Parkash Meghwar

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly proposed for detecting microbial and chemical hazards in food, but laboratory accuracies are rarely reproduced in routine use. This structured narrative review examined whether reported performance is traceable, independently validated, and transferable to operational settings. Eight bibliographic databases and seven institutional routes were searched for English‐language records published from January 2018 to May 2026, and we screened the records; the final corpus comprised 76 sources (53 journal articles, 9 conference papers, 2 preprints, and 12 institutional or regulatory documents). Seven primary studies supporting the quantitative evidence were appraised individually against 11 indicators, including test‐set independence, external validation, and leakage control. Physical‐hazard inspection and narrow‐matrix spectral grading had the strongest deployment evidence, whereas microbial and chemical screening remained at laboratory or pilot scale. Among the appraised studies, the most credible estimates came from physically or temporally independent test sets, and no sensor‐based study evaluated transfer to another instrument or laboratory. Deep learning showed clear advantages for image‐based tasks but not consistently for small‐sample spectral calibration. Adoption is limited mainly by validation design, recalibration burden, false‐alarm costs, and the absence of a regulatory pathway rather than by accuracy. AI is best positioned as a screening and decision‐support layer linked to confirmatory testing and human oversight.

This study investigated the impact of various processing methods sun drying, dehydration, frying and cooking) on nutritional and phytochemical profile of wild melon ( Cucumis melo var. agrestis ). Proximate analysis revealed that drying methods enhanced the concentration of essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fibre, due to moisture reduction. Frying led to an increase in fat content but reduced specific heat‐sensitive vitamins and antioxidants. Cooking resulted in varying phytochemical changes, with some compounds degrading while others became more bioavailable. Notably, sun drying and dehydration preserved higher levels of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, enhancing the antioxidant potential of wild melon. These findings highlight the impact of processing on nutrient retention and phytochemical stability, underscoring the need for optimized techniques to maximize its nutritional benefits. Further research is recommended to assess these nutrients' bioavailability and functional health benefits. Practical Application : Through a systematic examination of different processing methods, the research provides novel insights into how these methods influence the melon's nutritional composition and phytochemistry. The findings demonstrate that sun‐drying optimizes proximate composition, while thermal drying enhances mineral composition. Additionally, the study highlights the preservation of bioactive compounds in fresh samples and the concentration of organic acids in dried samples. This work advances the field of food science by offering a foundation for optimizing processing methods to enhance traditional foods' nutritional and phytochemical profiles, with significant implications for food fortification, preservation, and security.

The phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of four edible flowers—Orange marigold, yellow marigold, rose geranium, and Rosa de Santa Teresinha—were evaluated to explore their potential as natural antioxidants. Rosa de Santa Teresinha exhibited the highest total phenol content (83.34 ± 2.09 mg GA g⁻¹ DW) and ortho-diphenol content (168.91 ± 0.15 mg GA g⁻¹ DW), while the marigolds showed significantly lower levels (~17 mg GA g⁻¹ DW for total phenols). Antioxidant activity, determined via ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, ranged from 0.11 to 0.96 mmol Trolox g⁻¹ DW, with rose geranium and Rosa de Santa Teresinha achieving the highest values. Theoretical antioxidant contributions, calculated based on the identified phenolic compounds, accounted for only a small fraction of the measured activity, with observed values exceeding predictions by factors of 56 to 1416, indicating the presence of synergistic interactions and additional bioactive compounds. Multivariate analyses (PCA and PLS regression) identified luteolin-7-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-galactoside as primary contributors to antioxidant capacity. These results underscore the importance of synergistic effects in edible flowers and highlight their potential as functional ingredients for nutraceutical applications.

The growing demand for sustainable and healthy practices has led to an increased interest in the electrolyzed water (EW) application. This technology has garnered widespread acceptance as a sanitizer within the food industry. It also enhances the nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of food products to improve quality and safety. This review undertakes a comprehensive review of the recent advancements in electrolysis technology, exploring its applications in fruits and meat industry and its impact on nutritional, functional, microbiological, safety, and sensory characteristics. It is concluded that the EW should be considered an essential component of industrial equipment sanitization and food product decontamination by offering antimicrobial benefits and promoting functional component accumulation. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of EW can be compromised by the presence of organic matter and equipment corrosion. Furthermore, it provides a concise overview of EW generation, elucidates the influential factors governing its production, and delineates prospective directions for research and development in this field.

