Antibiotics, nowadays, are not only used for the treatment of human diseases but also used in animal and poultry farming to increase production. Overuse of antibiotics leads to their circulation in the food chain due to unmanaged discharge. These circulating antibiotics and their residues are a major cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), so comprehensive and multifaceted measures aligning with the One Health approach are crucial to curb the emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance through the food chain. Different chromatographic techniques and capillary electrophoresis (CE) are being widely used for the separation and detection of antibiotics and their residues from food samples. However, the matrix present in food samples interferes with the proper detection of the antibiotics, which are present in trace concentrations. This review is focused on the scientific literature published in the last decade devoted to the detection of antibiotics in food products. Various extraction methods are employed for the enrichment of antibiotics from a wide variety of food samples; however, solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques are often used for the extraction of antibiotics from food products and biological samples. In addition, this review has scrutinized how changing instrumental composition, organization, and working parameters in the chromatography and CE can greatly impact the identification and quantification of antibiotic residues. This review also summarized recent advancements in other detection methods such as immunological assays, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based assays, and biosensors which have emerged as rapid, sensitive, and selective tools for accurate detection and quantification of traces of antibiotics.

Food is a basic necessity for life, growth, survival, and maintaining a proper body function. Rising food demand leads both producers and consumers to search for alternative food sources with high nutritional value. However, food products may never be completely safe. The oxidation reaction may alter both the physicochemical and immunological properties of food products. Maillard and caramelization nonenzymatic browning reactions can play a pivotal role in food acceptance through the ways they influence quality factors such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, protein functionality, and digestibility. There is a multitude of adulterated foods that portray adverse risks to the human condition. To maintain food safety, the packaging material is used to preserve the quality and freshness of food products. Food safety is jeopardized by plenty of pathogens by the consumption of adulterated food resulting in multiple foodborne illnesses. Though different analytical tools are used in the analysis of food products, yet, adulterated food has repercussions for the community and is a growing issue that adversely impairs human health and well-being. Thus, pathogenic agents’ rapid and effective identification is vital for food safety and security to avoid foodborne illness. This review highlights the various analytical techniques used in the analysis of food products, food structure, and quality of food along with chemical reactions in food processing. Moreover, we have also discussed the effect on health due to the consumption of adulterated food and focused on the importance of food safety, including the biodegradable packaging material.

The spread of COVID-19 is posing significant challenges to the household (HH) waste management sectors putting waste personnel and concerned bodies under massive pressure. The chain of collection, segregation, recycling, and disposal of household generated wastes is interrupted. This study aimed to assess how the household waste management chain was disrupted by novel coronavirus in Nepal and find the perception of the people towards the existing household waste management system (HHWMS). A descriptive online survey was carried out among 512 people using a cross-sectional research design and data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire method. Both descriptive, as well as inferential tests, were conducted using SPSS software. The finding of this study showed that 62.3% of respondents were not satisfied with the present HHWMS. Furthermore, there was a significant association of the satisfaction level of household waste management during coronavirus outbreak with gender, waste volume change in lockdown, PPE for waste collectors, and education on waste handling techniques provided by the government sector at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05). Proper HH waste management has become a challenge, and to address this some innovative works such as awareness programs for people, health and hygiene related support to waste workers, and effective policy formulation and implementation should be done by the Government of Nepal.

Introduction: According to the WHO, more than 80% of world’s population depends upon the traditional medicine for primary care of health. The increased interest in plant derived drugs is mainly because of ‘herbal medicines’ are safer than costly synthetic drug. In this study, Calotropis gigantea also known as 'Aank' in Nepali was selected as the plant for the research work. Plants were collected from different parts of the Chitwan district. The objective of the study was to prepare the methanol and hexane extracts of leaves and stem of C. gigantea and carry out phytochemical screening of those extracts. Similarly, antimicrobial activity of those extract were evaluated to find its potential as drug. The ethnobotanical survey was done to find out medicinal values of the plant. Methods: Methanol and hexane extracts of the leaves and stem of C. gigantea was prepared by Soxhlet extraction method. Methanol was used for the extraction of various polar compounds and hexane for non-polar compounds. Phytochemical screening results showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids and terpenoids. The phytochemicals present in different plant extracts were analyzed by following the protocol given by Ciulei I. Inhibition of bacterial growth was tested by using agar well diffusion plate method (As per DPR/BS/SOP/ Am/1) and measured in the form of zone of inhibition (ZOI). Results: The ZOI shown by methanol extracts of leaves of C. gigantea for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were measured 8 mm and 13 mm respectively. Similarly, the zones of inhibition shown by hexane extract of leaves of C. gigantea for E.coli and S.aureus were measured as 11 mm and 9 mm respectively in antibacterial assay. Antimicrobial activity was not seen against Klebsiella pneumoniae by any of the extracts. The ethnobotanical study conducted showed that the plant is being used for different medicinal purposes. Conclusion : The findings of the study showed that the plant had high pharmaceutical importance. Traditionally, it is used alone or with other medicinal plants to treat common disease such as asthma, swelling rheumatism, diarrhoea, dysentery, syphilis, ulcer, leprosy etc. This study hopes to provide valuable information for different research.