92 results on '"Fazal Ullah"'
Search Results
2. Root-to-shoot signaling positively mediates source-sink relation in late growth stages in diploid and tetraploid wheat
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Asfa Batool, Shi-Sheng Li, Dong-Xia Yue, Fazal Ullah, Ling Zhao, Zheng-Guo Cheng, Chao Wang, Hai-Xia Duan, Guang-Chao Lv, Zeeshan ul Haq, Khalil Ahmed, Yan-Wen Gui, Li Zhu, Yun-Li Xiao, and You-Cai Xiong
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Abscisic acid ,Non-hydraulic signaling ,Source-sink relations ,Cytokinin ,Primitive wheat ,Yield formation ,Botany ,QK1-989 - Abstract
Abstract Non-hydraulic root source signaling (nHRS) is a unique positive response to soil drying in the regulation of plant growth and development. However, it is unclear how the nHRS mediates the tradeoff between source and sink at the late growth stages and its adaptive mechanisms in primitive wheat. To address this issue, a root-splitting design was made by inserting solid partition in the middle of the pot culture to induce the occurrence of nHRS using four wheat cultivars (MO1 and MO4, diploid; DM22 and DM31, tetraploid) as materials. Three water treatments were designed as 1) both halves watered (CK), 2) holistic root system watered then droughted (FS), 3) one-half of the root system watered and half droughted (PS). FS and PS were designed to compare the role of the full root system and split root system to induce nHRS. Leaves samples were collected during booting and anthesis to compare the role of nHRS at both growth stages. The data indicated that under PS treatment, ABA concentration was significantly higher than FS and CK, demonstrating the induction of nHRS in split root design and nHRS decreased cytokinin (ZR) levels, particularly in the PS treatment. Soluble sugar and proline accumulation were higher in the anthesis stage as compared to the booting stage. POD activity was higher at anthesis, while CAT was higher at the booting stage. Increased ABA (nHRS) correlated with source-sink relationships and metabolic rate (i.e., leaf) connecting other stress signals. Biomass density showed superior resource acquisition and utilization capabilities in both FS and PS treatment as compared to CK in all plants. Our findings indicate that nHRS-induced alterations in phytohormones and their effect on source-sink relations were allied with the growth stages in primitive wheat.
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- 2024
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3. Investigation on the insecticidal activities of cyanobacterial extracts as an alternative source for the management of fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
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Sharanappa C.H., Bheemanna M, Prabhuraj A, Harischandra R. Naik, Nagaraj M. Naik, Saroja N. Rao, Ihab Mohamed Moussa, Roua A. Alsubki, Fazal Ullah, Hosam O. Elansary, and Kariyanna B
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Cyanobacterial ,Fall armyworm ,Nostoc muscorum ,Spirulina sp. LC50 ,GC-MS ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 ,Social sciences (General) ,H1-99 - Abstract
The Spodoptera frugiperda is a notorious pest with a broad host range. It severely damages crops, mainly in areas of the globewhere maize and sorghum are grown. The pest is difficult to control due to its adaptive nature and resistance to several insecticides available in the market. So, an identification of the alternative strategy is the prime important in the present context. Insecticidal activities of cyanobacterial extracts were evaluated in the laboratory as a biocomponent against S. frugiperda. The crude extracts of Nostoc muscorum and Spirulina sp. were prepared by using ethanol, methanol and petroleum ether solvents. Soxhlet apparatus was used for extraction. S. frugiperda larvae in their second instar were given access to fragments of maize leaf that had been treated with various cyanobacterial extracts. The findings displayed that the petroleum ether extract of N. muscorum had the lowest LC50 value of 155.22 ppm, followed by petroleum ether extracts of Spirulina, ethanol extract of N. Muscorum, methanol extract of N. muscorum, ethanol and methanol extract of Spirulina with an LC50 values of 456.02, 710, 780, 1050 and 1070 ppm respectively. Later, the effect of LC50 values on many biological parameters like the larval duration and pupal stages, the percentage of pupation, the weight of the pupal stage, the malformation of the pupal and adult stages, adult emergence percentage, fertility and the longevity of the male and female adult stages of S. frugiperda was examined. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the crude extract to identify the bioactive components that were responsible for the insecticidal properties. The major compounds detected were diethyl phthalate (19.87 %), tetradecane (5.03%), hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (4.10 %), dodecane (4.03%), octadecane (3.72%), octadecanoic acid, methyl ester (3.40 %), ethyl oleate (3.11 %), methyl ester. octadecenoic acid (3.04 %), heptadecane (3.04 %) and phytol (3.02 %). The presence of several bioactive chemicals in the cyanobacterial extracts may be the reason for their insecticidal actions, thus it can be used as an alternative and new source to combat fall armyworm and other crop pests.
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- 2024
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4. Elevation-driven modifications in tissue architecture and physiobiochemical traits of Panicum antidotale Retz. in the Pothohar Plateau, Pakistan
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Muhammad Irshad, Mansoor Hameed, Ummar Iqbal, Muhammad Kaleem, Amina Ameer, Naila Asghar, Eman A. Mahmoud, Fazal Ullah, Ihab Mohamed Moussa, Mohamed Al-Yafrasi, Hosam O. Elansary, and Khawaja Shafique Ahmad
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Elevation gradient ,Bulliform cells ,Defense regulation ,Storage parenchyma ,Tissue sclerification ,Plant ecology ,QK900-989 - Abstract
Mountainous ecosystems are experiencing rapid shifts in distribution patterns and community structure due to the impacts of climate change and vegetation dynamics. This study offers a comprehensive insight into the adaptive mechanisms of Panicum antidotale to varying elevations within the Pothohar Plateau, shedding light on its survival strategies in climate-affected regions. The findings reveal that populations at lower elevations exhibit maximum height, leaf area, shoot length, and fresh weight, whereas those at higher elevations display significant decrease in these parameters. Moreover, a significant decline in species density, frequency and cover is evident at high elevation. High-elevation populations demonstrate decreased photosynthetic traits, including chlorophyll, carotenoid, and Na and Ca content. Furthermore, there are notable variations in the antioxidant enzyme activity across elevation gradients. Populations at lower elevations exhibit higher activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. Across the gradient, there were significant reductions in root and stem radius, sclerenchyma thickness, bulliform cell size, metaxylem vessels, and phloem area. Populations at moderate elevations displayed thicker lamina and epidermis, larger cortical cells, wider xylem vessels, and increased phloem area; however, these traits declined at higher elevations. High-elevation populations showed thicker lamina and epidermis, extensive sclerenchyma, greater cortical cell area, and higher stomatal density. Photosynthetic traits and enzymatic activity were major contributors at moderate elevations while stem and leaf traits were significantly changed at high elevations. Overall, this research contributes significantly to the broader knowledge of plant adaptation in mountainous ecosystems and stresses the importance of considering elevation as a critical factor in ecological studies.
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- 2024
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5. Evaluation of potential inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase, pancreatic lipase, and cancer cell lines using raw leaves extracts of three fabaceae species
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Iram Fatima, Naila Safdar, Wasim Akhtar, Ammara Munir, Saddam Saqib, Asma Ayaz, Saraj Bahadur, Abdulwahed Fahad Alrefaei, Fazal Ullah, and Wajid Zaman
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Alzheimer's disease ,Cancer ,Fabaceae ,Obesity ,Phytochemicals ,Science (General) ,Q1-390 ,Social sciences (General) ,H1-99 - Abstract
The present study examined the biological potential and phytochemicals of Sophora mollis, Mucuna pruriens, and Indigofera atropurpurea methanolic leaf extracts. In vitro anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-lipase assays were performed using different concentrations of plant extracts, and the IC50 values were determined. The cytotoxic potential of the selected plant extracts was assessed against HeLa, PC3, and 3T3 cell lines using an MTT assay. S. mollis leaf extract displayed the highest inhibition percentage (114.60% ± 19.95 at 1000 μg/mL) for the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with a prominent IC50 value of 75.9 μg/mL. The anti-lipase potential was highest with the M. pruriens leaf extract (355.5 μg/mL IC50), followed by the S. mollis extract (862.7 μg/mL IC50). Among the cell lines tested, the cytotoxic potential of the I. atropurpurea extract (91.1 ppm IC50) against the PC3 cell line was promising. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, rutin trihydrate, and quercetin dihydrate in varying concentrations in all plant species. The concentration of chlorogenic acid (69.09 ppm) was highest in M. pruriens, and the caffeic acid concentration (45.20 ppm) was higher in S. mollis. This paper reports the presence of bioactive therapeutic compounds in selected species of the Fabaceae family that could be micro-propagated, isolated, and utilized in pharmaceutical industries.
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- 2023
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6. Unveiling Lathyrus aphaca L. as a Newly Identified Host for Begomovirus Infection: A Comprehensive Study
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Tehmina Bahar, Fasiha Qurashi, Muhammad Saleem Haider, Murad Ali Rahat, Fazal Akbar, Muhammad Israr, Ahmad Ali, Zahid Ullah, Fazal Ullah, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh, Ryan Casini, and Hosam O. Elansary
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Geminiviridae ,Lathyrus aphaca ,monopartite begomovirus ,Genetics ,QH426-470 - Abstract
The Begomovirus genus of the family Geminiviridae comprises the largest group of geminiviruses. Begomoviruses are transmitted by the whitefly complex (Bemisia tabaci) and infect dicotyledonous plants in tropical and subtropical regions. The list of begomoviruses is continuously increasing as a result of improvements in the methods for identification, especially from weed plants, which are considered a source of new viruses and reservoirs of economically important viruses but are often neglected during diversity studies. Lathyrus aphaca L. weed plants (yellow-flowered pea) with varicose veins and discoloration of the leaves were found. Amplified genomic DNA through rolling circular amplification was subjected to PCR analysis for the detection of the viral genome and associated DNA-satellites (alphasatellites and betasatellites). A full-length sequence (2.8 kb) of a monopartite begomovirus clone was determined; however, we could not find any associated DNA satellites. The amplified full-length clone of Rose leaf curl virus (RoLCuV) reserved all the characteristics and features of an Old World (OW) monopartite begomovirus. Furthermore, it is the first time it has been reported from a new weed host, yellow-flowered pea. Rolling circle amplification and polymerase chain reaction analysis of associated DNA satellites, alphasatellite, and betasatellite, were frequently accomplished but unable to amplify from the begomovirus-infected samples, indicating the presence of only monopartite Old World begomovirus. It is observed that RoLCuV has the capability to infect different hosts individually without the assistance of any DNA satellite component. Recombination in viruses is also a source of begomovirus infection in different hosts.
