NOPR Collection:

Maesa bengalensis: Unlocking the hidden nutritional treasures and medicinal potential of an underutilized wild vegetable from Manipur, India

2024-12-20T07:29:02Z

Title: Maesa bengalensis: Unlocking the hidden nutritional treasures and medicinal potential of an underutilized wild vegetable from Manipur, India Authors: Mao, Ashiho Asosii; Seal, Tapan; Krishna, Gopal Abstract: This study assessed the nutritional composition, minerals, amino acids, anti-nutritional qualities, toxicity, and antioxidant activities of Maesa bengalensis, a wild edible plant from Manipur, India. Standard techniques were used for proximate analysis, minerals content, and anti-nutrient composition. HPLC analysis was conducted for vitamins, phenolics, and free amino acids using a Dionex Ultimate 3000 liquid chromatograph. The plant exhibited diverse mineral concentrations and a significant protein level (3.10±0.09%). Eighteen free amino acids were identified, with the highest amount of L-histidine (2.68 μg/mg) in the water extract and the lowest amount of L-methionine in the benzene extract. The aqueous extract showed substantial phenolic (36.08±1.92 mg/100 g) and flavonoid (19.94±2.35 mg/100 g) contents. Water-soluble B vitamins were present in varying amounts (0.24-18.49 mg/100 g), along with a high concentration of vitamin C (93.67±4.12 mg/100 g). The aqueous extract contained abundant phenolic compounds, such as syringic acid (18.01±0.33 μg/mg dry extract) and quercetin (37.56±0.53 μg/mg dry extract). The levels of antinutrients and heavy metals were below harmful thresholds, and the toxicity study confirmed the plant's safety for human consumption. These findings highlight the potential of M. bengalensis as a health food, nutraceutical, and dietary supplement, with prospects for development and commercialization in Manipur and neighbouring regions. Page(s): 1123-1134

The effectiveness of homeopathic food according to the Thai traditional medicine combined with the therapeutic lifestyle changes diet intervention in people with dyslipidemia

2024-12-20T07:19:12Z

Title: The effectiveness of homeopathic food according to the Thai traditional medicine combined with the therapeutic lifestyle changes diet intervention in people with dyslipidemia Authors: Singhato, Alongkote; Booranasuksakul, Uraiporn; Rueangsri, Narisa; Khongkhon, Somjet Abstract: Thai traditional medicine (TTM) has the homeopathic food suggestion focusing on food taste derived from local herbs and vegetables used as food ingredients to encourage the health condition of each of 4 main elements; earth, aqua, wind, and heat. Dyslipidemia is one of the huge public health problems in Thailand that can be relieved by medical nutrition therapy (MNT) based on the therapeutic lifestyle changes diet (TLC diet) guideline. This study aimed to integrate homeopathic food according to TTM and MNT based on the TLC diet in people with dyslipidemia. Totally 192 participants were recruited and further sampled into 4 main element groups. In each group, participants were sampled into 2 subgroups (24 in each intervention group and 24 in each controlled group). Participants in the intervention groups received MNT based on the TLC diet by the dietitian and intake of the provided homeopathic foods according to their main element for 12 weeks, while control group received MNT based on TLC diet only. Results revealed that participants in the intervention groups were significantly lower on triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol than control group in almost all main element groups at the endpoint (p<0.05). In addition, participants in the intervention group of the wind element group were significantly higher on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) than controlled group at endpoint (p<0.05). The findings from this study concluded that integration between homeopathic food according to TTM and MNT based on TLC diet intervention is effective to improve blood lipid profiles in people with dyslipidemia. Page(s): 1135-1143

Physical properties of selected South Indian heritage paddy varieties

2024-12-20T07:17:05Z

Title: Physical properties of selected South Indian heritage paddy varieties Authors: Veeraragavan, Priya Dharshini; Albert, Sathya Abstract: There is an increasing trend in the production processing and marketing of traditional crops with a special focus on rice in the southern peninsular region of India. In this context, the current study was carried out to evaluate the dimensional, gravimetric, and frictional characteristics of selected eleven heritage paddy varieties in both raw and parboiled conditions adopting standard procedures. Among the dimensional properties, the L/B ratio classified Muttrinasannam, Thanga samba, and Basmati into an extra-long slender category with reduced volume both in the raw and parboiled conditions. In contrast, bold varieties (Mapillai samba) recorded an increase in volume both in raw and parboiled conditions. The geometric aspect ratio value recorded for Basmati was the lowest indicating good rolling properties in both the raw and parboiled conditions. The traditional rice varieties, Mapillai samba (30.18 g) and Kattuyaanam (30.03 g) scored high for thousand grain weight in raw and parboiled conditions respectively, which is a positive parameter for marketability. A strong correlation has been observed between volume with and surface area, volume with geometric mean diameter and surface area in both raw and parboiled conditions. The present study provides insights on varying post-harvest processing suitability of traditional rice varieties of south India Page(s): 1144-1153

Indigenous pest management practices in rice ecosystem of Assam, India

2024-12-20T07:15:11Z

Title: Indigenous pest management practices in rice ecosystem of Assam, India Authors: Barman, Indrajit; Sarma, Arup Kumar; Bora, Budha Abstract: The indigenous pest management practices (IPMPs) adopted in rice farming in Assam were identified along with the farmers’ perception levels on their efficacy and the scientific rationality as judged by the agricultural scientists. Data were collected from 120 farmers of Nalbari district and validated by 25 scientists of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. The result reveals that out of 33 identified practices, - 6 are highly effective and 10 are moderately effective as perceived by the farmers. A total of 21 practices have been rated to be rational by most of the scientists. Out of the 8 plant-origin IPMPs, all were rational with high and medium efficacy score, whereas out of 16 cultural IPMPs, only 6 (37.5%) were rational with only 2 practices with high and medium efficacy. No botanical practice was judged as irrelevant by any scientist. The effective and rational practices may be validated further in other agro-climatic regions in order to popularize them as a part of Integrated Pest Management module. The rational IPMPs can also be screened to assess its efficacy against the recently invaded crop-pests in Assam. Page(s): 1154-1160