historically mentioned specimens. Based on morphological congruence, we identify an old specimen originally labeled as T. albolabris from Nagpur, Central Province as Trimeresurus salazar.

Nano-silver hydroxyapatite based antibacterial 3D scaffolds of gelatin/alginate/poly (vinyl alcohol) for bone tissue engineering applications.

In the present study macroporous three dimensional spongy scaffolds composed of gelatin, alginate, and poly (vinyl alcohol) were prepared by cryogelation technique and silver hydroxyapatite was reinforced into the 3 D matrix. The polymer nanocomposite materials were characterized by analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The nanocomposite scaffolds were studied for their porous nature, water sorption capacity, and mechanical behavior.

Development and Validation of a Novel Stability-Indicating Reversed-Phase Ion-Pair Chromatographic Method for the Quantitation of Impurities in Marbofloxacin Tablets.

A stability-indicating isocratic reversed-phase ion-pair chromatographic method was designed for the separation of impurities in the presence of degradation products. Marbofloxacin tablets and a placebo were exposed to the stress conditions of oxidative, acid, base, humidity, thermal, and photolytic degradation. Significant and moderate degradation was observed in acidic and oxidative stress conditions, respectively.

Reverse indentation size effects in gamma irradiated blood compatible blend films of chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) for possible medical applications.

In the present work binary blends of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) were prepared by solution cast method and characterized by analytical methods like FTIR, XRD and SEM for seeking structural and morphological information. The blends were exposed to gamma radiation and evaluated for their improved mechanical strength. It was found that the tensile strength and microhardness increased after irradiation of CS-PVA films.

Mechanoluminescence Study of Europium Doped CaZrO3 Phosphor.

Behaviour displayed by mechanoluminescence (ML) in CaZrO3:Eu(3+) doped phosphors with variable concentration of europium ions are described. When the ML is excited impulsively by the impact of a load on the phosphors the ML intensity increases with time, attains a maximum value and then it decreases. In the ML intensity versus time curve, the peak increases and shifts towards shorter time values with increasing impact velocities.

Investigation of magnetically controlled water intake behavior of Iron Oxide Impregnated Superparamagnetic Casein Nanoparticles (IOICNPs).

Iron oxide impregnated casein nanoparticles (IOICNPs) were prepared by in-situ precipitation of iron oxide within the casein matrix. The resulting iron oxide impregnated casein nanoparticles (IOICNPs) were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Raman spectroscopy. The FTIR analysis confirmed the impregnation of iron oxide into the casein matrix whereas XPS analysis indicated for complete oxidation of iron (II) to iron(III) as evident from the presence of the observed representative peaks of iron oxide.

Next generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI): afatinib.

Afatinib is a recently introduced new tyrosine kinase inhibitor, approved by the USFDA on July 12, 2013. Afatinib is marketed under the trade name Gilotrif and developed by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. It is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations.

The first approved agent in the Glitazar's Class: Saroglitazar.

The new chemical entity (NCE) has been knocked as novel antidiabetic agent, e.g. Saroglitazar.

3D QSAR and docking studies of various amido and benzyl-substituted 3-amino-4-(2-cyanopyrrolidide)pyrrolidinyl analogs as DPP-IV inhibitors.

The article describes the development of a robust pharmacophore model and the investigation of structure activity relationship analysis of 3-amino-4-(2-cyanopyrrolidide)pyrrolidinyl analogs reported for DPP-IV inhibition using PHASE module of Schrodinger software. The present works also encompass molecular interaction study of 3-amino-4-(2- cyanopyrrolidide)pyrrolidinyl analogs on maestro 8.5 workstation.

3D QSAR and docking study of gliptin derivatives as DPP-IV inhibitors.

The article describes the development of a robust pharmacophore model and the investigation of structure activity relationship analysis of 46 xanthine derivatives reported for DPP-IV inhibition using PHASE module of Schrodinger software. The present works also encompasses molecular interaction of 46 xanthine ligand through maestro 8.5 software.

Linagliptin: a novel methylxanthin based approved dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor.

Chemically, methylxanthine nucleus based Linagliptin (BI-1356, BI-1356-BS) is a dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitor, which has been developed by Boehringer Ingelheim in association with Lilly for the treatment of Type-II Diabetes. Linagliptin was marketed by Lilly under the trade name Tradjenta and Trajenta. Linagliptin was approved as the once-daily dose by USFDA on 2 May 2011, for the treatment of Type-II Diabetes.

Balaglitazone: a second generation peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma (γ) agonist.

Balaglitazone (DRF-2593) is a novel partial agonist of PPAR-gamma (γ), which is developed by Dr. Reddy's laboratories India. Balaglitazone is a second generation peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonist with only partial agonistic properties.

Apixaban: a new player in the anticoagulant class.

Apixaban (BMS-562247-01) is a compound being investigated as an anticoagulant. Apixaban molecule is developed in a joint venture by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Apixaban, a coagulation factor Xa inhibitor, approved in the E.

Preparation, characterization and antibacterial applications of ZnO-nanoparticles coated polyethylene films for food packaging.

The present work describes the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles loaded starch-coated polyethylene film. The presence of ZnO nanoparticles was confirmed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ZnO loaded film was tested for its biocidal action against model bacteria Escherichia coli using zone inhibition and killing kinetics of bacterial growth methods.

Fabrication, characterization of chitosan/nanosilver film and its potential antibacterial application.

In this work chitosan/silver nanoparticle films were synthesized by a simple photochemical method of reduction of silver ions in an acidic solution of AgNO(3) and chitosan. This is a novel, cheap, easy, quick and in situ approach to prepare chitosan films loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Chitosan used here is a natural polymer and acts as a very good chelating and stabilizing agent; thus, this approach of formation of chitosan/silver nanoparticle films is proved to be an excellent 'green approach' for the synthesis of metal nanoparticle composites.

Graft copolymerization onto cellulose-based filter paper and its further development as silver nanoparticles loaded antibacterial food-packaging material.

The present work describes ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) initiated graft copolymerization of acrylamide onto cellulose-based filter paper followed by entrapment of silver nanoparticles. The copolymerization was carried out in aqueous solution, containing 2M acrylamide monomer and 16mM N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (MB) crosslinker. The optimum initiation time and grafting reaction temperature were found to be 15min and 30 degrees C, respectively.

Magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery applications.

In recent past magnetic nanoparticles have been explored for a number of biomedical applications due to their superparamagnetic moment with high magnetic saturation value. For these biomedical applications, magnetic nanoparticles require being monodispersed so that the individual nanoparticle has almost identical physico-chemical properties for biodistribution, bioelimination and contrast imaging potential. Further, the surface functionalization/modification of magnetic nanoparticles ultimately facilitate the protein or DNA separation, detection and magnetic resonance imaging contrast, drug delivery and hyperthermia applications.

Synthesis of polymer stabilized silver and gold nanostructures.

This review article is focused on the various approaches that have been made to synthesize metal nanoparticles with predetermined shape, size, and fair stability. Due emphasis has been given on polymer stabilized nanoparticles. In addition use of other varieties of stabilizers like inorganic salts, organic compounds, organic solvent, biological molecules, etc.