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Abstract Background This study was exclusively focused on the documentation and cross-cultural evaluation of ethnomedicinal knowledge (EMK) within the diverse linguistic groups of Kohistan situated between the Himalayan and Hindukush Mountain ranges in the north Pakistan. Methods Data were gathered during the field survey (May 2022 to July 2023) through group conversations, semi-structured interviews, and on-site observation. Venn diagrams were employed to illustrate the comparative assessment of EMK, and different ethnobotanical indices were utilized to examine the data. Results A total of 96 wild medicinal plant species (MPs) belonging to 74 genera and 52 botanical families were documented. The most reported MPs belong to the family Polygonaceae (11 species), followed by Asteraceae (9 species) and Lamiaceae (8 species). The ethnomedicinal uses of Leontopodium himalayanum, Pedicularis oederi, Plocama brevifolia, Polypodium sibiricum, Pteridium esculentum, Sambucus wightiana, Solanum cinereum, Teucrium royleanum, Rhodiola integrifolia, Aconitum chasmanthum were reported for the first time in this region. Among the reported taxa herbaceous species were dominated (72%), followed by trees and shrubs (17% and 10%, respectively). Digestive problems (40 taxa and 114 use reports) and skin disorders (19 taxa and 549 use reports) were the most cited disease categories, whereas M. communis, M. longifolia, Ajuga integrifolia, Ziziphus jujuba, and Clematis grata exhibited the highest percentage fidelity levels. Out of 109 documented medicinal uses, a mere 12 were shared across all linguistic groups, and Bateri emerges as a notable outlier with the highest number of medicinal uses. In addition, a significant homogeneity was noted in the reported botanical taxa (61 species) among different linguistic groups. However, since the last decade biocultural heritage of Kohistan is facing multifaceted risks that need urgent attention. Conclusion Our findings could be valuable addition to the existing stock of ethnomedicinal knowledge and may provide ethnopharmacological basis to novel drug discovery for preexisting and emerging diseases prioritizing detailed phytochemical profiling and the evaluation of bioactive potential.

Abstract Background The use of medicinal plants to treat various veterinary illnesses has been practiced for millennia in many civilizations. Punjab is home to a diverse ethnic community, the majority of whom work in dairy farming, agriculture, and allied professions and have indigenous practices of treating animal illnesses using native flora. This study was designed to (1) document and preserve information about the applications of medicinal plant species in ethnoveterinary remedies among inhabitants of Punjab, Pakistan, and (2) identify popular plants for disease treatment by quantitative analysis of the obtained data and to assess the pharmacological relevance of these species. Methods To collect data from informants (N = 279), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used. The ethnoveterinary data were analyzed using principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority. Results A total of 114 plant species utilized in the ethnoveterinary medicinal system were found, which were divided into 56 families and used to treat 16 different illnesses. The Poaceae family, with 16 species, was the most common in the region. The most commonly employed growth form in herbal preparation was herb (49%). The most used part in ethnoveterinary remedies was leaves (35%), while powder was the most commonly used way for preparing ethnoveterinary remedies (51 applications). According to principal component analysis, the most typically used species in the research region were grasses. Five grasses (Arundo donax, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Hordeum vulgare, and Pennisetum glaucum) showed a 100% FL value when used to treat diuretics, helminthiasis, digestive problems, fever, cough, worm infestation, indigestion, galactagogue, oral infections, and genital prolapse. The maximum value of disease cured level (DCL%) was recorded at 87.6% for endo- and ecto-parasitic ailments in the study area. Conclusion This study demonstrates that medicinal plants play an important part in satisfying farmers’ animal healthcare demands, making it a feasible practice. The study also provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ethnoveterinary methods for further planning and application, providing an option for farmers who cannot afford allopathic therapy.

Pinus roxburghii and Pinus wallichiana are traditionally plants used for various medicinal purposes worldwide. The present study focused on evaluating the phytochemical compounds and the free radical scavenging potential in various parts of P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana through in vitro and in silico study. Crude extract of the fresh leaves was obtained using methanol while steam distillation method was used for the extraction of the essential oil. The phytochemicals were determined by standard methods. Antioxidant Potential of the phytochemicals was performed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Hydroxyl radical (OH) inhibition, Ferric ion reducing power (FRAP) and Phosphomolybedenum complex (PMC) assays. The interactions between the total phenolics and flavonoids of the selected plants and virulent target proteins of the pathogenic bacteria were identified, characterized, and examined using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software. The fresh leaves of P. roxburghii, exhibited the highest total phenolic (744.6 ± 27.0 mg GAE/100 g) and carotenoid content (21.4 ± 0.4 mg/g) that was significantly varied from other samples. The EO of P. wallichiana, showed the highest total flavonoid content. In P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana, the fresh leaves exhibited the highest percentage of scavenging potential against the DPPH radical. Additionally, the EO from P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana have significant potential to reduce ferric ions, and molybdate ions, respectively) with significant differences. The molecular docking showed a significant interaction of compounds present in these pines leaves with Exotoxin A and Elastase B proteins. The essential oil (EO), hydrosol (HS), and crude extract derived from P. roxburghii and P. wallichiana could be exploited as natural sources of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and innovative medications against the human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the impact of environmental conditions on polyphenolic content and free radical scavenging ability in the leaves of N. officinale used as food and medicine in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. Samples were gathered from six different sites located in Himalaya, Hindukush, and Karakorum ranges. Polyphenolic profiling, and in vitro antioxidant potential were determied using standard analytical techniques. The samples collected from Abbottabad had significnat levels (p≤0.05) of total phenolic (331.43±41.43 mg GAE/100g DW) and total flavonoid contents (8.45±1.53 mg RutE/100g DW). Whereas, rutin, quercitin and kaempferol were maximum in samples collected from Dir(132.46±0.31, 8.80±0.05 and 0.95±0.04 µg/g, respectively). Likewise, Gallic and caffeic acids were highest in Haripur and Swat samples, whereas ferulic and p-coumaric acids were maximum in samples taken from Dir. The percentage scavenging of DPPH was maximum in samples collectded from Chitral (69.57±3.39%) and that of H2O2 at Dir (57.24±8.05%), whereas samples collected from Abbottabad depicted maximum inhibition of ferric and molybdate ions. Total phenolic and total flavonoids contents exhibited highly significant positive correlations (p≤0.01) with ferric and molybdate ions reduction capacity. Cluster and principal component analyses also depicted significant associations among samples collected from Abbottabad-Haripur, Dir-Swat, and Mansehra-Chilas. Our findings contribute in understanding the antioxidant potential of N. officinale leaves, and highlights the importance of polyphenolic composition and environmental factors in future investigations related to its nutraceutical applications. Further research on detailed phytochemcial profiling, their in vitro and in vivo mechanisms of action could unveil the potential of this plant as a functional food.

Abstract This opinion piece, written by ethnobiologists from different parts of the world, emphasizes the importance of ethnobiology research in advancing contemporary biology, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and, especially, contributing to the ecological transition and more just and inclusive world. To achieve these goals, it is essential to develop research and collaborate with social groups that live in close relationship with nature in research activities, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC), as well as Afro-descendants and other Marginalized, Minority or Minoritized Communities (AMMC). Ethnobiology can identify and provide locally appropriate solutions to local problems, enabling sustainable resource management at the landscape level. The text explores important aspects that need to be considered to guide the future of ethnobiology in the next 20 years, aiming to integrate and amplify previous discussions held in the discipline and identify points that demand ongoing attention. This paper highlights reflections from diverse researchers, emphasizing how ethnobiology can embrace different perspectives and employ rigorous analysis of complex phenomena toward effective policies and practices. This approach holds the potential to address the challenges the planet is currently facing in the coming decades.

Women are the “guardians of the kitchen” and central to household food security, yet their role has never been studied across the Hindukush region or Pamiri Knot. This study explores the women’s knowledge (specifically from the Khowar (Kho) and Wakhi linguistic groups) of local food systems and determines their role in ensuring household food security and sustainability in the mountain regions of northern Pakistan. Based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with female informants in the Rech and Broghil valleys of upper Chitral, 91 different types of food products were recorded, including wild and cultivated species. Eremurus stenophyllus and Allium barsczewskii were the commonly utilized plant species, though distinct preferences between the Kho and Wakhi groups were noted. Prominent differences were perceived in using certain cultivated plants among the two ethnic groups. For instance, Kho preferred plants like Beta vulgaris, Zea mays, and Brassica napus as indicated by the use reports, while Wakhi concentrated on Thymus serpyllum, Zygophyllum obliquum and Papaver involucratum. Both groups had shared dairy practices, but cottage cheese and curd were highly cited among Kho, while double-fermented curd and Qurut for Wakhi. The study recorded some new food uses for specific plants, such as Atriplex hortensis, Carthamus tinctorius, Hylotelephium spp., and Saxifraga sibirica. Cross-culture analyses revealed a mosaic pattern of homogenous and heterogenous trends based on reported food species of plants/animals and their use reports. Our findings emphasize the significant role of women in sustaining local food diversity, food sustainability, and the preservation and security of the local food systems, cultural legacy, and household food management. Therefore, inclusive research addressing their social, economic, and environmental issues must be conducted. Furthermore, policies must incorporate women’s traditional knowledge to build resilient food systems.

