Northeast India Research Articles

Assessment of Bioactivity of Homalomena aromatica Essential Oil From Northeast India Through Combinative In Vitro and In Silico Approaches.

Homalomena aromatica Schott is a valuable medicinal aromatic plant having wide range of applications in ethnobotany, pharmacology, perfumery and flavor industry. Traditionally, various part of H. aromatica such as leaves and rhizomes were applied to treat joint pain, skin diseases, colds, asthma, diarrhea, and jaundice. Whole herbs extracts are used to address muscle weakness, rheumatism, and allergies, purify the blood, treat deafness, and promote wound healing, especially in postpartum women. The present study is subjected to assess anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, tyrosinase inhibitory, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antimicrobial, and genotoxic efficacies of H. aromatica rhizome essential oil (HAEO). To validate the findings of biological assays, in silico methods including Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) tool, target prediction, and molecular docking were employed. Using Clevenger apparatus dry rhizome of HAEO was extracted. The chemical profiling was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) where HAEO yield was 1.09%±0.641% (v/w) with 12 compounds where linalool was identified as major compound (76.29%). Anti-inflammatory activity showed IC50 value for protease inhibitory assay 19.59µL/mL and albumin denaturation assay 32.16µL/mL. The IC50 value for α-amylase inhibitory activity showed 29.84µL/mL, whereas tyrosinase inhibitory activity showed 73.62µL/mL. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEase) activity revealed an IC50 value of 38.13µL/mL. Antimicrobial activity showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 10±0.47 and 45±0.47µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Genotoxicity analysis showed HAEO has moderate toxic effect. In silico results identified six potential targets via Swiss target prediction: (AChE, CYP51, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor [PPAR], cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and tyrosinase-related protein 1 [TYRP1]). Additionally, molecular docking studies revealed Linalool -7.4kcal/mol, Spathulenol -8.5kcal/mol, aromadendrene oxide-(2) -8.3kcal/mol better docking scores. For the first time, this study reports on anti-diabetic, anti-tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities and genotoxicity of HAEO. In silico investigation supports these activities by evaluating binding affinities and interactions between compounds and their respective targets through molecular docking. From the current reports, HAEO can be used for development of natural drugs in near future.

Life, Death and Sustainability through Indigenous Literature An Ecocritical Study of Selected Works from Northeast India

Understanding sustainability in the Anthropocene through ecocritical discourses help us to deal with today’s environmental angst. Indigenous literature critically interprets the effects of cultural domination on Indigenous communities. This paper looks at the works of two Indigenous authors from Northeast India to substantiate how literature through its creativity functions as force/medium of renewal and self-criticism of ‘cultural ecologies’, preserve oral narratives, utilize traditional ecological knowledge, use of conceptual categories like ‘ecopsychology’ and ‘topophilia’ in Indigenous literature to reformulate our ideas of life, death and sustainability.

Formulation and Evaluation of Aegle Marmelos Herbal Churn

Aegle marmelos, a member of the Rutaceae family, is well-known as Bael and possesses a number of medicinal uses. Originally from India, it can be found all over South Asia. This fruit is grown in dry, semi-arid regions of North-East India, the Indo-Genetic plains, and the Sub-Himalayan zone. Deciduous forest found in southern and central India. Grown in india, Ceylon, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Java, Philippines and Fiji, aegle marmelos is a widely dispersed plant. According to the kinds of bael, the fruits vary in terms of tree height and size, fruit form, average weight, fruit skin, fiber content, color, TSS, ascorbic acid, average fruit output, etc

What is Sphenomorphus maculatus (Blyth, 1854 "1853") (Reptilia: Squamata: Scincidae)? Validating cryptic diversity and the designation of a neotype.

The Spotted Litter Skink, Sphenomorphus maculatus, initially described by Edward Blyth in 1854, lacks a taxonomic reference point, as the holotype was reported lost by 1868. A preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed indications of cryptic diversity within S. maculatus across its range in Northeast India. We aimed to pinpoint the precise type locality, concluding that it corresponds to the peripheral forested regions surrounding Guwahati, India. To establish a robust taxonomic foundation for future investigations, we designate a neotype under the provisions of the ICZN Code (Article 75). We also provide a comprehensive redescription of the neotype. This analysis and redescription were based on recently collected specimens from the identified type locality, and approximate areas based on the movements of Col. Jenkins, who was the original collector of the holotype. Genetic data from six loci of the neotype and from the other specimens were deposited in GenBank, contributing valuable information for future reference.

