Sikkim Himalayan Region Research Articles

Measurement report: Intra-annual variability of black carbon and brown carbon and their interrelation with meteorological conditions over Gangtok, Sikkim

Abstract. Black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) both have a versatile nature, and they have an apparent role in climate variability and changes. As anthropogenic activity is surging, BC and BrC are also reportedly increasing. So, the monitoring of BC and BrC and observations of land use land cover change (LULCC) at a regional level are necessary for the changes in various interconnected meteorological phenomena. The current study investigates BC, BrC, CO2, BC from fossil fuels (BCff), BC from biomass burning (BCbb), and LULCC and their relationship to the corresponding meteorological conditions over Gangtok in the Sikkim Himalayan region. The concentration of BC (BrC) was found to be highest during March 2022 (April 2021) at 43.5 µg m−3 (32.0 µg m−3)​​​​​​​. Surface pressure exhibits a significant positive correlation with BC, BCff, BCbb, and BrC. Higher surface pressure results in a calmer and more stable boundary layer, which effectively retains deposited contaminants. Conversely, the wind appears to facilitate the dispersion of pollutants, showing a strong negative correlation. The fact that all pollutants and precipitation have been shown to behave similarly points to moist scavenging of the pollutants. Despite the dense cloud cover, it is clear that the area is not receiving convective precipitation, implying that orographic precipitation is occurring over the region. Most of Sikkim receives convective rain from May to September, indicating that the region has significant convective activity contributed from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season. Furthermore, monsoon months have the lowest concentrations of BC, BCbb, BCff, and BrC, suggesting the potential of convective rain (as rainout scavenging) to remove most of the pollutants.

Mixed culture fermentation using Lactobacillus delbrueckii and novel Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains isolated from traditional chhurpi from Sikkim Himalayan region for potential probiotic and improved functional properties

The aim of the study was to isolate potential probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from the traditional fermented milk products, Chhurpi of the Sikkim Himalayan region and to prepare curd using mixed culture fermentation. A preliminary probiotic assessment of 110 LAB isolates including antimicrobial activity, bile and acid tolerance, surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation and co-aggregation, and adhesion to Caco-2 cells, was performed. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains N4, CHDE2, CHDE4, and SS22 demonstrated better viability in bile (0.3%) and acid (pH 2.5), adherence with hydrophobicity (13.93–92.85%), auto-aggregation (72.44–89.74%), adhesion to Caco-2 cells (45–73.61%) and antimicrobial activity against food borne pathogens. These strains were used for mixed culture fermentation with a previously screened curd forming strain Lactobacillus delbrueckii WS4. Curd produced using mixed culture fermentation of Lb. delbrueckii WS4 and the selected Lp. plantarum strains had a relatively higher acid production (pH 3.97–4.01), protein hydrolysis, and antioxidant activity. Further, mixed culture fermentation also resulted in the increase of HOCl scavenging activity (12.22–32.96%), myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibition activity (22.38–42.94%) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition (15.61–33.03%) as compared to that of WS4 fermentation (P < 0.05). This is the first report on identification of potential probiotic strains from the traditional fermented milk products of Sikkim and application in mixed culture fermentation with enhanced multifunctional potential.

Chrono-spatial reproductive phenology of Swertia bimaculata Hook.f. & Thomson ex C.B.Clarke reveals suitability as climate-changing bio-indicator along the Sikkim Himalayan altitude

