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The green synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) has shown numerous advantages over conventional physical and chemical synthesis methods as these methods non-ecofriendly and uses toxic chemicals and complicated equipments. In present study, Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were created using simple, sustainable, eco-friendly and green chemistry protocol. The roots of novel medicinal plant Sageretia thea was used as a bio-template for the preparation of IONPs. Further, the synthesis of IONPs was confirmed using different analytical tools like UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, EDX, and SEM. The average sizes of (NPs) were found to be 16.04 nm. Further, asynthesized IONPs were evaluated for several biological potentials including antibacterial, antifungal Anti-radical potentials (DPPH) and cytotoxicity assays. Antibacterial potencies were investigated using bacterial strains (in the concentration range of 1000-31.25 µg/mL) revealing significant antibacterial potentials. ABA and SAU was reported to be least susceptible while KPN was observed to be most susceptible strain in bactericidal studies. Further, different fungal strains were used to investigate the antifungal potentials of IONPs (in the concentration range of 1000-31.25 µg/mL) and revealed strong antifungal potencies against different pathogenic strains. Furthermore, MRA, FA and ANI were most susceptible and ABA was least susceptible in fungicidal examination. Significant cytotoxicity potential was examined using brine shrimps cytotoxicity assay, thus revealing the cytotoxic potential of asynthesized IONPs. The IC 50 for S. thea based IONPs was recorded as 33.85 µg/mL. Strong anti-radical potentials (DPPH) assay was performed to evaluate the ROS scavenging potential of S.T@IONPs. The highest scavenging potential was noted as 78.06%, TRP as 81.92% and TAC as 84% on maximum concentration of 200 µg/mL. In summary, our experimental results concluded, that asynthesized IONPs have strong antibacterial, antifungal, DPPH scavenging and cytotoxic potentials and can be used in different biological applications. In nutshell, our as-prepared nanoparticles have shown potential bioactivities and we recommend, different other in vitro and in vivo biological and bioactivities to further analyze the biological potentials., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate This study does not include human or animal subjects. Statement on guidelines All experimental studies and experimental materials involved in this research are in full compliance with relevant institutional, national and international guidelines and legislation posing a conflict or bias., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Infertility has been observed as one of the major issues in humans, one known risk factor is heavy metals., Methods: The main focus of the present research was to assess the toxic effect of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) on sperm and its mitigation by Nigella sativa seed extract (NS) and its conjugated silver nanoparticles (NS + NP). In the present study, we administered 1.5 mg/kg body of Cr (VI) orally in mice for 60 days routinely, to induce toxicity in testes and effect on sperm production and motility in male mice. NS and NS + NP (50 mg/kg body weight) were administered to evaluate protective action against Cr (VI). The sperm were analyzed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and chromium concentration in testicular tissue was measured via the atomic absorption spectrophotometer., Results: The CASA analysis showed that Cr (VI) was directly linked with a decline in sperm concentration, motility, distance, velocity, straightness, and head beat frequency attributes. However, the administration of Nigella sativa seed extract and its green synthesized silver nanoparticles improved sperm concentration, motility, distance, velocity, straightness, and head beat frequency. The chromium content in the testes of Cr-exposed animals significantly increased, which negatively affected sperm parameters. However, Nigella sativa and Nigella sativa conjugated silver nanoparticles appeared to help in the removal of Cr content from testes hence improving the sperm parameters in exposed mice., Conclusion: The decrease in Cr concentration improved sperm quality and quantity, hence, improve male fertility., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing interest All the authors reported no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Zinc oxide nanoparticles have wide range biological, biomedical and environmental applications. However, traditional nanofabrication of ZnONPs uses various toxic chemicals and organic solvents which limit their bio-applications. To overcome this hurdle, Bauhinia variegata derived buds extract was utilized to fabricate ZnONPs. The greenly generated ZnONPs were successfully prepared and extensively characterized using different analytical tools and the average crystalline size was calculated as 25.47 nm. Further, bioengineered ZnONPs were explored for multiple biological activities that revealed excellent therapeutic potentials. The antibacterial potential was determined using different bacterial strains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 137.5 µg/mL) was reported to be the most resistant variant while Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 34.38 µg/mL) was observed to be most susceptible bacterial strain. DPPH radical scavenging potential was measured to determine the antioxidant capacity of ZnONPs and the highest scavenging potential was observed as 82% at highest of 300 µg/mL. The fungicidal effect of green ZnONPs in comparison with Amphotericin B was assessed against five selected pathogenic fungal strains. The results revealed, Fusarium solani (MIC: 46.875 µg/mL) was least resistant and Aspergillus flavus (MIC: 187.5 µg/mL) was most resistant in fungicidal examination. Cytotoxicity potential of B.V@ZnONPs was analyzed against newly hatched nauplii of brine shrimps. The results for greenly produced ZnONPs was recorded as 39.78 µg/mL while 3.006 µg/mL was reported for positive control vincristine sulphate. The results confirmed the category of general cytotoxic for greenly synthesized nano sized B.V@ZnONPs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The current study was designed to evaluate the 2-hydroxybenzohydrazide (HBH) as a drug having efficacy against pyrexia, inflammation, and nociception. Besides, the therapeutic effects of HBH on oxidative stress and C-reactive proteins were also evaluated. The pharmacological studies on HBH (20-60 mg/kg) were conducted using nociception, inflammation, and pyrexia standard models. Naloxone antagonism was performed to assess the possible involvement of opioidergic mechanisms. The antioxidant study was conducted on ABTS and DPPH assays using gallic acid as a standard. Moreover, the binding capability of HBH with enzymes cyclooxygenase-I/II (COX-I/II) was determined using molecular modeling analysis. The findings indicated that the HBH dose-dependently inhibited pain, inflammation, and pyrexia. The HBH has significant anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities at 60 mg/kg ( *** p < 0.001), similar to the lower doses of diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg) and tramadol (30 mg/kg). The HBH at 60 mg/kg reduced pyrexia as paracetamol (150 mg/kg). The HBH at 20-60 mg/kg doses declined the plasma C-reactive protein concentration. The mechanistic studies showed that the anti-nociceptive effect of HBH was antagonized by naloxone, indicating that the opioidergic mechanisms are involved. Furthermore, computational studies showed that the HBH exhibited an affinity for COX-I/II target receptors. The HBH significantly inhibited ABTS and DPPH radicals (IC 50  = 33.81 and 26.74 μg/ml). These results proposed that the HBH has significant antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nociceptive activities involving opioidergic mechanism., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized via green synthesis approach using Euporbia serpens Kunth aqueous extract. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy and Furrier Transformer Infra-Red spectroscopy to justify the reduction and stabilization of AgNPs from its precursors. AgNPs characteristic absorption peak was observed at 420 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The SEM and TEM analysis demonstrated the spherical shape of the synthesized nanoparticles with particle sizes ranging from 30 nm to 80 nm. FTIR transmission bands at 2920 cm -1 , 1639 cm -1 , 1410 cm -1 , 3290 cm -1 , and 1085 cm -1 were attributed to C-H, C=O, C-C, N-H, and C-N functional groups, respectively. XRD peaks could be attributed to (111), (200), (220), and (311) crystalline plane of the faced-centered cube (FCC) crystalline structure of the metallic silver nanoparticles. The AgNPs showed good antibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria at each concentration. The particles were found to be more active against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) with 20 ± 06 mm and Salmonella typhi ( S. typhi ) with 18 ± 0.5 mm zone of inhibition in reference to standard antibiotic amoxicillin with 23 ± 0.3 mm and 20 ± 0.4 mm zone of inhibition, respectively. Moderate antifungal activities were observed against Candida albicans ( C. albicans ) and Alternaria alternata ( A. alternata ) with zone of inhibitions 16.5 mm and 15 mm, respectively, compared to the standard with 23 mm of inhibition. Insignificant antifungal inhibition of 7.5 mm was observed against Fusarium gramium ( F. gramium ). All the tested concentrations of AgNPs showed comparable % RSA with the standard reference ascorbic acid in the range sixty percent to seventy five percent. The percent motility at 3 hours postincubation showed quick response and most Tetramorium caespitum were found deceased or paralyzed. Similarly, the percent mortality showed a linear response at concentration and time. It was observed that 1  μ g/mL to 2  μ g/mL concentration of AgNPs displayed a significant cytotoxic activity against Artemia salina with LD 50 of 5.37 and 5.82, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors have declared no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Nisar Ahmad et al.)

