S. costus is a medical plant naturally found at an altitude of 2000 to 3500 m above sea level in the northern Himalayan region. It is one of the 62 species of medical plants present in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). It has various phytochemicals as its constituents; some dominantly present phytochemicals in S. costus are anthraquinones, costunolide, dihydrocostus lactone, etc. S. costus is not only used in the Indian medical system but is also a part of Chinese and Tibetan medical systems it has shown various therapeutic properties such as anti-cancerous activity, anti-ulcerogenic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, etc. It is also used as a component of perfume formulation due to its distinctive aroma. S. costus has been declared as endangered and critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and the Red Data Book (RDB) of India respectively. Several factors contribute to its endangered status including environmental change, over-exploitation, etc. Thus, it becomes crucial to establish a procedure for the in vitro establishment of S. costus because the indigenous methods are not significantly useful due to the long cultivation cycle needed for crop harvesting and also due to the low germination percentage and less seed availability of the plant.

A large volume of data accumulated and numerous studies published substantiate the strong association of smoking behaviour with a variety of adverse health effects in humans. It is well established that smoking exposure increases the risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and different forms of cancer, including lung, liver, and colon. A wide variety of these exposures result in epigenetic modifications of the monocytes (cells most sensitive to these exposures). DNA methylation and histone modification are crucial epigenetic modifications of the genome that are involved in regulating many cellular processes and gene activity by alteration of DNA accessibility and chromatin structure. We now recognize that genetic variation is not the only source of phenotypic variation that may be passed down through generations, since genetic variance can only account for a small portion of the diversity in complex traits. Thus, epigenetics comes into play. The pathogenesis involves the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines as a result of activation of enzymes that regulate these epigenetic modifications when exposed to cigarette smoke. Any aberration in the DNA methylation is indicative of conditions far from normal and need for immediate attention. Hypomethylation of the aryl hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor (AhRR) gene indicates long-term smoking exposure and might therefore be a monitor for smoking-induced disease risk. Here, we reviewed the concepts of epigenesis and the identification of epigenetic markers for the study of smoking behaviour and its applicability in the recognition of various risks pertaining to health of an individual. Furthermore, we also discussed about their probable translation to clinical practice and therapeutics in order to enhance risk predictions of smoking related diseases.

In 1983, Australian scientists Warren and Marshall identified Helicobacter pylori also known as H. pylori as the stomach bacteria responsible for peptic ulcer disease. For their discovery, they were awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Other studies conducted in the early 1990s demonstrated that H. pylori is also responsible for gastric cancer. As a prominent human infection, H. pylori established strong link between ulcers and cancer. It has been proposed that specific analysis of Helicobacter pylori virulence factor can be suitable for predicting of H. pylori infection disorders like Gastric Cancer (GC). Colonization by H. pylori is extremely common worldwide, affecting about half of the world’s population, and most carriers develop neither ulcers nor cancer. Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. This article is designed to evaluate the association between specific virulence factor of H. pylori and Gastric cancer. One major virulence factor in H. pylori is the cytotoxin-associated gene a (CagA). The carriage of CagA+ stain is proinflammatory and associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. The product of the CagA gene CagA enters gastric epithelial cells directly through the type IV secretion system. The overexpression of H. pylori CagA antigen results in dysregulation of cellular signalling, which increases the risk of gastric cancer. The review also discusses the epidemiological data linking H.pylori strains that are CagA positive to infection and a higher risk of gastric cancer including the eradication.

In today’s fast-paced and demanding workplace, it is crucial to maintain maximum cognitive function and productivity in order to achieve success. However, amid the busy and active working life, individuals may experience a distinct phenomenon called hypnagogia - the transitional condition between being awake and falling asleep. Hypnagogia, which is defined by intense sensory experiences and modified states of consciousness, can significantly impact workplace productivity, creativity, and overall well-being. Hypnagogia, typically linked to the period just before falling asleep, can also occur when awake, posing both difficulties and possibilities for individuals in a professional setting. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of hypnagogia is crucial for effectively managing its impact and utilizing its potential to enhance job performance. This article investigates the occurrence of hypnagogia in the workplace, analysing its influence on productivity, creativity, and decision-making. It also offers practical techniques for effectively controlling sleep onset stages to improve professional performance and well-being.

Medicinal plants have played an important role in medicine due to their ability to bind and play cellular targets active in disease. Medicinal plants hold a variety of bioactive scaffolds for the treatment of many disorders. Medicinal plants have few harmful effects, affordability, and simple accessibility and their potential in traditional remedies. Identifying pharmacological targets from active components of medicinal plants has become a hot topic for biomedical research to generate innovative therapies. For organizing new scientific literature produced in the medicinal plant field, as well as new drug discoveries in the information era have become an important part of plant databases. This review article aimed at analyzing the currently available plant databases. PubMed and Google are used for searching for finding medicinal plant databases. PubMed was used for searching for papers presenting medicinal plant databases as a search strategy. Google was also used for searching medicinal plant databases. The current access to plant databases and the features, its URL, its strength, its weakness and the innovation of the plant databases were mentioned in this review article. The reviewed databases had a large group of information in terms of characteristics and innovation. Finally, some recommendations for the efficient improvement of plant databases were suggested. This review article may not cover all the required information, but can give readers key concepts, views, and suggestions for building many useful plant databases.