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- 2023
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7. Study of Comparative Morphology of Eight Cultivated Genotypes of Olea europaea L
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Ghulam Sarwar, Tauseef Anwar, Muhammad Shafique Chaudhary, Moazzam Jamil, Asif Kamal, Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Fazal Ullah, and Wajid Zaman
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phyllotaxy ,chlorophyll ,carotenoids ,Koroneiki ,BARI-1 ,Arbequina ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
The current study was designed to assess the comparative morphology of eight olive cultivars with different geographical origins and diverse genetic backgrounds, introduced to a new climatic zone. The morphological parameters of eight (five exotic and three domestic) olive cultivars (Bari Zaitoon-1, Bari Zaitoon-2, Favolosa (FS-17), Koroneiki, Balkasar, Ottobratica, Leccino, and Arbequina) were compared at the experimental area of the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan (29°24′0″ North, 71°41′0″ East, 401–421 feet above sea level). Plant height, number of leaves/15 cm shoot, leaf size characteristics (leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and length/width ratio), leaf shape characteristics (margin, leaf axil, base, and apex angles), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll contents, and carotenoids), phyllotaxy, and leaf color and venation were recorded. The highest plant height (28 cm) was obtained by Bari Zaitoon-2 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (24 cm), both of which are domestic cultivar of Pakistan, while the shortest height (5 cm) was obtained by Koroneiki. Leccino displayed the highest average number of leaves (17.8) on main shoot, followed by BARI-2 (16.4) and the lowest score was from Balkasar (10.4). Leaf area ranged from 5.66 cm2 (Bari Zaitoon-1) to 3.08 cm2 (Koroneiki). The longest leaf length (5.74 cm) was found in Bari Zaitoon-1 and the shortest (4.04 cm) in Koroneiki, while the broadest leaves were found in Leccino (1.54 cm) and the narrowest (1.12 cm) in Koroneiki. Bari Zaitoon-2 led in leaf length to width ratio (4.058) followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (3.772) with small lanceolate leaves hardly reaching the value of 4, with the lowest value illustrated by Leccino. The total chloroplast pigments were highest in FS-17 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 and Bari Zaitoon-2, while the lowest was in Arbequina. Chlorophyll a was highest in Bari Zaitoon-1 followed by FS-17 and Balkasar, with the lowest rate in Arbequina. Chlorophyll b content of FS-17 was the highest whereas the Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents in Arbequina were the lowest of all the cultivars. The highest value of total carotenoids was found in Balkasar followed by FS-17 with the lowest value in Arbequina. The phyllotaxy was categorized into three types, i.e., alternate, opposite, and whorled. The combination of two or more types was usually observed on the same branch. The whorl of four leaves was also present in rare cases. Leaf venation was both pinnate and reticulate. The leaf base of most (four) of the olive cultivars, i.e., Arbequina, Balkasar, Leccino and FS-17, were cuneate having acute, rounded, apiculate, and cuspidate leaf tips, respectively. The findings revealed remarkable variations in olive morphology, especially in the leaves and a successful record of the preliminary data of olive cultivars from the study area was made. The present research demonstrated that local olive cultivars have unique characteristics that differentiate them from imported cultivars. Thus, local cultivars provide novel genetic resources that should be conserved.
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- 2023
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8. Improvement of Nutritional Quality of Tomato Fruit with Funneliformis mosseae Inoculation under Greenhouse Conditions
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Fazal Ullah, Habib Ullah, Muhammad Ishfaq, Syeda Leeda Gul, Tanweer Kumar, and Zhifang Li
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phosphate fertilizer ,yield ,free amino acids ,fruit quality ,BRIX value ,carotenoids ,Plant culture ,SB1-1110 - Abstract
Long-term soil mining with extensive cultivation practices and traditional breeding methods have declined the flavor and nutritional value of tomatoes. Apart from important mineral nutrients (i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) can considerably improve the quality of agricultural production through higher phosphate uptake. Using hydroponically cultured commercially available tomato cultivars, we investigated the possible effects of mycorrhizae in improving the nutritional quality of tomato fruit. Funneliformis mosseae (syn. Glomus mosseae)-inoculated tomato plants were grown on a 1:1 mixture of peat and vermiculite, and different phosphorus levels were applied. RNAseq and metabolites were studied to confirm the relative gene expression and metabolites in fruit tissues. The results showed that AM inoculation with low phosphorus can significantly improve important fruit-quality traits such as free amino acids, lycopene (47.9%), and β-carotene (29.6%) without compromising the yield. Further, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing the nutritional and ripening potential of fruits produced by mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Notably, carotenoids and sugars (BRIX values) were found to be higher in mycorrhized plants in contrast to non-mycorrhized plants. Therefore, the current study suggests mycorrhization as a promising approach for the production of high-quality tomato fruit for human consumption.
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- 2023
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9. Biological Characterization of Polystichum lonchitis L. for Phytochemical and Pharmacological Activities in Swiss Albino Mice Model
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Jan Sher, Gul Jan, Muhammad Israr, Muhammad Irfan, Nighat Yousuf, Fazal Ullah, Abdur Rauf, Abdulrahman Alshammari, and Metab Alharbi
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analgesic ,anti-inflammatory ,antipyretic ,antispasmodic ,antioxidant ,phytochemistry ,Botany ,QK1-989 - Abstract
Polystichum lonchitis L. is a fern belonging to the family Dryopteridaceae. The present study was conducted to evaluate its pharmacological, antioxidant, and phytochemical properties, and to conduct GC–MS screening of P. lonchitis. The acetic acid-induced writhing test, yeast-induced hyperpyrexia method, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, and charcoal meal test model were carried out to assess analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and antispasmodic activity, respectively. DPPH was used as an antioxidant, while the phytochemical screening was conducted using standard scientific methods. Among the pharmacological activities, the most significant effects were observed in the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, followed by the antipyretic and antispasmodic activities, at a dose of 450 mg/kg after the 4th hour, compared with 150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg. For the evaluation of antioxidant activities, the most significant results were detected in the methanolic and aqueous extracts. The detection of flavonoids and phenol occurred most significantly in the methanolic extract, and then in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. The main compounds detected using GC–MS analysis with a high metabolic rate was 𝛼-D-Galactopyranoside, which had a metabolic rate of 0.851, and methyl and n-hexadecanoic, which had a metabolic rate of 0.972. Overall, the results suggested that P. lonchitis had a strong potential for pharmacological activities. The suggested assessment provided a way to isolate the bioactive constituents and will help to provide new medicines with fewer side effects. Due to the fern’s effectiveness against various diseases, the results provide clear evidence that they also have the potential to cure various diseases.
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- 2023
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10. The Key Roles of ROS and RNS as a Signaling Molecule in Plant–Microbe Interactions
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Murtaza Khan, Sajid Ali, Tiba Nazar Ibrahim Al Azzawi, Saddam Saqib, Fazal Ullah, Asma Ayaz, and Wajid Zaman
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ROS ,RNS ,signaling ,plant–microbe interactions ,antioxidant system ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) play a pivotal role in the dynamic cell signaling systems in plants, even under biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Over the past two decades, various studies have endorsed the notion that these molecules can act as intracellular and intercellular signaling molecules at a very low concentration to control plant growth and development, symbiotic association, and defense mechanisms in response to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. However, the upsurge of ROS and RNS under stressful conditions can lead to cell damage, retarded growth, and delayed development of plants. As signaling molecules, ROS and RNS have gained great attention from plant scientists and have been studied under different developmental stages of plants. However, the role of RNS and RNS signaling in plant–microbe interactions is still unknown. Different organelles of plant cells contain the enzymes necessary for the formation of ROS and RNS as well as their scavengers, and the spatial and temporal positions of these enzymes determine the signaling pathways. In the present review, we aimed to report the production of ROS and RNS, their role as signaling molecules during plant–microbe interactions, and the antioxidant system as a balancing system in the synthesis and elimination of these species.
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- 2023
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11. Palynological Study of Fossil Plants from Miocene Murree Formation of Pakistan: Clues to Investigate Palaeoclimate and Palaeoenvironment
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Shabir Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Shazia Sultana, Alessio Papini, Fazal Ullah, Saddam Saqib, Asma Ayaz, Mansoor Ahmed Bazai, Wajid Zaman, and Muhammad Zafar
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palynoflora ,taxonomic ,microscopy ,systematics ,vegetation’s origin ,Agriculture - Abstract
Palaeoflora in Pakistan in the Miocene is characterized by its high biodiversity. The present study investigated the pollen of fossil plants from the Murree Formation of Pakistan. Shales and mudstones were collected from the Murree section located at the foothills of the Margalla hills and analyzed by palynofacies and palynostratigraphic analyses. In this paleopalynological study of the Miocene Murree Formations of Pakistan, 31 samples were analyzed using microscopic techniques containing 48 pollen types from 12 families. The quantitative and qualitative morphological features of pollen were determined using light and scanning electron microscopy to help identify the pollen grains. Exine ornamentations and spines were the most important diagnostic features for distinguishing one pollen grain from another. The maximum exine thickness was observed in Ocimum basilicum of 4.25 μm, whereas the maximum pollen diameter was recorded for Pinus of 69.5 μm. Lamiaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae were the dominant families. The results showed that the preservation of floral records was not optimal. The presented results provide data on the dominant fossil plant taxa that existed in Pakistan (23.03–5.33 Ma). The evolution and phytogeographical histories of fossil plants can be unraveled using rock sediments to preserve biodiversity.
