This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils of Cymbopogon citratus (CCEO), Cymbopogon khasianus (CKEO), and Mentha arvensis (MAEO) against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis) microbial strains and their combination with antibiotics (chloramphenicol, ampicillin, erythromycin) to observe the synergistic behavior between them. The essential oils (EOs) were investigated by the GC-MS (gas chromatography mass spectrometry) method. The synergistic effect between EOs and antimicrobial agents was analyzed by broth dilution assay. (-)-carvone (52.48%), geraniol (57.66%), and citral (37.83%) were the major components identified in EOs of MAEO, CKEO, and CCEO, respectively. According to the antibacterial activity, EOs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.7 to 18 mg/mL. The interaction between the combination of EOs and antibiotics was determined in terms of FICI (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index). Some combinations displayed a partial synergistic effect, and some showed a synergistic and others displayed no effect against bacterial strains. The best synergistic action was shown by the combination of CCEO and Chloramphenicol against E. coli with a FICI value of 0.4. Three to four fold reductions in the MIC value of both essential oil and antibiotics were observed. Therefore, this synergistic interaction of the most active EOs with synthetic antibiotics could lead to new combination therapies for combating infections caused by multidrug-resistant microbes at sufficiently low concentrations in the pharmaceutical and food industry.

The current study was conducted to examine the in vitro anticancer potential of Cordia dichotoma (bark, leaves, pulp and seed). The plant material was collected from UT of J&K and methodical bioassays were carried out on ten human cancer cell lines (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7), M.D. Anderson-Metastatic Breast (MDA-MB-231), Neuroblastoma-2a (N2A), SH-SY5Y, U-251, HCT-116, SW-620, A-549, MIA PaCa-2, Panc-1) from five different origins (breast, CNS, colon, lung, pancreas) respectively. Methanolic extracts were produced and fractions were then obtained from the extracts and evaluated for cytotoxicity. Mechanistic assays, HPLC, and GCMS profiling were performed on the highest active fraction. The Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay determined the in vitro cytotoxicity. The findings revealed that the bark portion had in vitro cytotoxicity against the A-549 human lung cancer cell line. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that the plant’s bark has anticancer properties and induced chromatin condensation, confirmed cell death via ROS generation, and significantly decreased colony formation in A-549 cell line from lung origin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, HPLC and GCMS investigations indicated the presence of a number of bioactive molecules such as gallic acid (144,969.86) uV*sec, caffeic acid (104.26) uV*sec, ferulic acid (472.87) uV*sec, vanillic acid (13,775.39) uV*sec, palmitic acid (18.34%), cis vaccenic acid (28.81%), etc. and one of the compounds was reported for the first time from the bark. As a result of its promising efficacy, it may become an essential cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic medication for patients with lung carcinoma.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is an important temperate fruit crop worldwide. The availability of wild apricot germplasm and its characterization through genomic studies can guide us towards its conservation, increasing productivity and nutritional composition. Therefore, in this study, we carried out the genomic characterization of 50 phenotypically variable accessions by using SSR markers in the erstwhile States of Jammu and Kashmir to reveal genetic variability among accessions and their genetic associations. The genetic parameter results revealed that the number of alleles per locus (Na) ranged from 1 to 6 with a mean Na value of 3.89 and the mean effective number of alleles (Ne) per locus 1.882 with a range of 1.22 to 2. Similarly, the polymorphic information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.464 to 0.104. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) (0.547) was found to have higher than expected heterozygosity (He) (0.453) with average heterozygosity of 0.4483. The dendrogram clustered genotypes into three main clades based on their pedigree. The population structure revealed IV sub-populations with all admixtures except the III sub-population, which was mainly formed of exotic cultivars. The average expected heterozygosity (He) and population differentiation within four sub-populations was 1.78 and 0.04, respectively, and explained 95.0% of the total genetic variance in the population. The results revealed that the SSR marker studies could easily decrypt the genetic variability present within the germplasm, which may form the base for the establishment of good gene banks by reducing redundancy of germplasm, selection of parents for any breeding program.

