Northeast Region Of India Research Articles

Zo superman of the hills: the ethnic Mizo resistance against the mainstream nationalists in the comics Sudden Muanga

ABSTRACT The comics Sudden Muanga ;(1977–2003), written and illustrated by Lalsangzuala Varte under the alias Laisaizawk, number 20 volumes and are located in Mizoram and Manipur. The comics are an adaptation of the Sudden novels by Oliver Strange in the vernacular medium, Mizo. Laisaizawk represents ethnic Mizos as cowboys, an anti-hero Western trope, and the mainland Indian state as the Apache, with their tribal costumes and fur trappings. This article analyses the hitherto forgotten comics that gained precedence during the counter-insurgency period in the Northeast region of India. Drawing on James C. Scott’s notion of hidden transcripts, we argue that the paradoxical theme in the comics becomes a site of resistance that challenges the social, cultural, and political bases of the hegemony of the Indian state.

The Futuristic Entrepreneurial Actions for Tribal Farmers of North-east India

The North-East region of India, with its rich cultural diversity and biodiversity, is especially well-suited for agricultural growth. Given its potential, one would expect this region to be at the forefront of agri-entrepreneurial activities. Additionally, with the last few years, agriculture and its supplementary sectors became crucial components of entrepreneurial projects buoyed up by the existing need for sustainable food production, appropriate management of resources, and improving the living standards in rural areas. However, this expectation contrasts with findings from Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) studies for North-East region of India. Therefore, the study aimed to identify future entrepreneurial actions in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh. Using an open-ended questionnaire, the researchers employed a triangulation approach to analyse potential ventures in the region. The study identified ten key entrepreneurial actions. Agro-tourism emerged as the top choice among local tribal farmers, while the commercialization of Mishmi teeta (a traditional medicinal plant) was ranked highest by experts in the region. These findings offer valuable insights for stakeholders in the region. The study highlights the entrepreneurial interests of tribal farmers and suggest areas for entrepreneurial policy development in the region. Additionally, the findings also offer actionable insights for designing training programs or policy initiatives aiming to empower tribal farmers through entrepreneurship in agricultural and allied sector.

Persistence of West Nile Virus circulation in North-East region of India: A prospective facility-based study spanning over a decade.

To understand the distribution and presence of West Nile (WN) among the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) patients, a prospective facility-based study was conducted over 13 years (2007-2019). During the period, 8957 patients hospitalized with AES in northeastern India were tested for the evidence of WN virus infection by IgM ELISA followed by Plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Of the samples tested 324 (3.62%) were found positive for WN IgM antibodies and 73 paired sera showed a fourfold rise in neutralizing antibody titre by PRNT. The study establishes WN as a noteworthy cause of encephalitis in an erstwhile endemic area for Japanese encephalitis (JE). Therefore, it is important that WN is recognized as an important acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) causing aetiology in this region and the National centre for vector borne disease control (NCVBDC) guidelines for detection of AES may be modified accordingly. Thus, inclusion of WN in routine diagnosis, along with establishment of an integrative surveillance network with one-health approach will be important.

Prospect and Challenges of Litchi Cultivation in Northeast Region of India

The dynamics of pests affecting litchi crops have undergone changes over time, with litchi mites and bugs becoming less economically significant. However, insect pest infestations have emerged as a major constraint, causing substantial economic losses for growers. Litchi trees need to complete their post-harvest vegetative flush in a timely manner to produce a second flush in winter, which will then flower. Litchi fruit is highly perishable and temperature-sensitive, making it difficult to transport to distant markets without adequate cool chain infrastructure. The cumulative effect of biotic and abiotic factors compromises the agricultural value of this cash crop. Investigating natural defense mechanisms in litchi may uncover opportunities to enhance or induce antifungal compounds through defense elicitors. Further research could explore the applicability of these techniques in other countries, although registration issues may arise. Alternatively, other chemicals with similar benefits and lower health risks could be investigated. Additionally, the long-term effects of cincturing on fruit set and tree health warrant further investigation.