Assessment of indoor air quality and characterization of indoor settled dust in schools of Tezpur, Northeast India

Assessment of indoor air quality and characterization of indoor settled dust in schools of Tezpur, Northeast India

Assessment of AMMI model for delineating the stability indices of high yielding variety of Java Citronella (Jor Lab C-5) evaluated in different location of NE India

An industrially important plant, Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt ex Bor commonly known as Java Citronella belonging to Poaceae family gains its significance due to the presence of aromatic constituents and its capacity to yield a high quantity of essential oil. However, due to varied agronomic and climatic conditions, fluctuations in the chemical constituents and essential oil yield can be noticed. However, till now studies on stability analysis of Citronella are very scarce. Focusing the crop’s exceptional oil-yielding capacity and its high importance in industrial purposes extensive commercial cultivation of superior variety of Citronella is need of the hour. Hence, a study was conducted to establish a stable genotype of Java citronella where Jor Lab C-5 was taken to test the stability along with two check genotypes (Jor lab C-2 and Assam local). For two years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) six agronomical traits were constantly studied with two sets of environmental factors for the eight different locations in a randomized block design. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) by regression method revealed herbage recovery rate and essential oil yield as extensively high for Jor Lab C-5 as compared to the other two genotypes. Further, AMMI (Additive Main-effects and Multiplicative Interactions) ANOVA was used for the confirmation of uniform performance of various characters where Jor Lab C-5 was found to be stable in case of plant height, herbage yield, essential oil yield, citronellal content, and total essential oil yield. The GC-MS analysis of essential oil revealed 19 compounds with area percent 94.28% of which citronellal (42.52%) outcomes as major constituent. Additionally, environment such as Runne, Khehoyi, Yaongyimsen, and Jorhat were considered as the best suited locations for Jor Lab C-5, thus highlighting its multi-location stability and its potential industrial significance in the long run.

Litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical ecosystem: A comparison of natural and plantation forests (Duabanga grandiflora) in Nagaland, North-East India

Forest litter decomposition is vital for nutrient cycling and carbon turnover. To investigate their decomposition rate, we conducted a litter bag experiment in plantation forests (PF) and natural forests (NF) in a subtropical ecosystem. Our findings showed significant seasonal variation in litter mass loss (p < 0.0001) between the two sites, indicating seasonality as the main driver of decomposition. The decay rate constant (k) expressed in day⁻¹, reflecting the fraction of litter mass lost per day due to decomposition, reveals that NF has higher k value of 0.007 day⁻¹ than PF at 0.005 day⁻¹ , indicating faster decomposition in NF. This constant is essential for predicting litter breakdown duration, highlighting decomposition dynamics between sites, suggesting that even minimal distances between forest types can affect organic matter breakdown. In both sites, litter mass loss varied significantly from the initial to the final year (p < 0.001), with peak rates during the monsoon, followed by pre-monsoon and dry periods. Mixed litter in NF experienced a 99.94 % loss after 730 days, while PF, saw 97.80 % loss. Carbon, lignin, nitrogen, and potassium concentrations were higher during the monsoon and pre-monsoon seasons at both sites. Except for phosphorus in PF, all soil parameters positively correlated with mass loss, along with litter parameters C, N, P, K, and lignin (p < 0.001). Litter decomposition was higher in NF than PF, with significant seasonal effects (p < 0.0001), highlighting seasonality over litter mixture effects. Understanding climate variability and species diversity is essential for sustainable forest management amid ongoing anthropogenic land-use changes.

Book review: Reeju Ray, Placing the Frontier in British North-East India: Law, Custom, and Knowledge

Reeju Ray, Placing the Frontier in British North-East India: Law, Custom, and Knowledge. Oxford University Press, 2023, 224 pp.

Bridging the Gap in Financial Inclusion and Empowering Small Businesses: Evidence from North-East India

This study aims to investigate the significant impact of microcredit on small businesses and entrepreneurs in north-east India. The research employed a primary survey approach, gathering responses from 205 small business owners through purposive sampling. The analysis utilised a probit model to assess the data, highlighting that factors such as the business’s status, participation in awareness programmes by entrepreneurs, operating the business from home and other relevant variables play a crucial role in determining access to microcredit. The findings point out that the businesses experiencing decline are more likely to access credit from microfinance institutions. Also, there is a significant correlation between awareness programmes attended by the entrepreneurs and access to microfinance services. These findings suggest that an increase in the awareness programme participation by entrepreneurs will significantly encourage access to microfinance services.

