Browsing by Author "Kirti Raina"

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Alleviation of salt stress using PGPR
(Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 2023) Palak Thakur; Damini; Kushal Thakur; Kirti Raina; Ruchika Kumari; Rohit Sharma; Randeep Singh; Amandeep Singh; Ashun Chaudhary
Nowadays, increased salt content in agricultural fields has become an acritical environmental concern, posing a threat to the human population worldwide regarding food security. Salinity can occur for several reasons, both natural and man-made. Natural soil salinization is caused by the weathering of high-salt-content rock minerals and sediments, fossil salt deposits, coastal land salinization, and salt transport in rivers. Anthropogenic activities result in salinization via improper irrigation, excessive groundwater extraction, land clearing for agriculture, the utilization of waste effluents, and excessive usage of chemical fertilizers. The freshwater supply is gradually dwindling and there is an urgent need for elucidation of the threat caused by salinity. Cultivating salt tolerance through classical breeding programmes is a much-preferred scientific purpose, but with modest success. Starting to introduce salt-tolerant microorganisms that increase crop development is another method for boosting crop salt tolerance. The salt-impacted region around the vicinity of plant roots provides a source of PGPR that can aid plants in adjusting to and growing in high-salinity conditions. Eco-friendly and plant growth is influenced by PGPR in direct and indirect ways with no detrimental effects on the environment. Direct mechanisms include phytohormone biosynthesis, siderophore, increased nitrogen fixation, and increased phosphate solubilization. Indirect mechanisms include phytopathogen inhibition, synthesis of antibiotics, siderophores, and ACC deaminase. By influencing elemental cycling as well as nutrient management, effective PGPR can help to manage salt stress, accelerate the production of crops, and diminish the use of fertilizers. © 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Ayush Kwath: A Major Contribution of Ayurveda in Preventing COVID-19 Infection
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2024) Priya Katoch; Kirti Raina; Rohit Sharma; Ashun Chaudhary
Background: Ayush Kwath is an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation (PHF) of dry Tulsi leaves, Cinnamon bark, Sunthi rhizome, and black pepper fruit. Methods: This PHF contain phytochemicals that help in boosting immunity; hence, it is suggested as a preventive measure against the coronavirus. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medicine system that offers treatment for various diseases with the help of herbal, animal, or mineral-based formulations. Currently, the entire globe is facing the challenge of combating the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 19) is a highly infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) that belongs to a large family of coronaviruses. Results: Most people who are affected by this virus experience mild to moderate symptoms of pneumonia, but older people or those with weakened immune systems, for example, those suffering from cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or chronic respiratory diseases, are more likely to develop serious respiratory illnesses. As there is no registered medicine against COVID-19, strengthening the immune system is an effective way to tackle this disease. Conclusion: Ayush Kwath, a natural immunity booster, has been approved by the Ministry of AYUSH as a prophylactic measure to fight against novel coronavirus infection. © 2024 Bentham Science Publishers.
Biological Control in Organic Agriculture
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2025) Ruchika Kumari; Kushal Thakur; Damini Palak Thakur; Kirti Raina; Rohit Sharma; Rohit Sharma; Amandeep K. Singh; Randeep P. Singh; Ashun Chaudhary
Eco-friendly management of insect pests using sustainable measures is the need of the hour to prevent crop yield losses caused by pests. For sustainable agriculture, the use of biological methods, viz., botanicals, biological control, biopesticides, and pheromones for pest management, should be adopted and popularized on high priority. Chemical pesticides accumulate in the soil, disrupting its structure and fertility over time, causing long-term contamination and ecological imbalance. Biological control is a central component of integrated pest management (IPM), which constitutes an array of scientific methods adopted in both conventional and organic farming systems. The main objective of the study is to better understand the potential of botanicals in sustainable pest and disease management while maintaining ecological balance to assess the effectiveness of various botanical extracts or chemicals in eradicating specific pests, diseases, or weeds and to identify natural alternatives to synthetic pesticides and herbicides, thereby lowering the environmental and health dangers connected with chemical use. The study utilized search engines, research papers, online databases, and books, with data from various platforms contributing to this study. Unlike chemical pesticides, botanicals degrade quickly, hence enhancing soil health and maintaining rhizosphere microorganisms. They are cost-effective, non-toxic, and accessible for pest management. Botanicals are a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals that benefit soil health, protect microflora, and support organic farming. Plants, such as Azadirachta indica, Chrysanthemum, Pongamia, Lantana, Calotropis, Shorea robusta, etc., are used as botanicals. The development and utilization of botanicals in pest management offer an environmentfriendly and cost-effective approach. The focus should be on advancing wellresearched botanical solutions to promote sustainable agriculture. These botanicals can play a crucial role in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. By integrating these natural solutions into sustainable agricultural practices, we can reduce reliance on synthetic pesticides, minimize ecological harm, and promote long-term agricultural productivity and soil health. © 2025, Bentham Books imprint..
Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Palash (Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub.): a Systematic Review
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2022) Poonam Kumari; Kirti Raina; Sunil Thakur; Rohit Sharma; Natália Cruz-Martins; Pardeep Kumar; Kalyan Barman; Swati Sharma; Dileep Kumar; Pradeep Kumar Prajapati; Rohit Sharma; Ashun Chaudhary
Purpose of Review: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. is an Indian traditional medicinal tree, aka “flame of forest,” “palash,” “bastard teak,” and “dhak.” The family comprises 630 genera and 18,000 species distributed throughout Asian countries. It is traditionally used since the Vedic era for different therapeutic purposes in various parts of India. This review is aimed to provide updated report on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of B. monosperma that have been revealed till now. Recent Findings: This plant exhibits various pharmacological properties such as anti-helminthic, anti-conceptive, anti-stress, anti-estrogenic, antifertility, antimicrobial, chemopreventive, hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects because of specific metabolites present in its parts. Some of the most renowned phytochemicals present in it include flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, proteins, lipids, and sterols. Earlier phytochemical studies have underlined several metabolites, including 3,4,2’,4’-tetrahydrochalcone-3,4-diglucoside (isobutrin), 7,3’,4’-trihydroxyflavanone-7,3’-diglucoside (butrin), cajanin, isoformononetin, stigmasterol, butein, medicarpin, and butinas responsible for their excellent pharmacological activities. Summary: Compelling evidence support the traditional ethnomedicinal claims of B. monosperma and its wide range of bioactivities are attributed to the rich phytocompounds present in this botanical. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the mechanistic role of its bioactive compounds coupled with drug development processes and to explore the potential at clinical levels. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Mechanistic role and potential of Ayurvedic herbs as anti-aging therapies
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2023) Kirti Raina; Ruchika Kumari; Palak Thakur; Rohit Sharma; Randeep Singh; Abhinay Thakur; Vikas Anand; Ashun Chaudhary
Introduction: Medicinal plants and herbs are the most important part of the Ayurveda. The term Rasayana in Charaka Samhita confers long life, youthfulness, strong body, freedom from diseases and the plants mentioned in Rsayana possess antiaging property. Aging is the collective term used for the complex detrimental physiological changes that reduce the functional ability of the cell. Oxidative stress, telomeres shortening, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are the main factors that regulate the aging process. Chronological aging is an irreversible process but the factors causing biological aging can be controlled. Ayurvedic herbs are better for the management of age-related problems. There are several natural bioactive agents present in plants that can delay the aging process in humans. They trigger actions like enhancing gene longevity and telomerase activity, ROS scavenging furthermore regeneration of tissues. Content: The plants mentioned in the Rasayana of Ayurveda have antiaging potential and can be used to solve modern problems related to aging. Some Ayurvedic plants and their antiaging potential has explained in this review. The main causes of aging, medicinal plants and their use as potential antiaging mediator are covered in this study. Summary: The process of aging is still an enigma. It is a complex, irretrievable, dynamic process that involves a number of factors and is subject to a number of environmental and genetic influences. Rasayana aspect has not been much investigated in clinical trials. Aging is considered to result from free radical damage. According to Charaka, Rasayana drugs open the partially or fully blocked channels. Many Rasayanas show free radical scavenging activity and has the potential to mitigate the effects of aging. It gives an overview of the significance of Ayurvedic medicinal plants as a source of inspiration and the use of these plants as remedies for antiaging. Outlook: This study briefly outlooks the causes of aging and how medicinal plants can be used to reverse the aging process. In this study, we discussed the antiaging potential and mechanistic roles of Ayurvedic herbs. These herbs have the properties to slow down the natural process of aging and can successfully manage common age-related problems. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
Mechanistic role and potential of Ayurvedic herbs as anti-aging therapies
(De Gruyter Open Ltd, 2023) Kirti Raina; Ruchika Kumari; Palak Thakur; Rohit Sharma; Randeep Singh; Abhinay Thakur; Vikas Anand; Ashun Chaudhary
Medicinal plants and herbs are the most important part of the Ayurveda. The term Rasayana in Charaka Samhita confers long life, youthfulness, strong body, freedom from diseases and the plants mentioned in Rsayana possess antiaging property. Aging is the collective term used for the complex detrimental physiological changes that reduce the functional ability of the cell. Oxidative stress, telomeres shortening, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are the main factors that regulate the aging process. Chronological aging is an irreversible process but the factors causing biological aging can be controlled. Ayurvedic herbs are better for the management of age-related problems. There are several natural bioactive agents present in plants that can delay the aging process in humans. They trigger actions like enhancing gene longevity and telomerase activity, ROS scavenging furthermore regeneration of tissues. The plants mentioned in the Rasayana of Ayurveda have antiaging potential and can be used to solve modern problems related to aging. Some Ayurvedic plants and their antiaging potential has explained in this review. The main causes of aging, medicinal plants and their use as potential antiaging mediator are covered in this study. The process of aging is still an enigma. It is a complex, irretrievable, dynamic process that involves a number of factors and is subject to a number of environmental and genetic influences. Rasayana aspect has not been much investigated in clinical trials. Aging is considered to result from free radical damage. According to Charaka, Rasayana drugs open the partially or fully blocked channels. Many Rasayanas show free radical scavenging activity and has the potential to mitigate the effects of aging. It gives an overview of the significance of Ayurvedic medicinal plants as a source of inspiration and the use of these plants as remedies for antiaging. This study briefly outlooks the causes of aging and how medicinal plants can be used to reverse the aging process. In this study, we discussed the antiaging potential and mechanistic roles of Ayurvedic herbs. These herbs have the properties to slow down the natural process of aging and can successfully manage common age-related problems. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
