http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/153 Assistant Professor, Bethlehem Vengthlang Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:27:58 GMT 2026-04-29T09:27:58Z http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/923 Title: Wild edible vegetables of ethnic communities of Mizoram (Northeast India): an ethnobotanical study in thrust of marketing potential Authors: Zothanpuia, Dr. Abstract: Background Assessment of wild edible vegetables (WEVs) from the ethnobotanical approach is a significant key to understanding indigenous knowledge systems. The available literature has revealed a tremendous decline in knowledge of WEVs over the last few decades. The main purpose of this study was to document and analyse the traditional knowledge of WEVs among the two major ethnic groups of Mizoram regarding their use and the diversity associated with the importance of traditional medicines. Secondly, a market survey will be conducted to determine the status of available WEVs. Methods This study conducted an ethnobotanical survey among 72 informants through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires besides direct field observations. The documented data were quantitatively analysed using various ethnobotanical indices, including Informant’s consensus factor (ICF), Fidelity level value (Fl), and Direct matrix ranking (DMR). A marketing survey was conducted in the Bara Bazar, Mizoram’s most prominent local market. A total of 38 vendor informants were interviewed to observe and collect the price of commonly sold WEVs. Results A total of 70 WEVs, distributed in 58 genera under 36 families, were documented and identified. Of these, 33 WEVs were of medicinal importance. Leafy vegetables were documented as the most frequently consumed parts (55.71%). The majority (44.29%) of the plants documented were consumed in fried form. The highest level of agreement among informants for food used categories was observed for plants combined with dry fish (ICF = 1). The Informant’s consensus factor (ICF) of disease categories ranges from 0.75 to 1, with the highest being reported for convulsion (ICF = 1), sleep inducer (ICF = 1), and antiseptic (ICF = 1). Picria fel-terrae was the most preferred plant for hypertension treatment (100% FL). Direct matrix ranking (DMR) indicated that Dysoxylum excelsum was highly utilized by the inhabitant for multipurpose species (DMR = 64). Jaccard similarity index (JI) between the two ethnic groups was revealed at 1.26. Forty-seven WEVs were found to be commercialized in the Bara Bazar market, Aizawl, with a price range from 0.1 to 2.4 USD. Ensete superbum was reported as near threatened per the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Conclusion This work highlighted the importance and rich diversity of WEVs in Mizoram, which are presently used among different age groups for food and medicine. Informants have good knowledge of WEVs, which was shared Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/923 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/480 Title: Bioprospection of actinobacteria derived from freshwater sediments for their potential to produce antimicrobial compounds Authors: Zothanpuia Abstract: Actinobacteria from freshwater habitats have been explored less than from other habitats in the search for compounds of pharmaceutical value. This study highlighted the abundance of actinobacteria from freshwater sediments of two rivers and one lake, and the isolates were studied for their ability to produce antimicrobial bioactive compounds. Results: 16S rRNA gene sequencing led to the identification of 84 actinobacterial isolates separated into a common genus (Streptomyces) and eight rare genera (Nocardiopsis, Saccharopolyspora, Rhodococcus, Prauserella, Amycolatopsis, Promicromonospora, Kocuria and Micrococcus). All strains that showed significant inhibition potentials were found against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and yeast pathogens. Further, three biosynthetic genes, polyketide synthases type II (PKS II), nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and aminodeoxyisochorismate synthase (phzE), were detected in 38, 71 and 29% of the strains, respectively. Six isolates based on their antimicrobial potentials were selected for the detection and quantification of standard antibiotics using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC–ESI–MS/MS) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Four antibiotics (fluconazole, trimethoprim, ketoconazole and rifampicin) and 35 VOCs were quantified and determined from the methanolic crude extract of six selected Streptomyces strains. Conclusion: Infectious diseases still remain one of the leading causes of death globally and bacterial infections caused millions of deaths annually. Culturable actinobacteria associated with freshwater lake and river sediments has the prospects for the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/480 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/479 Title: In-vitro Evaluation of Actinobacteria for its Potential in Bio-control of Fungal Plant Pathogens Authors: Zothanpuia Abstract: Infections caused by fungal plant pathogens are recently recognized as a threat to food security worldwide and its control strategies need to be taken care where naturally synthesized fungicides such as those obtained from actinobacteria are becoming an area of great interest. A total of 68 isolates of actinobacteria were evaluated for their antagonistic potential against four fungal plant pathogens viz., Fusarium oxysporum CABI-293942, Fusarium udum MTCC-2755, Fusarium proliferatum MTCC-286 and Fusarium graminearum MTCC-1893 by dual culture assay. It was found that 83.8% of the isolates showed inhibitory activity against at least one of the tested plant pathogens with the percentage of inhibition ranging from 20–87.2. Thirteen Streptomyces isolates and one Nocardiposis isolate exhibited inhibition activity against all the tested pathogens. Overall, this study gives a basic understanding of the potential aspect of freshwater sediments derived actinobacteria against fungal phytopathogens. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/479 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/477 Title: A Cooperativity between virus and bacteria during respirstory infections Authors: Zothanpuia Abstract: Respiratory tract infections remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The burden is further increased by polymicrobial infection or viral and bacterial co-infection, often exacerbating the existing condition. Way back in 1918, high morbidity due to secondary pneumonia caused by bacterial infection was known, and a similar phenomenon was observed during the recent COVID-19 pandemic in which secondary bacterial infection worsens the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) condition. It has been observed that viruses paved the way for subsequent bacterial infection; similarly, bacteria have also been found to aid in viral infection. Viruses elevate bacterial infection by impairing the host’s immune response, disrupting epithelial barrier integrity, expression of surface receptors and adhesion proteins, direct binding of virus to bacteria, altering nutritional immunity, and effecting the bacterial biofilm. Similarly, the bacteria enhance viral infection by altering the host’s immune response, up-regulation of adhesion proteins, and activation of viral proteins. During co-infection, respiratory bacterial and viral pathogens were found to adapt and co-exist in the airways of their survival and to benefit from each other, i.e., there is a cooperative existence between the two. This review comprehensively reviews the mechanisms involved in the synergistic/cooperativity relationship between viruses and bacteria and their interaction in clinically relevant respiratory infections. Thu, 30 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT http://pucir.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/handle/123456789/477 2023-11-30T00:00:00Z