ABSTRACT
Traditional cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum involved growing it on logs, but recent developments have optimized production by using substrates such as sawdust, rice, and even agricultural waste. Advances in controlled indoor farming have been applied to cultivate Ganoderma lucidum, enabling better control over environmental variables such as temperature, humidity, and light, which are crucial for maximizing the growth and quality of the mushrooms. Ganoderma lucidum is renowned for its medicinal properties and is rich in a variety of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, β-glucans, glycoproteins, steroids, amino acids, lactones, and fatty acids, all of which contribute to its therapeutic effects. Present study has revealed that bioactive compounds produced from Ganoderma lucidum has many pharmaceutical applications such as immunomodulatory, anti-aging, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective. To harness these beneficial compounds, several extraction techniques have been developed. This review explores various cultivation methods of Ganoderma lucidum, highlights the significance of its bioactive compounds.

ABSTRACT
Zinc (Zn) is a vital micronutrient that plays a critical role in supporting the physiological health and proper functioning of both plants and humans. In this sense, it is indispensable in plant biology to activate a multitude of enzymes, synthesize proteins and regulate the hormonal activity. A deficiency in zinc disrupts these fundamental processes, often resulting in stunted growth, delayed crop maturation, chlorosis, and ultimately, diminished agricultural productivity. The prevalence of zinc deficiency is particularly notable in soils characterized by elevated pH levels, excessive phosphorus concentrations, and inadequate zinc bioavailability, which has a direct adverse impact on agricultural productivity. In the context of human health, the consumption of crops deficient in zinc can precipitate severe health issues, including an impaired immune response, cognitive decline, and hindered growth. This review aims to explore the critical roles of zinc in plant and examine the repercussions of its deficiency on plant vitality. Furthermore, it considers various strategies to enhance zinc availability, encompassing traditional practices such as soil and foliar applications, alongside innovative methodologies like the utilization of zinc nano particles and fortified fertilizers. By using these strategies, it’s possible to boost zinc levels in crops, improving both crop yields and human nutrition. The review highlights the importance of combining different fields of research to find effective solutions for improving zinc nutrition and fighting global malnutrition.

ABSTRACT
Neolamarckia cadamba known as cadamba tree or Kadam is commonly referred as the "miracle tree," as it has been widely recognized in Indian traditional medicine for its therapeutic potential in treating a variety of ailments. It is a significant species in tropical and subtropical ecosystem. In many developing countries, cadamba and its natural products continue to play a vital role in traditional medicine due to their accessibility, effectiveness, and minimal toxicity to healthy human cells. It is notable for its rapid growth, attractive appearance and various applications. This review examines its botanical characteristics, ecological roles, economic importance and cultivation methods. It also provides diverse studies focusing on the physiological, ecological, phytochemical, and pharmacological characteristics. Although it faces challenges like sterilising its explants that are obtained from the field is very difficult because of the abundance of endophytic microbes in them, contamination has hampered its tissue growth in the field and is challenging to overcome. It brings researchers to study more about this plant to overcome the challenges as it serves as a valuable model organism in research, owing to its relatively small genome (~800 Mb), fast growth, and ability to flower and produce fruit within four years.  

ABSTRACT
Background: The health of poultry is therefore important for the world food needs especially for those that consume broilers for meat. Salmonella and Escherichia coil for instance, are potential pathogenic bacteria that influence diseases in broilers with potentiality that may cause high death rates and cost implications. That is why it is crucial to always come up with proper management measures in order to control these bacterial infections causing harm to the poultry birds. Objective: This paper seeks to determine the effect of Bacillus subtilis a known probiotic, on the establishment of Salmonella and E. coli in the intestine of the broilers. In an effort to abduct our understanding from the most recent literature, this paper aims at finding the extent to which the presence of Bacillus subtilis affects the presence and further proliferation of these pathogenic bacteria. Key Findings: Evidence suggests that Bacillus subtilis exerts a beneficial effect in reducing the colonization of Salmonella and E. coli in broiler intestines. Studies indicate that Bacillus subtilis competes with these pathogens for nutrients and adherent sites, produces antimicrobial substances, and modulates the gut microbiota to suppress pathogenic bacteria. Both in vivo and in vitro studies highlight a significant reduction in the population of Salmonella and E. coli with the inclusion of Bacillus subtilis in broiler diets. Conclusion: The incorporation of Bacillus subtilis as a probiotic in broiler diets shows promising potential for enhancing poultry health by controlling the colonization of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. These findings suggest that Bacillus subtilis could be an effective tool in poultry health management, contributing to improved animal welfare and reduced economic losses. Further research is recommended to optimize probiotic strategies and address any implementation challenges.  