The increase in resistance of microbes against conventional drugs is currently a hot issue, whereas diabetes is another main cause of mortalities encountered throughout the world after cancer and heart attacks. New drug sources in the form of plants are investigated to get effective drugs for the mentioned diseases with minimum side effects. Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb. is a medicinal plant used for the management of stress related disorders like diabetes and other health complications. The active constituents of the chloroform extract derived from E. umbellata berries was isolated by silica gel column chromatography which were identified as morin, phloroglucinol, and 1-hexyl benzene through various spectroscopic techniques (electron ionization mass spectrometry, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy). The possible protective effects (antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activity) of isolated compounds were evaluated using reported methods. Morin exhibited strong in vitro antiradical potential against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals along with prominent antibacterial activities against selected bacterial strains ( Escherichia coli , Bacillus cereus , Salmonella typhi , Klebsiella pneumonia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis ). Among the isolated compounds the more potent one (morin) was assessed for its in vivo antidiabetic potential in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. The in vivo effects observed were further confirmed in ex vivo experiments where the effect of isolated compound on antioxidant enzyme like glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total content of reduced glutathione (GSH), % DPPH inhibition, and the lipid peroxidation MDA (Malondialdehyde) level in pancreatic tissues homogenates were evaluated. In vivo morin at tested doses (2, 10, 15, 30 and 50 mg/kg body weight) significantly restored the alterations in the levels of fasting blood glucose level and body weight loss along with significant decrease in levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, HbA1c level, and significantly increased the high-density lipoprotein in diabetic rats. Morin also effectively ameliorated the hepatic enzymes, and renal functions like serum creatinine. Morin significantly increased the antioxidant enzyme like GPx activity, GSH content, and % DPPH inhibition activity, while reduced the lipid peroxidation MDA (malondialdehyde) level in pancreatic tissues homogenates, and modification of histopathological changes in diabetic rats. Morin exhibited high antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic potentials as compared to phloroglucinol and 1-hexyl benzene, that could, therefore, be considered as a promising therapeutic agent to treat diabetes mellitus and bacterial infections.

