Alok Kumar Panda

Contamination of aquatic systems by organic materials, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pesticides, and emerging pollutants is a pressing problem not only for aquatic systems but also for human health. Among the various treatment technologies, adsorption is among the most effective, economical, and environmentally friendly water decontamination technologies. In this context, biochar has garnered considerable attention for its widespread availability, tuneable porous structure, surface functionality, and low production cost. However, the adsorption, selectivity and regeneration properties of biochar are not always desirable. To overcome the issues, metal and metal oxide nanoparticle based advanced biochar hybrid systems, carbon based nano materials, and other functional materials have been developed to enhance the physicochemical properties and adsorption efficiency. This review aims to critically evaluate recent advances in biochar‐based hybrid adsorbents for water purification, with a particular focus on adsorption. Different biochar hybrid systems are critically reviewed, covering the synthesis approaches, structure and physicochemical characteristics, and the mechanisms of contaminant removal by adsorption, including electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, surface complexation, pore filling, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and π – π interactions. The adsorption efficiency of the biochar hybrids to various contaminant types (heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceutical residues, and pesticides) are systematically evaluated. Besides that, the factors influencing the adsorption behaviour, the regeneration and reusability, the environmental safety and feasibility is also examined. Finally, the existing problems and future research opportunities are presented, including multifunctional biochar hybrids, modelling, scaling up biochar production, and application in complex water matrices. This review further maps dominant removal mechanisms directly to specific hybrid material features and outlines the design and optimization of second‐generation biochar‐based hybrid adsorbents for sustainable and efficient water purification.

Our ecological balance is being disrupted by the growing population and industrial waste, which causes pollution and climate change. Our health is at risk

Methylene blue (MB), a commonly employed cationic dye, contaminates aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Although its presence in polluted environments has been documented, little is known about its phytotoxicity to terrestrial agricultural crops. This study was conducted to assess the effect of MB on the germination and seedling development of a major oil crop, mustard (Brassica juncea L.), in a controlled hydroponic system. MB was found to significantly affect germination and seedling development. This effect was concentration-dependent. Germination was reduced by 50% compared to the control at higher concentrations. Similarly, root growth, shoot growth, seedling vigour index, and biomass were significantly reduced. On the other hand, relative toxicity and phytotoxicity increased substantially. To move beyond descriptive phenotyping, a predictive multivariate statistical analysis was employed to assess correlations between variables and establish physiological tipping points. Principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and heatmap correlation analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between MB concentration and growth. Toxicity increased significantly with increasing MB concentration. This study revealed that MB significantly affects germination and seedling development and poses a potential risk to agricultural ecosystems, particularly during the early stages of crop establishment. Furthermore, by statistically identifying radicle elongation and seedling vigour as the most sensitive parameters, this study establishes them as reliable, early-warning biomarkers for agricultural risk assessment. Further field studies are needed to better understand its long-term impact on plant growth and productivity.

The disease tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis , is one of the leading causes of global human mortality. The rise of multidrug and extensively drug-resistant strains of the pathogen and the limited efficacy of the BCG vaccine is one of the major concerns worldwide. Conventional chemotherapy for tuberculosis is often very long and has several side effects. These factors lead to an urgent need for alternative, non-toxic therapeutic strategies with minimal side effects. Antimycobacterial peptides (AMPs), are a class of natural compounds that have shown a broad spectrum of anti-mycobacterial activity with a low propensity for the development of anti-mycobacterial resistance. This review summarizes the current antimycobacterial peptides, highlighting their structural features, physicochemical determinants, and their mechanism of action. Some of the key peptides have been critically discussed with respect to their membrane targeting mechanism. The role of structural modifications, such as disulfide bonding, cyclization, hydrophobicity tuning, and post-translational modifications, in enhancing antimycobacterial efficacy and stability is also examined. Consequently, the broad mechanism of action of these peptides and their role in the development of anti-tuberculosis drugs have been emphasized. This article combines mechanistic and structural insights to show how antimycobacterial peptides could become new anti-TB drugs. It also provides a guide for developing and improving peptide therapies for tuberculosis.

