Updated review on venomous snakebites, therapeutic uses and future prospects of Indian traditional medicine

Herbal medicines can make therapeutic drugs and are an essential part of the worldwide healthcare system. Plants have always been an essential part of many indigenous peoples' life. Snakebite is a typical tropical condition that goes unnoticed. Snakebite is still a significant public health issue in many parts of the world, particularly in India, where the disease is particularly prevalent. Morbidity and mortality rates among rural and indigenous populations in the country are among the highest in the world. The problem is made worse by people delaying or refusing to seek medical care because they believe in traditional healers. People worldwide use plants to treat poisonous snakebites as folk medicine. Five hundred twenty-three plant species belonging to the 122 families are recognized as a source of drugs/compounds recognized as a possible cure for snakebite. However, this assessment is limited to a small number of essential plants used in snakebite poisoning in India. The most important groups from which various plants are employed include Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fab Lamiaceae and Moraceae. In this investigation, phytocompounds with anti-venom action were discovered in 29 plants belonging to 22 families used as a traditional medicine to treat poisonous snakebites.

A study on physical characteristics of dried bio-slurry produced in tropical condition through treatment combination of drying and turning period

The research aims to evaluate the physical characteristics of dried bio-slurry produced by treatment combination of drying and turning period in tropical conditions. Research material used fixed-dome digester model with a capacity of 12 m3 and cattle dung from Simmental crossbreed. Physical characteristics of bio-slurry were obtained by combining treatments between drying period (15 and 30 days) and turning period (each turning process in 7 and 10th day) as follows: T1 (15 days and 7th day), T2 (15 days and 10th day), T3 (30 days and 7th day), T4 (30 days and 10th day). The chemical compound of fresh bio-slurry was analyzed as initial information. The humidity, temperature, and color data were analyzed using analysis of variance and further analyzed using Tukey’s test. Also, the chemical compound and pH used descriptive analysis. The study obtained that the chemical composition of fresh bio-slurry was moisture content (89.53%), C-organic (37.27%), nitrogen (48.92ppm), phosphor (1.71%), potassium (3.89%), and C/N ratio (7.454). Besides, the treatment showed a significant difference (P<0.01) in humidity and color. Temperature dan pH of dried bio-slurry remained constant at 29.10-29.270C and 7 respectively. Therefore, treatment combinations can be applied to make dried bio-slurry as fertilizer in tropical conditions.

Daily vaginal temperature in Girolando cows from three different genetic composition under natural heat stress

The present trial evaluated the effect of crossbred composition and Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) on vaginal temperature (VT) of Girolando dairy cows maintained under tropical pasture during warm seasons. The VT was monitored along 41 to 96 h in 615 Girolando cows with different Holstein (H) × Gir genetic composition (1/2 H = 284, 3/4 H = 248, and 7/8 H = 83) from six Brazilian farms in the summer of 2016 and 2017. VT of each cow at each hour of the day and the respective THI were averaged per hour across all monitoring days to generate an averaged value for VT and THI during 24 h. A linear mixed model with repeated measures using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method for (co)variance components estimation procedure was employed. The final model adjusted the VT for the effects of cow, time, THI, farm, year, pregnancy status, body condition score (BCS), milk yield, genetic composition, and genetic composition*time interaction. Fixed effects were evaluated by ANOVA and tested with Tukey test in R software version 3.6.1 (R Core Team, 2019). Overall mean of VT, air temperature (AT), and THI were 39.06 ± 0.52 °C, 25.63 ± 0.40 °C, and 75.06 ± 3.96, respectively. VT had moderate positive correlation with THI (r² = 0.45, P &lt; 0.001) and AT (r² = 0.46, P &lt; 0.001). The VT had estimated linear increase of 0.05 °C for each THI unit increase (P &lt; 0.001). Least square mean of VT varied among the farms (P &lt; 0.001), pregnancy status (P &lt; 0.001), and BCS (P &lt; 0.05) but not for Milk yield (P &gt; 0.05). The daily average VT was affected by genetic composition (P &lt; 0.001) with highest temperature for 3/4 H (39.08 ± 0.06 °C a) and 7/8 H (39.09 ± 0.06 °C a) and lowest temperature for 1/2 H (38.95 ± 0.06 °C b). The difference of VT among the three crossbred groups varied in function of the time of the day, from 12:00 to 20:00 h (P &lt; 0.001), with 3/4 Holstein and 7/8 Holstein cows reaching similar VT, above to the upper limit 39.1 °C and higher than 1/2 Holstein cows during all this period. In conclusion, Girolando cows are sensitive to heat stress in tropical condition during warm seasons. Moreover, Girolando cows with genetic composition higher than 3/4 Holstein display reduced thermoregulatory efficiency. Therefore, Girolando cows in tropical dairy farms require strategies to mitigate heat stress according to their genetic composition.