ABSTRACT
Problem: The skin, as the most visible part of the body, naturally draws attention. Psychocutaneous disorders often present a complex and varied burden. Despite dermatologists' growing awareness and adaptation to these changes, the impact of dermatophytosis on patients’ quality of life (QoL) remains underappreciated. Although superficial fungal infections are recognized for causing social discomfort and psychological stress, the true extent of their effect on patients' daily lives has not been adequately explored or addressed. Acknowledging the emotional and psychological toll of such infections is essential to fully grasp their broader impact. Approach: To evaluate depression and assess its severity and association with dermatophyte infections in patients in a tertiary care centre. This cross-sectional observational study was conducted over a nine-month period, from January 2024 to September 2024, at the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and leprosy and Psychiatry, in a tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Basic demographic and clinical feature details of the conditions were obtained by the Dermatologist and the severity of depression and anxiety was evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) by the consultant Psychiatrist.  The Dermatological Quality of Life Index (DLQI) was used to assess quality of life. Findings: 400 patients with clinically diagnosed dermatophytosis were recruited with females being the majority. Highest incidence was noticed among 25-35 years of age. The HADS indicated borderline anxiety and depression, with minimal to moderate depression. The DLQI showed minimal to moderate effects, significantly Impacting quality of life. Conclusion: This study focuses on the mental health impact of a common dermatological condition in Eastern India paving a way for more research in the field of derrmatophytosis as well the significance of its impact on mental health.  

ABSTRACT
Consecutive patients attending Psychiatric OPD meeting DSM-5 TR criteria for either Major Depressive Disorder or Somatoform Disorders were included in the study provided their age were within 18-65 years and no associated general medical conditions was present. Each patient was asked to mention their principal problem that made them attend OPD. SCID was used to confirm diagnosis and detect co-morbidity. The patients were then administered the HDRS -17. Study found that very few (i.e. only 21.1%) depressed patients present with depression as principal complaint. Somatic complaints (mainly physical pain) were the commonest (39.5%) principal complaint. Study also shows very high level of co-morbidity. 47.13% of depressed patients have co-morbidity (all anxiety disorders in our study), while 40.74% of somatoform disorder patients had co-morbidity (3.7% had anxiety disorders, 37.04% had depressive disorders). HDRS scores were lower in patients presenting with somatic complaint and may be a cause of somatisation. Most significant finding of our study was that, although HDRS total scores were more in depressed patients, it had little discriminating power to distinguish depression from somatoform disorders. The scores were heavily influenced by co-morbidity with specific gender related difference. Principal presenting problem does not bear any relationship with HDRS score. QUEST analysis indicated only Iteam12 of HDRS-17 (Somatic Symptoms, Gastrointestinal) was best variable in differentiating between depressive disorders and somatoform disorders. The research indicates need to study reasons for the above findings, especially analysis to detect inherent problems of HDRS in our clinical and cultural perspective.  

ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a type of liver cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality (8.3%) globally. Increased knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression has led to the development of large number of anticancer drugs. Several drawbacks of  drug development such as tedious, time consuming, resource intensified process coupled with drugs failure in clinical trials and associated side-effects have necessitated plant based natural compounds as an alternative. Large body of scientific evidences now indicates that plant derived compounds or phytochemicals have significant antitumor properties. The results presented in this paper summarizes the data with respect to Scutellarein tetramethy lether (STE) a plant derived flavonoid and its anti-tumour activity in Hepatocellular adenocarcinoma cell line (HepG2).The cellular assays indicates cytotoxicity (MTT assay) of the compound at IC50 value of 47.49µM (16.2µg/ml), further it exhibited prominent Cell Cycle phase arrest at G2/M phase, S phase and Sub G0/G1 phasesandlate apoptosis. Finally, gene expression assay suggested it upregulated Caspase-3 gene and down regulated BCl2 gene. The molecular docking of STE against key HCC receptors revealed higher to moderate binding, with additional non-covalent interactions. The pharmacokinetic properties of the compound satisfy Lipinski drug likeness and good absorbability, solubility, and moderate crossing of the blood brain barrier. Finally, toxicity studies implicate lower hepatotoxicity and skin sensitization. In summary from the cellular and in silico analysis the natural compound STE could be considered as a lead candidate to perform future in-vitro and simulation studies towards development of a drug for the treatment of HCC.  

ABSTRACT
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections, crucial for saving lives but misuse leads to resistance. Resistance develops naturally but misuse accelerates it. Reserved antibiotics are last resort for multi-drug-resistant infections. Proper antibiotic use via culture tests reduces resistance, improves patient outcomes, and decreases hospital stays. Pharmacists need better understanding to curb misuse, enhance care, and combat resistance, preserving antibiotics' efficacy and saving lives. Hence the objective of this study was to find out the knowledge, attitude and practice of rational use of antibiotics and reserved antibiotics, to ascertain the prevalence of rational use of antibiotics and to assess the prevalence of rational use of reserved antibiotics. A cross-sectional observational questionnaire-based study was conducted for pharmacists in Bengaluru. The research enrolled 500 pharmacists from various pharmacies who satisfy the inclusion criteria. Consent was obtained from all enrolled pharmacist. A questionnaire was distributed to the study participants prior to creating awareness. Knowledge regarding antimicrobial dispensing was provided with the help of information leaflets. Only 9% of pharmacists had above-average knowledge about antibiotics, while 91% had below-average knowledge. 38% of pharmacists had an above-average attitude towards antibiotic use, while 62% had a below-average attitude. 30% of pharmacists reported above-average practices, while 44% reported below-average practices regarding antibiotic use. The, the prevalence of rational use of antibiotics was found to be 43% and irrational use of antibiotics was found to be 57%. The prevalence of rational use of reserved antibiotics was found to be 58% and irrational use of antibiotics was found to be 42%. The study among pharmacists in Bengaluru found that educational programs and training are required to improve knowledge, attitude, and practices towards rational antibiotic use. Implementing health educational programs can promote appropriate use of antibiotics, enhancing patient quality of life and reducing hospital stays.  

ABSTRACT
Problem: Albendazole tablet is one among the antiparasitic drug widely used for the animals and humans,in order to treat the parasitic infectionsdue to its broad-spectrum of anthelmintic activity. These tabletscan be released into the soil from the households wastes and healthcare facilities. The release of the active pharmaceutical substances from the albendazole will results in the soil and water pollution due to the process of surface run-off and leaching. Approach: During the present research, a pilot study has been conducted in order to know the impacts of expired and non-expired albendazole tablets on the soil quality. In order to know the various properties and characteristics of both the tablets, few pharmaceutical evaluation tests were done. For the study, the expired and non-expired albendazole tablets were collected, powdered and added at the rate of1g, 5g and 10g to the landfill soil sample. In order to maintain the moisture level, a tracer amount of water was added and it was kept for observations for a period of 30 days. After 30 days, the soil samples were collected, subjected to extraction and used for the analysis of various physico-chemical parameters. Findings: From the experimental result, it was found that, the expired albendazole tablet has greater potential to cause the negative impact on the soil quality. It was observed that, the parameters such as moisture content, (7.44%), pH (8.98), electrical conductivity (7.06 ds/m), potassium (2100.6 Kg/ha), available phosphorus (3588.8 Kg/ha) and sulphate values (421.96 ppm) were found to be higher in expired albendazole treatments, in comparison with the normal range of the soil quality standards. Conclusion: From the study, it was concluded that, the expired albendazole tablets in the soil can persist for longer periods, altering the soil chemical composition.  

