Banaras Hindu University

About: Banaras Hindu University is a education organization based out in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Dielectric. The organization has 11858 authors who have published 23917 publications receiving 464677 citations. The organization is also known as: Kashi Hindu Vishvavidyalay & Benares Hindu University.

Effect of long-term application of treated sewage water on heavy metal accumulation in vegetables grown in northern India.

Abstract: Use of industrial and wastewater for irrigation is on the rise in India and other developing countries because of scarcity of good-quality irrigation water Wastewaters contain plant nutrients that favour crop growth but leave a burden of heavy metals which can enter the food chain and is a cause of great concern The present study was undertaken on the long-term impact of irrigation with treated sewage water for growing vegetables and the potential health risk associated with consumption of such vegetable Treated sewage water (TSW), groundwater (GW), soil and plant samples were collected from peri urban vegetable growing areas of Northern India (Varanasi) and analysed to assess the long-term effect of irrigation with TSW on Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb build-up in soils and its subsequent transfer into commonly grown vegetable crops Results indicate that TSW was richer in essential plant nutrients but contained Cd, Cr and Ni in amounts well above the permissible limits for its use as irrigation water Long-term application of TSW resulted in significant build-up of total and DTPA extractable Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb over GW irrigated sites TSW also resulted in slight lowering in pH, increase in organic carbon (16 g kg − 1) and cation exchange capacity (52 cmol kg − 1) The tissue metal concentration and relative efficiency of transfer of heavy metals from soil to plant (transfer factor) for various groups of vegetables were worked out Radish, turnip and spinach were grouped as hyper accumulator of heavy metals whereas brinjal and cauliflower accumulated less heavy metals Health risk assessment by consumption of vegetables grown with TSW indicated that all the vegetables were safe for human consumption However, significant accumulation of these heavy metals in soil and plant needs to be monitored

Utilization of methylarenes as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis.

Abstract: The development of practical and efficient methods for C–C and C–X bond formation has attracted a great deal of current attention with the advent of C–H functionalization reactions. Hydrocarbons are perhaps the most inexpensive and readily available materials, and utilisation of such materials for the synthesis of essential chemicals is virtually and economically pragmatic. The means to utilize easily accessible hydrocarbons not only represents a useful, potent and straightforward alternative, but also constitutes an excellent opportunity to improve our chemical knowledge about a relatively unexplored domain. Early examples using alkylarenes are generally limited to their conversion to aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and nitriles. This review intends to focus on the latest developments adopting modern strategies for sp3 C–H functionalization of methylarenes to achieve a diverse range of important organic compounds.

DNA Binding and Anti-Cancer Activity of Redox-Active Heteroleptic Piano-Stool Ru(II), Rh(III), and Ir(III) Complexes Containing 4-(2-Methoxypyridyl)phenyldipyrromethene

Abstract: The synthesis of four novel heteroleptic dipyrrinato complexes [(η6-arene)RuCl(2-pcdpm)] (η6-arene = C6H6, 1; C10H14, 2) and [(η5-C5Me5)MCl(2-pcdpm)] (M = Rh, 3; Ir, 4) containing a new chelating ligand 4-(2-methoxypyridyl)-phenyldipyrromethene (2-pcdpm) have been described. The complexes 1–4 have been fully characterized by various physicochemical techniques, namely, elemental analyses, spectral (ESI-MS, IR, 1H, 13C NMR, UV/vis) and electrochemical studies (cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV)). Structures of 3 and 4 have been determined crystallographically. In vitro antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity of these complexes has been evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay, cell morphology, apoptosis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EtBr) fluorescence staining, and DNA fragmentation assay in Dalton lymphoma (DL) cell lines. Interaction of 1–4 with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has also been supported by absorption titration and electrochemical studies. Our results suggest t...

Characterization of Novel Plant Growth Promoting Endophytic Bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans from Wheat Plant

Abstract: Nine diazotrophic bacteria were isolated from surface-sterilized roots and culms of wheat variety Malviya-234, which is grown with very low or no inputs of nitrogen fertilizer. Out of the nine bacteria, four showed indole acetic acid (IAA) production, and five were positive for P solubilization. One isolate, WM234C-3, showed appreciable level of nitrogenase activity, IAA production, and P solubilization ability, and was further characterized with a view to exploiting its plant growth promoting activity. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, this isolate was identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans. Diazotrophic nature of this particular isolate was confirmed by Western blot analysis of dinitrogenase reductase and amplification of nifH. Analysis of the nifH sequence showed close homology with typical diazotrophic bacteria. Endophytic nature and cross-infection ability of WM234C-3 were tested by molecular tagging with gusA fused to a constitutive promoter followed by inoculation onto rice seedlings in axenic conditions. At 21 days after inoculation, the roots showed blue staining, the most intense color being at the emergence of lateral roots and root tips. Microscopic observation confirmed colonization of gus-tagged WM234C-3 in the intercellular spaces of cortical as well as vascular zones of roots. Inoculation of gus-tagged WM234C-3 to rice plants resulted in significant increase in root/shoot length, fresh weight, and chlorophyll a content. Plant growth promoting features coupled with cross-infection ability suggest that this endophytic bacterium may be exploited as agricultural agent for various crops after a thorough and critical pathogenicity test.