Genus Swertia under the family Gentianaceae is morphologically and taxonomically distinct with about 14 species from Sikkim Himalayan region. A Chrono-spatial floral phenology study was conducted on Swertia bimaculata from 1580 to 2400 m altitude in West Sikkim Himalayan region. The floral phenology was studied in a field nursery at 1200 m altitude and spatial floral phenology was studied over a 1580–2400 m altitudinal range in the West Sikkim Himalayan region. Detailed study on flowering pattern and seed formation in S. bimaculata revealed late flowering at 1200 m compared to 2400 m. Plants at the lower altitude showed prolonged and variable flowering from September to November and seed formation from November to December. During September to mid-October, pentamerous and bisexual flowers were observed, followed by 9–16 % tetramerous until November; and up to 24 % trimerous and 10 % bimerous until the end of flowering season in December. By the end of December, 43 % of flowers become stamen-less (monoclinous). Less than 2 % seed formation was observed in stamen-less flowers. The temporal phenological behavior reveals a successful reproductive adaptive strategy, depicting pentamerous flowers during favorable conditions, reducing to tetramerous, followed by tri- & bimerous with female (monoclinous) flowers until the end of flowering with stressful conditions, suggesting its suitability as a stress indicator to the changing climatic conditions. Along the altitudinal range floral anomalies from the usually observed pentamerous (and very rare hexamerous) flowers in favorable conditions change to tetramerous and/or trimerous, as the environmental conditions become more stressful, suggesting that the changes in this species could be used as an indicator of stress in changing climatic conditions.

Sustainable water management in Sikkim Himalayan region: innovative solutions for rainwater harvesting reservoirs

ABSTRACT This research article focuses on achieving water security in hilly terrains through the identification of suitable sites for rainwater harvesting reservoirs near habitations. The study was conducted in the planned geological park (PGP) location within Sikkim University (SU) campus, utilizing a multi-faceted approach that combined geological, geophysical, and geotechnical methodologies. The analysis of ALOS-P DEM revealed the absence of streamflow within SU campus, ruling out direct water recharge options. However, the planned geological park (PGP) location exhibited a gentle slope and receives an annual average precipitation (ERA) of 1215 mm indicating potential for rainwater harvesting. Geological fieldwork excluded densely fractured areas, involving data collection on soil and rock types, joint analysis, soil sampling, and Schmidt hammer tests. Geophysical fieldwork provided insights into fracture zones, layer depth, and fracture orientation. Incorporating data into a non-linear finite element model allowed to assess shear, deformation, and safety factors, identifying Site A as most suitable due to higher stability compared to Sites B and C. The key innovation lies in the integration of scientific methodologies. The combination of geological, geophysical, and geotechnical data, in the study has presented a holistic approach to site identification, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the terrain’s hydrological characteristics.

Propagation of Some Wild Edible Ferns for Environmental Sustainability and Nutritional Security in Sikkim Himalaya

Wild edible ferns are considered as high value nutritive indigenous crops in Sikkim Himalayan region. These edible ferns are directly harvested from the wild and sold in local markets. Foraging is an age old tradition in the Sikkim Himalayas which has adverse effects. Wild edible ferns are given least attention on their conservation as compared to higher plants and indiscriminate collections and foraging endangered the very existence of wild edible ferns. Therefore, the present study aimed at propagating three edible fern species viz. Dryopteris cochleata, Diplazium esculentum and Tectaria coadunata through rhizomes in hydroponics and soil and through spores in soil has been attempted as part of our continued efforts to conserve these species through cultivation. Growth parameters like germination percentage, time taken for germination, time taken for harvest, length and weight of the crozier, leaf per rhizome were recorded during the growth period. This study can be useful for the propagation and conservation of wild edible ferns.

Review on medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalayan region with emphasis on anticancer study

Review on medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalayan region with emphasis on anticancer study

Ecological niche modelling of two water-dependant birds informs the conservation needs of riverine ecosystems outside protected area network in the Eastern Himalaya, India.

Common species often play vital roles in ecosystem functions and processes. Globally, conservation strategies are mostly focused on threatened species and rarely explored the potential of using common species as indicators of critical ecosystems. The Himalayan mountains have unique riverine ecosystems harbouring high diversity of specialist river birds. Ecological niche modelling provides effective tools to predict suitable habitats of a species and identify habitats for conservation. We used two common water-dependent bird species, Blue Whistling Thrush and White-capped Water Redstart as indicators of riverine ecosystems within the Sikkim Himalayan region and predicted their suitable habitats using an ensemble modelling approach. We selected six predictor variables for the final model including three bioclimatic and three topographic variables. For both species, bioclimatic variables such as mean annual temperature and precipitation were the most important factors compared to topographic variables. At least 70 percent of the most suitable habitats are distributed below 2000 m elevation alongside major drainages. Also, most of their potential habitats are distributed outside the protected area networks in the region. This habitat suitability pattern may be applied to other sympatric species in the region. Since major water bodies in Sikkim are largely affected by developmental activities and climate change, these riverine birds might face threats of losing suitable habitats. We recommend a dynamic approach to evaluate the habitat quality of riverine birds, especially outside protected area networks in the region to plan conservation strategies. This approach will ensure habitat conservation of many water-dependent birds and other taxa associated with the riverine ecosystems of the Eastern Himalaya.