ABSTRACT
With the increasing of population, the energy source demands are also increases. The amount of energy requirement is different between the countries around the world. The developed country need more energy compare to developing country. The present people are most concern about renewable energy sources because it is pollution free, simply available and less costly and more amounts exist in the earth. In this connection a survey has been carried out in a cluster of villages in Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh. The survey is based on data collected from households and village level questionnaire. The present energy consumptions in cooking, lighting agriculture and rural industry etc. have been worked out. An effort has been made to evaluate the present energy resources in the cluster and also determine the area required to install the renewable energy system. In this paper we also calculate the total requirements of renewable energy resources for aforesaid district.  

ABSTRACT
Alzheimer is one of the most dangerous brains disorder the affect the elderly people. An under diagnosed and undertreated illness is giving rise to a serious public health concern. The disease is due to the lack of cholinergic neurons in the brain, ultimately due to the deterioration of Acetylcholine (Ach) concentration. Acetylcholinesterase is an enzyme responsible for breakdown of Acetylcholine. Inhibition of AChE, is the most significant therapeutic target of AD therapy pathways. The present study revealed that the total weights of Artemisia vulgaris plant (aerial) used were 500 gm. In the pharmacognostic evaluation of Artemisia vulgaris (aerial) we determine total ashvalue, water soluble ash, acid insoluble ash, water extractive value, alcoholic extractive value, and loss on drying. Antioxidant plays a major role in protecting our body from disease by reducing the oxidative damage to cellular component caused by Reactive Oxygen Species. The determination of the total phenolic and flavonoids Artemisia vulgaris (aerial) content of hydro alcoholic extracts were investigated. Recent investigations suggest that the plant origin antioxidants with free-radical scavenging properties may have great therapeutic importance in free radical mediated diseases like diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, cardiovascular diseases, aging, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, and aging process. The antioxidant activity of plant extracts was determined by different in vitro methods such as the DPPH assay. In this investigation, the in-vitro antioxidant effect of Artemisia vulgaris were evaluated. 

ABSTRACT
Land use and land cover (LULC) products are important for comprehending anthropogenic interactions with the environment. The precise information about LULC of our environments is essential for various applications such as the monitoring and management of natural resources, producing development plans, and global change assessments. Regrettably, recent wall-to-wall LULC maps and statistics of Nigeria are not available. This work presents the spatiotemporal wall-to-wall LULC maps and estimates of Nigeria for 2000, 2010, and 2020.The study used 6 LULC classes in he classification process. The supervised classification was used to classify the LULC in the satellite imageries. With ground-truthing, the accuracy of the classification was also evaluated and validated.From the classification result, the grassland revealed the highest percentages throughout the time series as compared to other classes of LULC. It recorded the highest rate in 2010 at 28.06%. The LULC classification accuracy assessment result for 2000, 2010, and 2020 showed overall accuracies of 94%, 91%, and 95% respectively. Similarly, the kappa coefficients were 0.93, 0.89, and 0.94, correspondingly. There is significant variability regarding LULC in Nigeria. The fluctuations in the LULC implied both gain and loss in the LULC throughout the study epochs. The levels of accuracy obtained in the classification are highly acceptable as they are higher than 85% stipulated as the minimum accuracy required for research of this nature. Furthermore, the kappa coefficients indicate an almost perfect correlation between the classified pixels and ground-truth data.  

ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children and feacal contamination of school premises in urban and rural areas of Imo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to November 2024, in selected primary schools across Owerri and Orlu zones of Imo State. A total of 2,304 stool samples from children aged 5–13 years were collected and examined using Direct wet-mount technique, Kato Katz technique and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Soil samples were also collected at strategic spots in the school premises to assess environmental contamination, and were examined using formalin ethyl acetate concentration techniques. Structured questionnaires were administered to assess the demographic information of the children. Statistical analysis was performed using R programmer version 4.4.2. The overall prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections was 53.04%, with significantly higher rates in rural (56.06%) than urban areas (49.96%) of Imo state. Ascaris lumbricoides (28.73%) was the most prevalent parasite, followed by Hookworm (16.88%), Strongyloides stercoralis (14.50%), Entamoeba histolytica (12.11%), Schistosoma mansoni (10.29%), Trichuris trichiura (9.98%), Taenia species (7.34%), and Giardia lamblia (7.34%). Rural children showed significantly higher infection rates than their urban counterparts (p = 0.002). Out of a total of 2,304 children examined across urban and rural areas of Imo State, 777 (33.72%) had co-infections. Demographic analysis revealed that younger children and those in lower primary classes were more susceptible. The study revealed widespread soil contamination with intestinal parasites across all sampled locations in Imo State, with higher prevalence in rural areas. Of the 240 soil samples analyzed, 67.10% tested positive for at least one parasite, with Ascaris lumbricoides being the most common, followed by Hookworm and Trichuris trichiura. Orlu zone Rural showed the highest contamination rate, while Owerri zone urban had the lowest. Parasite ova were detected in all sampled sites, with toilet areas exhibiting the highest concentration, followed by classrooms and playgrounds. To effectively reduce the burden of intestinal parasitic infections among children, the study recommends improving sanitation and access to safe water, enhancing health education and public awareness, reinforcing school-based deworming programs, strengthening rural healthcare services, implementing environmental control policies, and ensuring continuous monitoring through epidemiological studies. This study contributes to knowledge by providing updated data on intestinal parasitic infections among school children in Imo State, Nigeria, while also identifying toilet areas as key transmission hotspots, thereby informing targeted, integrated control and sanitation interventions. 

ABSTRACT
In Nigeria, water pollution is largely caused by municipal dumpsites, where leachates contaminate soil and release toxic substances. Industries, especially oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors, also contribute by discharging waste into the environment. This study examined the phenotypic and cytotoxic effects of textile industry effluents on the meristematic tissue of Allium cepa L. Samples were collected and analyzed for their impact on root tips over 24 to 120 hours in Lagos State. Results revealed a reduced mitotic index compared to the control group, though no chromosomal abnormalities were observed. Root growth was consistently greater in the control group (TW) compared to the experimental samples. The root lengths and total average lengths of marked roots were as follows: TW (1.06 ± 0.09a to 5.25 ± 0.92e and 76.50 ±18.80a to 121.06 ±23.71e), UEA (1.20 ± 0.32a to 1.58 ± 1.82e and 70.75 ±31.05a to 99.50 ±46.25e), UESF (1.16 ± 0.25a to 1.68 ± 2.05e and 65.00 ±8.44a to 85.00 ±11.75e), TEA (1.30 ± 0.32a to 3.23 ± 2.31e and 57.25 ±11.81a to 86.00 ±23.82e), and TESF (1.30 ± 0.36a to 3.53 ± 2.37e and 57.25 ±12.82a to 86.00 ±23.83e). The study showed minor cell damage, indicating the presence of toxic substances, useful for environmental monitoring and risk assessment.Top of Form  

ABSTRACT
This study estimated the efficiency of rice farmers in Delta State, Nigeria, and also identified the key factors influencing their performance. It adopted a survey design. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Primary data was collected from the farmers using a well-structured questionnaire. Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA), Ordinary Least Squares regression(OLS) and Tobit regression model were used to realize the objectives. The results show that 43.1% of farmers, fall in the moderate-efficiency range (TE = 0.61–0.80), with a mean TE of 0.73,30.2% fall within the high-efficiency range (TE ≥ 0.81) with a mean TE score of 0.92. Meanwhile, 26.7% of the farmers are classified as severely inefficient (TE ≤ 0.60), with a mean TE of 0.48. The OLSregression analysis reveals that farm size, level of education, access to credit, extension contact, irrigation use and cooperative membership have positive and significant effects, while fertilizer application has a negative and significant impact on rice farming efficiency in the State. The model explains 57.2% of the variation (R2 = 0.572), with an F- statistics of 29.84 (p<0.001, indicating strong overall fit. The constraints faced by these farmers include high cost of inputs (28.9%), limited access to credit (22.2%),poor irrigation infrastructure (17.8%), pest and disease infestation(13%), and lack of modern farming equipment (11%). This study recommends policy interventions to enhance rice farming. Key suggestions include: subsidies for quality inputs, increased extension services, and promotion of machinery adoption through cooperatives or leasing schemes.