Cedrus deodara is the central conifer plant affected by ozone and nitrogen pollutants among forest species worldwide. The growth of C. deodara depends upon the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) association, which is usually disturbed by these factors. This study aims to understand how these factors affect plants at physiological and biochemical levels. Three fungal strain consortiums were inoculated with two-year-old C. deodara seedlings. The stresses of 100 kg N h−1and 100 ppb O3 were applied for six months to study their impact on chlorophyll and antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and APX). The results showed that C2 (Consortium of Cedrus deodara) positively impacted the growth of selected plant species. The high photosynthesis rate was determined by enhanced chlorophyll content, and C2-treated plants showed high chlorophyll content. Relatively, chlorophyll a and b contents increased significantly in the seedlings treated with Ethylenediurea (EDU) alone and with ozone stress. In addition, a significant difference was observed between EDU and O3-treated plants (14% EDU400-O3 and 23% EDU600-O3) and the control. Overall, antioxidant activities were higher in the treated samples than in the control. The order of SOD activity was C2 (448 U/gFW) and lowest (354.7 U/gFW) in control. APX also showed higher activity in treated plants in C1 ≥ C2 ≥ C3+O3, whereas CAT activity was the highest in C2 treatments. Ozone and nitrogen-stressed plants showed higher activities than EDU-treated plants compared to non-treated ones. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the signaling effects of numerous precursors. Moreover, an extended investigation of seedlings developing into trees must be conducted to verify the potential of ectomycorrhizal strains associated with C. deodara and comprehend EDU's role as a direct molecular scavenger of reactive toxicants.

The conception “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” introduced by the father of medicine “Hippocrates” highlights the significance of bioactive substances in human health [...]

Despite its millennial existence and empirical documentation, the ethnological knowledge of herbs is a more recent phenomenon. The knowledge of their historical uses as food, medicine, source of income and small-scale businesses, and the sociological impacts are threatened due to the slow ethnobotanical research drive. Species of the genus Solanum have long been extensively used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses of humans since the dawn of civilization. All data were systematically obtained from papers, monographs, and books written in Uzbek, Russian, and English through various scientific online databases, including Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science using specific keywords focused on eight Solanum species. Eight native and non-native Solanum species as S. dulcamara L., S. lycopersicum L., S. melongena L., S. nigrum L., S. rostratum Dunal., S. sisymbriifolium Lam., S. tuberosum L., and S. villosum Mill. have been recorded in Uzbekistan of Central Asia. In this article we presented recently obtained data on the diversity, morphological characteristics, global distribution, habitat, population status, phenology, reproduction, pharmacology and phytochemistry of these Solanum species in Uzbekistan. Furthermore, relying on a combination of literature reviews and analyses from various scientific papers, we focus on food consumption coupled with global ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological uses in human diseases of the Solanum species growing in Uzbekistan. Since the dawn of civilization, these eight cultivated and non-cultivated species of Solanum have provided sustainable resources of medicinal plants in Uzbekistan to prevent and treat various human diseases. Based on the collected data, it was shown that Solanum species have not been studied ethnobotanically and ethnomedicinally in Uzbekistan and it is necessary to conduct phytochemical and biotechnological research on them in the future. Traditional uses and scientific evaluation of Solanum indicate that S. nigrum, S. sisymbriifolium and S. tuberosum are one of the most widely used species in some parts of the world. Although considerable progress has been made to comprehend the chemical and biological properties of S. nigrum and S. tuberosum species, more research on the pharmacology and toxicology of these species is needed to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of their biologically active extracts and isolated bioactive compounds. Additionally, conducting additional research on the structure-activity relationship of certain isolated phytochemicals has the potential to enhance their biological efficacy and advance the scientific utilization of traditional applications of Solanum taxa.

Salinity is known to have a greater impact on shoot growth than root growth. Na+ buildup in plant tissue under salt stress has been proposed as one of the main issues that causes growth inhibition in crops via ionic imbalances, osmotic stress and pH disturbances. However, the evidence for apoplastic Na+ buildup and the role of silicon in Na+ accumulation at the subcellular level is still enigmatic. The current study focuses on the accumulation of Na+ in the apoplast and symplast of younger and older leaves of two maize varieties (Iqbal as salt-tolerant and Jalal as salt-sensitive) using hydroponic culture along with silicon supplementation under short-term salinity stress. Subcellular ion analysis indicated that silicon nutrition decreased Na+ concentration in both apoplastic washing fluid and symplastic fluid of maize under salt stress. The addition of silicon under NaCl treatment resulted in considerable improvement in fresh biomass, relative water content, chlorophyll content, and concentration of important subcellular ions (i.e., Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+). Knowledge of subcellular ion analysis is essential for solving the mechanisms underlying vital cellular functions e.g. in the current study, the soluble Na+ concentration in the apoplast of older leaves was found to be significantly greater (36.1 mM) in the salt-sensitive variety under NaCl treatment, which was 42.4% higher when compared to the Na+ concentration in the salt-tolerant variety under the same treatment which can influence permeability of cell membrane, signal transduction pathways and provides insights into how ion compartmentalization can contributes to salt tolerance. Calcium silicate enrichment can contribute to increased growth and improved ionic homeostasis by minimizing leaf electrolyte leakage, improving mechanical functions of cell wall and reducing water loss, and improved photosynthetic function. In current investigation, increased water content and intracellular ionic homeostasis along with reduced concentration of Na+ in the maize leaf apoplast suggest that calcium silicate can be used to ameliorate the adverse effects of salt stress and obtain yield using marginal saline lands.

The current study was based on an analysis of the arsenic (As) content of various mango varieties that were collected from Abbottabad local markets. The As concentration in the mangoes peel, pulp, and surface was assessed using UV–Visible Spectrophotometer. Health risk was evaluated using the target hazard quotient (THQ), the health risk index (HRI), and the estimated daily intake (EDI). In comparison to the surface and pulp, the mean As content in the peel was much higher. Fajri had the highest mean concentration in the peel, whereas Langra had the lowest. The pulp had mean concentrations in Chaunsa was 0.32 ± 0.69 mg/kg, in Langra 0.88 ± 1.63 mg/kg, in Anwar Ratol 1.74 ± 3.07 mg/kg and 0.64 ± 1.22 mg/kg in Fajri. The higher As concentration in the pulp of certain varieties than the permissible limit (1.0 mg/kg) is alarming. All of the mango types had THQ and HRI values less than 1, indicating that they are within acceptable limits and that no adverse health consequences are anticipated. The standards governing food safety need to be improved, and because CaC2 has harmful qualities, it should be avoided in the future.

NAC transcription factors (TFs) are crucial to growth and defense responses in plants. Though NACs have been characterized for their role in several plants, comprehensive information regarding their role in Catharanthus roseus, a perennial ornamental plant, is lacking. Homology modelling was employed to identify and characterize NACs in C. roseus. In-vitro propagation of C. roseus plants was carried out using cell suspension and nodal culture and were elicited with two auxin-antagonists, 5-fluoro Indole Acetic Acid (5-F-IAA) and α-(phenyl ethyl-2-oxo)-Indole-Acetic-Acid (PEO-IAA) for the enhanced production of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) namely catharanthine, vindoline, and vinblastine. Analyses revealed the presence of 47 putative CrNAC genes in the C. roseus genome, primarily localized in the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these CrNACs into eight clusters, demonstrating the highest synteny with corresponding genes in Camptotheca acuminata. Additionally, at least one defense or hormone-responsive cis-acting element was identified in the promoter region of all the putative CrNACs. Of the two elicitors, 5-F-IAA was effective at 200 µM to elicit a 3.07-fold increase in catharanthine, 2.76-fold in vindoline, and 2.4-fold in vinblastine production in nodal culture. While a relatively lower increase in MIAs was recorded in suspension culture. Validation of RNA-Seq by qRT-PCR showed upregulated expression of stress-related genes (CrNAC-07 and CrNAC-24), and downregulated expression of growth-related gene (CrNAC-25) in elicited nodal culture of C. roseus. Additionally, the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of MIAs was significantly upregulated upon elicitation. The current study provides the first report on the role of CrNACs in regulating the biosynthesis of MIAs.