Comparative biochemical evaluation of the proximate content, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical constituents of ethnomedicinally important Docynia indica from Northeast India

Comparative biochemical evaluation of the proximate content, antioxidant properties, and phytochemical constituents of ethnomedicinally important Docynia indica from Northeast India

Clinical pattern and burden of strabismus in a teaching institute of Northeast India

ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine the clinical pattern and burden of strabismus in a teaching institute of Northeast (NE) India. Methods: In this hospital-based, cross-sectional study, detailed clinical evaluation of patients with manifest strabismus was carried out for a period of one and half years. Results: Out of the 7222 new outpatient department attendances, a total of 110 new patients with manifest strabismus were found, with a hospital-based burden of 1.52% [95% confidence interval: 1.3–1.8]. Comitant strabismus was seen in 84.55%, and incomitant in 15.45%. Exotropia comprised 70%, esotropia 26.36%, hypertropia 10%, and hypotropia 2.72%. The angle of deviation was large in most of the participants (69.09%) with a mean of 34.90 ± 17.08 PD for horizontal and 13.29 ± 8.97 PD for vertical deviations. A cause of strabismus could be identified in 30.91%. Paralytic strabismus was seen in 15.45%, sensory in 11.82%, infantile in 1.82%, and accommodative in 1.82%. Amblyopia was found in 5.45%. In our study, 25.45% patients underwent strabismus surgery, while 74.55% patients either needed conservative management or were being worked up for surgery till the end of this study. Conclusion: This study determined the pattern and burden of strabismus in a teaching institute of NE India. Since the institute caters to patients from different states of NE India, this study gives an indirect picture of the burden of strabismus of the whole of NE India. It is hoped that these data will aid in determining the overall burden of strabismus in the country. They will also help the family medicine and primary care physicians to have an idea about the burden and pattern of strabismus in the community, thus enabling them to create awareness about strabismus, remove the undue apprehensions of patients, and do timely referrals for treatment and prevent irreversible visual loss.

Role Of Agriculture In Rural Development In Northeast India: Prospects And Challenges

Role Of Agriculture In Rural Development In Northeast India: Prospects And Challenges

Impact of boundary layer parameterizations on simulated seasonal meteorology over North-East India

This study evaluated the accuracy of six planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization schemes in simulating two different seasons of pre-monsoon and monsoon in India's North-East region through the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Twelve one-month simulations were conducted with the PBL schemes, six each for April (pre-monsoon) and July (monsoon), and the model outputs were compared against observations. Three non-local schemes, Asymmetric Convective Model (ACM2), Yonsei University (YSU), Shin-Hong (HONG), and three local schemes, Quasi Normal Scale Elimination (QNSE), Mellor Yamada Janjic (MYJ) and Mellor Yamada Nakanishi Nino (MYNN3), were tested. The meteorological variables of temperature, relative humidity (RH), wind speed, wind direction, and rainfall were evaluated, and the performance of each scheme for each meteorological variable is reported. The 2m temperature (T2) variable was well simulated by ACM2, MYJ in April, and YSU in July, while MYNN3 best simulated the 2m RH (RH2) during both seasons. 10m wind speed (WS10) and directions (WD10) were better simulated by MYNN3, HONG and YSU. HONG also best-simulated rainfall in April and MYJ in July. April and July being rainfall periods, an analysis of the schemes’ simulated rainfall frequency was also carried out. Moreover, the PBL schemes were also ranked, considering their combined performance with all the above meteorological parameters. While considering both the seasons and all meteorological variables, the scale-aware scheme, HONG, was the best scheme and can be used to simulate both seasons. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of surface and atmospheric parameters was also carried out to reason the simulated meteorology. QNSE expends the highest amount of its surface energy through surface evaporation, leading to the lowest surface skin temperature and T2 predictions. In contrast, MYNN3 produced the lowest mixing, which caused the moistest boundary layer, highest RH, cloud cover, and highly overestimated rainfall. Besides evaluation, which will help to choose a suitable PBL scheme for weather predictions in this region, this study also identifies the characteristics and deficiencies of PBL and surface layer schemes for improvement.

Trends in Incidence of Head and Neck Cancers in Dibrugarh District, Assam, India; During the Period 2003-2016.