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- 2023
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12. Genetic diversity and comparative study of genomic DNA extraction protocols in Tamarix L. species
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Xiao Cheng, Xiaoling Hong, Majid Khayatnezhad, and Fazal Ullah
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DNA yield ,extraction protocols ,Tamarix ,ISSR ,secondary metabolites ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Cytology ,QH573-671 - Abstract
The genus Tamarix consists of about 54 species that mainly grow in saline areas of deserts and semi-deserts. This genus is chemically characterized by the presence of tannins, flavonoids, anthocyanins and essential oils which interfere with the extraction of pure genomic DNA. Thus it is necessary to optimize extraction protocols to minimize the influence of these compounds to the lowest level. The present study compares the efficiency of five different approaches to extract total genomic DNA in Tamarix species, showing significant differences in the extracted DNA contents and quality,by using Kit (DNP TM Kit), CTAB DNA extraction method by Murray and Thompson, Sahu et al., Nalini et al. and Bi et al., for the extraction of DNA from Tamarix species. Our results showed significant differences in DNA contents between these five methods. The quantity and quality of extracted genomic DNA were checked by the spectrophotometer, Nano-Drop and and agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. Finally, a PCR-based method was also applied to verify the amplification efficiency for two molecular markers (ITS and ISSR).. In the present study, the genetic diversity of 96 Tamarix individuals species and 8 populations were studied using 10 ISSR markerswhile for nrDNA ITS 8 species samples were used. The method of Nalini et al., provided best results (207 ng/μL) in terms of quantity and quality ofDNA. Our results proposed that this method could be effective for plants with the same polysaccharides, proteins and polyphenols components. The advantage of this method is simple and fast as it does not involve time consuming steps such as incubation at higher temperatures, and also do not requires expensive chemicals such as proteinase K, liquid nitrogen. ,. The success of this method in obtaining high-quality genomic DNA has been demonstrated in the Tamarix species group and the reliability of this method has been discussed.
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- 2021
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13. Palynological Study of Weed Flora from Potohar Plateau
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Anwer Usma, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Shazia Sultana, Fazal Ullah, Saddam Saqib, Asma Ayaz, and Wajid Zaman
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exine sculpturing ,palynomorph ,pollen grains ,scanning electron microscopy ,Pakistan ,Agriculture - Abstract
The pollen morphology of weeds was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A morpho-palynological investigation of 18 species of weeds that belongs to 16 angiosperms families was performed using SEM to document distinguishable microscopic features. The main objective of the present study was to provide basic knowledge about morpho-palynological features of weed species that helps delimit the weed flora of the Potohar Plateau. The results show diversity among the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of pollen shape, equatorial and polar axis diameter, the exine’s thickness, and the exine’s surface ornamentation. The pollen grains were spherical, prolate-spheroidal, oblate-spheroidal, and sub-oblate. The exine ornamentation in most species was reticulate, scarbate, aerolate, faveolate, reticulate-perforate, and reticulate-scabrate. All the species described possessed tricolpate pollen. The variations found in the thickness of the exine and other characters were helpful at the genus and species-specific levels. In accordance with these variations, a taxonomic key was prepared using these characteristics to identify and differentiate weed plant species. SEM images of pollen grains can help delimit the taxa to the species level. This study provides baseline information to distinguish the species of weeds.
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- 2022
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14. Mentha: Nutritional and Health Attributes to Treat Various Ailments Including Cardiovascular Diseases
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Saddam Saqib, Fazal Ullah, Muhammad Naeem, Muhammad Younas, Asma Ayaz, Sajid Ali, and Wajid Zaman
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phytoconstituents ,herbal medicine ,antidiabetic ,cytotoxic ,organoleptic ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
A poor diet, resulting in malnutrition, is a critical challenge that leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Mentha species are famous as therapeutic herbs and have long served as herbal medicine. Recently, the demand for its products, such as herbal drugs, medicines, and natural herbal formulations, has increased significantly. However, the available literature lacks a thorough overview of Mentha phytochemicals’ effects for reducing malnutritional risks against cardiovascular diseases. In this context, we aimed to review the recent advances of Mentha phytochemicals and future challenges for reducing malnutritional risks in cardiovascular patients. Current studies indicated that Mentha species phytochemicals possess unique antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and antioxidant potential, which can be used as herbal medicine directly or indirectly (such as food ingredients) and are effective in controlling and curing cardiovascular diseases. The presence of aromatic and flavor compounds of Mentha species greatly enhance the nutritional values of the food. Further interdisciplinary investigations are pivotal to explore main volatile compounds, synergistic actions of phytochemicals, organoleptic effects, and stability of Mentha sp. phytochemicals.
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- 2022
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15. Melatonin Function and Crosstalk with Other Phytohormones under Normal and Stressful Conditions
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Murtaza Khan, Sajid Ali, Hakim Manghwar, Saddam Saqib, Fazal Ullah, Asma Ayaz, and Wajid Zaman
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melatonin ,phytohormone ,biotic stress ,abiotic stress ,plant growth ,crop improvement ,Genetics ,QH426-470 - Abstract
Melatonin was discovered in plants in the late nineties, but its role, signaling, and crosstalk with other phytohormones remain unknown. Research on melatonin in plants has risen dramatically in recent years and the role of this putative plant hormone under biotic and abiotic stress conditions has been reported. In the present review, we discuss the main functions of melatonin in the growth and development of plants, its role under abiotic stresses, such as water stress (waterlogging and drought), extreme temperature (low and high), salinity, heavy metal, and light-induced stress. Similarly, we also discuss the role of melatonin under biotic stresses (antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects). Moreover, the present review meticulously discusses the crosstalk of melatonin with other phytohormones such as auxins, gibberellic acids, cytokinins, ethylene, and salicylic acid under normal and stressful conditions and reports melatonin receptors and signaling in plants. All these aspects of melatonin suggest that phytomelatonin is a key player in crop improvement and biotic and abiotic stress regulation.
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- 2022
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16. Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Isolates from Soil Samples and Evaluation of their Antibacterial Potential against MDRS
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Shahida Sadiqi, Muhammad Hamza, Farooq Ali, Sadia Alam, Qismat Shakeela, Shehzad Ahmed, Asma Ayaz, Sajid Ali, Saddam Saqib, Fazal Ullah, and Wajid Zaman
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multidrug-resistant strains ,antimicrobial activity ,secondary metabolites ,Bacillus ,soil ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
Some soil microbes, with their diverse inhabitance, biologically active metabolites, and endospore formation, gave them characteristic predominance and recognition among other microbial communities. The present study collected ten soil samples from green land, agricultural and marshy soil sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. After culturing on described media, the bacterial isolates were identified through phenotypic, biochemical and phylogenetic analysis. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed three bacterial isolates, A6S7, A1S6, and A1S10, showing 99% nucleotides sequence similarity with Brevibacillus formosus, Bacillus Subtilis and Paenibacillus dendritiformis. The crude extract was prepared from bacterial isolates to assess the anti-bacterial potential against various targeted multidrug-resistant strains (MDRS), including Acinetobacter baumannii (ATCC 19606), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (BAA-1683), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (BAA-2108), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 292013), Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 14028). Our analysis revealed that all bacterial extracts possess activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, efficiently restricting the growth of E. coli compared with positive control ciprofloxacin. The study concluded that the identified species have the potential to produce antimicrobial compounds which can be used to control different microbial infections, especially MDRS. Moreover, the analysis of the bacterial extracts through GC-MS indicated the presence of different antimicrobial compounds such as propanoic acid, oxalic acid, phenol and hexadecanoic acid.
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- 2022
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17. Pollen Morphology of Rosa sericea Complex and Their Taxonomic Contribution
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Fazal Ullah, Yun-Dong Gao, Wajid Zaman, and Xin-Fen Gao
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species boundaries ,palynology ,Rosa sericea complex ,systematics ,taxonomy ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
In this research, the pollen morphology of the Rosa sericea complex has been studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The present study aimed to provide baseline information for the taxonomic identification of the R. sericea complex taxa. The pollen sculpture, outline, and aperture show variability in the studied taxa. The R. sericea complex includes taxonomically challenging species with undistinguishable boundaries. Identifying taxon boundaries in closely related species is fundamental to investigating evolution and biodiversity. Taxa circumscription of R. sericea complex is insufficient, unresolved, and is a prerequisite for comprehensive systematic revisions. To resolve these issues, we have attempted to identify some important diagnostic characters for the species of R. sericea complex. This research studied different qualitative and quantitative characteristics of R. sericea complex pollen. The qualitative characteristics included polar and equatorial view, sculpture, pollen outline, apertures, exine, size category, and polarity of pollen. In contrast, the quantitative features include polar and equatorial diameter, P/E, colpi length and width, and distance between colpi. Pollen of this complex is mono and tricolporate. The morphological characters studied here provide very few taxonomic details with which to separate the species of the complex into distinct taxa. Some of the studied characters offer important information for species delimitation including sculpture, pollen outline, and apertures.
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- 2022
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18. Biodiesel Production Using Wild Apricot (Prunus aitchisonii) Seed Oil via Heterogeneous Catalysts
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Batool Nisa, Fazal Ullah, Iqbal Nisa, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Mamoona Munir, Shazia Sultana, Wajid Zaman, Hakim Manghwar, Farman Ullah, Muhammad Nauman Khan, Diaa O. El-Ansary, and Hosam O. Elansary
- Subjects
biodiesel ,nano-catalysts ,heterogeneous catalyst ,Prunus aitchisonii seed ,oil cake ,Organic chemistry ,QD241-441 - Abstract
We confined the formation and characterization of heterogenous nano-catalysts and then used them to produce biodiesel from the novel non-edible seed oil of Prunus aitchisonii. P. aitchisonii seeds’ oil content was extracted at about 52.4 ± 3% with 0.77% FFA. Three different heterogenous nano-catalysts—calcined (CPC), KPC, and KOH-activated P. aitchisonii cake Titanium Dioxide (TiO2)—were synthesized using calcination and precipitation methods. The mentioned catalysts were characterized through XRD, SEM, and EDX to inspect their crystallin dimension, shape, and arrangement. Titanium dioxide has morphological dimensions so that the average particle size ranges from 49–60 nm. The result shows that the crystal structure of TiO2 is tetragonal (Anatase). The surface morphology of CPC illustrated that the roughness of the surface was increased after calcination, many macropores and hollow cavities appeared, and the external structure became very porous. These changes in morphology may increase the catalytic efficiency of CPC than non-calcined Prunus aitchisonii oil cake. The fuel belonging to PAOB stood according to the series suggested by ASTM criteria. All the characterization reports that P. aitchisonii is a novel and efficient potential source of biodiesel as a green energy source.