Phytochemical profiling and biological activities of Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.: An edible vegetable fern
(Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2023) Kirti Raina; Alisha Chaudhary; Purnima Sharma; Rohit Sharma; Kanchan Bhardwaj; Pardeep Kumar; Atul Kabra; Sunil Thakur; Ashun Chaudhary; Mamta Prajapati; Pradeep Kumar Prajapati; Rajeev K. Singla
Objectives: Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw. is an edible vegetable fern of the Himalayan region with high nutritional and therapeutic value owing to its richness in various secondary metabolites and both macro and micronutrients. Content: This updated review discusses the general traditional use, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, nutritional value, pharmacology, and toxicity concerns of D. esculentum. Summary: The plant parts, viz. rhizomes, shoots, fronds and leaves, have immense ethnomedicinal importance, being traditionally used to cure several health disorders. Among other pharmacological effects, this botanical reveals excellent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-leishmanial, antioxidant, anaphylactic, antipyretic, anthelmintic and hepatoprotective activities, directly attributed to the presence of many secondary metabolites. From a pharmacological point of view, the excellent antioxidant potential of D. esculentum suggests its promising use for nutraceutical or functional food formulation purposes. Outlook: Considering the evidences on popular ethnomedicinal uses of D. esculentum as an edible vegetable, its immense bio-potential, and multiple pharmacological roles, there is a huge need to evaluate its therapeutic applications in light of standard clinical trials. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
Role of antidepressant agents derived from selected flowering plants
(Apple Academic Press, 2024) Kirti Raina; Arti Chauhan; Rohit Sharma; Sunil Thakur; Ashun Chaudhary
Depression is a prevalent healthcare disorder worldwide. It not only affects a person's mood but can also disrupt sleep and eating patterns. It is more common in women, with twice the prevalence compared to men. In addition to impacting social behavior, depression can have detrimental effects on vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. Early signs of depression can vary among individuals and may include anxiety, memory loss, feelings of sadness, weakened immune system, sudden changes in behavior, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts may arise. The use of antidepressants has proven to be beneficial in treating anxiety and depression-related disorders. These drugs act on different neurotransmitter receptors and work by inhibiting the reuptake of neurotransmitters, thereby reducing the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (NE). While there are various antidepressant drugs available in the market, they can have adverse side effects on the human body. Therefore, the use of plant-based antidepressant agents can be a promising alternative. Researchers have demonstrated the effective use of antidepressant agents derived from different parts of Himalayan plants in the treatment of depressive ailments. The main objective of this review is to compile descriptive information about the antidepressant agents found in flowering plants of the Himalayan region. © 2025 Apple Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
Role of Plant-Based Anticancer Compounds in Treatment of Breast Cancer
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023) Ankita Thakur; Neha Prasad; Kirti Raina; Rohit Sharma; Ashun Chaudhary
Purpose of Review: Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant disease occurring in women globally. The most common treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy. The main problem with chemotherapy and radiotherapy is that they have side effects and are quite costly for patients in developing nations. This raises the need to discover and develop better therapeutic alternatives that are less harmful and more cost-effective. Identification of phytochemicals with potent anticancer activity and formulation of plant-based anticancer drugs could be an important step in this direction. This review is intended to provide detailed information about potent anticancer phytochemicals, their sources, and molecular mechanism of their action that have been identified till now. Recent Findings: Phytochemicals play an important role for treatment and prevention of various types of diseases. Examples of the phytochemicals that possess anti-tumor activities are flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, carotenoids, etc. Every medicinal plant has a different level of anti-cancerous potential, and not all of them cure the disease completely. These natural compounds can be used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to enhance their effectiveness and minimize their side effects as well as toxicity. Several recent findings have identified molecules involved in various signaling pathways as specific targets of these active phytochemicals exhibiting anticancer activity. Summary: There are ample studies available claiming the phytochemicals as potential candidates for the development of anticancer drugs. But the clinical studies involving phytochemicals are still very limited. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanistic role of these bioactive compounds coupled with drug development processes and to test their potential at clinical levels. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.