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of typical and optimal use of sunscreens in photosensitivity under UV exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic. First, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 participants to find out about photosensitivity in COVID-19 pandemic using a validated questionnaire involving demographic characteristics and Fitzpatrick skin type to measure skin phototypes that also included information about skin reactions upon sun exposure, the incidence of photosensitivity, and photoprotection behaviour. It was further extended by finding photosensitivity among 200 medical staff and patients that were recovered from COVID-19 infection. Next, the study involved 22 participants in two groups: optimal use with 2 mg per cm2 sunscreen and typical use for 7 days. The sunscreen used was an SPF 50+ product with various ingredients. Instrumental measurements were taken at baseline and 7th day visits to quantify skin melanin and erythema values. 54.9 % of participants had a history of photosensitivity, skin redness after sun exposure (38.0 %), skin protection (74.2 %), always using sunscreen (21.1 %), and applying sunscreen twice a day (12.2 %). A significant association between age, photoprotection behaviour, and photosensitivity was found. The incidence rate of photosensitivity in the population was 90/1000. 63.5 % of the participants agreed to specific skin related manifestations of COVID-19; preventive measures for COVID-19 infection made their skin sensitive (65 %); enhanced photosensitivity of the skin after taking preventive measures (53.5 %); use of hand sanitizers made their skin sensitive (63.5 %); and use of sunscreens was helpful in treating photosensitivity (58.5 %). In addition, there was a decrease in skin melanin and erythema values with optimal use of sunscreen and an increase in skin melanin and erythema values with typical use of sunscreen. When the paired sample t test was applied, the result was found to be significant. It was determined that the COVID-19 pandemic had a high incidence of photosensitivity. Skin sensitivity was increased by using hand sanitizers. Additionally, it is important to prioritise using sunscreen optimally to avoid skin photosensitization. More work on large numbers of participants of different populations in various regions is required in the direction of population guidance.

Abstract Background The mountainous territory of Kohistan shelters diverse food plant species and is considered one of the important hotspots of local plant knowledge. In the era of globalization and food commodification, wild food plants (WFPs) play an important role in supporting local food systems and related local knowledge is one of the important pillars of food sustainability across the region. Since the area is populated by different cultural groups and each culture has retained particular knowledge on the local plant species, therefore, to make a cross-culturally comparison, the study was planned to record and compare the local plants knowledge among three linguistic groups viz Gujjar, Kohistani and Shina in order to not only protect the local knowledge but to determine the food cultural adaptations among these groups looking through the lens of their food ethnobotanies. Methods Field ethnobotanical survey was carried out in 2020–2021 to gather the data on wild food plants. We used semi-structured interviews. Use reports were counted, and the results were visualized through Venn diagrams. Results In total, 64 plant species belonging to 45 botanical families were documented. Among these Ajuga integrifolia, Barbarea verna, Clematis grata, Impatiens edgeworthii, Ranunculus laetus (vegetables), Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana (fruit), Indigofera tinctoria (flower), Juniperus excelsa, Primula elliptica, P. macrophylla (flavoring agent), Leontopodium himalayanum (Chewing gum), and Juniperus excelsa (snuff) were reported for the first time. The highest use reports (≥ 90) were recorded for Mentha longifolia, Amaranthus hybridus, Quercus semecarpifolia, Solanum miniatum, Oxalis corniculata, Ficus palmata, and Urtica dioica. Maximum number of wild food plant species (WFPs) were reported by Kohistani, followed by Shinaki and Gujjari linguistic groups. The percentage overlap of traditional knowledge on WFPs was highest among Kohistani and Shinaki (56.0%), followed by Shinaki and Gujjars (17.0%), and Kohistani and Gujjars (15.0%). Kohistani and Shinaki groups exhibited maximum homogeneity in traditional knowledge. However, Gujjars had more knowledge on WFPs compared to Kohistani and Shinaki. In addition, some dairy products viz. Bhorus, Bagora, Bak, Cholam, Kacha, Gurloo and Poyeen were reported also reported that are consumed orally and used in traditional cuisines. Conclusions The study indicates that Kohistan is one of the important spots of biocultural diversity and could be recognized as biocultural refugia. WFPs have been an integral part of the traditional food systems among the studied groups, particularly the Gujjars have reported more distinct plant uses which could be referred to their distinctive ecological experiences among others. However, social change is one of the challenges that might lead to the erosion of local plant knowledge. Moreover, intercultural negotiations among the studied groups are also a matter of concern which could homogenize the local knowledge among them. Therefore, we suggest solid policy measures to protect the local knowledge and celebrate diversity across this mountain territory.

The development of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacterial strains has drawn attention to the quest for new natural antibacterial drugs. Therefore, in the present study, extracts of Rumex hastatus leaves were obtained in methanol and water, and R. hastatus-based silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized. Structural and functional properties of synthesized silver nanoparticles were determined by UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR and SEM. The synthesized AgNPs and crude extracts were tested to check their antibacterial potential against human pathogenic bacterial strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus haemoliticus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in well diffusion and broth dilution methods. The present investigation has revealed for the first time that the broth dilution method was found more reproducible than that of the well diffusion method even at lower concentrations of AgNPs and crude extracts. UV– Vis spectroscopic analysis of AgNPs revealed a peak at 367 nm. XRD pattern showed a face-centered cubical to the spherical structure of AgNP crystals. FTIR analysis revealed that flavonoids and terpenoids are responsible for the reduction of AgNO3 to Ag+. SEM analysis determined the spherical structure and 51 nm average diameter of nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of R. hastatus-based (AgNPs) was found to be significantly higher than aqueous plant extract and silver nitrate alone. Bacterial growth was inhibited by R. hastatus-based AgNPs in a dose-dependent manner. To our knowledge, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of R. hastatus were synthesized and characterized for the first time in this study and, based on the findings of current research work R. hastatus extract-based silver nanoparticles are suggested to be used as an antibacterial drug instead of synthetic drugs for the treatment of various human diseases/infections caused by the tested bacterial strains.

Land Surface Temperature (LST) affects exchange of energy between earth surface and atmosphere which is important for studying environmental changes. However, research on the relationship between LST, Land Use Land Cover (LULC), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with topographic elements in the lower Himalayan region has not been done. Therefore, the present study explored the relationship between LST and NDVI, and LULC types with topographic elements in the lower Himalayan region of Pakistan. The study area was divided into North-South, West-East, North-West to South-East and North-East to South-East directions using ArcMap 3D analysis. The current study used Landsat 8 (OLI/TIRS) data from May 2021 for LULC and LST analysis in the study area. The LST data was obtained from the thermal band of Landsat 8 (TIRS), while the LULC of the study areas was classified using the Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) method utilizing Landsat 8 (OLI) data. TIRS collects data for two narrow spectral bands (B10 and B11) with spectral wavelength of 10.6 μm–12.51 μm in the thermal region formerly covered by one wide spectral band (B6) on Landsat 4–7. With 12-bit data products, TIRS data is available in radiometric, geometric, and terrain-corrected file format. The effect of elevation on LST was assessed using LST and elevation data obtained from the USGS website. The LST across LULC types with sunny and shady slopes was analyzed to assess the influence of slope directions. The relationship of LST with elevation and NDVI was examined using correlation analysis. The results indicated that LST decreased from North-South and South-East, while increasing from North-East and South-West directions. The correlation coefficient between LST and elevation was negative, with an R-value of −0.51. The NDVI findings with elevation showed that NDVI increases with an increase in elevation. Zonal analysis of LST for different LULC types showed that built-up and bare soil had the highest mean LST, which was 35.76 °C and 28.08 °C, respectively, followed by agriculture, vegetation, and water bodies. The mean LST difference between sunny and shady slopes was 1.02 °C. The correlation between NDVI and LST was negative for all LULC types except the water body. This study findings can be used to ensure sustainable urban development and minimize urban heat island effects by providing effective guidelines for urban planners, policymakers, and respective authorities in the Lower Himalayan region. The current thermal remote sensing findings can be used to model energy fluxes and surface processes in the study area.

The emergence of resistant pathogenic bacterial strains has threatened the human beings and already developed remedial measures. Based on the traditional herbal therapeutic history, present study is aimed to assess in vitro and in silico inhibition potential of leaves extracts of Pinus roxburghii and Cedrus deodara against human pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Hexane, methanol and acetone extracts of both plants were evaluated against above mentioned bacterial strains employing agar well diffusion technique. While docking analyses were performed to analyze the interaction of vital bioactive compounds and bacterial virulence proteins to get an idea about potential candidates for drug discovery. Both plant extracts exhibited greater antibacterial activities against S. aureus as compared to S. typhi and P. aeruginosa. The activity of different extracts also portrayed the role of polarity of solvent and compound to be extracted in each solvent i.e., activity of hexane extract > methanol > acetone with some variations. MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values of P. roxburghii extracts were less than that of C. deodara against tested strains, while variation was observed in MBCs (minimum bactericidal concentrations). Furthermore, molecular docking of studied plants bioactive compounds and bacterial proteins showed strong interactions (binding affinity) i.e., taxifolin > nortrachelogenin > bisabolene > valencene > caryophyllene. Antibacterial efficiencies of P. roxburghii and C. deodara suggested their application as effective therapeutic agents against diseases caused by mentioned bacterial strains. In silico analysis suggests the isolation and usage of bioactive components as potential antibacterial agents/drugs after further experimentations on animals.