Occupational heat stress and its health impacts- an overview of research status and need for further research in Southeast Asia with special emphasis on mitigation strategies in North East India.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC predicts that hot seasons will get even hotter due to global climate change. There exists a critical dependence of human metabolic processes on temperature. Changes in thermal balance therefore, have an adverse effect on health because they raise body temperature, cause excessive sweating, and accelerate the rate of dehydration. Different nations and professional groups use different techniques to measure heat strain. This paper aims to review previous research conducted in the area of heat strain due to heat exposure among workers in Southeast Asia and also to profile mitigation strategies in North East India. Studies conducted between the years 2011 to 2023 in the evaluation of the health impacts of occupational heat stress were searched systematically using several sources of databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, etc. It was noted that a greater proportion of previous research on evaluating physiological effects was carried out in controlled environments as opposed to real-world field settings. While such studies give us valuable insights into the relationship, applying the same methodology in the workplace may not be feasible. In India, very few research has been carried out on workplace heat stress, and even fewer have been done in North East India using physiological indicators. North East India is also affected by global climate change leading top more hotter days than before. The region of Northeast India, particularly Guwahati (Assam), has recently seen extreme heat waves during the sweltering summer months. With less literature available in this geographical location, studies with actual field-based settings are much needed to understand the occupational health impacts in this region. This review can formulate a suitable methodology for assessing the health impacts in working environment. This can also help the local health professionals to recognize the heat strain parameters that are acceptable worldwide, and use as pertinent indicators to scrutinize worker's health and develop preventive agendas as climate change advances.

Six new species of Globba L. (Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae) from the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India.

We describe six new species in the genus Globba L.: Globbacorniculata sp. nov., Globbapaschimbengalensis sp. nov., Globbapolymorpha sp. nov., Globbatyrnaensis sp. nov., Globbajanakiae sp. nov., and Globbayadaviana sp. nov. collected from the Indian part of the Eastern Himalayas (West Bengal) and Northeast India. We provide a detailed morphological description of all six species along with photographic plates, distribution maps, and tentative conservation assessments. We also provide a dichotomous identification key for all the Indian Globba species and discuss the newly described species in relation to those that are morphologically similar to them. Finally, we highlight the taxonomic collection challenges in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas and Northeast regions of India.

Cross-cultural study on the uses of traditional herbal medicine to treat various women's health issues in Northeast India

BackgroundThis cross-cultural study conducted in the diverse regions of Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur sheds light on the common utilization of five specific medicinal plants among indigenous communities residing in these areas. ObjectivesThe main focus of this study is to document and compare the traditional medicinal plant used and the knowledge and practices related to women's health issues in different cultures; to identify commonalities and differences in the use of medicinal plants across cultures and various medicinal plants used traditionally by the indigenous communities to treat women's health problems according to their indigenous name, scientific name. Materials and methodsThe study used a survey method and a pre-structured interview schedule through one-on-one interactive communication and field observation. The authors collected data from three different states, i.e., Assam (Karbi Anglong district & Udalguri district), Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills district), and Manipur (Senapati district) by personally meeting and interacting with traditional herbal medicinal practitioners. For this study, 10 practitioners from each area of study were interviewed. During the data collection process, the vernacular name of the medicinal plant, methods of preparation, mode of application, and probable dosage were compiled and documented involving practitioners belonging to four different communities, i.e, Bodo, Karbi, Khasi, and Poumai Naga of the selected states. ResultsA total of 39 plant species were meticulously collected and documented across the Karbi Anglong district and Udalguri district in Assam, East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya, and Senapati district in Manipur. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), papaya (Carica papaya), and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) have emerged as common medicinal resources within these communities. Poaceae, represented by 5 species, emerged as the dominant family among the collected plants, highlighting the diversity and significance of these botanical remedies. Zingiber officinale Roscoe " has the highest usage report of 18 with an RFC (Relative frequency citation) of 0.45. ConclusionThe study's findings reveal a rich repository of traditional herbal knowledge in the northeast regions of India. Notably, the indigenous communities of these regions use plant resources to cure a wide range of ailments. This study emphasizes the necessity of documenting, preserving, and transmitting traditional herbal medicinal knowledge for both cultural and practical reasons. It also provides vital insights into the importance of cross-cultural study in promoting different cultures, the richness of traditional medicinal knowledge by engaging with diverse cultures and demonstrates the possibilities for incorporating traditional medicine into modern healthcare systems, particularly in treating women's health issues across these culturally diverse regions.