In the study, two novel compounds along with two new compounds were isolated from Grewia optiva . The novel compounds have never been reported in any plant source, whereas the new compounds are reported for the first time from the studied plant. The four compounds were characterized as: 5,5,7,7,11,13-hexamethyl-2-(5-methylhexyl)icosahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]chrysen-9-ol ( IX ), docosanoic acid ( X ), methanetriol mano formate ( XI ) and 2,2'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-methylbutanoic acid (XII) . The anticholinesterase, antidiabetic, and antioxidant potentials of these compounds were determined using standard protocols. All the isolated compounds exhibited a moderate-to-good degree of activity against acetylcholinesterases (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). However, compound XII was particularly effective with IC 50 of 55 μg/mL (against AChE) and 60 μg/mL (against BChE), and this inhibitory activity is supported by in silico docking studies. The same compound was also effective against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals with IC 50 values of 60 and 62 μg/mL, respectively. The compound also significantly inhibited the activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro. The IC 50 values for inhibition of the two enzymes were recorded as 90 and 92 μg/mL, respectively. The in vitro potentials of compound XII to treat Alzheimer's disease (in terms of AchE and BChE inhibition), diabetes (in terms of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), and oxidative stress (in terms of free radical scavenging) suggest further in vivo investigations of the compound for assessing its efficacy, safety profile, and other parameters to proclaim the compound as a potential drug candidate.