Head and neck cancers are considered to be the most common cancers in developing countries, especially in Southeast Asia. In India, it accounts for one-fourth of male cancers and one-tenth of female cancers. An attempt was made to study head and neck cancer trends in the Dibrugarh district of Assam, North-East India, India. All sites viz., oral cavity and mobile tongue, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx and others were considered separately for both the sexes to carry out the present analysis. Using the data from the Population-Based Cancer Registry, Upper Assam, Dibrugarh, annual crude incidence rate and age-specific rate were calculated for the period from 2003 to 2016. Mann-Kendall and Sen's Slope non-parametric analysis were applied to examine the trend in the percentages of Head and Neck cancers. The most frequent incidence site for HN cancers was the hypopharynx (33.50%). The disease was common among the males (78.87%) compared to the female (21.13%) population in Dibrugarh district. HN cancers are more prone to the age group 50-70years (60.93%) compared to the individuals with less than 50years (26.51%). Combining all the sites of HN cancers in male showed a significant decrease in incidence, whereas in female increasing trend was noted over a period of time. A slight decline in the percentage of head and neck cancer was documented in Dibrugarh when we combined both sexes. The results obtained from the current investigation will laid the scientific framework for proper planning and organization of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HN cancers in Dibrugarh district, Assam.

Diurnal raptors of Eastern Himalayan foothills: Taxonomic and functional diversity attributes

Abstract Raptors are crucial indicators of ecosystem health, and thus, requires research attention. Despite an upsurge in Indian ornithology, raptors remain poorly studied, particularly in Northeast India. Here, we measured the taxonomic and functional diversity of raptors in Manas National Park, Assam. The study was conducted between 2018–2022. We surveyed 39 standard transects and recorded 776 individuals of raptors belonging to 30 species in different habitats: forest, open and mosaic. The taxonomic alpha diversity was highest in mosaic habitat and lowest in the forest habitat. Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) was the most abundant raptor in open and forest habitats, while Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens) was dominating in mosaic habitats. Of the recorded raptor species, 66.67% were classified as residents, and 33.37% were winter migrants. We also measured the functional alpha diversity of raptors using the data collected from AVONET database. We used ten functional traits and evaluated the functional alpha diversity indices. The functional richness was the highest in open habitats and functional divergence was the highest in mosaic habitats, also functional evenness was the highest in open habitats and lowest in mosaic habitats. We suggest intensified research on raptors in the region, to identify and address critical research question which facilitates the conservation of these apex predators.

Size estimation and vulnerability assessment of transgender people in Manipur, North-east India: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Context: Transgender people commonly faced stigma which has been linked to violence, abuse, and discrimination, often forcing them to remain hidden. Objectives: This study plans to estimate the size of the transgender population and to assess the vulnerability and risk of transgender people in the society. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 171 transwomen aged 18 years and above residing in two districts in Manipur recruited using the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured questionnaire, and the multiplier method was applied for the size estimation. Descriptive statistics were generated. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the institutional ethics committee. Results: The mean ± SD age of realization of their sexual identity and age of expressing gender identity was 9.06 ± 2.9 and 17.3 ± 2.7 year, respectively. The reported network size was found to be 40.37 ± 38.7, and the estimated size of the transgender population was found to be 2201 (95% CI 1987.6–2403.1). Most of the respondents (157, 91.8%) had ‘Ever experienced harassment due to their sexual identity’, with the majority (138, 87.9%) reporting ‘verbal abuse’, while (108, 63.1%) reported ‘sexual abuse’ and 43.9% of them said they had a ‘psychological effect’ due to the abuse. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents had faced some form of harassment or abuse due to their gender identity, leading to the psychological effect on them. There is an urgent need for developing a comprehensive measure focusing on mainstreaming the transgender persons by creating an enabling environment for their holistic development.

Unsupervised machine learning models applied to basement faults: An example from the Dibrugarh region, NE India

Unsupervised machine learning models applied to basement faults: An example from the Dibrugarh region, NE India

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Presence of Mamelons in Northeastern India

A Cross-Sectional Study on the Presence of Mamelons in Northeastern India

Faith as an Instrument of Peace: Exploring the Case of Nagaland in Northeast India

The Naga nationalist movement for self-determination in Northeast India spans more than seven decades. The movement has witnessed several phases of violent conflict, which has tremendously impacted the Naga society. The Naga movement for sovereignty has a deep relation to Christianity, as evident from the cry of all Naga nationalist groups—“Nagaland for Christ.” The violence between the Indian armed forces and Naga rebels and between different Naga rebel factions that intensified in the 1960s and 1980s led to the emergence and intervention of Naga civil society groups besides the Church. This paper discusses the efforts of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and civil society organizations, such as the Forum for Naga Reconciliation and Naga Mothers Association, in faith-based mediations between the rebel groups and between the government and rebel groups. The paper is based on in-depth interviews conducted with members of the above-mentioned civil society groups in Nagaland in November 2023.

Understanding Sustainable Development Goals and the Challenges of Northeast India: A Review Essay

Understanding Sustainable Development Goals and the Challenges of Northeast India: A Review Essay