Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences

Climate change poses significant challenges to global agriculture, particularly to horticulture, which is highly sensitive to climatic variations. Rising temperatures, changed precipitation patterns, and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events highlight how urgent it is to implement climate-smart techniques since they all represent serious risks to conventional horticulture systems. Horticultural crops—fruits, vegetables, spices, ornamentals, and plantation crops—are uniquely vulnerable to climate change because quality traits and reproductive success are exquisitely sensitive to heat waves, droughts, salinity, flooding, and compound extremes. This review synthesizes recent advances (primarily 2021–2025) in the physiology and molecular biology of stress perception, signalling, and acclimation in horticultural species, with emphasis on traits that safeguard yield and quality. We summarise progress in understanding combinatorial stress responses, integrative hormone crosstalk, ROS–Ca²⁺ signalling, osmotic regulation, and source–sink balance under heat and water deficits. We then examine emerging levers for adaptation: epigenetic and priming-based memory, microbiome mediation, and organ-specific mechanisms in flowers, fruits, and storage tissues. A second focus covers practical strategies—from climate-smart rootstocks and grafting, CRISPR-enabled breeding, seed/foliar priming (e.g., melatonin, seaweed biostimulants), silicon nutrition, to protected cultivation and digital phenotyping—highlighting trade-offs and translational pathways. We close by outlining evidence gaps, research priorities, and policy-relevant directions to accelerate climate resilience in high-value horticulture.

Autoimmune diseases occur due to the abnormal response of the adaptive immune system towards the body's tissues, recognizing them as foreign and leading to chronic inflammation and harm to the tissues. Toxicologists and other scientists believe that factors such as genes, surroundings, and lifestyle can make autoimmune diseases more likely. Xenobiotics, such as chemical pollutants, drugs, microbes, and heavy metals might raise the chances of getting autoimmune diseases. Substantial epidemiological studies show a link between exposure to the above-mentioned xenobiotics and occurrence of autoimmune diseases. More than eighty types of autoimmune diseases have been identified so far, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), Type I Diabetes, psoriasis, and Grave's disease etc. Although the underlying molecular mechanism of autoimmune disease occurrence is not clear, some findings revealed that xenobiotics exposure results in processes like erroneous identification of self-antigens by adaptive immune system, autoantibodies development, enhanced level of reactive oxygen species, cross-reactive antibodies production, DNA damage, and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine level lead to the disease condition. The present review article comprehensively discusses various xenobiotic compounds, and their ill-effects on human health to allow researchers working in this area to design their research work efficiently, using updated information on autoimmune diseases.

Fucoxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid found predominantly in brown algae and certain microalgae, has garnered considerable attention due to its substantial health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The global market for fucoxanthin projected to reach approximately $1.45 billion by 2024, there arises an urgent need for efficient and sustainable extraction methodologies to meet growing consumer demand. This review examines the interplay between microalgal cell wall structure and extraction techniques, highlighting how the polysaccharide and protein composition of cell walls affects extraction efficiency and yield. Traditional solvents, such as ethanol and methanol, have proven insufficient for effective extraction, prompting the exploration of novel solvent systems, including deep eutectic solvents, which enhance extraction efficiency. Additionally, advancements in pretreatment methods including mechanical disruption, thermal treatments and enzymatic approaches have demonstrated promise in breaking down cell walls to facilitate pigment recovery. Techniques such as ultrasound-assisted and microwave-assisted extraction are also discussed for their efficacy in improving yield. This review highlights the importance of adopting species-specific extraction protocols, underscoring the crucial relationship between cell wall architecture, solvent selection and extraction techniques. By establishing optimized extraction methodologies, we can maximize fucoxanthin recovery, thereby paving the way for its broader application in the food, cosmetics, and nutraceutical industries.

Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards encompass CBRN materials that can have adverse effects if accidentally or deliberately released. With the increase in the use of CBRN-related agents for research, therapeutics, diagnostics, industrial use, etc., these agents have become available. Thus, the probability of occurrences of CBRN emergencies has also increased. Therefore, nations are striving hard to strengthen themselves to handle such situations. CBRN emergency preparedness is a vast area comprising devices, drugs, equipment, systems, etc. Each aspect of CBRN preparedness is humungous, and proportionately meager efforts are under progress for various reasons. The most important aspect is that it is a matter of state because the cost of CBRN preparedness is very high. Among the different aspects, drug development for the management of CBRN emergencies is extremely important wherein several efforts by the agencies have resulted in a handful of antidotes. Additionally, research toward the development of drugs and drug products for CBRN agents is an extremely important area to be encouraged. This paper highlights the challenges in CBRN drug development. Additionally, it also suggests the measures that may help to empower the researchers and manufacturers to contribute toward CBRN medical management preparedness. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This paper underscores the urgent need for focused drug development to address the unique challenges posed by chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. It highlights existing gaps and proposes strategies to strengthen medical preparedness and response.