-Natural vinegar is one of the fermented products which has some potentiality with respect to a nutraceutical standpoint. The present study is an optimization of the fermentation conditions for palm juice vinegar production from palm juice (Borassus flabellifer) wine, this biochemical process being aided by Acetobacter aceti (NCIM 2251). The physical parameters of the fermentation conditions such as temperature, pH, and time were investigated by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with 2 3 factorial central composite designs (CCD). The optimum pH, temperature and time were 5.5, 30 °C and 72 hrs for the highest yield of acetic acid (68.12 g / L). The quadratic model equation had a R 2 value of 0.992. RSM played an important role in elucidating the basic mechanisms in a complex situation, thus providing better process control by maximizing acetic acid production with the respective physical parameters. At the optimized conditions of temperature, pH and time and with the help of mathematical kinetic equations, the Monod specific growth rate ( μ max = 0.021 h -1 ), maximum Logistic specific growth rate ( μ ' max = 0.027 h -1 ) and various other kinetic parameters were calculated, which helped in validation of the experimental data. Therefore, the established kinetic models may be applied for the production of natural vinegar by fermentation of low cost palm juice.

The study was aimed to determine the effects of water quality on seed germination and seedling growth of Cicer arietinum and Brassica juncea under laboratory condition at Haldia, West Bengal. Water from four different water bodies was examined including one control. Both the plant seeds and seedlings were treated for 15 days; and this was carried for three times in a year with each type of water. The germination and growth was observed for two weeks and mean readings were taken in the result. Shoot length, root length, number of root hairs, root hair length, and some biochemical assessment were determined. Biochemical assessment includes total carbohydrate, reducing sugar, total non-reducing sugar, protein content and total DNA. It was observed through all the parameters that the seed germination and growth of seedlings were highly sensitive to the quality of water and the polluted water exerted a kind of stress level to their growth. From the result it could be concluded that different quality water had significantly affected the seed germination and seedling growth of two species of plants assessed.

Background: Worldwide tea consumption as beverage ranks next to water. The high consumption of tea is attributed to richness in flavor, aroma, antioxidant properties and health benefits. Tea has complex chemical composition having catechins, flavonoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, chlorophyll, amino acids, polysaccharides, lipids, vitamins, minerals and more than 600 different volatile compounds. Methods: The present study focuses on determining the physicochemical parameters, phyto-chemical assay and microbiological qualities of commercially packaged green and black tea samples within West Bengal following standard methods. Result: The values of proximate parameters like moisture, ash, acid insoluble ash and water extractive have complied with standard specifications. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis quantified significantly higher polyphenol content of green tea in compare to black tea samples respectively with 65.12 ppm and 18.58 ppm with gallic acid equivalence and green tea epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) content was found 449.28 ppm with respect to pure EGCG standard. In vitro antioxidant activity of green tea and black tea extracts as reported by IC50 value were found to be 192.97-301.08 μg/ ml and 342.54-481.91μg/ ml respectively.