Background: Anacyclus pyrethrum ( A. pyrethrum ) is a wild species belonging to the family Asteraceae, which is used in traditional medicines., Aim of the Study: This work was undertaken to study the chemical composition, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties of hydroalcoholic extracts of different parts (roots, seeds, leaves, and capitula) of A. pyrethrum. Material and Methods: The phytochemical analysis of the studied extracts was conducted by GC-MS. The analgesic activity was evaluated in mice using acetic acid and formaldehyde methods. The anti-inflammatory activity was tested using the inhibitory method of edema induced in rats. The healing activity of the hydroethanolic extracts was explored by excision and incision wound healing models in rats., Results: The phytochemical analysis of the studied plant extracts affirmed the presence of interesting compounds, including some newly detected elements, such as sarcosine, N -(trifluoroacetyl)-butyl ester, levulinic acid, malonic acid, palmitic acid, morphinan-6-One, 4,5.alpha.-epoxy-3-hydroxy-17-methyl, 2,4-undecadiene-8,10-diyne- N -tyramide, and isovaleric acid. The extracts of different parts (roots, seeds, leaves, and capitula) exhibited promising anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and wound healing effects, with percentages of inhibition up to 98%, 94%, and 100%, respectively., Conclusion: This study might contribute towards the well-being of society as it provides evidence on the potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties of A. pyrethrum .

Ranunculus muricatus L. is a spiny fruit buttercup that is used in various traditional medicinal systems. In the current investigation of R. muricatus , the new chalcone 4-benzyloxylonchocarpin ( 1 ), the new anthraquinone muracatanes A ( 2 ), the new-to-nature anthraquinone muracatanes B ( 3 ), and the new naphthalene analog muracatanes C ( 4 ) were isolated, in addition to the three previously reported compounds, 4-methoxylonchocarpin ( 5 ), β-sitosterol ( 6 ), and β-sitosterol β-D-glucopyranoside ( 7 ). Their structures were elucidated using 1D ( 1 H and 13 C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS. Chalcone 1 showed potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects with K i of 5.39 µM and K i' of 3.54 µM, but none of the isolated compounds showed inhibitory activity towards butyrylcholinesterase. Anthraquinone 3 illustrated α-glucosidase inhibitory effects with IC 50 -values of 164.46 ± 83.04 µM. Compound 5 displayed moderate cytotoxic activity towards ovarian carcinoma (A2780, IC 50 = 25.4 µM), colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT29, IC 50 = 20.2 µM), breast cancer (MCF7, IC 50 = 23.7 µM), and thyroid carcinoma (SW1736, IC 50 = 26.2 µM) while it was inactive towards pharynx carcinoma (FaDu: IC 50 > 30 µM).

In this study, the aerial parts of Moricandia sinaica were evaluated for their in vivo analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities. The analgesic activities were examined using acetic acid-induced writhing, the hot plate test and the tail flick method. The anti-inflammatory and the antipyretic activities were evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in mice, respectively. The aqueous fraction of the methanol extract (MS-3) showed to be the most bioactive among the other investigated fractions. At the dose of 500 mg/kg, the fraction (MS-3) showed a significant percentage inhibition of the carrageenan-induced edema by 52.4% ( p < 0.05). In addition, MS-3 exhibited a significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhes by 44.4% and 61.5% ( p < 0.001) at 250-mg/kg and 500-mg/kg doses, respectively. At 120 min post-treatment, the rat groups treated with MS-3 displayed statistically significant reduction in rectal temperature ( p < 0.001) by 1.7 °C and 2.2 °C at 250- and 500-mg/kg doses, respectively. The phytochemical composition of the fraction (MS-3) was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS). Molecular docking studies demonstrated that the polyphenols identified in MS-3 revealed good binding energy upon docking to some target proteins involved in pain response and inflammation, such as the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and the cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Based on the findings from the present work, it could be concluded that the aerial parts extract of M. sinaica exerts potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects in rats.