The unpredictably changing climatic conditions, especially high temperatures, are putting a continuous threat to sustainable cotton production. The current study was designed to investigate the impact of heat stress on several morpho-physiological, biochemical, and fibre quality-related traits. The results revealed the presence of significant variations in agro-morphological, physio-chemical and staple length-related parameters for upland cotton genotypes and stress treatments. Further analysis of pooled data unveiled that heat stress had a detrimental impact on all studied plant traits. Severe reduction in plant height, nodes per plant, sympodial branches per plant, number of bolls per plant, ginning out-turn, and staple length were recorded under heat stress. A significant reduction in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) up to 28.6 % was observed in cotton genotype BH-200 (24.7 to 19.2 µmole m−2 s−1). The accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was increased from 7.1 % in BH-306 to 28.7 % in BH-200 under heat stress due to the incidence of oxidative stress. A substantial increase in the accumulation of antioxidants i.e., catalase (65 %–74 %), peroxidase (54 %–169 %), and superoxide dismutase (52 %–98 %) was seen under high-temperature stress conditions. The correlation coefficient analysis unveiled a significantly positive correlation of seed cotton yield with nodes per plant (r = 0.432*), net photosynthetic rate (r = 0.829**), peroxidase (r = 0.974**), and superoxide dismutase (r = 0.868**), under heat stress conditions. However, a negative but statistically significant correlation of seed cotton yield with ginning out turn (r = −0.466*), staple length (r = −0.898**), hydrogen peroxide (r = −0.955**) and catalase (r = −0.904**) was also observed. The overall results unveiled that cotton genotype BH-232 has a comparatively higher heat tolerance than other contesting genotypes while BH-306 showed the highest susceptibility to heat stress. Hence, BH-232 could be recommended after its approval for general cultivation in heat-prone areas of Pakistan.

Diabetes Mellitus and the associated hyperglycemia trigger oxidative damage to tissues and organs. DM is obviously related to the salivary glands’ dysfunction. Ascorbic acid is a powerful dietary antioxidant. In this study, we investigated the ascorbic acid’s putative potential to conserve the structure and function of the major salivary glands in diabetic patients. Adult male albino rats (n = 24) were equally divided into four groups: Group I (control, only distilled water), Group II (ascorbic acid 200 mg/Kg/day), Group III (experimentally-induced diabetes by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin 60 mg/kg), and Group IV (ascorbic acid after one week of diabetes induction). Blood glucose level was assessed. After eight weeks, samples from the salivary glands were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Group III showed degenerative changes in the salivary glands and increased collagen deposition, whereas the glycoprotein content and antiapoptotic activity decreased. Group IV showed marked histologic and functional improvement. Although further research is required to fully understand its mode of action, ascorbic acid is advised as an adjuvant medication for diabetes to keep the integrity of major salivary glands.

This research investigated the influence of microwave-assisted fluidized bed drying (MAFBD) on the antioxidant and phytochemical characteristics of Chicory. Microwave power, temperature, and air velocity were used as process variables varied between 180–540 W, 50–70 °C, and 15–20 m/s, respectively. The responses determined for deciding the optimal criteria were total phenolics content, ascorbic acid, DPPH radical scavenging activity, total chlorophyll, carotene content, total flavonoid content, tannin content, and saponin content of the dried chicory. Statistical analyses were done by using the response surface methodology, which showed that independent variables affected the responses to a varied extent. The design expert predicted 462.30 W microwave power, 70°C temperature, and 15 m/s air velocity as optimum conditions to obtain highest desirability for the dried chicory. Separate validation experiments were conducted, under optimum conditions, to verify the predictions and adequacy of the second-order polynomial models. Under these optimal conditions, the predicted amount of ascorbic acid content was 38.32 mg/100g DW, total phenolic content 216.42 mg/100g DW, total flavonoid content mg/100g DW, DPPH scavenging activity 36.10 μg/ml, total chlorophyll content 311.79 mg/100g, carotene content 7.30 mg/100g, tannin content 2.72 mg/100g, and saponin content 0.46 mg/100g. The investigated parameters had a significant effect on the quality of the dried chicory. Taking the aforesaid results into consideration, our study recommended MAFBD as a promising technique with minimum changes in antioxidant and phytochemical content of chicory.

Background: The use of animals and animal-derived products in ethnopharmacological applications is an ancient human practice that continues in many regions today. The local people of the Himalayan region harbor rich traditional knowledge used to treat a variety of human ailments. The present study was intended with the aim of examining animal-based traditional medicine utilized by the population of the Himalayan region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.Methods: Data were collected from 2017 to 2019 through individual and group interviews. Data on traditional uses of animal products were analyzed, utilizing following indices such as the frequency of citation, use value, relative importance, similarity index, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis to find the highly preferred species in the area.Results: Ethnomedicinal uses of 62 species of vertebrates and invertebrates were documented. Flesh, fat, bone, whole body, milk, skin, egg, head, feathers, bile, blood, and honey were all used in these applications. The uses of 25 animals are reported here for the first time from the study area (mainly insects and birds, including iconic species like the kalij pheasant, Lophura leucomelanos; Himalayan monal, L. impejanus; and western tragopon, Tragopan melanocephalus). The diversity and range of animal-based medicines utilized in these communities are indications of their strong connections with local ecosystems.Conclusion: Our results provide baseline data valuable for the conservation of vertebrate and invertebrate diversity in the region of Himalayan of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It is possible that screening this fauna for medicinally active chemicals could contribute to the development of new animal-based drugs.

Cortex Mori Radicis (CMR) is enriched in various phenolics, this study aimed to estimate the antioxidant effect, enzyme (lipase, α-amylase, α-glucosidase and acetyl-cholinesterase) inhibition and the anti-proliferative effect of the phenolic compounds in CMR. However, the amount of these compounds obtained from CMR is highly dependent on the processing conditions. In this study, the processing parameters of extracting the phenolics from CMR using ultrasonic technique pooled with high-speed shearing extraction (UTPHSE) were optimized. Subsequently, the phenolics from Cortex Mori Radicis (PCMR) were purified using AB-8 macroporous resin, and their chemical analysis, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antiproliferative activities were studied. Based on our findings, the optimal parameters of UTPHSE were: L/S ratio 25.8:1 (mL/g), voltage 81.0 V, ultrasonic temperature 51.8 ℃ and ultrasonic time 289 s. And under the optimal extraction conditions, the extraction rate of the PCMR was 0.531 ± 0.004%. Compared with PCMR, the contents of “total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols, flavanols and phenolic acids” increased 2.30, 2.67, 2.59, 3.63 and 2.72 times in the purified phenolics from Cortex Mori Radicis (PPCMR), respectively. In addition, PPCMR depicted significant DPPH, ABTS+ and superoxide anion radicals’ scavenging capability, reducing power, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and remarkable inhibitory activities on “lipase, alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and the proliferation of HeLa, HepG2 and NCI-H460”. At the same time, the morphological changes of HeLa, HepG2 and NCI-H460 cells suggested that PPCMR could effectively inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells in vitro. Therefore, PPCMR have good potential as natural antioxidants, antilipidemic, hypoglycemic, and antineoplastic agents in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

Numerous investigations on plant ethnomedicinal applications have been conducted; however, knowledge about the medicinal use of wild animals is still limited. This present study is the second on the medicinal and cultural meaning of avian and mammalian species used by the population in the surrounding area of the Ayubia National Park, KPK, Pakistan. Interviews and meetings were compiled from the participants (N = 182) of the study area. The relative frequency of citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority indices were applied to analyze the information. Overall, 137 species of wild avian and mammalian species were documented. Of these, 18 avian and 14 mammalian species were utilized to treat different diseases. The present research showed noteworthy ethno-ornithological and ethno-mammalogical knowledge of local people and their connection with fauna, which might be useful in the sustainable utilization of the biological diversity of the Ayubia National Park, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, in vivo and/or in vitro examination of the pharmacological activities of species with the highest fidelity level (FL%) as well as frequency of mention (FM) might be important for investigations on faunal-based new drugs.

