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Scarcity of safe drinking water is a major problem faced by mankind in recent years. Because of increase in population and over exploitation of natural water resources, fresh water resources are declining day by day. Considering the above scenario, protection of the available limited fresh water resources from deterioration in quality deserves utmost importance. This study aims to evaluate the wastewater treatment efficiency of a constructed wetland system using a laboratory scale model of the wetland system with the common wetland plant 'Reed' which is commonly found in the wetlands of Kerala. The treatment efficiency of the model wetland system was studied with reference to the parameters pH, Conductivity, TSS, TDS, DO, BOD, COD, TKN, Nitrate, and Sulphate. The result of this study indicates that the constructed wetland system showed a removal efficiency of 87. 36, 57.93, 83.7, 86.6, 36.66, 98.28 and 61.83 % respectively for TDS, DO, BOD, COD, TKN, nitrate and sulphate. From the present study it was concluded that there is a scope for development of constructed wetland system using the wetland plant 'Reed' as a low cost system for wastewater renovation.

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Methanolic extract of Cardiospermum halicacabum was examined for its antimicrobial, anticancer and DNA fragmentation properties. The methanolic extract of C. halicacabum was evaluated for its antifungal activity against the medicinally important fungi viz., Candida albicans, Trichoderma viride, Penicillium chrysogenum, Trichophyton interdigitale and Rhizopus microspores with agar disc diffusion method. Among this, C. albicans and T. interdigitale showed higher zone of inhibition and lesser activity against the control (Amphotericin-B). The methanolic extract of C. halicacabum was also evaluated for its antibacterial activity against the medicinally important bacteria viz., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Shigella flexneri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Micrococcus luteus. Among this, V. parahaemolyticus and S. marcescens showed higher zone of inhibition and lesser activity against the control (Ampicillin). It is indicated that the plant might be a good antimicrobial source. The anti-cancer potential of leaves extract of C. halicacabum against Hep-G2 cell line was observed. The anticancer activity was evaluated by methyl thiazoal tetrazolium assay method. DNA fragmentation caused by apoptosis event was evaluated through DNA extraction. DNA was extracted from treated cells showed the formation of DNA laddering. The results suggested that C. halicacabum extracts might inhibit Hep-G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth via apoptosis and also it was found to be most efficient in inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis. From the results, the present study indicates the anti-cancer potential of C. halicacabum leaves extract.