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- 2022
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19. Macro-Morphological and Ecological Variation in Rosa sericea Complex
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Fazal Ullah, Yundong Gao, İdris Sari, Rui-Fang Jiao, Saddam Saqib, and Xin-Fen Gao
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species boundaries ,species concept ,taxonomic relationship ,conservation ,future climate change ,ecology ,Agriculture - Abstract
Taxon delimitation and identification are important in many areas of biology, especially in taxonomy and conservation. Taxonomic treatment is required to establish and justify recommendations in conservation biology for the group being considered. Imperfect and controversial taxonomy can undermine conservation assessment. We studied 71 populations; 665 individuals corresponding to the morphology of the Rosa sericea complex (including six taxa, one of which has extremely narrow distributions) were collected from sympatric, parapatric, and allopatric populations distributed in China. This study aims to investigate whether the complex species are macromorphologically different species and evaluate the rare taxa of the complex for conservation priority. The morphological characters and principal component analysis (PCA) of the R. sericea complex showed that the complex species have overlapping characters but can distinguish morphologically. The species of R. sericea complex systematics status based on previous DNA sequencing is controversial. The ecological habitat’s current morphological characters only delimit the R. morrisonensis (in Taiwan). To evade mistakes in species conservation, we recommend that taxonomical knowledge be needed to ensure success in protecting target species. Thus, the complementarity of systemic and conservation assurance makes conservation actions more necessary for the complex’s rare taxa. The ecological niche modelling (ENM) results showed that habitats of these conspecific taxa would be shrunken. With the presence of snapshots in time, the geography of taxa might decrease rapidly in representative entirely of the Geographic space (G-space) and Environmental space (E-space) that such taxa are bright to inhabit. So far, the significant inferences meant for the niche occupy the most incredible comparative research, taking the impermanent nature of taxa distributions and undertaking that such species are at a state of stability. If the artificially identified species (rarely distributed) are based on morphological identification, they must be conserved.
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- 2022
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20. Pharmacology, taxonomy and phytochemistry of the genus artemisia specifically from Pakistan: a comprehensive review
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Sobia Zeb, Ashaq Ali, Wajid Zaman, Sidra Zeb, Shabana Ali, Fazal Ullah, and Abdul Shakoor
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artemisia ,artemisinin ,essentials oil ,pharmacological uses ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
The genus Artemisia belongs to family Asteraceae and commonly used for ailments of multiple lethal diseases. Twenty-nine species of the genus have been identified from Pakistan which are widely used as pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetics, sanitary, perfumes and food industries. In this review we studied the medicinal uses, taxonomy, essential oils as well as phytochemistry were compiled. Data was collected from the original research articles, texts books and review papers including globally accepted search engines i.e. PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Species found of Artemisia in Pakistan with their medicinal properties and phytochemicals were recorded. The present review highlights the geographical distribution, morphological features and medicinal importance of different Artemisia species. Species of the genus are used in different traditional treatments by the local communities of Pakistan and worldwide. The essential oils and some other important derivatives such as artemisinin are commonly used to cure malaria, cancer, stomach, kidney, liver, and spleen other bacterial, fungal, helminthic diseases and much more. These species also possess some important extract such as lignans, polyphenols and flavonoids that help in activation of certain pathways. Majority of work on the taxonomic validation of the species are showing confusion in its morphology, for the correct identification of the species in the present review special focus has been made on its morphological characteristics, along with their traditional uses, pharmacology and phytochemical constituents. This review will provide baseline information for further research on the genus and as well as at species level on different aspects. The aim of this study is to provide comprehensive overview of Genus Artemisia specifically the species of the genus from Pakistan.
- Published
- 2018
21. Quality Of Life Of Thalassemia Major Patients
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Fazal Ullah Khan, Isra Ali Nawaz, Aysha Asif, and Abdul Rehman
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Medicine - Abstract
Background: Thalassemia major is a chronic disease that presents as a range of serious clinical and psychological challenges. The effect of thalassemia on physical health can lead to deformity, growth retardation and delayed puberty. We conducted this study to assess quality of life of thalassemia major patients registered in thalassemia treatment centers of Rawalpindi. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done in TTC (Thalassemia Treatment Center) of HFH (Holy family hospital) and Thalassemia House in Rawalpindi from January 2018 to March 2018 after ethical approval from Institutional Research Forum of Rawalpindi Medical University. A total of 120 thalassemic patients ranging from 5 to 28 years of age brought for blood transfusion were included. Patients having impaired cognitive functions and those having multiple comorbidities were excluded. A modified version of WHO QOL BREF questionnaire was developed to assess the physical, psychological, environmental and social aspects of Quality of Life. Data was entered on SPSS v 22 and descriptive statistics were applied. Results: Out of 120 patients surveyed, majority were females (55.83 %) with a mean age of 10.22± 4.5 years. Forty four percent of the patients were males with mean age of 11.42± 5.19 years. Quality of life of these patients was found to be 68.8%. In females it was 69.34 % and in males it was 68.15%. Quality of life was significantly associated with psychological (p
- Published
- 2019
22. Consumption of wild food plants among tribal communities of Pak-Afghan border, near Bajaur, Pakistan
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Abdur Rauf, Fazal Ullah, Saddam Saqib, Fatima Batool, Syed Abidullah, Wajid Zaman, and Asma Ayaz
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Ecology ,biology ,business.industry ,Distribution (economics) ,biology.organism_classification ,food.food ,Toxicology ,Geography ,Afghan ,food ,Ziziphus jujuba ,Ethnobotany ,Rhamnaceae ,Conservation status ,business ,Socioeconomic status ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Global biodiversity - Abstract
This survey was conducted to document the distribution, market potential, medicinal properties, and conservation status of wild food plants (WFPs) which are consumed by local communities of poor socioeconomic background, residing near the Pakistan-Afghan border. Data were collected via semi-structured during 2017–2020 and a total of 288 informers were interviewed in a different locality. In this survey, a total of 95 WFPs species of 39 families and 58 genera were documented. Among these WFPS, 70% of species are ethno-medicinally known. August was the peak month for the accessibility of WFPs (i.e., 17%). The most consumed parts were leaves (37%) and fruit (36%). Plant species of 36 families out of 39 were marketable and reported for the first time, which was further interrelated with taste, ethnobotanical, ethnomedicinal value, FC, and relative frequency of citation (RFC). Rhamnaceae and Rosaceae were the dominant families with the highest number of frequencies of citation (FC) and number of species. The highest FC (77) and RFC (0.267) were calculated for Ziziphus jujuba. This study presents the market potential and distribution of the WFPs for the first time in a war-affected zone. These findings would facilitate local people along the Pakistan-Afghan border and researchers to utilize WFPs to fulfill food requirements. We suggest that further pharmacological and biological assessments of these plants can contribute to economic prosperity, and increase the dietary diversity of this region.
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- 2023
23. Study of Comparative Morphology of Eight Cultivated Genotypes of Olea europaea L
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Zaman, Ghulam Sarwar, Tauseef Anwar, Muhammad Shafique Chaudhary, Moazzam Jamil, Asif Kamal, Abd El-Zaher M. A. Mustafa, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Fazal Ullah, and Wajid
- Subjects
phyllotaxy ,chlorophyll ,carotenoids ,Koroneiki ,BARI-1 ,Arbequina - Abstract
The current study was designed to assess the comparative morphology of eight olive cultivars with different geographical origins and diverse genetic backgrounds, introduced to a new climatic zone. The morphological parameters of eight (five exotic and three domestic) olive cultivars (Bari Zaitoon-1, Bari Zaitoon-2, Favolosa (FS-17), Koroneiki, Balkasar, Ottobratica, Leccino, and Arbequina) were compared at the experimental area of the Department of Botany, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan (29°24′0″ North, 71°41′0″ East, 401–421 feet above sea level). Plant height, number of leaves/15 cm shoot, leaf size characteristics (leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, and length/width ratio), leaf shape characteristics (margin, leaf axil, base, and apex angles), leaf pigments (Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll contents, and carotenoids), phyllotaxy, and leaf color and venation were recorded. The highest plant height (28 cm) was obtained by Bari Zaitoon-2 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (24 cm), both of which are domestic cultivar of Pakistan, while the shortest height (5 cm) was obtained by Koroneiki. Leccino displayed the highest average number of leaves (17.8) on main shoot, followed by BARI-2 (16.4) and the lowest score was from Balkasar (10.4). Leaf area ranged from 5.66 cm2 (Bari Zaitoon-1) to 3.08 cm2 (Koroneiki). The longest leaf length (5.74 cm) was found in Bari Zaitoon-1 and the shortest (4.04 cm) in Koroneiki, while the broadest leaves were found in Leccino (1.54 cm) and the narrowest (1.12 cm) in Koroneiki. Bari Zaitoon-2 led in leaf length to width ratio (4.058) followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 (3.772) with small lanceolate leaves hardly reaching the value of 4, with the lowest value illustrated by Leccino. The total chloroplast pigments were highest in FS-17 followed by Bari Zaitoon-1 and Bari Zaitoon-2, while the lowest was in Arbequina. Chlorophyll a was highest in Bari Zaitoon-1 followed by FS-17 and Balkasar, with the lowest rate in Arbequina. Chlorophyll b content of FS-17 was the highest whereas the Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll contents in Arbequina were the lowest of all the cultivars. The highest value of total carotenoids was found in Balkasar followed by FS-17 with the lowest value in Arbequina. The phyllotaxy was categorized into three types, i.e., alternate, opposite, and whorled. The combination of two or more types was usually observed on the same branch. The whorl of four leaves was also present in rare cases. Leaf venation was both pinnate and reticulate. The leaf base of most (four) of the olive cultivars, i.e., Arbequina, Balkasar, Leccino and FS-17, were cuneate having acute, rounded, apiculate, and cuspidate leaf tips, respectively. The findings revealed remarkable variations in olive morphology, especially in the leaves and a successful record of the preliminary data of olive cultivars from the study area was made. The present research demonstrated that local olive cultivars have unique characteristics that differentiate them from imported cultivars. Thus, local cultivars provide novel genetic resources that should be conserved.
