We aimed to evaluate the significance of the RANTES‐CCR5 axis and resulting immunomodulatory status in Dengue pathogenesis involving a Guwahati, India based population where Dengue cases have increased alarmingly. An increased CC‐chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) messenger RNA expression and CCR5 positive cell count profile was observed in Dengue cases, the highest being in severe cases. CCR5 ligand RANTES expression was significantly decreased in Dengue cases and inversely correlated with Dengue viremia fold change in severe cases. Monocytes are involved in Dengue virus homing and replication. Its levels and activation profile were higher in Dengue cases. A hyper Th1‐biased immunomodulatory profile with upregulated tumor necrosis factor‐α levels, and downregulated expression of antiviral cytokine interferon‐γ and key regulatory Th2 anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 was observed in severe Dengue cases compared with mild Dengue cases and controls. The results, therefore, suggest the significance of RANTES‐CCR5 axis deregulation and resulting altered immunomodulation in Dengue pathogenesis, and holds prognostic and therapeutic significance.

Assam, including all of its districts, is one of the most diverse plant-rich areas globally, with thousands of medicinal plants. A survey of ethnomedicinal plants used in certain lower Assam districts in rural areas yielded valuable ethnomedico-botanical data on plants used to treat menstrual-related disorders. There have been 25 medicinal plant species from 23 families documented in this study through personal interaction and consultations with traditional practitioners, village heads, and village women. Among the plant parts used, leaf (8 spp.) was used highest, followed by roots (5 spp.), whole plant (4 spp.), fruit (2 spp.), flower, rhizome, and bark, seed, and stem (1 spp). Among the plants, 8 numbers of   plants  used to treat irregular bleeding, 6 numbers of plants were used to treat heavy bleeding during menstruation, 4 numbers of plants used to get rid of painful menstruation, 5 numbers of plants used to treat menstrual discomfort and 2 numbers of plants used to treat scanty menstruation. People have used ethnobiology knowledge accumulated over generations to help them protect their nutrition and health, as well as manage their environments. It helps to make the connection between traditional knowledge, conservation, and economic development.

No abstract

Naturopathy has gained popularity in recent years for the treatment of various health diseases, due to the numerous adverse side effects of synthetic medications. Assam in North-Eastern part of India is a great treasure of bio-resources, particularly for plant diversity and animal diversity, and has become a source of hundreds of medicinal herbs. Different tribal and non-tribal inhabitants of this area have knowledge about using of various plants as well as their products to heal a variety of health illnesses. Among these, Ipomoea aquatica Forssk is widely used among the Lower Assam ethnic groups. A survey study was conducted to validate the traditional therapeutic uses of Ipomoea aquatica Forssk in treating various health related disorders among the native people of Lower Assam. Further, an investigation in the laboratory was performed to examine the phytochemical components and the antioxidant activity of Ipomoea aquatica Forssk using standard methods. As the methanolic extract showed the best results, a GC-MS analysis was also performed in attempt to identify the bioactive component of the methanolic extract. This confirms their traditional use as food and medicinal.

In the recent years, Fluoride has emerged as one of the  most harmful pollutants in the world and its presence  has been shown to negatively impact the quality of  groundwater in many countries. According to World  Health Organization (WHO), when its concentration  exceeds 1.5 mg/L limit, it may cause threats to the  health. Exposure to high concentrations of fluoride has  been known to have deleterious effects on the biological  system of human as well as other animals. Based on this  background, a study has been conducted to show the  effects of sodium fluoride induced toxicity in the  freshwater fish Channa punctatus (Bloch.). The fishes  were exposed to sublethal doses of 25 ppm and 50 ppm  of sodium fluoride for a period of 3 and 7 days. The  damaging effects of sodium fluoride were manifested in  the morphological, behavioural, haematological,  biochemical and histological parameters of the fishes.  The fishes were then further exposed to 100 mg/L of  methanolic leaf extracts of tulsi, tea and a combined  formulation of the two extracts to investigate the  ameliorative properties in the revival of fluoride toxicity  in the fishes. However, the results showed that the  impact of toxicity caused by exposure to 25 ppm was  much less pronounced as compared to 50 ppm of  sodium fluoride. These effects were revealed to be  effectively reduced by the addition of the plant extracts.  Both the selected plant extracts showed positive results.  However, their combined formula revealed the highest  level of effectiveness in the remedial activity of fluoride  induced toxicity.