This study systematically elucidates the biochemical composition and tissue-specific pharmacodynamic properties of Cordia dichotoma, with a particular emphasis on the distribution and functional implications of cis-vaccenic acid across distinct plant parts, including pulp, seeds, leaves and bark. Comprehensive phytochemical analyses were performed to quantify total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), alongside in vitro assessments of antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial and neuroprotective activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling identified cis-vaccenic acid as a predominant bioactive compound, especially abundant in seeds and bark. This monounsaturated fatty acid, recognized for its pivotal role in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular health, was found to significantly contribute to the bioactivity of these tissues. Notably, the ethyl acetate fraction of seeds showed the highest α-amylase (68.25%) and α-glucosidase (84.68%) inhibition. Pulp ethyl acetate and acetone fractions also demonstrated strong α-glucosidase inhibition (81.53% and 80.63%, respectively). Leaf and bark fractions showed moderate activity. Overall, ethyl acetate and acetone fractions were the most active across plant parts. The ethyl acetate fractions of C. dichotoma seed, leaf and bark showed the strongest antioxidant activity with low DPPH IC₅₀ values (21.82, 19.98, and 16.97 µg/mL, respectively) and high FRAP and metal chelation values, comparable to ascorbic acid. These results highlight their potent free radical scavenging potential. The study demonstrated significant acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, with methanolic extracts of pulp (45%) and bark (43%) showing the highest inhibition. Acetone and chloroform fractions also displayed notable activity, particularly in seed (51% and 26% respectively), while hexane fractions showed no activity. Hierarchical clustering and correlation matrix analysis indicated strong positive correlations between FRAP values and metal ion-chelation activity, suggesting potential synergistic antioxidant mechanisms. Extracts and fractions of C. dichotoma exhibited mild antibacterial activity, with the ethyl acetate and chloroform fractions showing the highest inhibition zones (up to 1.3 mm) against K. pneumoniae, S. aureus and B. subtilis, though less effective than the positive control. These findings highlight the multifaceted bioactive potential of different plant tissues and their role in mitigating oxidative stress and microbial proliferation. The study integrates these results with existing literature, positing that the cardiovascular and lipid-regulatory effects of cis-vaccenic acid may extend to tissue-specific bioactivities in C. dichotoma. This integrative functional assessment provides a robust foundation for future exploration of the plant’s therapeutic potential, emphasizing its applicability in developing antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic and neuroprotective interventions.

A two-year investigation (2023–2024) was conducted to evaluate the integrated influence of preharvest salicylic acid (SA) and maleic hydrazide (MH) treatments, alone and in combination, with a postharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application on the postharvest physiology, biochemical quality and antioxidant defense mechanisms of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruits during cold storage. Results revealed that the combined preharvest application of SA + MH (T₄), further reinforced by postharvest 1-MCP treatment (T₅), markedly enhanced firmness retention, with T₅ fruits exhibiting 64–67% higher firmness than the control. This improvement was closely associated with a pronounced suppression of cell wall-degrading enzymes—polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase, and cellulase—by 51–56% under T₅. Biochemical profiling demonstrated significant elevation in total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and ascorbic acid content, accompanied by a 34–36% reduction in respiration rate under T₅, indicating delayed senescence and sustained metabolic balance.Furthermore, the combined treatments substantially enriched the phytochemical composition, with total phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins increasing by 50–52%, 45–47%, and 42–43%, respectively, under T₅ compared with the control. These enhancements were paralleled by improved oxidative stress tolerance, reflected in a 47–48% reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and a 40–45% upregulation in key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD). Principal component analysis (PCA) distinctly separated quality-related parameters (firmness, TSS, antioxidants, and phenolics) from senescence-linked traits (PG, PME, MDA, and respiration), while the correlation matrix confirmed strong positive associations among firmness, sugars, phenolics, and antioxidant enzymes. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that the integration of preharvest SA + MH with postharvest 1-MCP constitutes an effective and reproducible strategy for mitigating oxidative damage, delaying softening, and enhancing the biochemical and phytochemical quality of strawberry fruits during storage. This integrated pre- and postharvest approach offers a sustainable means to extend shelf life, preserve nutritional integrity, and improve marketable fruit quality under commercial cold storage conditions.