Growth, yield and metabolite substantiated, eco-physiological evaluation of overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in ex-situ raised Valeriana jatamansi Jones. at lower altitude of Sikkim Himalayan region

Valeriana jatamansi Jones. syn. V. wallichi (Family: Caprifoliaceae) is globally known and amongst the 27 listed medicinal plants under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) by National Medicinal Plants Board, New Delhi, Government of India. V. jatamansi is a temperate Himalayan critically vulnerable plant enlisted as plants of conservation concern under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix-II with regulated foreign trade. Deplete wild population of V. jatamansi has prioritized conservation via ex-situ raising. The study conducted for V. jatamansi ex-situ raising at Sikkim Himalayan low altitude (tropical hills) region in different potting mix and evaluated for growth, yield and metabolite content substantiated with eco-physiological parameters. The eco-physiological parameters include pigment variations, stability, and the amount of hydroxyvalerenic acid & valerenic acid in below ground quantified using reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The study reveals black soil (BS), forest soil (FS), Vermi-compost (VC) and Sand (S) favoured the growth and yield. This is also substantiated by the eco-physiological parameters. The soil nutritional and physical parameters favour higher metabolites hydroxyvalerenic acid and valerenic acid accumulation. The study leads to successful plants raising with increased metabolites. The study paves the way forward, overcoming accessional and agro-climatic differences in growth, yield and metabolite, as appropriately monitored potting media help in consistent & optimized yield and metabolites in V. jatamansi.

Snowfall Shift and Precipitation Variability over Sikkim Himalaya Attributed to Elevation-Dependent Warming

Sikkim Himalaya hosts critical water resources such as glacial, rain, and snow-fed springs and lakes. Climate change is adversely affecting these resources in various ways, and elevation-dependent warming is prominent among them. This study is a discussion of the elevation-dependent warming (EDW), snowfall shift, and precipitation variability over Sikkim Himalaya using a high-resolution ERA5-land dataset. Furthermore, the findings show that the Sikkim Himalaya region is experiencing a warming trend from south to north. The majority of the Sikkim Himalayan region shows a declining trend in snowfall. A positive advancement in snowfall trend (at a rate of 1 mm per decade) has been noticed above 4500 meters. The S/P ratio indicates a shift in snowfall patterns, moving from lower elevations to much higher regions. This suggests that snowfall has also transitioned from Lachung and Lachen (3600 m) to higher elevated areas. Moreover, the seasonal shifting of snowfall in the recent decade is seen from January-March (JFM) to February-April (FMA). Subsequently, the preceding 21 years are being marked by a significant spatiotemporal change in temperature, precipitation, and snowfall. The potent negative correlation coefficient between temperature and snowfall (–0.9), temperature and S/P ratio (–0.5) suggested the changing nature of snowfall from solid to liquid, which further resulted in increased lower elevation precipitation. The entire Sikkim region is transitioning from a cold-dry to a warm-wet weather pattern. In the climate change scenario, a drop in the S/P ratio with altitude will continue to explain the rise in temperature over mountainous regions.

Prediction of glaciated area fraction over the Sikkim Himalayan Region, India: a comparative study using response surface method, random forest, and artificial neural network.