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- 2023
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24. Unveiling Lathyrus aphaca L. as a Newly Identified Host for Begomovirus Infection: A Comprehensive Study
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Elansary, Tehmina Bahar, Fasiha Qurashi, Muhammad Saleem Haider, Murad Ali Rahat, Fazal Akbar, Muhammad Israr, Ahmad Ali, Zahid Ullah, Fazal Ullah, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh, Ryan Casini, and Hosam O.
- Subjects
Geminiviridae ,Lathyrus aphaca ,monopartite begomovirus - Abstract
The Begomovirus genus of the family Geminiviridae comprises the largest group of geminiviruses. Begomoviruses are transmitted by the whitefly complex (Bemisia tabaci) and infect dicotyledonous plants in tropical and subtropical regions. The list of begomoviruses is continuously increasing as a result of improvements in the methods for identification, especially from weed plants, which are considered a source of new viruses and reservoirs of economically important viruses but are often neglected during diversity studies. Lathyrus aphaca L. weed plants (yellow-flowered pea) with varicose veins and discoloration of the leaves were found. Amplified genomic DNA through rolling circular amplification was subjected to PCR analysis for the detection of the viral genome and associated DNA-satellites (alphasatellites and betasatellites). A full-length sequence (2.8 kb) of a monopartite begomovirus clone was determined; however, we could not find any associated DNA satellites. The amplified full-length clone of Rose leaf curl virus (RoLCuV) reserved all the characteristics and features of an Old World (OW) monopartite begomovirus. Furthermore, it is the first time it has been reported from a new weed host, yellow-flowered pea. Rolling circle amplification and polymerase chain reaction analysis of associated DNA satellites, alphasatellite, and betasatellite, were frequently accomplished but unable to amplify from the begomovirus-infected samples, indicating the presence of only monopartite Old World begomovirus. It is observed that RoLCuV has the capability to infect different hosts individually without the assistance of any DNA satellite component. Recombination in viruses is also a source of begomovirus infection in different hosts.
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- 2023
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25. Foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics of Apiaceae species endemic to Ulleungdo and Dokdo Islands, Republic of Korea
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Wajid Zaman, Fazal Ullah, and SeonJoo Park
- Subjects
Medical Laboratory Technology ,Histology ,Anatomy ,Instrumentation - Published
- 2023
26. Traditional knowledge of wild medicinal plants used by the inhabitants of Garam Chashma valley, district Chitral, Pakistan
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Muhammad Zafar, Sahira Jehanzeb, Wajid Zaman, Sumra Nawaz, Mushtaq Ahmad, Maimoona Birjees, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Flora ,biology ,Traditional medicine ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,010501 environmental sciences ,biology.organism_classification ,01 natural sciences ,Indigenous ,Structure questionnaire ,Geography ,Taxon ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,Lamiaceae ,Dermatological disorders ,Traditional knowledge ,Medicinal plants ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Garam Chashma valley is a mountainous valley situated in the Hindukush mountain range in Pakistan. This area is blessed with rich and diverse medicinal flora extensively utilized by the local community to cure health issues. The present article aims to explore and document the indigenous traditional knowledge about wild plants and their curative properties. This survey was carried out during April 2018 to September 2019. Data was collected from 153 indigenous people through semi structure questionnaire, group discussion, field survey and formal talks with elder people. Quantitative analysis of recorded data was obtained by applying quantitative indices like Frequency of Citation (FC) Use Reports (UR), Family Use Value (FUV), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). About 83 plant taxa belonging to 36 different families were recorded for the treatment of 95 different disorders grouped into sixteen disease categories. Herbs were the most leading plant habit (81.9%) and dried plant material (51.8%) usually preferred for therapeutics uses. Among families Asteraceae (16.86%) was recorded as major taxon with highest number of species followed by Lamiaceae (12.06%). Leaves 33% were recorded most abundantly used plant part followed by flowers (17%). Regarding to formulations, decoction (39.3%) and powder (17.1%) were recorded most frequent mode of preparation while oral intake (78%) was most preferred administration route. About (40%) plants species were utilized to treat Gastrointestinal diseases (GIT) disorders. Informant consensus revealed that Gastrointestinal disorders and Dermatological disorders were top ranked ailments categories with 0.94 consensus. The current study imparted that medicinal plants are still used by the indigenous communities of Garam Chashma valley, district lower Chitral, Pakistan. Thus, this investigation provides basis for the conservation of medicinal flora in the area. Medicinal plants (MPs) having high value of FC, RFC, UV, FUV, FL and ICF should be further study for phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology to evaluate novel active ingredients for new drugs discovery.
- Published
- 2022
27. Coverage of Populism Related Content in Pakistani Media: An Analysis of the Coverage of Dawn and The News
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Fazal Ullah, Amir Hamza Marwan, and Mussarat Anwar
- Subjects
Ocean Engineering ,Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality - Abstract
Populists are dominating the world's political situation. The election campaign of Donald Trump in the United States, the emergence of right-wing populist parties in Eastern Europe, and the popularity of Narendra Modi ofIndia prove that we live in a populist world. Populism has also returned to Pakistan as cricketer-turning politician Imran Khan's popularity was attributed to a massive publicity campaign. This article aims to evaluate the populist coverage of PakistanâÂÂs political parties in media. This research study aims to answer the question of which political party shares more populist views, in what form they share it, and who the targets of these populist views are. Therese archer has utilized the âÂÂQuantitative Content Analysisâ as a research method to answer the outstanding research questions. The news coverage of the two leading English-language newspapers of Pakistan, namely Dawn and The News International, has been studied. A total of 278 news stories we reexamined during the month of the 2018 elections. The findings support that Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf was the most populist party and the Shariffamily/PMLN was the prime target of anti-elitist views shared by PTI.Findings also support that The News International gave more coverage to populist narratives than Dawn.
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- 2022
28. Thickness effects of polyethylene and biodegradable film residuals on soil properties and dryland maize productivity
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Aimee Grace Uzamurera, Ze-Ying Zhao, Peng-Yang Wang, Yong-Xian Wei, Fei Mo, Rui Zhou, Wen-Li Wang, Fazal Ullah, Aziz Khan, Xiao-Bin Xiong, Meng-Ying Li, Kiprotich Wesly, Wen-Ying Wang, Hong-Yan Tao, and You-Cai Xiong
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Environmental Chemistry ,General Medicine ,General Chemistry ,Pollution - Published
- 2023
29. Pollen morphology of the genus Sophora (Fabaceae) and its taxonomic implications
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Min Liao, Fazal Ullah, Heng‐Ning Deng, Jun‐Yi Zhang, Bo Xu, and Xin‐Fen Gao
- Subjects
Medical Laboratory Technology ,Histology ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Pollen ,Fabaceae ,Anatomy ,Sophora ,Instrumentation - Abstract
The genus Sophora (Fabaceae) is one of the taxonomically challenging genera with high economic and medical values. In this study, the pollen morphology of 43 samples of 27 species, 4 subspecies, and 4 varieties of the genus Sophora and 3 closely related genera was examined using scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the pollen diversity of the genus and its taxonomic significance. Pollen grains of the studied species were tricolporate (rarely six-aperture), and pollen shape varied from suboblate, spheroidal, subprolate to prolate. Echinate external ornamentation was reported for the first time in some species of the genus. Aperture membrane ornamentation and outline in a polar/equatorial view were described for the first time in the genus. Principal component analysis was used to understand the relationship and discrimination between the species and the genera, with six components accounting for 79.92% of the total variance. Taxonomic keys based on pollen morphology were also constructed to easily identify the taxa of the genus through palynological characteristics. Results showed that pollen morphology alone is not sufficient to elucidate or reconstruct taxonomic relationships within the genus Sophora, but palynological assessments can provide some useful information for identifying taxonomically problematic taxa.
- Published
- 2021
30. Exploration of pollen traits and their taxonomic relevance in selected taxa of the subfamily Papilionoideae from Hainan Island, China
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Saraj Bahadur, Wenxing Long, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Yaseen, Fazal Ullah, and Saddam Saqib
- Subjects
Paleontology - Published
- 2022
31. Micromorphological characters variation of lemma and palea in subtribe of Loliinae (Poaceae)
- Author
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Raheleh Tabaripour, Maryam Keshavarzi, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Lemma (mathematics) ,Histology ,Festuca ,biology ,Poeae ,Poaceae ,biology.organism_classification ,Vulpia ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Taxon ,Sensu ,Genus ,Botany ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Anatomy ,Instrumentation - Abstract
The subtribe Loliinae is one of the largest subtribes of Poeae with about 600 species. Festuca is a large genus with close relations to other genera as Lolium, Castellia, and Vulpia. The taxonomic history of the Festuca-Lolium species group is very complicated. The polyploidy and hybridization make it more confusing. Due to the morphological similarities between genera identification is very difficult, the aim of the present study is to provide the taxonomic characters for the delimitation of the taxa of subtribe Loliinae. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques for the evaluation of the lemma and palea surface micromorphology for 33 species of this subtribe. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to show the species groupings. Factor analysis based on the principal component analysis showed the diagnostic importance of each of the characters. The lemma and palea epidermal patterns of Castellia, Festuca, and Lolium were examined, and results revealed that Lolium and Vulpia sensu lato species made separate groups nested in the Festuca clusters. The length of the long cell of the lemma, prickle in the lemma and palea, the wall shape of long cells of the lemma, wax type, silica bodies of lemma and palea, and the short cells in palea were important diagnostic characters for the species studied. The measured and evaluated set of lemma and palea micromorphological features was unable to provide the delimitation of the Festuca genus as subgeneric or sectional level. Present observations illustrated a heterogeneous assemblage as Festuca that needs further study for delimitation.