The increasing demand by consumers for popular healthy fruits, such as the watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), generate substantial bio-wastes, making it imperative to harness the value of these by-products. Watermelon has low-calorie content and several other nutritional benefits that make it suitable for weight management and heart-healthy diets. Within this article, the nutritional composition and bioactives of watermelon which are strongly linked to the prevention of cardiovascular disorders (CVD), cancer, and age-related conditions, will be thoroughly reviewed. In addition, the therapeutic potential effects of watermelon consumption, such as anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective and anti-cancer properties, are also examined, with emphasis to the importance of incorporating watermelon into regular diets for overall health improvement. Additionally, the study explores various applications of watermelon by-products in functional foods, contributing to meeting recommended daily nutrient allowances, as well as in other functional products like cosmetics, with health promoting properties. In conclusion, this comprehensive review underscores the role of watermelon and its by-products for the development of products that can contribute to the prevention of chronic diseases and promote overall well-being

Prosopis cineraria is a large perennial, therapeutic and multi-use tree of the family Fabaceae. Locally, it is known as ‘khejri or Kandi.’ Kandi is also called “desert’s king” with homeopathic worth. The plant is rich in bioactive compounds such as heneicosanoic acid, methyl heptacosanoate, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and methyl 2-methoxy-5-hydroxycinnamate, methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate and O-Coumaroylglycrol which are accountable for many pharmacological actions. The literature was taken from peer-reviewed scientific publications from the database i.e., google scholar using keywords Kandi, Phyto-chemistry, Prosopis cineraria, etc. This review aims at relating the description, taxonomical organization and phytochemical outlines of Prosopis cineraria. It is concluded that the Thar desert is suitable for several tropical and sub-tropical drought-tolerant plants with numerous health benefits and other uses. It is therefore suggested that proper care and utilization of such drought-prone plants should be focused to combat emerging diseases. It was detected from the research studies that khejri has huge aids due to pharmaceutical and remedial value. It is used to cure many chronic diseases without showing side effects. Different pests attack can damage the tree of which approx. 153 species are examined universally. The pests grow extreme during winter while low in summer.

The present study aimed to determine the quality parameters of underground drinking water found in Diplo, a sub-district of Tharparkar. The quality parameters examined in the water samples were pH (acidity), total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity (EC). A total of 20 samples were randomly collected from different sources of drinking water, namely dug well and hand pump, from the study area. The results showed that the quality parameters of water samples taken from the hand pump were not within the appropriate range (pH range was 5.7-6.0 and TDS range was 1579-2120 mg/L), while those of well water samples were within range (pH range was 5.09-6.60 and TDS range was 497-1182 mg/L). Therefore, it was concluded that water from the well sources was safe for consumption as per the guidelines set by WHO and EPA and could be used for drinking purposes. The findings revealed that water from the hand pump sources had high TDS and EC (greater than WHO limit), which pose several health risks. It was noted that TDS is directly proportional to electrical conductivity and inversely proportional to the pH level of water. Further, it was recommended that future studies need to be conducted at regular intervals to evaluate the quality of drinking water in rural areas of Sindh province, so that authorities can promptly provide solutions to such issues. Copyright (c) The Authors

The present study aims to determine the quality parameters of drinking water of rural Tharparkar i.e., Diplo area. The quality parameters examined in water samples were pH, TDS, and EC. A total of 20 samples were collected randomly from different sources of drinking water (dug well and hand pump water) from Diplo Sub District of Tharparkar. Results showed that water samples of hand pump source have elevated quality parameters (i.e., pH range was 5.7-6.0 and TDS range was 1579-2120mg/L) as compared to well water samples (i.e., pH range was 5.09-6.60 and TDS range was 497-1182mg/L). Therefore, it is concluded that as per guidelines of WHO and EPA, water from well sources is somehow good to ensure well-being of human population residing in the area. While water from the hand pump source is loaded with high TDS and EC (greater than WHO limit). The aforementioned parameter is highly linked with EC as well as pH. It is directly proportional to the conductivity and inversely proportional to the pH. Further, studies need to be conducted in this measure to evaluate quality of drinking water in rural areas of Sindh province.  

Drought is a disaster around the world accumulating salt and ero-sion in lands. Presently, a research was conducted to determine the morpho-physiological response in bread wheat under normal and stress irrigations. This experiment was conducted at the experimental field of Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Hy-derabad, Pakistan, for two consecutive years during the Rabi season of the year 2011-12 and 2012-13. Stress was imposed by withhold-ing irrigations at three different growth stages of the plant, i.e. T1: normal irrigations applied, T2: stress at tillering stage, and T3: stress at the booting stage. The progenies Sarsabz x Khirman and Sarsabz x TD-1 contributed the highest heritability% (81.0% and 85.5%) for osmotic potential (-MPa) at stress at booting stage. For grain yield spike-1(g), the progeny Kiran-95 x Khirman showed maximum her-itability as 84.37 in T3. However, the progeny TD-1 x Imdad proved to be the best combiner progeny indicating highest heritability per-centage (91.0%) among the progenies for grain yield at booting stress.