Glacier area fraction at high altitude mountains is a serious worry in today's time triggered by climate change. The current information on this natural resource is very important for the survival of humanity as it affects the water, food, and energy security of people dependent on it. Due to its problematic accessibility and tough environmental condition, ground monitoring is quite challenging. This study investigates the impact of environmental parameters and pollutants on glacier area fraction over the Eastern Himalaya region and its prediction through random forest (RF), multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function analysis (RBFN), and response surface methodology (RSM) models. The data are obtained from the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), NASA's data archive portal ( https://giovanni.gsfc.nasa.gov ). The collinearity of independent variables reveals that all selected input parameters are highly correlated with R2 value > 0.9. The RSM and RF model provided valuable insight of the predictor's significance in addition to their capability to predict the response. The model performance was evaluated in terms of R2 value and the error matrices. The model's R2 value was found to be 0.843, 0.839, 0.838, and 0.743 for MLP, RBFN, RF, and RSM respectively. Although, the neural network model R2 values are the highest, but the most reliable and suitable model is RF as the error matrices for this model are much lower than others. This study encourages the investigation of the hybridization of these models for more accurate prediction.

A comprehensive appraisal on the effect of aerosol on mountain glaciers: special reference to Sikkim Himalayan region of India

A comprehensive appraisal on the effect of aerosol on mountain glaciers: special reference to Sikkim Himalayan region of India

An investigation on antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of Rheum nobile Hook.f. &amp; Thomson from Sikkim Himalayan region

An investigation on antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of Rheum nobile Hook.f. &amp; Thomson from Sikkim Himalayan region

GIS-based identification of potential watershed recharge zones using analytic hierarchy process in Sikkim Himalayan region

Identification of groundwater recharge zone is an important factor for water resource management in any area. The present study investigates the potential water recharge zones in the Sikkim state, a mountain region of the Eastern Himalayas. To identify potential watershed recharge zone in the region, a combination of geographic information system (GIS)-based weighted overlay index (WOI) tools and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) pairwise matrix techniques was applied. The delineated watershed recharge sites were classified into five different potential zones. The results show that the majority of the study area (54.22%) was under moderate recharge potential zone. Some of the suitable recharge potential sites are forest-covered regions; therefore, the construction of surface check dams could be a suitable recharge method; it will escalate the discharge in springs and also help to make them perineal. This study provides first-hand information on the groundwater recharge potential of East Sikkim, where the populace depends largely on spring water discharge. Also, it is useful in selecting areas for digging staggered contour trenches, pits, and other structures to recharge the spring water and improve the watershed management system.

A Comprehensive Metagenomic Analysis Framework Revealing Microbiome Profile and Potential for Hydrocarbon Degradation and Carbohydrate Metabolism in a Himalayan Artificial Lake

The high-altitude lakes are ecological habitats accommodating a vast diversity of microbial populations. These microbes are efficient sources for a variety of enzymes. The objective of this study is to perform in-depth metagenomic profiling of an artificial lake ecosystem located in the Sikkim Himalayan region, deciphering the hydrocarbon degradation potential of this site and mining biocatalysts of industrial importance. In the present study, metagenomic analysis of an artificial Himalayan lake, located in North Sikkim, India, was performed. A comprehensive taxonomic and functional profiling revealed gene mapped to pathways for degradation of hydrocarbons such as toluene, benzoate, ethylbenzene, etc. This site was rich in iron, and the metagenomic investigation revealed genomic signatures of the iron-reducing bacterium; Geothrix fermentans. The appraisal of the carbohydrate metabolic potential of this site divulged the predominance of β-galactosidase genes. The artificial lake metagenome was further compared to publicly available saline and freshwater lakes. At the taxonomic, as well as functional levels, it was found to be closer to freshwater lake metagenome, e.g., Medonta Lake, US, and freshwater Vanda Lake, Antarctica. The microbial community profiling and functional contribution of the artificial Himalayan lake would be beneficial for mining genes encoding various industrially relevant enzymes.

Cold-adaptive traits identified by comparative genomic analysis of a lipase-producing Pseudomonas sp. HS6 isolated from snow-covered soil of Sikkim Himalaya and molecular simulation of lipase for wide substrate specificity.