- Published
- 2021
32. Comparative taxonomic variation in fruits and seeds' surface morphology among populations of alpine <scp> Rosa sericea </scp> complex (Rosaceae)
- Author
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Xin-Fen Gao, Yun-Dong Gao, Fazal Ullah, and Rui-Fang Jiao
- Subjects
Dorsum ,Histology ,Rosaceae ,Morphology (biology) ,02 engineering and technology ,Population based ,Rosa ,Calyx ,03 medical and health sciences ,Rosa sericea ,0302 clinical medicine ,Botany ,Humans ,Instrumentation ,biology ,food and beverages ,Trichomes ,030206 dentistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,Trichome ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Taxon ,Fruit ,Seeds ,Anatomy ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
In this research, the fruits and seeds' surface morphological features and their taxonomic significance were determined. Additionally, useful traits for delimitation of taxa of Rosa sericea complex were studied. In this research, three taxa of the complex R. sericea, R. omeiensis, and R. sikangensis have been studied. A total of 41 populations and 130 specimens of seeds, and 35 populations and 168 specimens of fruits from 10 different geographical regions of southwest China have been examined. The surface micro-morphological characters of the seeds have been studied through scanning electron microscopy to distinguish important characteristics of the complex taxa. Forty-four different qualitative and quantitative characteristics were observed. Principal component analysis was used to simplify and elucidate the relationship between the studied characters of different population based on the morphology of fruits and seeds' features. Moreover, the numerical taxonomic characters and their variation with elevation have been studied in these species. The most interesting characters observed on the surface of the seeds were stomata, and trichomes, for which density was more at the dorsal and ventral parts, while rarely present on the lateral parts. The fruits and seeds' surface morphology of the studied species was complicated and some variation in the characters, that is, persistent calyx shape, the shape of fruits and seeds, stomata shape, and trichomes size were found significant for delimitation of taxa in the complex. The purpose of this study is to identify the taxa of R. sericea complex based on fruits and seeds' morphological characters, and identification keys.
- Published
- 2021
33. Foliar micromorphology of selected medicinal Lamiaceae taxa and their taxonomic implication using scanning electron microscopy
- Author
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Wajid Zaman, Fazal Ullah, Gaurav Parmar, Saddam Saqib, Asma Ayaz, and SeonJoo Park
- Subjects
Plant Leaves ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Histology ,Lamiaceae ,Plant Stomata ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Trichomes ,Anatomy ,Instrumentation ,Plant Epidermis - Abstract
In this research, 25 medicinally used Lamiaceae species belonging to 20 genera have been studied and identified for the nine disorders. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for qualitative and quantitative morphological character identification. The micromorphological characters observed here were important for distinguishing the studied taxa. The highest medicinal values were reported for Vitex negundo and Scutellaria baicalensis for all considered categories except urinary and otorhinolaryngology disorders. The foliar epidermal anatomical characteristics revealed that the micromorphological features of the Lamiaceae species provide taxonomically significant and accurate identification information to delimitate the family species. Moreover, we focused on both qualitative (epidermal cell shape, stomata type, stomatal pore shape, subsidiary cell shape, glandular trichomes, and non-glandular trichome shape) as well as quantitative features (epidermal cell size, stomata size, stomatal pore size, subsidiary cell size, and trichomes size). The trichomes diversity was different in most species' on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. In most species, anomocytic stomata were observed, but other types such as diacytic, paracytic, and tetracytic type stomata were also examined. The diverse pattern of anatomical characters suggests that the studied taxa provide insight evidence for the taxonomic observation of the Traditional Chinese Medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae. This work sets an avenue for future research and taxonomic exploration of medicinal flora through microscopic investigations. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This research offers a thorough microscopic identification of the family Lamiaceae. Taxonomic information on the trichome characters and types for the accurate authentication. Qualitative and quantitative characterization of 25 medicinally used Lamiaceae taxa.
- Published
- 2022
34. Foliar micromorphology with emphasis on the trichomes diversity and its taxonomic relevance in selected tribes of Asteraceae from Hainan Island
- Author
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Saraj Bahadur, Shazia Rehman, Wenxing Long, Mushtaq Ahmad, Fazal Ullah, and Maryam Akram Butt
- Subjects
Ecology ,Plant Science ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Published
- 2023
35. Assessment of SCoT and ISSR molecular markers in genetic diversity of rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) in Iran
- Author
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MARYAM KESHAVARZI, RAHELEH TABARIPOUR, and FAZAL ULLAH
- Subjects
Plant Science ,Biodiversity ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Lolium rigidum (Poaceae) is important forage and weed species grown in different habitats of Iran. Rigid ryegrass originated from the Mediterranean region. They are very resistant to common herbicides. To investigate the genetic variability of L. rigidum, we studied 81 individuals of 18 natural populations from Iran; four ISSR and four SCoT primers were used. These are reproducible and highly polymorphic markers. We examined their gene flow and genetic variation. Genetic diversity among and within populations was determined through different methods. The Mantel test indicated a significant correlation between these populations’ genetic distance and geographical distance and a high correlation between ISSR and SCoT markers. Analyses of molecular variance (AMOVA) produced high genetic differences among the studied populations for both markers. Structure analysis showed population genetic stratification and identified three genetic groups through ISSR molecular markers for L. rigidum in Iran and indicated restricted gene flow. The current investigation revealed the productivity of ISSR and SCoT molecular markers in evaluating genetic variation and grouping of wild populations of L. rigidum and provides detailed data concerning the genetic structure of its populations. The present finding provided useful information for further conservation, selection, and breeding plans.
- Published
- 2022
36. Palynological characteristics of selected Lamioideae taxa and its taxonomic significance
- Author
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Saddam Saqib, Muhammad Zafar, Saraj Bahadur, Mushtaq Ahmad, Maryam Akram Butt, Zara Urooj, Saba Gul, Wajid Zaman, Mir Muhammad Nizamani, Muhammad Shuaib, Asma Ayaz, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Histology ,Subfamily ,02 engineering and technology ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Reticulate ,Tricolpate ,Pollen ,Botany ,medicine ,Pakistan ,Instrumentation ,Palynology ,Lamiaceae ,030206 dentistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Taxon ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Anatomy ,0210 nano-technology ,Lamioideae - Abstract
Lamioideae comprised the second-largest subfamily in Lamiaceae. Although considerable progress has recently been made in the taxonomic study of Lamioideae, the subfamily remains one of the most poorly investigated subfamily in Lamiaceae. Therefore, the present study was designed with the aim to document the pollen micromorphology of some selected Lamioideae taxa and its taxonomic significance from Pakistan. Pollen micromorphological features were observed using scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains are monad, tricolpate, radially/bilateral symmetrical. The pollen grains were small to medium-sized having oblate, oblate/subspheroidal, and subspheroidal shape. Exine sculpturing was observed as reticulate, microreticulate, and bireticulate. The colpus surface ornamentation was found as verrucate, gemmate, scabrate, and psilate. There was a considerable variation between the species in the micromorphology, that is, the coarseness of the reticulum, thickness of the muri comprising the reticulum and the number of secondary lumina per primary lumen. Hence, this study documented the pollen morphology of some selected taxa of the subfamily Lamioideae from Pakistan and strengthens the taxonomic identification of subfamily based on pollen characters, which helps in the correct identification, discrimination of the species of Lamioideae at generic and species level.
- Published
- 2020
37. Comparative petioler anatomy of tribe Mentheae subfamily Nepetoideae, Lamiaceae from Pakistan
- Author
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Mushtaq Ahmad, Fazal Ullah, Shazia Sultana, Muhammad Zafar, Sahira Jehanzeb, and Wajid Zaman
- Subjects
Subfamily ,biology ,Lamiaceae ,Plant Science ,Anatomy ,Tribe (biology) ,biology.organism_classification ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Petiole (botany) - Published
- 2020
38. The quest for some novel antifertility herbals used as male contraceptives in district Shangla, Pakistan
- Author
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Saraj Bahadur, Saddam Saqib, Muhammad Zafar, Hafiza Amina, Fazal Ullah, Mushtaq Ahmad, Najla Begum, Asma Ayaz, Wajid Zaman, Lubna, and Sarwat Jahan
- Subjects
04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Population control ,Geography ,SAFER ,040103 agronomy & agriculture ,Plant species ,0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries ,TRIPS architecture ,Population growth ,Medicinal plants ,Socioeconomics ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Medicinal plants have been used worldwide for population control since ancient times. Today, population growth is one of the burning issues in the world. The main purpose of this research is to record and investigate contraceptive uses of medicinal plants in order to control population growth in Pakistan and in the world through cheaper and safer methods. Field trips were carried out from November 2015 to March 2017. These data were collected during field surveys and interviews from traditional therapists and from the local of the District Shangla. The information gathered was quantitatively analysed through relative frequency of citation (RFC), disease consensus index (DCI) and Jaccard index (JI). The results showed that a total of 48 plant species belonging to 40 genera and 26 families were used by the local communities of the study area as male contraceptives. A detailed study of these reported plants species was done by investigating local name, part used, family name and habitat, mode of utilization etc. This study documented some important medicinal plants for the use and control of male contraception and will attract the researcher's interest for clinical trials, which could be of great scientific support to the society.