790. RISK FACTORS FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER IN NORTHEAST INDIA: A MULTI-CENTRIC CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Abstract Background Northeast India has a high incidence of esophageal cancer(EC), with age-adjusted incidences ranging from 19 to 50 per 100,000 (in females and males respectively). This is over ten times the average incidence of EC in India. The local preparation of raw betel nut,‘kwai’, is integral to the culture, but its role has not been established. This study aimed to assess the role of betel nut, with or without tobacco as a causative agent for EC. The role of alcohol was also studied. Methods A multi-centric, matched case-control study was performed from October 2022 to March 2024 in three centres situated in the Northeast region of India. All cases of biopsy proven squamous EC, arising from the cricopharynx to the gastroesophageal junction were included, with matched controls (1:3 ratio) being patients visiting the hospital for minor ailments and healthy volunteers from the community. A validated questionnaire was administered by trained trial coordinators. The data was analysed using a conditional multivariate logistic regression which incorporated the individual matching of cases with 3 controls. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 185 cases and 556 controls were matched for age (± 5 years), ethnicity, and gender. There was an increased risk of EC for those consuming betelnut with slaked lime [Calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2] (Odds Ratio(OR) of 3.77 (Confidence Interval(CI) 1.30-10.92)); alcohol (OR 2.00 CI: 1.80-6.67) and tobacco (OR 3.47 CI:1.80-6.67). The risk was higher for those who swallowed the betel quid and juice as compared with those who spit it out (OR 4.01 CI: 2.24-6.73). The risk was increased in those consuming betelnut while hungry, instead of a meal (OR 10.40 CI 3.66-29.57). The risk was increased in those with no formal education (OR of 4.13 CI: 2.01-8.49). On adjusting with other risk factors (tobacco and alcohol), the risk was highest for betelnut with tobacco (OR 7.84 CI 2.12-29.90) and betelnut with alcohol (OR 2.84 CI 1.11-7.29). All these OR were statistically significant. Conclusion Consumption of betelnut with slaked lime increases the risk of EC. This risk is increased by the concomitant use of tobacco and alcohol.

Do soil horizons and land-uses screen different sets of soil quality indicators in the hilly region of northeast India?

Do soil horizons and land-uses screen different sets of soil quality indicators in the hilly region of northeast India?

Bioprospecting the Anticancer Efficacy of <i>Garcinia anomala</i> from North-East India in Ovarian Cancer Cells – An <i>In Vitro</i> Study

Background: Ovarian cancer is a type of gynaecological cancer with a worldwide prevalence affecting women aged above 50. Despite several advances made in chemotherapy and surgery, the average time of clinical exemption is approximately two years, and the 5-year survival rate is 45%. But even after survival, they have long-term side effects. So, there is an urgent need for natural anticancer drugs. In this context, Garcinia spp. is one such plant that is explored for its anticancer properties. However, the endemic species Garcinia anomala from North-East India has not been studied for anticancer efficacy. Thereby present study aimed to understand the anticancer efficacy of hexane and methanol extracts of Garcinia anomola short mamilla plant available in the North-East region of India with a major emphasis on antioxidant potential. Further, the best extract with higher antioxidant activity was used to evaluate the anticancer potential through modulation of redox status. Methods: Total phenolic content in extract samples was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay was used to assess the antioxidant activities of extracts. For in vitro evaluation of the anticancer potential of the extract, ovarian teratocarcinoma PA1 cells were used as a model to study the dose-dependent effect of the extract. Various assays, such as wound healing assay and transcriptional analysis of genes, such as Bcl-2, PCNA, and TP53, were performed. For the redox parameter, DCFDA (2’,7’-Dichlorofluoroscin Diacetate) assay was used. Results: The results showed that Garcinia anomola methanol extract (EB) exhibited higher antioxidant activity in comparison to the hexane extract (EA). A cytotoxicity assay was performed to find the effective IC50. From this assay, the effective dose concentration confirmed for EA was 40 µg/mL, EB was 20 µg/mL, and the time point selected was 24 hrs. As the IC50 for EB was less than EA, EB was chosen for further assays. From the wound healing assay, the migration rate obtained was 0.967±0.041 µm/hr. The methanol extract was found to affect key cell cycle checkpoint genes at the transcript level. Conclusion: These results indicate that the anticancer potential is mediated through the modulation of antioxidant status. Thus, Garcinia anomala short mamilla extract from northeast India has good efficacy as an anticancer agent, which can be considered as a future potent drug candidate for ovarian cancer.