Gingivitis is a reversible inflammatory condition of gingival tissues and is majorly driven by the formation and accumulation of microbial biofilm. Untreated gingivitis often leads to periodontitis and ultimate tooth loss. The management of gingivitis through conventional methods relies mainly on the use of chemical antiseptics and antibiotics and the removal of plaque. However, the long-term use of the chemicals and antibiotics may alter the microflora and may also lead to antimicrobial resistance. This has led to increased interest in the usage of natural products-based herbal and traditional medicine as safer alternative medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis of gingivitis with an emphasis on the microbial interaction and conversion of the microflora as the disease progresses. It evaluates the potential of major medicinal plants and their bioactive components used to cure the disease gingivitis. The antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tissue-healing mechanisms of these medicinal plants are discussed alongside evidence from clinical trials. The review further highlights the limitations, such as the lack of standardized formulations and dosage variability differences among the various traditional and herbal medicinal practitioners, which prevents universal adoption of traditional medicine for treating gingivitis. In addition, advanced technologies such as the use of artificial intelligence for developing odontonutraceuticals, and next-generation polyherbal have also been explored. This review established the traditional and herbal medicine as an effective strategy for treating and managing gingivitis.

Access to clean drinking water is crucial for any region’s social and economic growth. However, rapid urbanization and industrialization have significantly deteriorated water quality, posing severe pollution threats from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources. This study presents an innovative framework for assessing water quality in North Bhubaneswar, integrating the Water Quality Index (WQI) with statistical analysis, geospatial technologies, and machine learning models. The WQI, calculated using the Weighted Arithmetic Index method, provides a single composite value representing overall water quality based on several key physicochemical parameters. To evaluate potable water quality across 21 wards in the northern zone, several key parameters were monitored, including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), hardness, chloride, total dissolved solids (TDSs), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). The Weighted Arithmetic WQI method was employed to determine overall water quality, which ranged from excellent to good. Furthermore, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a strong positive correlation (r > 0.6) between pH, conductivity, hardness, and alkalinity. To enhance the accuracy and reliability of water quality assessment, multiple machine learning models Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Naïve Bayes (NB) were applied to classify water quality based on these parameters. Among them, the Decision Tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF) models demonstrated the highest precision (91.8% and 92.7%, respectively) and overall accuracy (91.7%), making them the most effective in predicting water quality and integrating WQI, machine learning, and statistics to analyze water quality. The study emphasizes the importance of continuous water quality monitoring and offers data-driven recommendations to ensure sustainable access to clean drinking water in North Bhubaneswar.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of death in the tropics and subtropics. Though Odisha has seen a decline in malaria cases over the past few years, it remains a contributing factor in deciding India's malaria journey. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-based systematic review aims to investigate and compile the ethnomedicinal evidence-based documented research data on anti-malarial medicinal plants in Mayurbhanj, Odisha. An extensive literature survey was conducted using online databases, following the PRISMA-Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines for anti-malarial prophylaxis and diagnosis using the ethnomedicinal plants in Mayurbhanj. Using appropriate exclusion and inclusion criteria, 20 literature/book chapters were included in the study. Origin 2024b was used for the analysis of the ethnomedicinal information. The study identified 40 plant species used by traditional healers in anti-malarial treatment. These 40 plant species belong to 24 families, the majority of which are the Acanthaceae and Apocyanaceae. Most of the formulations came from a decoction, paste, juice and powder. It was interesting to note that the formulations were predominantly provided by oral route. The leaves and roots were the significant parts used by the healers for the anti-malarial treatment. However, no side effects were reported for these plants. The review highlights the rich variety of ethnomedicinal plants and their recipes for anti-malarial treatment in Mayurbhanj. The disease still plagues Odisha, necessitating study on dispersed ethnomedicinal studies for a better therapeutic comprehension of the diagnosis. This will aid diagnosis and boost tribal knowledge and culture.

The increasing focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions has led to the exploration of various wastewater treatment technologies. Among these, oxidation ponds (OPs) have gained significant attention due to their low operational costs and minimal energy requirements. However, the performance of OPs can be shaped by multiple climatic parameters, incorporating sunlight, temperature, wind, precipitation, evaporation and seasonal variation. The circular economy concept emphasizes the recovery and reuse of resources, promoting sustainability and reducing waste generation. OPs offer opportunities for resource recovery, including the generation of algae biomass, that could be utilized as a feedstock for biofuels, fertilizers, or animal feed. The climatic factors affecting OP performance can also impact the productivity and composition of the algae, thereby influencing the potential applications of these resources within the circular economy framework. This review examines the existing literature on the impact of sunlight, temperature, wind, precipitation, evaporation and seasonal variation on OP performance, highlighting their effects on treatment efficiency, microbial dynamics, and resource recovery potential. The findings underscore the importance of considering climatic factors in the design and operation of OPs to optimize their performance and maximize their contribution to the circular economy. Future research directions are suggested to further explore the synergistic relationship between climatic factors, OP performance, and circular economy linkages, with the aim of developing sustainable and resilient wastewater treatment systems.