Swati Agarwal

Syzygium cumini L. (ver Jamun; BlackBerry) is a native, evergreen multipurpose tree species of India. Besides being a fruit tree and for agroforestry in different regions, it is medicinally important too. This study aimed to determine genetic diversity using molecular and phytochemical markers in sixteen genotypes of Indian S. cumini from different agro-ecological zones. The present study used a combination of ISSR markers and the HPLC technique to explore these genotypes. The results showed a wide genetic diversity range based on the similarity coefficient values observed in S. cumini sixteen accessions from different sites. Four primary phenolic acids were discovered in all the accessions; caffeic acid (CA) was found in high concentrations. The intraspecific association between molecular and phytochemical characteristics was the primary goal of this investigation. By employing gene-specific markers for the route of secondary metabolites (polyphenols) production, it further investigated the progressive research of diversity analysis of polyphenol content in S. cumini accessions, which may also expand its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical utilization.

Global increasing application of nanomaterials and their natural formation from complex materials is considered a major concern. Glass contamination didn’t get attention until now regarding its micro and nano size. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on possible glass particles breakage into nano and micro-sized glass materials and their accumulation in the environment especially in plant system. Here, we have synthesized nano-glass (NG) from waste windshield and analyzed its effect and uptake on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in hydroponic solution. Our findings provided the direct evidence that NG reduced the germination % with increasing NG concentrations as 96, 92 and 92% for 20, 30 and 40 mgL-1. Lowest root and shoot height (15.40 and 22.42 cm) was achieved in 40 mgL−1 NG treatment. Decrement in fresh and dry wt. with maximum reduction of chlorophyll a, b and total content (6.19, 4.98 and 11.17 mgg-1 fresh wt.) was obtained at 40 mgL-1 at 21 days. Rhodamine B was used for fluorescence imaging in seedlings to detect NG movement, showed NG moves via xylem tissues from root part into deeper tissue for travel to other part of plants. Further studies are required as flora buildup of NG can have both environmental influence and consequences on agronomic sustainability and food safety.

Cancer is one of the principal causes of mortality and morbidity around the globe and the number of cases is continuously increasing. There are many conventional drugs available on the market to treat various types of cancer but no drug is found to be fully effective and safe. The major concern in cancer chemotherapy is the toxicity of the established drugs. Medicinal plants serve as nature’s gift to humans to help them pursue better health through immunity. Several medicinal plant species and their phytochemicals inhibit the progression and development of cancer. These phytochemicals are selective in their nature and act specifically on cancerous cells without affecting normal cells. In the present chapter, an attempt has been made to present detailed information about these medicinal plants, their family, plant parts used, and the specific anticancer phytochemical present in them. Furthermore, their mechanism of action against particular types of cancer are also described and discussed.

The review reports the results of various researches work on the engine performance and emission characteristics of diesel engine using different nanoadditives in jojoba biodiesel - diesel blends. Blending of diesel with biodiesel in a diesel engine has gained importance, due to its economical and environmental benefits. Jojoba biodiesel gained an importance as an alternative fuel over conventional diesel fuel even with their unfavorable effects of power reduction. The wide spread usage of nanoadditives to improve the combustion quality may be a good solution of this problem. Blending of nanoparticles as an additives in biodiesel – diesel blends improves the thermophysical properties, such as thermal conductivity, mass diffusivity and high surface area-to-volume ratio. Based on the results available in the literature, it has been found that nanoadditives with jojoba biodiesel - diesel blends improve the performance of diesel engine and reduced the emission of toxic gases depending upon the dosage of the nanoadditives.