ABSTRACT
This research examined the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of Ziziphus nummularia extracts from different polarity solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water). Qualitative screening tests revealed the presence of some bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, and glycosides, while methanol and aqueous extracts had the richest profiles. Methanol extract gave the highest yields for both total phenolic (101.58 mg/g gallic acid equivalents) and total flavonoids content (257.40 mg/g rutin equivalents); these values for the aqueous extract were lower but still significant (85.20 mg/g and 183.13 mg/g, respectively). Antioxidant activity, determined by DPPH and hydrogen peroxide scavenging tests, was dose dependent, with the highest activity being exhibited by methanol extract (91.78% DPPH inhibition at 100 µg/mL; IC?? = 14.05 µg/mL) and moderate activity noted for aqueous extract (50.35% inhibition; IC?? = 87.66 µg/mL). Ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts were less effective, reflecting their reduced polar phytochemical content. The results emphasize methanol as the best solvent for extracting potent antioxidant compounds from Z. nummularia, confirming its traditional medicinal applications and highlighting its potential in developing natural treatments for diseases related to oxidative stress.

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The trophic status of the shelf sediments of Bay of Bengal was assessed based on the biochemical and microbial variables. Total protein, total carbohydrate and total organic matter concentrations in the inner (< 100 m) and outer shelf (> 100 m) varied significantly (p < 0.05). Bacterial abundance and biomass were greater in the outer shelf regions.  Sediment ATP concentration used as a proxy for living microbial biomass varied regionally.  Accordingly, the measured biochemical and microbial variables clustered the shelf sediments into oligotrophic inner shelf (protein < 1.5 mg/g; PRT: CHO < 1) and eutrophic outer shelf (protein >1.5 mg/g; PRT: CHO > 1). The organically enriched sediments with high biopolymeric carbon and microbial biomass contributed to the eutrophic nature of the outer shelf. 

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Background: Hypertension is a major Health Condition that must be addressed in dialysis patients due to its Influence on Morbidity and Mortality. The study’s goal is to analyze and synthesize current research to systematically examine the impact of dialysis on patient outcomes, as well as to investigate the role of dialysis modality. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA standards and included 50 papers that looked at the connection between hypertension and dialysis outcomes, including Randomized Controlled Trials and observational studies. A Thorough search of Pub Med, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library yielded articles on Blood Pressure Management, Cardiovascular Morbidity (CVM), and all causes of Mortality in adult Dialysis patients. A random effects model was used to compute pooled effect estimates, and meta-regression analysis was carried out to assess the impact of dialysis modality, duration and comorbid conditions. Results: The Meta-Analysis proved that poorly managed Hypertension (Systolic BP>140mmHg) was linked to an elevated risk of CVM (OR =2.45, 95%Cl: 1.90-3.16, p<0.001) and all-cause Mortality ( HR=1.78, 95%Cl: 1.50-2.13, p<0.001). There were no Significant differences in hypertension-related outcomes between Haemodialysis (HD) and Peritoneal Dialysis, according to meta-regression. Longer duration of dialysis (≥5 years) was associated with an increased risk of poor adverse outcomes ( p=0.03 for cardiovascular morbidity and p=0.01 for mortality). Diabetes and obesity did not have a significant impact on the relationship between Hypertension and Patient outcome. Conclusion: In Dialysis Patients, Hypertension is a Significant modifiable risk factor with poorly managed blood pressure leading to poor cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. The Findings Emphasize the need for early and Vigorous Hypertension control, regardless of dialysis mode or co-morbidity. To Enhance the long-term Prognosis in this high-risk group, clinicians must focus on customized treatment options, with an emphasis on constant BP Management. Future research should clarify BP goals and Investigate targeted therapies for various patient populations.