Several drugs now employed in cancer therapy were discovered as a result of anticancer drug research based on natural products. Here, we reported the in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity followed by in silico anticancer and estrogen-like activity of Psidium guajava L. essential oil against ER-α receptors which lead to potential inhibitory action against breast cancer pathways. Methods: The bioactive compounds in guava essential oil were screened using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Similarly, the antioxidant properties of the extracted oil were evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay. Furthermore, the in vitro anticancer activity of guava oil was observed through the MTT assay and an in silico molecular docking experiment was also carried out to ensure that they fit into the estrogen receptors (ERs) and possess anticancer potential. Results: The GC–MS profile of the essential oil revealed the presence of 17 chemicals, with limonene (51.3%), eucalyptol (21.3%), caryophyllene oxide (6.2%), caryophyllene (5.6%), and nerolidol (4.5%) occupying more than one-third of the chromatographic spectrum zone. Guava leaves’ essential oil (EO) inhibited DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals and exhibited concentration dependent free radical scavenging activity, acting as a potent antioxidant with an IC₅₀ value of 29.3 ± 0.67 µg/mL. The outcome of the MTT assay showed that the extracted guava oil had nearly the same efficacy against breast and liver cancer cells at a low concentration (1 µg/mL), giving 98.3 ± 0.3% and 98.5 ± 0.4% cell viability against HepG2 at 1 µg/mL, respectively. When the concentration of essential oil was increased, it showed a small reduction in the percentage of viable cells. While conducting an in silico study of all the screened compounds, the potential for hydroxycaryophyllene, caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, humulene, terpineol, and calamenene to inhibit tumor growth was bolstered due to a resemblance to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, thereby implying that these compounds may act as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). The ADME analysis of the compounds indicated above revealed that they exhibit excellent drug likeness properties and follow the Lipinski rule of five. Conclusions: Consequently, they have a substantial anticancer therapeutic potential and can be used for novel drug discovery in the effort to minimize the global burden of breast cancer.

Nepal has suffered two waves of SARS-CoV-2 infections, one in the year 2020 and another in the year 2021. Although the government of Nepal keeps a detailed record of daily coronavirus infections and deaths throughout the country, and publishes the result every day, genomic surveillance of mutants in the country has lagged behind. Sequencing of COVID-19 samples has been conducted sporadically during the pandemic. From the GISAID database, 127 high-quality sequences deposited by different health authorities in Nepal were collected and analyzed. From the analysis, it can be concluded that at least two variants of concern, alpha and delta, and one variant of interest, kappa, were detected in Nepal in 2021. As in other countries, the delta variant outcompeted the kappa and alpha variants and by July 2021 had established itself as the dominant variant. It can be hypothesized that the second wave in Nepal was primarily caused by the delta variant. Further, phylogenetic tree analysis suggests cases of local transmission and global transmission of coronavirus. This analysis reveals the global nature of the disease, where variants arising in one part of the world can quickly spread to other parts of the world and can also spread through individual communities. This paper highlights a need to structure public policy of Nepal to target the delta variant since it has become the predominant variant in Nepal. A further policy suggestion is to appropriately sample and sequence genomes of SARS-CoV-2 at regular intervals to understand the dynamics of variants in the population.

Heparin, traditionally known for its anticoagulant properties, has recently been identified as a potential agent in cancer therapy. Its derivatives, including low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) and unfractionated heparin (UFH), are being investigated for their multifaceted roles in oncology. This review focuses on the expanding exploration of heparin's anticancer effects and its possible integration into cancer treatment protocols. The primary aim is to consolidate and analyze current research on the anticancer properties of heparin and its derivatives. It seeks to illuminate the mechanisms by which these compounds influence cancer progression, including their impact on angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, immune response modulation, and the inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion. Additionally, the review aims to evaluate the potential of heparin and its derivatives in complementing existing chemotherapy treatments. An extensive literature review was conducted, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Sources included a range of scientific databases, employing keywords related to heparin and oncology. The selected studies were critically reviewed to extract relevant data on the efficacy, mechanisms, and potential clinical applications of heparin in cancer therapy. The results reveals that heparin and its derivatives exhibit significant anticancer activity across various research settings; key findings include the inhibition of angiogenesis, reduction in tumor cell proliferation, stimulation of immune responses, and the limitation of cancer cell migration and invasion. The compounds also show promise as adjuncts to conventional chemotherapy, potentially enhancing the efficacy of existing cancer treatments. This review highlights the burgeoning role of heparin and its derivatives in the realm of cancer therapy, marking a shift from their traditional use as anticoagulants. While promising, the research underscores the need for further comprehensive studies to fully understand the mechanisms of action, optimal dosing, potential side effects, and patient selection criteria. The potential integration of heparin into cancer treatment regimens opens new therapeutic possibilities warranting continued investigation in this rapidly evolving field.

The government of Nepal has recommended blanket fertilizer application for rice cultivation, which results in lower nutrient use efficiency (NUE) particularly under rainfed conditions. With the aim of finding an appropriate nutrient management practices concerning rice production and profitability, a field experiment was conducted during rainy season of 2017 and 2018 at Kavrepalanchowk and Dang district of Nepal. Altogether, five treatments comprising various nutrient management practices viz. Nutrient Expert Model (NE), use of Leaf Color Chart (LCC), Government Recommended Fertilizer Dose (GON), Farm Yard Manure (FYM), and Farmers’ Field Practice (FFP), were laid out in RCBD with four replications in farmers’ fields. The analysis of variance showed significant difference between treatments for test weight and grain yield in Kavrepalanchowk whereas all traits except number of effective tillers were significant in Dang. The significantly higher grain yield and harvest index were obtained in NE, followed by LCC; and the overall straw yield was highest in LCC, followed by NE in both the locations. Also, yield gap analysis suggested the NE had 44.44% and 23.97% increase in yield as compared to FPP in Kavrepalanchowk and Dang, respectively. The combined analysis with Best Linear Unbiased Estimator revealed the interaction of nutrient management and location significantly effects the straw yield and harvest index across both the locations. The estimated mean straw yield and harvest index were 10.93 t/ha and 34.98%, respectively. Both correlation study and biplot of principal component analysis signaled grain yield had positive correlation with all other traits. Furthermore, the net revenue was maximum for NE, followed by LCC in both the locations. The benefit: cost ratio was highest for NE which was 1.55 in Kavrepalanchowk and 2.61 in Dang. On the basis of these findings, NE and LCC can be effectively used as nutrient management practice by the farmers to obtain maximum production and profitability in Rice.