A study on genetic diversity was conducted with 54 Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) genotypes through Mohalanobis's D 2 and principal component analysis for twelve quantitative characters viz. plant height, number of secondary branch/plant, canopy breadth , days to first flowering, days to 50% flowering, fruits/plant, 5 fruits weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, seeds/fruit, 1000 seed weight and yield/plant were taken into consideration. Cluster analysis was used for grouping of 54 chili genotypes and the genotypes were fallen into seven clusters. Cluster II had maximum (13) and cluster III had the minimum number (1) of genotypes. The highest inter-cluster distance was observed between cluster I and III and the lowest between cluster II and VII. The characters yield/plant, canopy breadth, secondary branches/plant, plant height and seeds/fruit contributed most for divergence in the studied genotypes. Considering group distance, mean performance and variability the inter genotypic crosses between cluster I and cluster III, cluster III and cluster VI, cluster II and cluster III and cluster III and cluster VII may be suggested to use for future hybridization program.

Identical anti-diabetic effect-producing herbs (Syzygium cumini and Ficus racemosa) were administered in different doses for improved hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects. Experimental rats collected from icddr’b were divided into six treatment groups (control, diabetic control, standard drug, and combined herbal extracts of low, moderate, and high dose) and arranged in a Completely Randomized Design. The doses were- low (SC @ 100 mg/kg b.wt & FR @ 100 mg/kg b.wt); moderate (SC @ 300 mg/kg b.wt & FR @ 200 mg/kg b.wt) and high (SC @ 500 mg/kg b.wt & FR @ 250 mg/kg b.wt). After 30 days of experiment, blood was collected for biochemical assay and the liver was harvested for histopathologic and histomorphometric analysis. Elevated biochemical indices were significantly improved after low and moderate dose. Like biochemical parameters, histopathological abnormalities of diabetic liver were also restored within the normal range after herbal extract administration in a dose-dependent manner. Histomorphometric findings further corroborate biochemical and histological results with an increased number of healthy hepatocytes. However, high dose herbal extract did not improve these parameters satisfactorily. Collectively, these results indicated that among the three doses, moderate dose of combined extract had the best hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect. Ann. Bangladesh Agric. (2021) 25 (2) : 27-36