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Background: The present study reports myeloablative total body irradiation (TBI) on an isocentrically mounted linac by laying the patient on the floor and management of abutting radiation fields and partial shielding of lungs. Dosimetrical efficacy of this novel technique was evaluated. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, dosimetrical parameters from TBI plans on whole-body CT scans of 46 patients were analysed. The prescribed dose to TBI was 12 Gy in six fractions delivered over a period of 3 days for myeloablative conditioning. TrueBeam STx platform Linac (Varian Medical Systems Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) was used to deliver opposing fields. Radiation fields were abutted to form a single large field using an arithmetic formula at source-to-skin-distance of 210 cm. Results: Discrepancies in dose calculated by treatment planning system were within 1·6% accuracy, and dose profile at the junction of abutting radiation fields was reproduced within 3·0% accuracy. The real treatment time for each patient was ~30 minutes/fraction. Monitor unit was weighted for multiple sub-fields to achieve dose homogeneity within 5·0% throughout the whole body, and the mean dose to lung was ≤10 Gy. Conclusion: Our abutting radiation field technique for myeloablative TBI is feasible in any existing linac bunker. ‘Island-blocking’ is feasible in this technique using multi-leaf collimator. This technique is cost-effective as it does not require any costly equipment than the readily available equipment in any radiotherapy facility. In general, TBI requires laborious planning procedures and spacious linac bunkers; this novel technique has the potential to change previously held notions.

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Climbing plants typically contribute 2-15 % of the leaf biomass and about 5 % of the wood biomass to forests. In India, they are widely distributed from Nilgiris to Himalayas to Andaman Nicobar Islands. Phylogenetically, climbers are found in over 125 families of fl owering plants as well as among several fern groups and even in one signifi cant gymnosperm genus, Gnetum . They are largely used by all divisions of the population either directly as folk medications or indirectly in the preparation of recent pharmaceuticals. Climbers also play a vital role in horticulture and agriculture. Thus, people depend on climbers for several purposes like for medications, non-timber forest products, food, etc. Nowadays, plant-based pharmaceutical industries have been increased due to various advantages of plant-based medicine over the synthetic ones. Wild plants are the good source to provide the raw materials for such industries. Unfortunately, a huge number of medicinal climbers have been listed in Red Data Book and are on the verge of extinction due to unsustainable collection of plants, habitat loss, climate change, and industrialization coupled with urbanization. Thus, biodiversity conservation is an utmost concern globally. Various strategies are in use for biodiversity conservation such as in situ strategy, ex situ strategy, reduction of anthropogenic pressures, and rehabilitation of threatened species. Protection and preservation of germplasm within national parks, biosphere reserves, and sanctuaries are the examples of in situ conservation. However, it is not an effective means of conservation. In this regard, biotechnological approach like plant tissue culture technique proved to be fruitful. Plant tissue culture can be applied to the rapid propagation and ex situ conservation of rare, endemic, and endangered medicinal plants as explained by several authorities.