The genomic analysis of industrially important bacteria can help in understanding their capability to withstand extreme environments and shed light on their metabolic capabilities. The whole genome of a previously reported broad temperature active lipase-producing Pseudomonas sp. HS6, isolated from snow-covered soil of the Sikkim Himalayan Region, was analyzed to understand the capability of the bacterium to withstand cold temperatures and study its lipolytic nature. Pseudomonas sp. HS6 was found to be psychrotolerant with an optimal growth temperature ranging between 25 and 30°C, with the ability to grow at 5°C. The genome harbours various cold-adaptation genes, such as cold-shock proteins, fatty acid alteration, and cold stress-tolerance genes, supporting the psychrotolerant nature of the organism. The comparative analysis of Pseudomonas sp. HS6 genome showed the presence of amino acid substitutions in genes that favor efficient functioning and flexibility at cold temperatures. Genome mining revealed the presence of four triacylglycerol lipases, among which the putative lipase 3 was highly similar to the broad temperature-active lipase purified and characterized in our previous study. In silico studies of putative lipase 3 revealed broad substrate specificity with partial and no inhibition of the enzyme activity in the presence of PMSF and orlistat. The presence of genes associated with cold adaptations and true lipases with activity at broad temperature and substrate specificity in the genome of Pseudomonas sp. HS6 makes this bacterium a suitable candidate for industrial applications.

Antioxidant Potential of Selected Wild Edible Leafy Vegetables of Sikkim Himalayan Region: Effects of Cooking Methods and Gastrointestinal Digestion on Activity.

Green leafy vegetables or GLVs are one of the main attractions in the local vegetable market and are widely consumed as the main course and side dish in the Sikkim Himalayan region (SHR). This study evaluated the total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant potential in different extracts such as methanolic (MeOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAC), and hexane extracts of selected GLVs followed by changes in the antioxidant activity on cooking and stimulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. The MeOH extracts of Urtica dioica L. (Sisnu), Nasturtium officinale W. T. Aiton (Simrayo), Diplazium esculentum Retz. Sw. (Ningro), and Chenopodium album L. (Bethu) were estimated to have higher TPC [22.73–45.84 μg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/mg of extract]. In contrast, the plant extracts prepared using EtOAC (except for N. officinale, where TFC was found to be higher in hexane extract) were found to contain higher TFC (3.42–14.86 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/mg of extract). The MeOH extracts also exhibited higher 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity (9.55–18.67 μg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/mg of extract), total antioxidant activity (TAA) (0.27–0.32 mg AAE/mg of extract), and reducing power potential (RPP) (1.6–9.9 μg AAE/mg of extract). Among the test MeOH extracts, U. dioica demonstrated relatively higher antioxidant activities and was selected for cooking experiments followed by simulated GI digestion. The findings revealed that the loss of antioxidant activity was minimal in steam-cooked leaves (3.5% in 40 min) as compared to the boiled ones (18% in 10 min). The simulated GI (simulated salivary, gastric, and intestinal) digestion performed on raw, steam cooked, and boiled U. dioica leaves showed substantial enhancement of antioxidant properties (by 64.63%) through steam cooking in comparison to the raw leaves. Overall the study concludes that higher antioxidant properties can be achieved on the consumption of steam-cooked U. dioica leaves.

Subsurface Resistivity Image of Sikkim Himalaya as Derived from Topography Corrected Magnetotelluric Data

Abstract The Sikkim Himalaya is the eastern division of the Himalayan arc and is located between the Nepal and Bhutan Himalaya. Due to the complex geology, the abnormal trend of Main Central Thrust (MCT) and duplex structure in Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) zone, the magnetotelluric (MT) data in Sikkim Himalayan region is modeled using topographic correction. In the present research, the three-dimensional (3-D) topographic correction using impedance tensor correction algorithm was applied to eight sites from the Sikkim Himalayan region and then inverted on the flat terrain. This paper presents the effectiveness of the 3-D topographic correction on two dimensional (2-D) modeling by comparing inversion models (a) model with distorted data on flat terrain, (b) distorted data with topography, (c) 3-D topography corrected data on flat terrain, to mitigate the effects of topography in MT data. The major outcome of the present study is in the form deciphering much bigger dimension in case of topography corrected data of the overlying resistive block (~9000 ohm.m) having depth up to 15 km between the sites Manglay and Lema, which correlate with the exposures of the Daling Formation in the northern Lesser Himalayan Sequence (LHS) and Lingste granite in the MCT zone. The topography corrected MT data brought out the topography of the resistive Indian crust more clearly.