Long-term trend analysis of surface temperature over North-East India and adjoining regions based on CRU and ERA5 reanalysis

Long-term trend analysis of surface temperature over North-East India and adjoining regions based on CRU and ERA5 reanalysis

High Risk Human Papillomavirus Prevalence in Patients with Hypopharynx Cancer of Northeast India: A Pilot Study

Oncogenic viruses such as, Human papillomavirus (HPV) associated head and neck cancers have been considered to represent different etiological and pathological behaviour. This pilot study was conceived to investigate high risk HPV (hr-HPV) infection and its association with life style habits such as tobacco, alcohol consumption in patients with hypopharynx cancer from North –East India. A total of thirty four primary hypopharynx cancer biopsy specimens were collected. These samples were analysed for hr-HPV DNA using nested multiplex PCR (NMPCR). The lifestyle and dietary associated factors were collected through a self- designed questionnaire. The presence of hr-HPV was confirmed in 50% (n = 17) patients with hypopharynx cancer by nested multiplex PCR (NMPCR). Among hr-HPV positive cases, only HPV- 16 genotype was found. Significant association was observed between hr-HPV infections with alcohol consumption (p-0.025), alcohol with tobacco habit (p-0.01). Our study demonstrated that alcohol consumption, tobacco chewing may act as risk factors for hr-HPV infection in a subset of patients with hypopharynx cancer from the North-East region of India.

Propolis from the North-East region of India exhibits potent antioxidant and anticancer activity against breast cancer cells

Propolis has several uses in human health, including its role as a nutritious and beneficial dietary component, as well as a folk medicine. In this study, we aimed to explore the phytochemical and anticancer activity of propolis collected by honeybees in Assam, India. The chloroform fraction (CF) from the ethanol extract of propolis was screened for antioxidant activity and in vitro cytotoxicity. Finally, the chemical composition of CF was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. CF was found to contain 223.44 ± 5.16 mg/g gallic acid equivalents of total phenolic content and 114.43 ± 7.087 mg quercetin/g of flavonoids. The CF presented antioxidant activities against 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2, 2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt free radicals, with IC50 values recorded as 68.54 ± 3.1% and 7.26 ± 0.55, respectively. The fractions exhibited growth inhibition in breast cancer cells. The cell migration capacity of both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells was significantly decreased by CF. Additionally, the fraction was observed to arrest the cell cycle of MDA-MB-231 cells at the S phase and of MCF-7 cells at the G2/M phase. In MDA-MB-231 cells, CF enhanced p53 expression and downregulated CDK2, Cyclin A, Cdc25A, and Cyclin D1, expression whereas in MCF-7 cells, CF downregulated CDK1 and Cyclin B1 expression. Furthermore, confocal microscopy revealed a decrease in the expression of the Ki-67 protein in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells following treatment with CF. The propolis from north-east India exhibited antioxidant and anticancer properties in vitro, suggesting its therapeutic potential for breast cancer.