Face Cooling During Swimming Training in Tropical Condition

The aim of this study was to test the effect of face cooling with cold water (1.2 ± 0.7°C) vs. face cooling with neutral water (28.0 ± 3.0°C) during high-intensity swimming training on both the core temperature (Tco) and thermal perceptions in internationally ranked long-distance swimmers (5 men’s and 3 women’s) during 2 randomized swimming sessions. After a standardized warm-up of 1,200 m, the athletes performed a standardized training session that consisted of 2,000 m (5 × 400 m; start every 5’15”) at a best velocity then 600 m of aerobic work. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored during 5 × 400 m, whereas Tco, thermal comfort (TC), and thermal sensation (TS) were measured before and after each 400 m. Before and after each 400 m, the swimmers were asked to flow 200 mL of cold water (1.2°C) or neutral (22°C) water packaged in standardized bottles on their face. The swimmers were asked don’t drink during exercise. The velocity was significantly different between cold water and neutral water (p &lt; 0.004 – 71.58 m.min–1 ± 2.32 and 70.52 m.min–1 ± 1.73, respectively). The Tco was increased by ±0.5°C at race pace, under both face cooling conditions with no significant difference. No significant changes were noted in mean HR (i.e., 115 ± 9 and 114 ± 15 bpm for NW and CW, respectively). TC was higher with Cold Cooling than Neutral Cooling and TS was lower with Cold cooling compared with Neutral cooling. The changes in perceptual parameters caused by face cooling with cold water reflect the psychological impact on the physical parameters. The mean velocity was less important with face cooling whereas the heat rate and Tco were the same in the both conditions. The mechanism leading to these results seems to involve brain integration of signals from physiological and psychological sources.

Changes of Body Condition Scores, Serum Biochemistry and Liver Triacylglycerol in Periparturient Holstein Friesian Dairy Cows Raised in a Small-Holder Farm

This Negative energy balance (NEB) inevitably occurs in periparturient dairy cows. Its consequences are related to reduced cows’ performances. Most studies concerning the NEB are performed in dairy cows of large-scale farms, particularly raised under non-tropical climate. The current study aimed to investigate the changes in body condition score, serum biochemical parameters, and liver triacylglycerol (TAG) accumulation in periparturient Holstein Friesian dairy cows raised by a small-holder farm. In this regard, 10 healthy pregnant dairy cows in a small-holder farm were recruited for the study. At 4 weeks before and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after calving, blood samples were collected for determination of glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations. BCS was evaluated at 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after calving. Liver samples were collected 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after calving to determine TAG concentration. Results revealed that serum NEFA and liver TAG concentration were elevated postpartum. Serum BHBA concentrations increased postpartum and the concentration indicated that dairy cows entered NEB condition as type I ketosis with a longer period. Serum IGF-I concentrations and BCS did not differ between before and after calving. In conclusion, dairy cows raised under small-holder tropical conditions suffered from serious NEB, though the cows had low milk production, as compared with the commercial non-tropical condition.

Controlling Fusarium oxysporum Tomato Fruit Rot under Tropical Condition Using Both Chitosan and Vanillin

Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. is one of the most cultivated and widely consumed vegetables in the world. However, it is very susceptible to the infection initiated by Fusariumoxysporum fruit rot, which shortens post-harvest life and thus reduces market value. This disease can be regulated appropriately by the application of synthetic fungicides. However, chemical fungicides constitute a serious health risk, and have harmful environment effects and increase disease resistance, even when microbes are dead. Hence, to overcome this problem, chitosan and vanillin, which have antimicrobial bioactive properties against the growth of microorganisms, could be an alternative to disease control, while maintaining fruit quality and prolonging shelf life. The aim of this research was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of chitosan and vanillin towards the inoculate pathogen and to investigate the effect of chitosan and vanillin coating in vivo on Fusarium oxysporum fruit rot and defense-related enzymes (PAL, PPO and POD). Chitosan and vanillin in aqueous solutions, i.e., 0.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 1.5% chitosan + 10 mM vanillin, 0.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, 1% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin and 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin, were used as edible coatings on tomatoes stored at 26 ± 2 °C and 60 ± 5 relative humidity. The result revealed 1.5% chitosan + 15 mM vanillin was able to control disease incidence by 70.84% and severity by 70%. These combinations of coatings were also able to retain phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peroxidase activity (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme activities as well as prolong shelf life of tomatoes up to 15 days.

Alginate-Based Edible Coatings Enriched with Cinnamon Essential Oil Extend Storability and Maintain the Quality of Strawberries under Tropical Condition

Strawberries are often transported and sold without temperature control, which causes huge losses due to rapid decay and quality deterioration. In this study, the effectiveness of edible coatings using alginate and enriched with an antibacterial agent (cinnamaldehyde from Cinnamomum burmannii essential oil), to maintain the quality and shelf life of strawberry was examined. Alginate coatings were prepared by dissolving 2%(w/v) sodium alginate, 0.5%(v/v) glycerol, 0.1%(w/v) CMC, and 0.5% (w/v) stearic acid, while antimicrobial agent was prepared by homogenizing 0.5%(v/v) cinnamon essential oil and 0.2%(v/v) Tween 20. Physicochemical and biochemical attributes [weight loss, firmness, color (L*, a*, b*), soluble solids content, vitamin C loss, acidity level, odor, total yeast and molds, and total mesophilic microorganisms were analyzed during storage under tropical conditions at 27±2°C. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. The inhibitory activity of antimicrobial agent was evaluated using the disc diffusion method. An alginate-based coatings enriched with Cinnamomum burmannii essential oil (AL+CBEO) was effective in maintaining physicochemical quality attributes and reducing the number of spoilage microorganisms, while alginate coatings alone (AL) found to be optimal for vitamin C loss prevention and additionally exhibited a more desirable odor. Overall, strawberry stored under tropical conditions appeared to be better preserved by alginate-based coatings enriched with cinnamon essential oil.