- Published
- 2020
39. Phylogeny and diversity of lamiaceae based on rps14 gene in Pakistan
- Author
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Fazal Ullah, Asma Ayaz, Wajid Zaman, Saddam Saqib, and Tariq Mahmood
- Subjects
Systematics ,biology ,Phylogenetic tree ,Plant Science ,Lamium ,biology.organism_classification ,DNA sequencing ,food.food ,food ,Phylogenetics ,Evolutionary biology ,Genetics ,Lamiaceae ,Gene ,Lamium album - Abstract
The present research work was carried out to conduct concordance between the molecular data and the phylogenetic relationship between the selected species of Lamiaceae. We studied 34 species collected from various phytogeographical areas of Pakistan. Molecular DNA was isolated from fresh leaf specimens of the selected taxa. The rps14 gene was amplified for the isolation of DNA sequencing and the amplified products were sequenced and analyzed for phylogenetic analysis. The sequenced products were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as MEGA7, I-TASSER (Iterative Threading Assembly Refinement) and SAVES (The Structure Analysis and Verification Server). ExPASY translate tool was used for the translation of nucleotide sequences to amino acid sequences. Phlomis cashmeriana with Origanum vulgare, and Lamium album with Lamium amplexicaul showed a close relationship in both phylogenetic trees with well-represented bootstrap (BS) values. The pairwise distance ranged from 0.013 to 0.19 with an overall mean distance of 0.068 was also observed. I-TASSER software was utilized to predict the 3D protein structures followed by stereochemical analysis. Based on the present finding it is determined that the rps14 gene would be used as a DNA barcode for the identification of plant taxa. Additionally, it is needed for the development of additional reliable molecular markers to resolve the systematics issues in the family Lamiaceae.
- Published
- 2020
40. Systematics study through scanning electron microscopy; a tool for the authentication of herbal drug Mentha suaveolens Ehrh
- Author
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Wajid Zaman, Shayan Jamshed, Saraj Bahadur, Abdul Shakoor, Saddam Saqib, Bushra Arshad, Asma Ayaz, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Systematics ,Histology ,Flowers ,02 engineering and technology ,Biology ,medicine.disease_cause ,Plant Epidermis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,food ,Species level ,Pollen ,Botany ,medicine ,Pakistan ,Instrumentation ,Mentha suaveolens ,food and beverages ,030206 dentistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,food.food ,Trichome ,Plant Leaves ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Plant Stomata ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Plant species ,Taxonomy (biology) ,Anatomy ,0210 nano-technology ,Mentha - Abstract
In all over the world, herbal drugs are usually adulterated with similar species or varieties due to incorrect identification. Most of herbal products devoid purity and quality, therefore an attempt was carried out to identify plant species and authenticate its herbal drug products from Mentha suaveolens. Microscopy tools provide an excellent platform to identify plants at species level. In this study, microscopic and pharmacokinetic parameters of M. suaveolens were observed. Plant species were collected from high diverse areas of Northern Pakistan. Macro and micro-morphology including palynology and anatomical features were analyzed to study M. suaveolens. Species characteristics were studied, while implementing microscopic techniques for the delimitation and identification of the species. Traditionally Mentha species are used to cure several diseases that is, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders. Micromorphology (stem, leaves, flowers structure, length etc.), palynology (shape, size of pollen etc.), and anatomical characters (types of stomata, epidermal cell shape, and trichomes) were studied. Micromorphology and anatomical characters were of great interest and significance to discuss the taxonomy of the species. Taxonomic characters were studied to characterize and authenticate the species. The aim of the present study is to observe in detail the taxonomic identification of the species in term of morphology, palynology, and foliar epidermal anatomy for the correct identification along with their medicinal uses in the area.
- Published
- 2019
41. Review-Insights into Off-Label therapeutic strategies against mild and severe COVID-19 infection
- Author
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Bushra, Arshad, Tahira, Iqbal, Khalid Pervez, Bhatti, Sheraz, Ahmed, Wajid, Zaman, Fazal, Ullah, Amna, Nazeer, and Saddam, Saqib
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2 ,Humans ,Off-Label Use ,Delivery of Health Care ,Pandemics ,COVID-19 Drug Treatment - Abstract
Currently, prevention and control of the coronavirus disease pneumonia epidemic situation are grim globally. To cope with total sheer carriers and patients of COVID-19 requires intensive medical support and adjunctive therapies to overcome the disease. The epidemic can be controlled with the help of both, disease suppression via community health measures and adjunctive therapies for patients suffering from infection. Till date, we do not have any proper anti-COVID-19 therapy. In order to achieve the overall realization of this pandemic, there is a need to identify treatments depending upon their direct or indirect targets; like inhibition of polyprotein synthesis, transmembrane serine protease, inhibition of viral entry and endocytosis. This could be possible by turning the focus in the direction towards the development of numerous tentative drugs, particularly in the severe to badly ill. Though, majority of these off-label adjunctive medicines are being inspected in a lot of clinical trials at different stages, scientific organizations have endeavored to elucidate the situation where these adjunctive drugs might be practiced as off-label, open- label or compassionate. Our review compiles the adjunctive therapies adopted in COVID-19 infected patients according to clinical severity in conjugation with practicing recommendations from existing guidance rules issued by global professional bodies in healthcare.
- Published
- 2021
42. Bimetallic Assembled Silver Nanoparticles Impregnated in Aspergillus fumigatus Extract Damage the Bacterial Membrane Surface and Release Cellular Contents
- Author
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Saddam Saqib, Saima Faryad, Muhammad Irfan Afridi, Bushra Arshad, Muhammad Younas, Muhammad Naeem, Wajid Zaman, Fazal Ullah, Momina Nisar, Sajid Ali, Abdallah M. Elgorban, Asad Syed, Hosam O. Elansary, and Tarek K. Zin El-Abedin
- Subjects
Materials Chemistry ,antibacterial ,bimetallic ,cell membrane ,cellular contents ,nanomaterials ,myco-synthesized AgNPs ,Surfaces and Interfaces ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films - Abstract
The bactericidal effects of nanomaterials play an essential role in cytoplasmic leakage, leading to bacterial cell death. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a fungal extract of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus). The physicochemical properties of the bare and myco-synthesized AgNPs (MS-AgNPs) were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD revealed the crystalline structure of the prepared NPs. The FTIR spectrum of the MS-AgNPs revealed the presence of the stretching vibrations of hydroxyl (−OH) and carbonyl groups (C=O). The UV results showed absorption from 450 nm to 590 nm, confirming the synthesis of the AgNPs. SEM and TEM showed rough cubic shapes (spheres), 20–60 nm in size, while EDX confirmed the presence of 60% Ag in the sample. The MS-AgNPs revealed the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, with a zone of inhibition of 18.21 ± 2.1 mm, followed by Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella typhi. The bimetallic-AgNPs played a vital role in cell membrane damage and the release of cellular contents, specifically nucleic acids and proteins. These results suggest that MS-AgNPs have promising antimicrobial capabilities and might be beneficial for an extensive array of biological applications.
- Published
- 2022
43. Foliar micromorphology of Convolvulaceous species with special emphasis on trichome diversity from the arid zone of Pakistan
- Author
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Moona Nazish, Shazia Sultana, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Fazal Ullah, Saraj Bahadur, Shomaila Ashfaq, Wajid Zaman, and Sidra Nisar Ahmed
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Ecology ,Morphology (biology) ,Plant Science ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Plant taxonomy ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Arid ,Trichome ,Taxon ,Botany ,Identification (biology) ,Convolvulaceae ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Arid zone ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
In present study, 18 plant species belonging to 7 genera of the family Convolvulaceae has been investigated by using the light microscope for foliar epidermal anatomy. Despite the medicinal importance of family Convolvulaceae, there is no evidence regarding the secretory structure and their effect of environmental conditions on their density is unknown. The aim of the study was to describe the morphology of these secretory structures and to estimate the hypothesis that glandular trichomes density decreases with increased aridity. Foliar micromorphology of Convolvulaceous taxa, gathered from arid parts of Northern Punjab Pakistan, was first time conducted with an aim to utilize this information as an aid in plant taxonomy. Significant diversity was observed in both qualitative and quantitative characteristics using light microscopy. Variations were observed in stomatal number, size, guard cells shape, epidermal cell number, subsidiary cells, and trichomes. Unique ornamentation was observed in trichomes diversity. A taxonomic key was prepared for the identification of species. The main goal of this study was to describe the morphology of glandular trichomes and to estimate the hypothesis that glandular trichomes density decreases with increased aridity. Based on these findings, Light microscopy of foliar epidermal features can be of special interest for taxonomists in the identification of complex taxa. Studied taxa were also separated from each other by using Cluster Analysis (MVSP ver.3.22). Statistical analysis by using the Software XLSTAT exhibited that some anatomical features are the main characteristics in the identification of the taxa. Principal component analyses (PCA) used as a statistical tool for data analyses that show the importance of these characteristics for the characterization and identification of the family Convolvulaceae in an arid land. The study shows many novel characters that provide baseline information about trichome diversity in relation to aridity for future taxonomist.
- Published
- 2019
44. Leaf micromorphological adaptations of resurrection ferns in Northern Pakistan
- Author
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Muhammad Zafar, Wajid Zaman, Mushtaq Ahmad, Fazal Ullah, Syed Nasar Shah, Jaideep Mazumdar, Izaz Khuram, and Shujahul Mulk Khan
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Ecology ,biology ,ved/biology ,fungi ,ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species ,Asplenium ceterach ,Resurrection plant ,Cheilanthes ,Plant Science ,Cheilanthes acrostica ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Desiccation tolerance ,Botany ,Ultrastructure ,Fern ,Desiccation ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
The resurrection plant species, termed desiccation-tolerant plants have evolved remarkable ability to withstand extreme dehydration and rapid rehydration of vegetative tissue without damage. Pteridophytes include almost 70 desiccation tolerant species, and there is limited information of vegetative desiccation tolerance in ferns. A field examination of the representatives of the ferns flora of the Northern Pakistan disclosed 5 ferns species belonging to 2 genera with foliage which can revive after dehydration. These species are Asplenium dalhousiae, Asplenium ceterach, Cheilanthes acrostica, Cheilanthes bicolor, and Cheilanthes nitidula. We undertook a comprehensive leaf micromorphological investigation in all the five resurrection fern species. The study were accomplished using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The detailed investigation of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces revealed species specific variation in the size and number of epidermal cells, size of stomata, and stomatal pore, stomatal density, and stomatal index and other foliar micromorphological features. In all studied species, adaxial surface lack stomata, i.e., all species are hypostomatic, stomata is polocytic, and epidermal cells shape in all species on both surface is similar, and are irregular shaped. The quantified leaf micromorphological traits are discussed in order to detect their possible role in the desiccation tolerance of resurrection fern species.