Mushrooms play a crucial role in human life as well as in nature, providing food, medicine, and carrying out vital processes of decomposition, nutrient recycling, and developing mycorrhizal association with plants. The traditional system of knowledge about identification, collection, and usage of mushrooms has been accumulated through the shared experiences of many generations. Unfortunately, there have been continuous threats to the folk knowledge of mushrooms mainly due to habitat degradation, urbanization, and contemporary medication. The current research was, therefore, aimed to document an ethnomycological knowledge possessed by the ethnic communities of Swat, Pakistan. The purposive randomized sampling was carried out using chain referral method. Ethno-mycological information was collected from 62 informants using free listing, preference ranking, and use totaled methods. In total, 34 species of mushrooms belonging to 31 genera and 21 families were reported. About 85% of the reported species belong to Basidiomycetes, and 12.5% to Ascomycetes are used as food and for medicinal purposes. Morchella angusticeps, M. esculenta, Pleurotus sp., Auricularia sp., Flammulina velutipes, Agaricus bisporus, Ganoderma lucidum, and Sanghuangporus sanghuang were among the most cited edible and medicinal mushrooms. The current study revealed that district Swat is rich in wild edible and medicinal mushrooms (WEMs), and the local communities possess rich traditional knowledge about their collection, storage, and utilization. The diversity of WEMs of this region could contribute substantially to the socio-economic uplifting of the local communities through appropriate domestication and commercialization. Anthropogenic factors, coupled with depletion of traditional knowledge, threaten the diversity of WEMs in the region; therefore, in situ and ex situ conservation strategies are highly recommended.

Present study was intendant to assess heavy metals (HMs) concentration and associated health risk in processed fruits’ products sold in the local markets of North Pakistan. In total seven metals viz. cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were quantified in 345 samples of different brands categorized into eight groups (Sauces, Ketchup, Juices, Jams, canned fruits, tomato paste, marmalades and pickles). On the comparative basis, Fe was dominating with highest concentration in pickles, canned fruits and sauces at 143.3 ± 43.2, 83.64 ± 23.19 and 50.17 ± 15.1 mg/kg, respectively), followed by Cd in sauces (22.94 ± 6.91 mg/kg), Cr in juices (12.97 ± 3.91 mg/kg) and Pb in pickles (12.53 ± 3.77 mg/kg). Measured levels of these metals varied significantly and were relatively higher than their permissible limits. Univariate and multivariate analysis depicted strong association among Cr, Co, Pb and Fe and confirmed HMs contamination through natural and anthropogenic sources in processed foods. Health risk index (HRI) for Cd, Cr and Pb was greater than unity (

Background: Biofilm forming ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa make them vulnerable, because it makes them recalcitrant against various antibiotics. Quorum sensing (QS) is cell density based signaling that helps in bacterial cell–cell communication, which regulated various virulence factors such as pigment and biofilm formation that contribute in the establishment of chronic infections. The interruption of QS is one of the effective approach to control various virulence factors. Present study was intended with the aim to authenticate antibiofilm potential in different solvents based extracts of selected medicinal plant species viz. Berginia ciliata, Clematis grata and Clematis viticella traditionally used by the inhabitants of Himalayan region of Pakistan to treat various pathogenic diseases. P. aeruginosa PAO1, an opportunistic pathogen and involves in various life-threatening infections specifically in immune deficient patients was used as a model pathogen. Methods: Plants were extracted in various organic (ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, hexane, chloroform) as well as in aqueous solvents and their ability to inhibit biofilm was measured. Biofilm of PAO1 was grown in Jensen's medium while growing at 30 °C and crystal violet assay was performed to assess the biofilm inhibiting activity of plant extracts. Results: Solvents play a vital role in extraction of plant components and it was found that the plants in various solvents exhibit different activity against the PAO1 biofilm. Comparatively, 1% methanolic extract of B. ciliata (rhizome with skin), showed more than 80% inhibition of biofilm formation without effecting on the growth of the bacterium. Significant correlation between flavonoids content and antibiofilm activity in methanolic extract revealed the contribution of secondary metabolites in P. aeruginosa (PAO1) biofilm inhibition. Conclusion: Our study revealed that plants under investigation more specifically B. ciliata could be a potential candidate for drug discovery to treat P. aeruginosa PAO1, induced infectious diseases especially for its biofilm treatment.

Abstract Background The present study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Harighal, an inaccessible and unexplored area of District Bagh Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The exploration, quantification, and comparison of ethnobotanical knowledge among different rural communities of the study area were mainly focused during field survey. Methodology In total, 79 informants (49 men and 34 women) were selected randomly to collect data using a semi-structured questionnaire. Various quantitative indices, including use value, relative frequency of citation, relative importance, fidelity level, and informant consent factor, were employed to evaluate the gathered information. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with twenty-two papers published from adjoining areas. Result A total of 150 medicinal plants belonging to 98 genera and 60 families were documented. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Rosaceae were the dominant families having 15 species each. Of these, 76 species were indigenous, 74 exotic, 136 were collected in the wild, 10 cultivated, and 4 both wild-collected and cultivated. Herbaceous taxa were the most used life form, and leaves were the most exploited plant part. Decoctions were the most preferred method used in preparation of herbal recipes. Three species viz. Mentha longifolia, Berberis lycium, and Galium aparine had the highest use value (1.05), relative frequency of citation (0.81), and relative importance value (96), respectively. The highest informant consensus factor (ICF) was reported for digestive disorders. Mentha longifolia, Punica granatum, Zanthoxylum alatum, and Olea ferruginea had 100% fidelity values. The Jaccard index revealed that uses of plants were more similar in two neighboring areas, i.e., Pearl Valley and Toli Peer. Conclusion Local inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline.

Heavy metals’ contamination in cosmetic products is a serious threat. Present study was conducted to evaluate the concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) in various brands of cosmetic products with special emphasis on their health risk assessment. Five heavy metals including Cd, Cr, Fe, Ni and Pb were quantified in different brands of lotions, foundations, whitening creams, lipsticks, hair dyes and sunblock creams using atomic absorption spectrometry. Risk to the consumer’s health was determined using systemic exposure dosage (SED), margin of safety (MoS), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR).On comparative basis, different brands of sunblock creams depicted highest concentration of Ni, Pb and Cr (7.99 ± 0.36, 6.37 ± 0.05 and 0.43 ± 0.01 mg/kg, respectively), whereas lipsticks had elevated levels of Fe at 12.0 ± 1.8 mg/kg, and Cd was maximum in lotions (0.26 ± 0.02 mg/kg). Multivariate analysis revealed strong associations among Cr, Ni and Pb, while Cd and Fe showed disparity in distribution and sources of contamination. MoS, HQ and HI values were within the permissible limit apart from for lotions and sunblock creams, while LCR value was higher than the permissible limit in all cosmetic products except lipsticks. Regular use of these products can cause serious threat to human health, particularly skin cancer on long time exposure. Therefore, continuous monitoring of cosmetic products, particularly with reference to HMs adulteration should be adopted to ensure the human safety and security.

The present study evaluates variations among flaxseed varities in terms of fatty acid composition, phytochemical profile, and antioxidant activity determined by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferrous ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Significant variations in fatty acid composition, phenolic acids and lignan were observed in flaxseed varieties from different countries. Among them, unsaturated fatty acids accounted over 4/5 of total fatty acid content. The highest ratio of linolenic acid of total fatty acid was observed in USPEA, whereas the lowest one was found in Yexiao. USPEA showed the highest content of total phenolics, as well as flaxseed lignan. In general, total phenolics appeared to be the main contributors of antioxidant capacity of flaxseed, which presented significant positive correlation. Our study revealed that both cultivar and origin of seed significantly affected fatty acid composition, phenolic acids, lignans and subsequent antioxidant activity of flaxseed. These results provided new aspects of breeding resources of flaxseed cultivars by presenting their quality specification and possible commercial value.

Abstract Background Like botanical taxa, various species of animals are also used in traditional and modern health care systems. Present study was intended with the aim to document the traditional uses of herptile and fish species among the local communities in the vicinity of the River Chenab, Punjab Pakistan. Method Data collected by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were subsequently analyzed using relative frequency of citation (FC), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), similarity index (SI), and rank order priority (ROP) indices. Results Out of total 81 reported species, ethnomedicinal uses of eight herptiles viz. Aspideretes gangeticus, A. hurum, Eublepharis macularius, Varanus bengalensis, Python molurus, Eryx johnii, Ptyas mucosus mucosus, Daboia russelii russelii and five fish species including Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cirrhinus reba, Labeo dero, Mastacembelus armatus, and Pethia ticto were reported for the first time from this region. Fat, flesh, brain, and skin were among the commonly utilized body parts to treat allergy, cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory disorders, sexual impotency, skin infections, and as antidote and anti-diabetic agents. Hoplobatrachus tigerinus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, and Ptyas mucosus mucosus (herptiles), as well as Labeo rohita, Wallago attu, and Cirrhinus reba (fish) were top ranked with maximum informant reports, frequency of citations, and rank order priority. Uromastyx hardwickii, Ctenopharyngodon idella, H. molitrix, Cirrhinus mrigala, C. reba, L. rohita, L. calbasu, L. dero, and Pethia ticto were the species with 100% fidelity level. Furthermore, medicinal uses of Aspideretes gangeticus, Aspideretes hurum, Calotes versicolor, Daboia russelii russelii, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Cirrhinus reba, Labeo dero, Mastacembelus armatus, Pethia ticto, and Gagata cenia were reported for the first time. Conclusion About half of the reported species depicted zero similarity index with previously reported literature, which indicates strong associations of local inhabitants with animal species, particularly for therapeutic purpose. Inclusive studies on composition and bioactivities of the species with maximum use reports may contribute significantly in animal-based novel drugs discovery.