Outbreak of waterborne acute diarrheal disease in a South District village of Tripura: A public health emergency in the Northeast region of India

Food and waterborne outbreaks are a neglected public health problem in India. However, it is important to identify the source of infection and the causative pathogen to curb the outbreak quickly and minimize mortality and morbidity. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted with a line list of 130 diarrheal cases. Epidemiological investigation and laboratory investigation were done. Data were collected from hospital case report forms as well as interviewed affected cases. A case of acute diarrheal disease was reported among the people in the village with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea from December 31, 2022 to January 3, 2023. Out of a total of 130 recorded cases, 33 stool samples were collected and were positive for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri 3a, and Shigella sonnei by cultural and molecular tests. The presumptive fecal pollution indicator assay indicated high coliform counts in the water samples (most probable number [MPN]-05) and the presence of Escherichia coli. The identified pathogens showed susceptibility to gentamicin and meropenem. People who used public drinking water were found to be infected with acute diarrheal disease (ADD). Quick identification of the causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance pattern helped correct antibiotic prescriptions and quick recovery of the patients without any deaths. Thus, a timely implementation of food and waterborne outbreak investigation is crucial to saving lives and preventing the spread of infection.

Resource building and classification of Mizo folk songs

Abstract Folk culture represents the social, ethnic, and traditional livelihood of people belonging to a certain tribe or community and is important in keeping their culture and tradition alive. The Mizo people are a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group, native to the Indian state of Mizoram and neighboring regions of Northeast India. Mizo folk culture is an amalgamation of festivity, celebration, liveliness, kinship, brotherhood, and merriment, and above all, preserves the ethnicity of this tribal community that is fundamentally entrenched. Unfortunately, the Mizos are fast giving up their old customs and adopting the new mode of life that is greatly influenced by the western culture. This makes it all the more crucial to preserve the intangible cultural heritage of this ethnic tribe whose folk cultures are vanishing day by day. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first attempt at preservation and classification of Mizo folk songs. The first part of this paper presents a literature survey on preservation, analysis, and classification of folk songs. The second part presents the methodology for preliminary classification of Mizo folk songs. Three categories of Mizo folk songs—Hunting chants (Hlado), Children’s songs (Pawnto hla), and Elderly songs (Pi pu zai)—are used in this study. A total of 29 acoustic features are used. A long short-term memory network using custom attention layer has been proposed for classification, whose results are compared with four supervised models (Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbor, Naive Baye’s, and Ensemble). Experimental results from the proposed model are promising, with an implication of scope for future research in acoustic analysis and classification of Mizo folk songs using recent unsupervised methods.

Optical Properties and Possible Origins of Atmospheric Aerosols over LHAASO in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The accuracy of cosmic ray observations by the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory Wide Field-of-View Cherenkov/Fluorescence Telescope Array (LHAASO-WFCTA) is influenced by variations in aerosols in the atmosphere. The solar photometer (CE318-T) is extensively utilized within the Aerosol Robotic Network as a highly precise and reliable instrument for aerosol measurements. With this CE318-T 23, 254 sets of valid data samples over 394 days from October 2020 to October 2022 at the LHAASO site were obtained. Data analysis revealed that the baseline Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and Ångström Exponent (AE) at 440–870 nm (AE440–870nm) of the aerosols were calculated to be 0.03 and 1.07, respectively, suggesting that the LHAASO site is among the most pristine regions on Earth. The seasonality of the mean AOD is in the order of spring > summer > autumn = winter. The monthly average maximum of AOD440nm occurred in April (0.11 ± 0.05) and the minimum was in December (0.03 ± 0.01). The monthly average of AE440–870nm exhibited slight variations. The seasonal characterization of aerosol types indicated that background aerosol predominated in autumn and winter, which is the optimal period for the absolute calibration of the WFCTA. Additionally, the diurnal daytime variations of AOD and AE across the four seasons are presented. Our analysis also indicates that the potential origins of aerosol over the LHAASO in four seasons were different and the atmospheric aerosols with higher AOD probably originate mainly from Northern Myanmar and Northeast India regions. These results are presented for the first time, providing a detailed analysis of aerosol seasonality and origins, which have not been thoroughly documented before in this region, also enriching the valuable materials on aerosol observation in the Hengduan Mountains and Tibetan Plateau.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the phenol rich fraction of Garcinia pedunculata Roxb (ex. Buch Ham): an in vitro and in vivo study.