Withania frutescens ( W. frutescens ) is a medicinal plant widely used to treat several diseases. This work aims to study phytochemical composition as well as acute and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens hydroethanolic extract in mice. The phytochemical composition of W. frutescens extract was performed using gas chromatographic analysis. Acute toxicity was studied in vivo with oral administration of single doses 400 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was studied with the administration of repeated doses of 400 mg/kg/day and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Phytochemical analysis of W. frutescens hydro-ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of interesting chemical compounds. Acute toxicity results showed no toxic symptoms in mice treated with an increasing dose up to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg. Alongside acute toxicity, subacute data showed no clinical symptoms nor biochemical or histological alteration in mice treated with an increasing dose up to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). This study shows no toxic effects in animals treated with W. frutescens extract, and, therefore, this plant can be considered safe in animals up to 2000 mg/kg under both acute and subacute toxicity conditions.

Cichorium intybus L., (chicory) is employed in various traditional medicines to treat a wide range of diseases and disorders. In the current investigation, two new naphthalane derivatives viz., cichorins D ( 1 ) and E ( 2 ), along with one new anthraquinone cichorin F ( 3 ), were isolated from Cichorium intybus. In addition, three previously reported compounds viz., β-sitosterol ( 4 ), β-sitosterol β-glucopyranoside ( 5 ), and stigmasterol ( 6 ) were also isolated from Cichorium intybus. Their structures were established via extensive spectroscopic data, including 1D ( 1 H and 13 C) and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC and HMBC), and ESIMS. Cichorin E ( 2 ) has a weak cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468: IC 50 : 85.9 µM) and Ewing's sarcoma cells (SK-N-MC: IC 50 : 71.1 µM); cichorin F ( 3 ) also illustrated weak cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-468: IC 50 : 41.0 µM and MDA-MB-231: IC 50 : 45.6 µM), and SK-N-MC cells (IC 50 : 71.9 µM). Moreover compounds 1 - 3 did not show any promising anthelmintic effects.

Background and Objectives: Elevated oxidative stress has been shown to play an important role in the diagnosis and prognosis of stress and memory-related complications. Mukia madrespatana ( M. madrespatana ) has been reported to have various biological and antioxidant properties. We intended to evaluate the effect of M. madrespatana peel on single immobilization stress-induced behavioral deficits and memory changes in rats. Materials and Methods: M. madrespatana peel (2000 mg/kg/day, orally) was administered to control and immobilize stressed animals for 4 weeks. Anxiolytic, antidepressant, and memory-enhancing effects of M. madrespatana were observed in both unstressed and stressed animals. Results: Lipid peroxidation was decreased while antioxidant enzymes were increased in both unstressed and stressed animals. Acetylcholine level was increased while acetylcholinesterase activity was decreased in both M. madrespatana treated unstressed and stressed rats. There was also an improvement in memory function. Serotonin neurotransmission was also regulated in M. madrespatana treated rats following immobilization stress with anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects. Conclusion: Based on the current study, it is suggested that M. madrespatana has strong antioxidant properties and may be beneficial as dietary supplementation in stress and memory-related conditions., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Neurodegenerative disorders, namely Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS), are increasingly major health concerns due to the increasingly aged population worldwide. These conditions often share the same underlying pathological mechanisms, including elevated oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the aggregation of proteins. Several studies have highlighted the potential to diminish the clinical outcomes of these disorders via the administration of herbal compounds, among which gintonin, a derivative of ginseng, has shown promising results. Gintonin is a noncarbohydrate/saponin that has been characterized as a lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPA Receptor) ligand. Gintonin may cause a significant elevation in calcium levels [Ca2+]i intracellularly, which promotes calcium-mediated cellular effects via the modulation of ion channels and cell surface receptors, regulating the inflammatory effects. Years of research have suggested that gintonin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects against different models of neurodegeneration, and these effects may be employed to tackle the neurological changes. Therefore, we collected the main scientific findings and comprehensively presented them, covering preparation, absorption, and receptor-mediated functions, including effects against Alzheimer's disease models, Parkinson's disease models, anxiety and depression-like models, and other neurological disorders, aiming to provide some insights for the possible usage of gintonin in the management of neurodegenerative conditions.

