Recent Researches

Supercharged GM tomatoes packed with industrial quantities of disease-fighting plant chemicals could soon be on the menu. Just one of the genetically engineered tomatoes grown by British scientists contains as much of the grape compound resveratrol as 50 bottles of red wine. The antioxidant chemical is said to combat heart …

The most important ingredient in gin is under threat from disease in the UK. The juniper berry, which gives the spirit its particular taste and makes it legally “gin”, has been found to be in decline by wildlife conservationists in Scotland. Amateur group Plantlife has warned that juniper is in a “critical …

An analysis of 53 weight-loss studies that included more than 68,000 people has concluded that, despite their popularity, low-fat diets are no more effective than higher-fat diets for long-term weight loss. And overall, neither type of diet works particularly well. A year after their diets started, participants in the 53 …

A little-known plant with a truly bizarre name is now making headlines as a cancer killer, with the compound of the plant vanishing tumors in mice with pancreatic cancer. Known as the ‘thunder god vine’ or lei gong teng, the Chinese plant is actually integrated into Chinese medicine and has …

Increasing calcium intake through dietary sources or supplements is unlikely to improve bone health or prevent fractures in older people, conclude two studies published in The BMJ this week. Collectively, these results suggest that increasing calcium intake, through supplements or dietary sources, should not be recommended for fracture prevention. Guidelines …

The neglect treasure of super strength Sisal (Agave sisalana) yields fiber in its leaves that is bio-degradable with good mechanical strength offers a great promise for sustainable societies. Heading towards a bio-based era, entails swapping of many synthetic raw material to more renewable raw materials of plants and animal origin …

The world might seem a little grayer than usual when we’re down in the dumps and we often talk about “feeling blue” — new research suggests that the associations we make between emotion and color go beyond mere metaphor. The results of two studies indicate that feeling sadness may actually …

There are many medicinal plants in India that have been used to treat various human diseases for ages. Since ancient times, humans have battled against many natural calamities that they are faced with. One of these is our battle against illnesses and diseases. We have found many of the cures …

A development that is sure to be propitious to the country’s agricultural sector, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) has voiced its intention to establish a research centre at the National Agriculture Research Centre (Narc). The Mexico-based international body will set up the Borlaug Institute for South Asia-Pakistan …

For over seven hundred million years, dinosaurs ruled the earth. Some had huge teeth that ripped the flesh of their target. However, there were also some plant eating dinosaurs too that could graze from the top of the trees. The dinosaurs’ dominant position was undoubtedly assured to last long but, …