Characterization of ACE inhibitory and antioxidant peptides in yak and cow milk hard chhurpi cheese of the Sikkim Himalayan region

In this study, simulated in vitro GI digestion of the Himalayan hard chhurpi cheese resulted in the increase of hydrolyzed protein content, antioxidant and ACE-inhibitory activities. LC-MS/MS-based peptidomics revealed a total of 1473 peptides in the samples originating from different milk proteins, including α-S1-casein, α-S2-casein, β-casein, κ-casein, α-lactalbumin, and β-lactoglobulin, out of which 60 peptides have been reported for different functional properties. A total of 101 peptides were predicted to be antihypertensive using the bioactivity prediction web servers, AHTpin and mAHTPred. In silico molecular docking studies predicted 20 antihypertensive peptides, exhibiting non-bond interactions between hard chhurpi peptides and ACE catalytic residues. A peptide, SLVYPFPGPI, identified in GI digested cow hard chhurpi and undigested, and GI digested samples of yak hard chhurpi, showed a stronger binding affinity towards ACE. Identifying antioxidant and ACE inhibitory peptides in hard cheese products adds value to them as functional foods of the Himalayan region.

Effect of organic manures and land configuration on growth and yield of rice bean [Vigna umbelletta (Thunb.) Ohwi and H. Ohashi] in Sikkim Himalayan Region

Rice bean is an important underutilised pulse crop of Sikkim and Himalayan region and mostly it is grown organically on the terraces with locally available organic nutrient sources. The aim of the study was to understand the effect of locally available organic manuresand land configuration on growth and yield of the rice bean crop. Among the organic manure treatments, OM4 (FYM + mixed compost + vermicompost + poultry manure) has resulted into higher growth and yield followed by OM3 (FYM + mixed compost + vermicompost) and OM2 (FYM + mixed compost). The higher growth and yield in OM4 might be due to continuous supply of desirable nutrients to the crop throughout the seasons. Whereas, rice bean had comparatively lower growth and yield in OM1 and OM2 treated plants which might be due to less available nutrient content in FYM and mixture of FYM and mixed compost for desirable growth and yield. So, integrated application of FYM (1/4 RDN), mixed compost (1/4 RDN), + vermicompost (1/4 RDN), + poultry manure (1/4 RDN) would be helpful for farmers for achieving higher yield of rice bean. Among the land configuration techniques studied, ridge and furrow followed by broad bed and furrow techniques had resulted into higher growth and yield of the crop, which might be due to higher nutrient and moisture availability to the rice bean crop under ridge and furrow as well as broad bed furrow beds through positive impact of effective drainage of excessive rain water onhigher activities of soil microbes and enzymesin rhizospheric soil.

Characterization of native lactic acid bacteria from traditionally fermented chhurpi of Sikkim Himalayan region for the production of chhurpi cheese with enhanced antioxidant effect

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated and characterized from chhurpi, a traditionally produced cheese product of Sikkim Himalaya. Enterococcus durans was the most dominant LAB making up 34% of the identified LAB, followed by Lactobacillus delbrueckii (25%). Chhurpi was produced using milk curdling LAB strains followed by simulated in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of chhurpi. Evaluation of protein hydrolysis and antioxidant activity was performed. Chhurpi produced using Lactobacillus delbrueckii WS4 had a relatively higher yield (10.4%), protein hydrolysis, and antioxidant activity as compared to other starter strains (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal digestion of chhurpi increased the antioxidant activity, with the highest activity observed for gastrointestinal digests of chhurpi produced by using Lb. delbrueckii WS4. The EC50 for DPPH radical scavenging activity of chhurpi produced by using Lb. delbrueckii WS4 was observed to decrease significantly (from 239.16 to 48.87 mg sample/ml) after digestion with pepsin and pancreatin (P < 0.05). Protein hydrolysis and antioxidant activity in whey were comparable to that of chhurpi, indicating the potential of using the chhurpi whey to develop nutraceuticals. This is the first report on evaluating the antioxidant activity of chhurpi produced using defined LAB strains and the effect of gastrointestinal digestion on chhurpi functionality.