- Published
- 2019
45. Using palynomorphological characteristics for the identification of species of Alsinoideae (Caryophyllaceae): a systematic approach
- Author
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Wajid Zaman, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Asma Ayaz, Fazal Ullah, Aamir Sohail, Syed Nasar Shah, and Saddam Saqib
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Appendage ,Systematics ,010506 paleontology ,Subfamily ,biology ,Caryophyllaceae ,Cerastium ,Plant Science ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease_cause ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Stellaria ,Minuartia ,Pollen ,Botany ,medicine ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences - Abstract
Palynological characters of 18 species belonging to seven genera of the traditional subfamily Alsinoideae including Arenaria, Cerastium, Eremogone, Lepyrodiclis, Minuartia, Sabulina and Stellaria were studied in detail using light and scanning electron microscopy. Pollen grains of subfamily Alsinoideae are subspheroidal or prolate, pantoporate and 20.04 to 51.4 µm in size, prominent and sunken apertures uniformly distributed on the pollen surface. Two types of pollen grain ornamentation were observed, i.e. microechinate-punctate or microechinate-perforate. Echini are present on the surface of the pollen of all investigated species with medium, dense, or sparse echinodensity. These species exhibit variation in polar view, equatorial diameter, number of apertures, exine thickness, diameter of pore, appendages per pore, pore ornamentation, echini arrangement, echinidensity and shape of pollen. Based on qualitative characters, a dichotomous key has been developed for quick and easy identification. The...
- Published
- 2019
46. Foliar and stem epidermal anatomy of the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) and their taxonomic significance
- Author
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Somayeh Esfandani-Bozchaloyi, Mansour Mirtadzadini, Wajid Zaman, Fazal Ullah, and Farideh Attar
- Subjects
Biometry ,Histology ,Indumentum ,02 engineering and technology ,Iran ,Tribe (biology) ,Plant Epidermis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Genus ,Instrumentation ,Microscopy ,Plant Stems ,biology ,food and beverages ,Xylem ,030206 dentistry ,Boraginaceae ,Anatomy ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,Trichome ,Plant Leaves ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Plant morphology ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Taxonomy (biology) ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Foliar and stem epidermal anatomical features of the tribe Cynoglosseae have been studied in detail for the taxonomic identification using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques. A comparative study was conducted on different plant parts (leaf and stem epidermal anatomy) of 25 species belonging to eight genera of the tribe Cynoglosseae (Boraginaceae) collected from different phytogeographical regions of Iran for the first time. Different qualitative and quantitative characteristics were observed in detail using LM and SEM. Results showed that although generally the stem and leaf anatomical traits were similar, but some diagnostic features were examined for distinguishing the closely related genera in the tribe. The ratio of cortex/diameter of stem and phloem/xylem, the average row number of collenchyma, palisade and spongy cells, structure of trichomes, type of indumentum and palisade arrangement were found taxonomically important. The anatomical characters were statistically analyzed using cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The study found that stem and leaf eccentrics are variable in the genus but constant within species of the same genus. Most species had typical isobilateral leaves, but some showed an incipient dorsoventrally symmetry with a layer of abaxial palisade tissue. Eglandular trichomes were observed found in all the studied species, which were recognized based on structure and function. In present study some novel characters have been observed which are of great interest to the taxonomist for the correct identification some genera delimitations. The characters studied here are of less taxonomic value and delimitating at species level.
- Published
- 2019
47. Foliar epidermal anatomy of Lamiaceae with special emphasis on their trichomes diversity using scanning electron microscopy
- Author
-
Muhammad Zafar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Saraj Bahadur, Saba Gul, Ömer Kiliç, Zafar Siddiq, Shomaila Ashfaq, Shazia Sultana, Fayyaz-ul Hassan, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Systematics ,Histology ,02 engineering and technology ,Plant Epidermis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Botany ,Pakistan ,Instrumentation ,Appendage ,Lamiaceae ,integumentary system ,biology ,Marrubium vulgare ,Trichomes ,030206 dentistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,Trichome ,Plant Leaves ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Taxon ,Isodon rugosus ,Plant Stomata ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Anatomy ,0210 nano-technology ,Colebrookea - Abstract
Foliar epidermal features were based on the micromorphology of trichomes types, epidermal cells and stomatal complex. Even though each feature has its own limited taxonomic value but collectively these characteristics may be systematically important especially for the discrimination and identification of complex and problematic taxa. The systematics significance of nonglandular (NGTs) and glandular trichomes (GTs), stomatal complex and epidermal cells of Lamiaceous flora were analyzed by using the light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Variations on the observed epidermal appendages were divided into two basic types: glandular and nonglandular. GTs can be divided into subtypes: sessile capitate, subsessile capitate, and barrel and sunken. NGTs were also divided into subtypes: dendritic, stellate, conical, falcate, simple and 1-6 cells long having granulate and smooth surface ornamentation. NGTs were the most dominant features of both adaxial and abaxial surfaces of all observed taxa. Vitex negundo, Isodon rugosus, Colebrookea oppositifolia, and Marrubium vulgare could be demarked because of their twisted like appearance of NGTs at the abaxial surface. The Lamiaceae had both hypostomatic and amphistomatic leaf. Stomata were observed as diacytic, anisocytic, and anomocytic. Epidermal cells were found to be irregular, isodiametric, and rectangular. Based on these characters a taxonomic key was developed to delimit the closely related taxa. Distribution and morphology of the foliar epidermal trichomes through SEM highlight an important taxonomic tool used by the taxonomists as an aid to the correct identification of problematic Lamiaceae taxa.
- Published
- 2019
48. Palyno‐morphological investigations of halophytic taxa of Amaranthaceae through SEM from Salt range of Northern Punjab, Pakistan
- Author
-
Muhammad Zafar, Riaz Ullah, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shomaila Ashfaq, Fazal Ullah, Farhat Ullah, Shafiq Ahmad, Ali S. Alqahtani, Moona Nazish, and Shazia Sultana
- Subjects
Pore size ,Histology ,02 engineering and technology ,medicine.disease_cause ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,FAMILY AMARANTHACEAE ,Halophyte ,Pollen ,Botany ,otorhinolaryngologic diseases ,medicine ,Pakistan ,Instrumentation ,Amaranthaceae ,biology ,food and beverages ,Salt-Tolerant Plants ,030206 dentistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,biology.organism_classification ,Medical Laboratory Technology ,Taxon ,Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ,Taxonomy (biology) ,Anatomy ,0210 nano-technology ,Taxonomic key - Abstract
The pollen morphology of 11 salt tolerant plant species of family Amaranthaceae from the salt range of Northern Punjab, Pakistan has been studied. The palyno-morphological characters were examined using light and scanning electron microscope. The examined all salt tolerant species have a slight difference in size but have similarity in shape, pore ornamentation, and polarity. The observed morphological characters of pollen grains were pollen symmetry, size, shape, pore ornamentation, pore size, number of pores, exine thickness, polar and equatorial diameter and, P/E ratio. Apolar type of pollens has been observed in all species. Shape of pollens was spheroidal. Exine sculpturing of pollen grains was scabrate (six spp), microechinate (four spp), and microechinate-scabrate (one spp). Different pori numbers were observed in different species. The pantoporate aperturate and sunken pore ornamentation have been reported in all species. A pollen taxonomic key was developed using examined morphological characters for the accurate identification of halophytic taxa. The high fertility and low sterility of pollens confirmed that the selected halophytes are well-established in the salt region. The findings highlight the taxonomic significance of pollen morphology in correct identification and differentiation of salt tolerant plant species.
- Published
- 2019
49. Examine the Frequency of Postnatal Depression in Mothers having Malnourished Infants
- Author
-
Muhammad Ilyas, Jawed Akbar Dars, Chooni Lal, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
digestive, oral, and skin physiology ,human activities - Abstract
Background: Healthy child development is dependent on a mentally and physically healthy mother. Depressions in mother can adversely affect their offspring healthy growth. Aim: To estimate the frequency of post-natal depression in mothers having malnourished infants. Place and duration of study: Department of Psychiatry, Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Qeutta from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: In this case control study 250 mothers (125 were malnourished infants or toddlers mothers and other 125 from healthy weight infants/toddlers mothers) were interviewed to assess their depressional state. Their stress inducing factors, age and other clinical comorbidities were also documented. Results: Mean mother age of malnourished infants/toddlers was 28.1±6.6 years in comparison to 27.8±5.2 years of healthy weight infants/toddlers mother’s respectively. Twenty four percent malnourished infant/toddlers’ mothers were single parent. Un-employed spouse of mothers to malnourished infant/toddlers were found at higher frequency (51.06%) than of healthy infant/toddlers (23.4%).The frequency of post-natal depression among mothers of malnourished infants/toddlers was observed in 57.6% cases Conclusion: Out of total 57.5% mothers of malnourished children suffering from post-natal depression there are 15.2% to 9.6% those having moderate to highly moderate post-natal depression. Keywords: Post-natal depression, Malnourish, Infants, Toddlers
- Published
- 2021
50. Comparative micro-anatomical features of endemic Fritillaria taxa growing in the Mediterranean region (Turkey)
- Author
-
Nezahat Kandemir, Ali Çelik, and Fazal Ullah
- Subjects
Ecology ,Plant Science ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Published
- 2022
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