Background: Traditionally, Grewia optiva is widely used for the treatment of many diseases like dysentery, fever, typhoid, diarrhea, eczema, smallpox, malaria and cough., Methods: Shade-dried roots of G. optiva were extracted with methanol. Based on HPLC results, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were subjected to silica column isolation and four compounds: glutaric acid (V) , 3,5 dihydroxy phenyl acrylic acid (VI) , (2,5 dihydroxy phenyl) 3',6',8'-trihydroxyl-4H chromen-4'-one (VII) and hexanedioic acid (VIII) were isolated in pure form. Ellman's assay was used to determine the anticholinesterase potential of isolated compounds while their antioxidant potential was estimated by DPPH and ABTS scavenging assays., Results: Amongst the isolated compounds, VI and VII exhibited excellent percent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (83.23±1.11, 82.72±2.20 and 82.11±2.11, 82.23±1.21, respectively, at 1000 µg/mL) with IC 50 of 76, 90, 78 and 92 µg/mL, respectively. Highest percent radicals scavenging against DPPH and ABTS (87.41±1.20 and 86.13±2.31) with IC 50 of 64 and 65 µg/mL, respectively, were observed for compound VII . Molecular docking studies also supported the binding of compound VI and VII with the target enzyme. The para-hydroxyl group of the phenolic moiety is formed hydrogen bonds with the active site water molecule and the side chain carbonyl and hydroxyl residues of enzyme., Conclusion: The isolated compounds inhibited the DPPH and ABTS-free radicals, and AChE and BChE enzymes. It was concluded that these compounds could be used in relieving the oxidative stress and pathological symptoms associated with excessive hydrolysis of acetyl and butyryl choline. The results of the study were supported by docking studies for compounds VI and VII ., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2019 Ul Bari et al.)

Background: Skin diseases are a major health concern especially in association with human immune deficiency syndrome and acquired an immune deficiency. The aim of this study was to document the ethnomedicinal information of plants used to treat skin diseases in Northern Pakistan. This is the first quantitative ethnobotanical study of therapeutic herbs utilized by the indigenous people of Northern Pakistan for skin diseases., Methods: Interviews were taken to obtain information from 180 participants. Quantitative methods including fidelity level (FL), Frequency of citation (FC), Use-value (UV), Jaccard indices (JI), Family importance value (FIV), Relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Chi-square test were applied. Medicinal plants uses are also compared with 50 national and international publications., Results: In this study, we recorded 106 plant species belonged to 56 floral families for treatment of skin ailments. The dominant life form reported was herb while the preferred method of utilization was powder, along with leaf as the most used plant part. RFC ranges from 0.07 to 0.25% whereas the highest FIV was recorded for family Pteridaceae. FL values range from 36.8 to 100%. The study reported 88% of new plant reports for the treatment of skin diseases., Conclusion: The present study revealed the importance of several plants used to treat skin diseases by the local communities of Northern Pakistan. The available literature supported the evidence of plant dermatological properties. Plants having high UV and RFC can be considered for further scientific analysis. There is dire need to create awareness among local, government and scientific communities for the preservation of medicinal species and ethnomedicinal knowledge in Northern Pakistan.

The aim of the present study was to investigate bioactive compounds in different solvent extracted samples from the stem tissues of P. hydaspidis using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy techniques. GC-mass spectrum was compared with the data base of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) containing more than 62000 patterns of the mass spectrum. During matching with NIST library the match factor greater than 700 was considered only for better and pure results. The results revealed that different solvent extracted samples analyzed through GC-MS contained appreciable quantities of different bioactive molecules including antibiotics, fatty acids and protein which have important pharmacological significance.