Achromatopsia (ACHM) is a genetically heterogeneous visual disorder, also known as rod monochromatism, in which human get affected due to cone cells. Mutation in five genes viz. CNGA3, CNGB3, GNAT2, PDE6C, and PDE6H have been reported in ACHM. These genes encode essential constitutes of the cone-specific photo transduction cascade. Present study was focused on CNGB3 gene that accounts 40%-50% mutations of all ACHM cases. A new approach for analyzing drug-drug interactions based on modularity was adopted. This approach depends on the behavioral relationship of drugs against CNGB3 for ACHM, particularly the ADME and toxicity between drugs. Data of 2475 compounds were retrieved, out of which 185 were selected on the basis of Lipinski rule of five. In total, eight clusters were made for which the strongly interacted DDI networks were build based on their modularity values. Strong DDI and minimum toxic values indicates that 5 drugs are effective, but on the basis of docking only 2 drugs indicated no bumps, which shows that they are most appropriate for treating ACHM. Our findings revealed that drug-drug interactions disclose the intervention of drug nature and can also successfully diagnose new indications and more convincing drugs for other diseases as well. Keywords: Achromatopsia, CNGB3, In silico, Integrated drugs

It is generally recognized that agricultural soils accumulate toxic metals after long-term wastewater irrigation. The removal of trace metals (TMs) from the soil is not possible. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of the addition of manure on the extractability and bioavailability of TM from the contaminated soil after wastewater irrigation. Soils samples were treated with co-composted cow manure (CM) and poultry litter (PL) at 10 and 20 t ha−1. The study showed that addition of manure enhanced fenugreek biomass and reduced TM uptake depending on the combination of composted manures used. TM concentrations in the fenugreek shoots varied in the order of Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cd. A higher amount of manure mixture especially composted with the privet and cypress residues decreased the extractability of TM from the contaminated soil. Soils amended with PL reduced TM concentrations more than CM; this is also true for the plant uptake. The variation of TM in plants was positively associated with their concentrations in the soil and adversely related to the plant biomass. This study confirmed that the combined use of composted manure with plant residues can be an effective addition for ameliorating the TM pollution in soils and crops.

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and the mold Aspergillus flavus are well known threats of stored grain commodities, causing nutritional loss and poisoning of stored products, respectively. T. castaneum has developed resistance against most insecticides, leading to the use of extensive amounts of synthetic insecticides to protect stored grains. Synthetic pesticides not only toxify the environment but also cause serious health issues in humans using pesticide treated grains. This study aimed to identify plant-based natural pesticides to control T. castaneum and A. flavus. Essential oils were extracted from fresh aerial parts of Chenopodium ambrosioides, Conyza sumatrensis, Erigeron canadensis, and Tagetes minuta through steam distillation and investigated for insecticidal and anti-fungal activities against adult T. castaneum and A. flavus, respectively. GC–MS analysis of C. sumatrensis revealed the presence of 37.7% cis-lachnophyllum ester, 13.4% germacrene D, and 21.6% limonene, whereas in E. canadensis the major compounds were limonene, germacrene D, and cis-lachnophyllum ester (43.4%, 12.9% and 5.9%, respectively). In bioassays with treated grain, C. sumatrensis and E. canadensis essential oils exhibited excellent toxicity against adult T. castaneum with LD50 of 3.7 and 5.6 mg per 10 g grains whereas in a fumigation bioassay they showed LD50 of 6.6 and 10.6 mg/L, respectively. The essential oils extracted from C. ambrosioides and E. canadensis exhibited good anti-fungal activity against A. flavus. Our findings suggest that essential oils of C. sumatrensis and E. canadensis can play an important role in protecting stored grains from T. castaneum and A. flavus contamination.

Forests constitute about thirty percent of total land of district Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. However, local populations utilize these forests to fulfill the requirements of fodder, fuelwood and sawn timber. Most studies; based on exploration of the composition of vascular and non-vascular floral species after human-induced deforestation have been conducted in protected areas of Abbottabad. Present study was focused on forests’ inventory in unprotected area to assess the implications of forest management practices through quadrate-plot survey method with systematic sampling design. The abundance, frequency, dominance, density and population of tree species as well as Importance Value and Family Value Indices were higher in reserved forests. However, Shannon-Weiner Index, Species Richness, Evenness and Simpson Indices were higher in community forests indicating the higher deterioration of community forests. Statistical analysis supported the significance of acquired results. The findings support the existence of intact tree vegetation in reserved forests can be due to less utilization of reserved forests by local populations. Forests’ protection has positively influenced the structure and density of tree vegetation stand in reserved forests. The study would offer information for wise management of forests in study area as well as other non-protected areas of district. The study supports an active forests management at local levels to contribute in global forests’ conservation.

Grape plant (Vitis vinifera L.) is a species of the family Vitaceae. It is an economically important fruit plant abundantly grown all over the world. Vitaceae comprised of 900 species distributed across tropical, sub-tropical and partially temperate sorts of climatic zones. In the current study we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of grape leaves extract from different Pakistani varieties.We have analyzed the crude methanolic extract from the leaves of Pakistani grape varieties (i.e. NARC Black, Sundar Khani, Shogran-1, Shogran-2, Haita, Sheghali, Perlette, and Sultania-C) cultivated in various soil compositions. Total phenolic contents (TPC) of the extract were determind by using Folin-ciocalteu reagent method. Total flavonoid contents (TFC) were determind by the Aluminum Chloride Calorimetric method. Antioxidant activities of the extracts of different concentration were evaluated using Phosphomolybdenum method, Reducing power and DPPH (2, 2-disphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) assays. Assays performed for grape varieties showed great antioxidant potential. All varieties significantly depicted with variation in polyphenolic contents and antioxidant potential with changes in the soil conditions. The highest TPC and TFC were quantified in Shogran-1 97.58 ± 0.09 (GAE, g−1) and Sultania-C 97.47 ± 0.12 (µg QE/g DE) varieties respectively which were grown in (T6) and (T5), while lower were recorded in Sundar khani 5.16 ± 0.23 in (T6). Likewise, Shogran-1 128.26 ± 0.23 (µg AAE/g extract) variety grown in (T6) depicted highest total antioxidant capacity, NARC black 182.06 ± 0.24 (µg AAE/g extract) variety grown in (T6) resulted in maximum reducing power while DPPH free radical scavenging potential were determinded in Sultania-C 80.91 ± 0.10 (T4) equivalent µg/g. In the terms of bioassays, the promising results were showed by compost + sand + clay (T4), compost + clay + dung (T5) and sand + clay + dung (T6). Therefore, we conclude that variation in soil composition has a significant contribution in the quantity of phytochemicals and antioxidants expression. Our study further suggest that use of organic fertilizer (Compost) and loamy sort of soil enhance functioning of most of the varieties in terms of important phytochemicals.

Being a global concern, the current scenario of food chain contamination is one of the major threats to human health. Unrestrained human population, industrialization, urbanization, and extensive use of agrochemicals are among the major causes of heavy metals (HMs) contamination in the food chain. The present study was intended to quantify some HMs and to evaluate their sources and health risks in different varieties of onion using standard analytical approaches. Overall, nine HMs were quantified in the bulbs and leaves of nine varieties of onion. Ascending order of HMs’ concentration was as follow: Fe > Zn > Mn > Co > Pb > Cu > Cr > Cd > Li (bulbs) and Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Co > Li > Cd (leaves). Most of the measured levels were found to be relatively higher in the leaves than bulbs. Red Flame (V4), Super Sarhad (V3), Red Orb (V2), White Pearl (V7) and Zeus (V9) varieties showed elevated levels of Cu, Fe, and Zn; Cr and Mn; Co and Pb; Cd and Li, respectively in the bulbs. Likewise, Red Orb (V2) and White Pearl (V7) revealed elevated levels of the metals, while Golden Orb (V6) exhibited relatively lower metal levels. Highly significant positive correlations (≥90% at p ≤ 0.01) were found between Zn-Cu and Zn-Fe (in bulbs) and Cu-Co (in leaves), indicating their common origin. Principle component analysis indicated substantial anthropogenic contamination of the HMs in onion. In addition, hierarchal clustering revealed associations of different varieties based on similarities in the metal levels. The calculated values of health risk index (HRI), target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TCR) in the bulbs and leaves of all varieties were within the safe limit for both adults and children. Therefore, human consumption of these onion varieties is considered safe with respect to the HMs. However, currently used remediation approaches should focus on the reduction of health risks associated with HMs contamination in the food crops.