Garcinia pedunculata, a tropical plant found abundantly in the north-east region of India, has been used by many traditional healers for various gastrointestinal ailments. Studies are being carried out for the proper pharmacological identification of the compounds as well as the mode of action for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, phytochemistry of the fruit was evaluated, followed by a quantitative analysis of the total phenolic and flavonoid content of the methanolic crude extract as well as different fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). The fraction with the most potent flavonoid and phenolic content was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The chloroform fraction of G. pedunculata fruit extract was found to have a substantial amount of phenols and flavonoids. This fraction inhibited the denaturation of BSA and significantly stabilized human RBC membrane compared to the standard drug Diclofenac sodium. The fraction also significantly reduced the formaldehyde-induced paw edema in mice and normalized the blood parameters. This study provides evidence that G. pedunculata fruit extract plays a critical role in anti-inflammatory activity, indicating that it can be a potential candidate for further investigation in the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.

Assessment of Lac Diversity and Indigenous Technical Knowledge in North East Region of India

Assessment of Lac Diversity and Indigenous Technical Knowledge in North East Region of India

Ensembling machine learning models to identify forest fire-susceptible zones in Northeast India

Forest fires pose significant challenges by disrupting ecological balance, impacting socio-economic harmony, and raising global concerns. North-East India (NEI) experiences high incidences of forest fires, making it crucial to implement suitable management measures considering the driving forces influencing fire likelihood. This study aims to identify forest fire susceptibility zones in NEI by using five machine-learning modeling approaches, Boosted Regression Tree (BRT), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Classification and Regression Tree (CART), and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), and an ensemble method. Forest fire data from the SNPP – VIIRS sensor (2018–2019) were rectified for spatial autocorrelation. Thirty-two responsive predictor variables related to topographic, climatic, biophysical, and anthropogenic factors were used as model inputs and multicollinearity analysis was performed to eliminate highly correlated predictors. Results indicate that the southern and southeastern regions of NEI, characterized by ample solar radiation, enhanced vegetation index, high human population density, and jhum cultivation, contribute significantly to higher susceptibility to forest fires. The Random Forest model performs best among the models employed, achieving an AUC value of 0.87. The ensemble susceptibility map, binarized based on AUC weighting, covers 29.54% of the total geographic area and 44.42% of the forested area of NEI. The vulnerability levels vary among states, with Mizoram showing the highest susceptibility at 89.27% and Sikkim exhibiting the lowest vulnerability at only 0.49% of their respective geographic areas. This map provides valuable insights for implementing effective forest fire management plans in the region. Moreover, the methodology utilized in this study, which incorporates satellite imagery, GIS techniques, and improved modeling techniques, can be replicated in any geographical region worldwide to facilitate effective forest fire management at a regional to large scale.

Composite coatings containing silk protein, chitosan, and Aloe vera for prolonging postharvest shelf-life of ghost chilli (Capsicum chinense)

Ghost chilli (Capsicum chinense) is an indigenous variety of capsicum in the northeast region of India, which contains considerable amounts of vitamin C and antioxidants. The short shelf-life of the fruit causes significant postharvest losses, a major hurdle against supply chain resulting in financial losses for growers and suppliers. The primary goal of this study was to improve postharvest shelf-life of ghost chilli by applying composite coating formulations prepared from silk protein (SP), chitosan (CH), and Aloe vera gel (AVG). The coating on ghost chilli was applied by dip-coating method, and it extended the shelf-life of the coated fruits for up to 15 days during storage in ambient conditions. The result showed reduced weight loss in the coated fruit (less than 15%) compared to the uncoated control (almost 20%), maintained firmness, total soluble solids, and titratable acidity in the coated chilli (more than 15 N, 2% and 0.52%, respectively) compared to the uncoated control (6 N, 3%, and 0.42%, respectively). Moreover, the microbial counts in the SP/CH/AVG coated chillies was significantly less (1.5 log CFU/g compared to the uncoated control (almost 4 log CFU /g) after 15 days of ambient storage. The developed composite coatings can be effective alternative to synthetic wax based coatings for shelf-life enhancement of fruits and vegetables, however, future studies on toxicity of the developed coating formulation, cost analysis, etc. are needed for their future scale-up and commercialization.