The present study investigates the phyto-chemical analysis, phytotoxic activity and insecticidal activity of the stem and root tissues of medicinally important Periploca hydaspidis. All the extracted samples exhibited the phytotoxic activity. The data confirmed that water was the best solvent to extract the phytotoxic compounds from stem and root tissues. Roots extracted with different solvents exhibited better phytotoxic potential than samples obtained from the stem tissues. Samples extracted in methanol and water from both stems and roots tissues were active against the subject insects while hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol extracted samples in both parts exhibited no insecticidal activity. Water extracted samples of the stem and root exhibited better insecticidal activity compared with methanol extracted samples. Tribolium castaneum and Rhizopertha dominica were more sensitive in both the cases than Callosobruchus maculates. The plant contained alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrate, proteins and saponins.

Medicinal plants have been used from ancient time against different infectious diseases caused by microorganisms across the globe. The present review represents different medicinal plants of Pakistan used traditionally for the treatment of variety of ailments caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, their in-vitro activities against P. aeruginosa and phytochemistry. These plants were extracted with different solvents that showed good in-vitro activities against P. aeruginosa, due to the presence of active phytoconstituents including alkaloids, terpenoids etc. Among all the solvents used for extraction process, alcoholic extracts were mostly preferred in Pakistan. However, non-alcoholic solvents like ethyl acetate and chloroform also showed good anti-P. aeruginosa activities. Statistically, increase in concentration (mg/ml) of ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts significantly increase (p=0.000 and p= 0.046) inhibitory activity against P. aeruginosa. This review provides scientific validation of the traditional knowledge in using medicinal plants for the treatment of different diseases caused by this bacterium. Reported Pakistani medicinal plants contain variety of phytochemical compounds that could be very useful in the production of new drugs with fewer side effects on living system compared to some allopathic drugs. This review also provides baseline information for future research studies on the phytochemistry of unexplored plants. Further research studies should be carried out on non-alcoholic extracts that could be helpful in the extraction new compounds, which could lead to the development of some novel drugs in the pharmaceutical industries of Pakistan.

Background: Medicinal plants are rich source of traditional herbal medicine around the globe. Most of the plant's therapeutic properties are due to the presence of secondary bioactive compounds., Methods: The present study analyzed the High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fractions of Puncia granatum (peel) extracts (aqueous, chloroform, ethanol and hexane) against multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). All the fractions having antibacterial activity was processed for bioactive compounds identification using LC MS/MS analysis., Results: Among total HPLC fractions (n = 30), 4 HPLC fractions of P. granatum (peel) showed potential activity against MDR pathogens. Fraction 1 (F1) and fraction 4 (F4) collected from aqueous extract showed maximum activity against P. aeruginosa. Fraction 2 (F2) of hexane showed antibacterial activity against three pathogens, while ethanol F4 exhibited antibacterial activity against A. baumannii. The active fractions were processed for LC MS/MS analysis to identify bioactive compounds. Valoneic acid dilactone (aqueous F1 and F4), Hexoside (ethanol F4) and Coumaric acid (hexane F2) were identified as bioactive compounds in HPLC fractions., Conclusion: Puncia granatum peel extracts HPLC fractions exhibited potential inhibitory activity against MDR bacterial human pathogens. Several bioactive compounds were identified from the HPLC fractions. Further characterization of these compounds may be helpful to conclude it as therapeutic lead molecules against MDR pathogens.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the selected Pakistani medicinal plants (Chenopodium botrys, Micromeria biflora and Teucrium stocksianum) in-vivo followed by their antioxidant potential against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl (DPPH) in-vitro. The results demonstrated profound antinociceptive effect of both the crude methanolic extract of Chenopodium botrys (CBM) and subsequent aqueous fraction (CBW) of C. botrys with 80.76% and 84% pain relief in acetic acid induced writhing test at 100 mg/kg i.p respectively. Similarly the crude methanolic extract of Micromeria biflora (MBM) and its subsequent aqueous fraction (MBW) with 66.46% 78.08% pain reversal in acetic acid induced writhing test respectively at 100mg/kg i.p. However, the crude methanolic extract and isolated water fraction of Teucrium stocksianum (TS) did not show any significant effect at test doses. Both the crude extracts and aqueous fractions of selected medicinal plants exhibited marked scavenging effects on DPPH and therefore strongly support the antinociceptive activity. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of various classes of natural products (alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids etc.) and thus the current finding can be attributed to the presence of these compounds. In short, our findings provide a strong scientific background to the folk uses C. botrys and M. biflora in the management of various painful conditions.