The Moroccan flora abounds and is an important reserve of medicinal plants. Nigella sativa and Lepidium sativum are plants that are widely used in traditional medicine for their multiple therapeutic properties. The current study aims to highlight the biological activities that can justify and valorize the use of these plants. Flavonoids, total phenols, condensed tannins, and sugars were determined. The biological activities tested were antioxidant by determining the IC50 (defined as the concentration of an antioxidant required to decrease the initial concentration by 50%; inversely related to the antioxidant capacity), hemagglutination, and hemolytic activities. Phytochemical quantification of the seed extracts indicated that the total phenol content was largely similar for both plants and in the order of 10 mg GAE (Gallic acid equivalent)/g. On the other hand, L. sativum seeds registered a higher content of flavonoids (3.09 ± 0.04 mg QE (quercetin equivalent)/g) as compared to Nigella saliva (0.258 ± 0.058). Concerning condensed tannins, N. saliva seeds present a higher amount with a value of 7.2 ± 0.025 mg/g as compared to L. sativum (1.4 ± 0.22 mg/g). Concerning the total sugar content, L. sativum shows a higher content (67.86 ± 0.87 mg/g) as compared to N. sativa (58.17 ± 0.42 mg/g); it is also richer in mucilage with a content of 240 mg as compared to 8.2 mg for N. saliva. Examination of the antioxidant activity using a DPPH (2.2-diphenyl 1-pycrilhydrazyl) test revealed that the EButOH (n-butanol extract) and EAE (ethyl acetate extract) extracts were the most active, with IC50 values of 48.7 and 50.65 μg/mL for the N. sativa extracts and 15.7 and 52.64 μg/mL for the L. sativum extracts, respectively. The results of the hemagglutination activity of the different extracts of the two plants prepared in the PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) medium showed significant agglutination for the L. sativum extract (1/50) compared to the N. sativa extract (1/20). An evaluation of the hemolytic effect of the crude extract of the studied seeds on erythrocytes isolated from rat blood incubated in PBS buffer compared to the total hemolysis induced by distilled water showed a hemolysis rate of 54% for Nigella sativa and 34% for L. sativum. In conclusion, the two plants studied in the current work exhibited high antioxidant potential, which could explain their beneficial properties.

Natural antioxidants possess health beneficial properties and are being substantially used in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Polyphenolics content, antioxidant activity and HepG2 liver cancer cells’ inhibition potential were determined and compared in the fruit of apricot cultivars collected from lower Himalayan region of Pakistan using standard analytical procedures. Comparatively, fruit of AP3 cultivar had highest levels of total phenolics and total flavonoids contents (220.5 ± 15.9 mgGAE/100 g and 382.0 ± 18.0 mgQE/100 g, respectively) on fresh weight basis. Fruit of the same cultivar had maximum DPPH scvenging potential (94.24 ± 4.55%), oxygen radicals absorbance capacity at 4.71 ± 0.12 mMolTE/100 g and inhibition of HepG2 cancer cells (45.80 ± 4.01 µMolQE/100 g). Though, fruit of AP4 cultivar was rich in vanillic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, epi-catechin and quercetin, but had relatively low antioxidant and anticancer potential. Disparities in the phytochemical composition and properties of apricot fruit are attributed to genetic differences and growing conditions. Total phenolics, total flavonoids and caffic acid depicted highly significant positive association (˃90%) with ORAC, CAA and FRAP. Our findings suggest that being a rich source of health beneficial secondary metabolites, apricot fruit of Himalayan region of Pakistan could contribute considerably in socio-economic development of the local communities and as a functional food in regional and global markets.

Abstract Background Being an isolated locality and having a tough mountainous terrain, strong ethnomedicinal practices still prevail in Dhirkot and its allied areas, which have been rarely explored yet. The present study was intended with the aim to document and compare the traditional knowledge of local communities on botanical taxa of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir. Methodology Ethnomedicinal data were collected from 74 informants using a semi-structured questionnaire in addition to field observation and group discussion. Various indices were also used to evaluate the ethnomedicinal data. Furthermore, the present findings were compared with previous reports to assess data novelty. Result A total of 140 medicinal plant species belonging to 55 families were recorded, which are used by local communities to treat 12 disease categories. Asteraceae was dominating with 20 species, followed by Poaceae, Lamiaceae, and Rosaceae (14, 11, and 10 species, respectively). Herbs were leading with 66% contribution, whereas leaves were the most utilized plant part with 29% utilization and decoction was the common mode of administration. Viola canescens depicted the highest use value and relative frequency of citation (1.7 and 0.92, respectively). Maximum informant consensus factor (0.88) was calculated for digestive and liver disorders. Five plant species including Berberis lycium Mentha arvensis Pyrus malus, Taraxacum officinale, and Viola canescens had 100% fidelity level. Conclusion Dhirkot and its allied areas harbor rich botanical and cultural diversity because of its unique geography and diverse climatic conditions. However, mostly, traditional ethnobotanical knowledge is restricted to healers, midwives, and older people, and could be extinct in the near future. Therefore, such documentation not only conserves traditional knowledge but may also contribute significantly to novel drug resources.

Abstract Background Because of diverse topographical habitats, the Chenab River wetland harbors a wealth of medicinal and food plant species. This paper presents first quantitative assessment on the ethnobotanical use of plants by the local peoples residing in the Chenab riverine area. Methods The ethnobotanical data were collected from six parts of the Chenab River wetland: Mandi Bahuddin, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sargodha, and Sialkot during 2014 to 2015, using semi-structured interviews. Quantitative indices including informant consensus factor (FCI), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance level (RIL), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL), and corrected fidelity level (CFL) were used to analyze the data. Results On the whole, 129 medicinal plant species belonging to 112 genera of 59 families were reported, with herbs as dominant life forms (51%). Poaceae was the leading family with 13 species, and leaves were the most frequently utilized plant parts (28%). Herbal medicines were mostly used in the form of powder or decoction, and were mainly taken orally. Withania somnifera, Solanum surattense, Solanum nigrum, Azadirachta indica, Ficus benghalensis, Morus nigra, Morus alba, Polygonum plebeium, and Tribulus terrestris were among the highly utilized plant species, with highest UV, RFC, RIL, FL, and CFL values. The reported ailments were grouped into 11 categories based on FCI values, whereas highest FIC was recorded for gastrointestinal diseases and glandular diseases (0.41 and 0.34, respectively). The use report (UR) and frequency of citation (FC) depicted strong positive correlation (r = 0.973; p = 0.01). The value of determination (r 2 = 0.95) indicating 95% variation in UR can be explained in terms of the FC. Conclusion The significant traditional knowledge possessed by local communities depicts their strong relation with phytodiversity. Reported data could be helpful in sustainable use and protection of plant species in the Chenab wetland, with special emphasis on medicinal plants. Furthermore, screening of plant-borne active ingredients and in vivo/in vitro pharmacological activities could be of interest for novel drug synthesis.

Amphibians and reptiles have interacted with humans for millennia. However, humans interact with amphibian and reptile species in different manners, which depend on their culture and traditions. This study was designed to better understand the interactions between amphibian and reptile species and their usage among the native peoples in the vicinity of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers, Pakistan. Information was collected through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, and was analyzed by using different indices, including the frequency of citation, corrected fidelity level, fidelity level, relative importance level, and informant major ailment. Two amphibians and twenty-six reptile species were used in therapeutic medicine in the study area. Based on the cultural analysis, we found that Naja naja (black cobra) was highly cited across all cultural groups. A 100% Fidelity Level was calculated for the following species: Naja naja (eye infection), Varanus bengalensis (joint pain), Eurylepis taeniolatus (cataract), and Acanthodactylus cantoris (cancer). We found five endangered species in the study area, i.e., Aspideretes gangeticus, A. hurum, Chitra indica, Varanus flavescens, and Geoclemys hamiltonii, that were used to cure joint pain, muscle stretching and pain, backbone pain, paralysis, and psoriasis, respectively. Likewise, Lissemys punctata andersoni, a vulnerable species as labelled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, was extensively used for the treatment of joint pain, body pain, paralysis, and arthritis in the study area. In terms of conservation, it is critical to protect the highly vulnerable and endangered species that are being used in therapeutic medicines. Our findings may be helpful for the conservation of amphibian and reptile species by helping to make an effective plan to prevent their extinction. The main threats to the diversity of amphibian and reptile species in the area are hunting, trading, and cultural use. These threats could potentially lead to the extinction of these species. Therefore, with the involvement of concerned authorities, e.g., local stakeholders, the Ministry of Climate Change, provincial wildlife departments, academia, and conservation managers, immediate conservation measures should be taken for the protection and sustainable utilization of medicinal species.

