Context: Cognitive disorders are responsible for memory impairments, deterioration of language, motor, sensory abnormalities, gait disturbance, and seizures. Nootropic agents are being primarily used to improve memory, mood and behavior. Aims: In the present study, it was aimed to prepare and evaluate the traditional formulation, Swarnaprashana for its nootropic efficacy on the learning and memory by employing exteroceptive and interoceptive behavioral models in young and aged mice. Settings and Design: In the present study, Swarnaprashana (30 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered to young and aged Swiss albino mice for 15 days. The elevated plus-maze and Morris water maze were used as exteroceptive behavior models. Materials and Methods: Swarnaprashana was prepared by mixing Swarnabhasma (gold) with honey and ghee was used as vehicle. Scopolamine and naturally ageing-induced amnesic models were used as interoceptive behavior models. Biochemical parameter such as whole brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity is used to quantify the nootropic activity. Piracetam (200 mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a standard nootropic agent. Statistical Analysis Used: All data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean of 6 mice/experimental group. Parametric one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's posttest. Statistical analyses were performed using Graph pad prism 5.0. The minimal level of significance was identified at P < 0.05. Results: The pretreatment of Swarnaprashana (30 mg/kg, p.o.) exhibited significant improvement in learning and memory (P < 0.01) and also showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease in whole brain AChE activity. Conclusions: The present findings suggest that formulation Swaranaprashana has nootropic and anti-AChE activity. Hence, it can be employed in enhancing the memory of the child and for the treatment and management of Alzheimer's disease. Optimized content for mobile and hand-held devicesHTML pages have been optimized for mobile and other hand-held devices (such as iPad, Kindle, iPod) for faster browsing speed. Click on [Mobile Full text] from Table of Contents page. This is simple HTML version for faster download on mobiles (if viewed on desktop, it will be automatically redirected to full HTML version)

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of flubendiamide 480 SC against okra fruit and shoot borer, Earias vitella (Fab.) during Rabi season, 2012-2013

Experiments were conducted to study the life history traits of Spodoptera litura under controlled environmental conditions on groundnut host. To construct the age-specific fecundity life tables, adults emerged on the same day were caged for oviposition and the number of eggs laid on each day was recorded. The key mortality factors involved in each life stages were also accounted. Females contributed highest number of progeny (mx = 346.12) on 39th day of pivotal age. The net reproductive potential (Ro) was 858.52 females/female/generation with the mean generation period (Tc) of 38.86 days. The life table analysis revealed that the late instar larvae were more vulnerable to natural mortality factors (64.95%) and total mortality per cent recorded was 83.02. The various key mortality factors viz., parasitoids (Cotesia sp., Chelonus sp. and Tachinids), virus (NPV), malformed pupa and adults were recorded from the field population of S. litura from groundnut ecosystem.

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With the basic principle of integrated pest management (IPM) and searching for effective and sustainable alternatives for the management of Spodoptera frugiperda, different biopesticides were evaluated at Main Agricultural Research Station (MARS), UAS Raichur, Karnataka during Kharif 2019 cropping season. The experiment was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and seven treatments. Biopesticides such as Metarhizium rileyi, SfNPV and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki were found to be the best treatments in reducing the larval population and per cent leaf damage compared to untreated control at five and seven days after two sprays. The yield and cost economics also showed that they were economically viable biopesticides.