The purpose of the current study was to estimate the antioxidant profile of two compounds, diosgenin and santonin, isolated from Polygonatum verticillatum rhizomes. Stable free radical, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and reducing power assays were employed for this purpose. The results showed profound free radical scavenging effect of both diosgenin and santonin in a concentration-dependent manner. The calculated half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for both diosgenin and santonin was 65.80 and 50.03 μg/ml, respectively. Similarly, in reducing power assay, diosgenin and santonin exhibited marked quenching effect. The corresponding IC50 values for both the compounds were 62.10 and 46.40 μg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, both the isolated compounds have strong antioxidant potential, which is consistent with the results of the extracts of the plant., (© The Author(s) 2013.)

The present study deals with the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and functional group analysis of Heliotropium bacciferum extracts. Disc diffusion susceptibility method was followed for antimicrobial assessment. Noteworthy antimicrobial activities were recorded by various plant extracts against antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Plant flower extracts antioxidant activity was investigated against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical by ultraviolet spectrophotometer (517 nm). Plant extracts displayed noteworthy radical scavenging activities at all concentrations (25-225 μg/mL). Notable activities were recorded by crude, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts up to 88.27% at 225 μg/mL concentration. Compounds functional groups were examined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies. Alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides, amines, carboxylic acids, amides, esters, alcohols, phenols, nitrocompounds, and aromatic compounds were identified by FTIR analysis. Thin layer chromatography bioautography was carried out for all plant extracts. Different bands were separated by various solvent systems. The results of the current study justify the use of Heliotropium bacciferum in traditional remedial herbal medicines.

One new royleanumoate, a benzene ester (1), has been isolated from T. royleanum Wall. ex Benth along with two known compounds, namely, 3,4-dihydroxymethyl benzoate (2) and oleanolic acid (3). The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was established on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), heteronuclear multiple quantum Coherence (HMQC), and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) experiment.

Three cultivars of Vigna radiata, namely, NM-92, NM-98, and NM-06, were analyzed for their proximate composition. The samples were also tested by HPLC for amino acid content. The data showed that all the varieties had same moisture level. The maximum ash content (4.29%) was present in NM-92, and crude fat (2.26%) was highest in NM-98 while NM-06 contained maximum amount of crude protein. About eighteen types of amino acids were detected in each of the three varieties. Acidic amino acids, that is, aspartic and glutamic acids, were in considerable amount ranged from 13 to 23% followed by leucine, isoleucine, alanine, valine, lysine, phenyl alanine, serine, and arginine which fell in the range of 3-8% of total protein. The maximum amount (13.00 and 22.80%) of aspartic and glutamic acids was present in NM-98. Similarly arginine (6.83%) and serine (5.45%) were also in highest amount in this variety. Leucine (7.46%) was maximum in NM-92 variety. NM-06 contained almost all the amino acids in lesser quantity except for few like threonine, proline, glycine, and alanine. It was concluded from the present study that varieties were of different nutritional value and HPLC was a sensitive method for amino acids determination. Antioxidant activities of all three varieties were also assayed and showed significant results.