The parameters for pressurized microwave-assisted extraction (PMAE) of total flavonoids (TFs) from Gnaphalium affine D. Don were investigated and the effect of PMAE on its cell wall and tissue structure was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Afterwards, its extraction effect was compared with that of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), soxhlet extraction (SE) and heat reflux extraction (HRE). After purifying by AB-8 macroporous resin, the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of purified TFs were evaluated by five different chemical assays and alcohol-induced model, respectively. Our findings revealed that an ethanol volume fraction of 81.3%, a L/S ratio of 25.4 mL/g and an extraction time of 138 s, give maximum yield of TFs (1.35 ± 0.02%). PMAE was more efficient and rapid in extracting TFs from G. affine because it cracked the cell wall and disrupted the tissue structure, as observed by SEM. Compared with microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), soxhlet extraction (SE) and heat reflux extraction (HRE), PMAE was more efficient and rapid technique for the extraction of TFs from G. affine. TFs from G. affine showed notable free radical, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide anion, 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-diammonium salt (ABTS) cation, scavenging abilities and reduction ability in vitro. It could also significantly reduce the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and increase the level of glutathione (GSH) in the liver of mice with oxidative damage in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, it showed good antioxidant capacity in vivo. TFs from G. affine indicated good in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities, which suggests their potential in functional foods and pharmaceuticals as natural antioxidants agents.

Objective: This study was carried out to demonstrate the effect of sprouting on the major flavonols and quercetin glycosides in onion powders developed from four onion cultivars (Punjab White, Punjab Naroya, PRO-6 and Commercial) of Indian Origin. Methods: The major flavonols summing up total flavonoids and quercetin glucosides comprising up to the total quercetin glucoside concentration were determined by High performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results and conclusions: The major flavonols were quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol, which were found to be significantly higher (p

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is a major economic pest in the United States and has recently become a significant concern in African and Asian countries. Due to its increased resistance to current management strategies, including pesticides and transgenic corn, alternative management techniques have become more necessary. Currently, silicon (Si) is being used in many pest control systems due to its ability to increase plant resistance to biotic and abiotic factors and promote plant growth. The current experiments were carried out at the College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China, to test the effect of Si on lifetable parameters and lipase activity of fall armyworm and vegetative and physiological parameters of maize plants. Two sources of Si (silicon dioxide: SiO2 and potassium silicate: K2SiO3) were applied on maize plants with two application methods (foliar application and soil drenching). The experiment results revealed that foliar applications of SiO2 and K2SiO3 significantly (P≤0.05) increased mortality percentage and developmental period and decreased larval and pupal biomass of fall armyworm. Similarly, both Si sources significantly (P≤0.05) reduced lipase activity of larvae, and fecundity of adults, whereas prolonged longevity of adults. Among plant parameters, a significant increase in fresh and dry weight of shoot, stem length, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activity was observed with foliar applications of Si. Root fresh and dry weight was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in plants treated with soil drenching of SiO2 and K2SiO3. Moreover, SiO2 performed better for all parameters as compared to K2SiO3 and control treatment. The study conclusively demonstrated a significant negative effect on various biological parameters of fall armyworm when plants were treated with Si, so it can be a promising strategy to control this pest.

Nitrogen fertilization and irrigation patterns have been extensively studied for common maize (Zea mays L.), but there is limited published work for Zhengda 619, especially in subtropical areas. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer and irrigation play an important role in crop growth and yield improvements. The study aimed to investigate the yield, growth, chlorophyll content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enzyme activities of hybrid maize (Zhengda 619) under greenhouse conditions. Individual plants grown in plastic pots were subjected to two irrigation types—low irrigation (LW; 60% field capacity) and high irrigation water (HW; 80% field capacity)—and five N rates. Our results demonstrate that the LW irrigation increased dry matter, kernel yield, leaf chlorophyll, total root length, root diameter, root volume, and root surface area, as well as soil enzymes and plant antioxidant enzymes, while it lowered malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, and ROS. Moreover, most of the above parameters increased with increasing N application rates up to N3 under LW irrigation due to the increased N availability to the plant and soil enzymes. It is concluded that increasing N rates could improve soil enzyme activities as well as plant antioxidant enzymes and decrease ROS, ultimately resulting in a higher kernel yield under LW irrigation.

Melatonin is effective in modulating metabolism and regulating growth and development in many plants under biotic and abiotic stress. However, there is no systematic quantification of melatonin effects on maize growth, gas exchange, chlorophyll content, and the antioxidant defense system. A meta-analysis was conducted on thirty-two currently available published articles to evaluate the effect of stress types, study types, and maize varieties on response ratio (lnRR++) of “melatonin” to “control (no melatonin)” on plant growth, enzyme activities, gas exchange parameters, and photosynthetic pigments. Our findings revealed that melatonin application overall increased plant height, leaf area, root length, fresh and dry root weight and shoot weight, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxide (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), soluble sugar and protein, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll, and carotenoid in maize leaf under stress conditions. In contrast, melatonin application decreased the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2−), malondialdehyde (MDA), and electrolyte leakage. The categorical meta-analysis demonstrated that melatonin application to chilling stress resulted in higher SOD activity followed by salt stress. Melatonin application to all stress types resulted in higher POD, CAT and APX activities, except Cd stress, which had no effect on POD and decreased CAT by 38% compared to control. Compared to control, melatonin resulted in lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electrolyte leakage under no stress, Cd, drought, salt, lead, heat, and chilling stress in all study types (pot, growth chamber, hydroponic, and field), except O2 content which was not affected in pot and growth chamber studies. It was concluded that melatonin alleviates oxidative damage by improving stress tolerance, regulating the antioxidant defense system, and increasing leaf chlorophyll content compared to control.

Traditional diets exist in all cultures and geographic regions, and they often represent healthy eating options. Traditional culinary preparations have, however, often undergone profound change, even in the isolated Himalayan region. Therefore, we adapted methods to identify traditional plant foraging activities to better understand their significance in food system sustainability, as well as to promote innovative local gastronomies. Information on wild food and foraging practices was gathered from varied ethnic groups such as Kashmiri, Gujjars, Pahari, Dogra, Bakarwal, Balti, Beda and Brokpa through interviews (n = 716) and group discussions (n = 67) in four bio-geographic regions of the Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas (J&KH). The data were subjected to ordination techniques (Principal Component Analysis) via R software Ver. 4.0.0. We documented 209 food species, of which 73% were plants and 27% animals, used by the inhabitants of four bio-geographic regions of J&KH. The highest number of food plant species was recorded in Indian Kashmir, followed by Jammu, Azad Kashmir and Ladakh (81, 65, 60 and 27 species, respectively), and the maximum number of animal species was reported in Indian Kashmir, followed by Azad Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu (33, 21, 19 and 17 species, respectively). The Azad Kashmir and Indian Kashmir regions showed greater similarity, whereas the least overlap was observed between Kashmir and Ladakh. The PCA showed considerable variation between different regions, and specific groups of species were more related to one specific region than others. The reported uses of Abies pindrow, Acacia modesta, Bergenia ciliata, Bergenia stracheyi and Juglans regia among plants, and Jynx torquilla, Streptopelia orientalis and Tadorna ferruginea among animals, are novel for the gastronomy of this part of the Himalayan region. We also recorded for the first time from this region seven unique food preparations of wild animals. This study documented extensive traditional knowledge on the usage of wild species, and is the first scientific description of wild food species and their vernacular names in the Western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir. Our findings can contribute significantly to combating food insecurity by revitalizing and reconsidering the rich bio-cultural food heritage around which local traditional communities have developed their food systems.

Genetic diversity and Agro-climatic conditions contribute significantly to the agronomic and morphological features of the food plant species, and their nutraceutical potential. The present study was intended to evaluate the impact of growing conditions on total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant potential in the bulbs and leaves of onion varieties planted under diverse environmental conditions. Standard analytical methods were used to quantify total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and free radicals’ scavenging/antioxidant capacity. The impact of climatic and soil conditions was assessed using statistical tools. In general, onion varieties cultivated at three different locations viz. Kalar Kahar, Lahore and Swabi exhibited significant variations in TPC and TFC, and antioxidant activities. The bulbs and leaves of Mustang (V1) variety planted at Lahore and Swabi had significantly (p < 0.05), high levels of TPC (659.5 ± 6.59, and 631.1 ± 8.58 mg GAE/100 g, respectively). However, leaves of Red Orb (V2) and bulbs of Mustang (V1), and Golden Orb (V6), harvested from Kalar Kahar depicted the highest concentration of TFC (432.5 ± 10.3, 303.0 ± 6.67, and 303.0 ± 2.52 mg QE/100 g DW, respectively). Likewise, bulbs of V1 planted at Kalar Kahar, Lahore and Swabi exhibited maximum inhibition of DPPH, ABTS, and H2O2 radicals (79.01 ± 1.49, 65.38 ± 0.99, and 59.76 ± 0.90%, respectively). Golden Orb (V6) harvested from Lahore had the highest scavenging of OH radical (67.40 ± 0.09%). Likewise, bulbs of V1 variety planted at KalarKahar and Swabi had significant capacity to scavenge ferric ions (415.1 ± 10.6 mg GAE/100 g DW), and molybdate ions (213.7 ± 0.00 mg AAE/100 g DW). Conversely, leaves of Amazon (V8), planted at Lahore and Swabi depicted significant levels of DPPH, ABTS, H2O2 radical scavenging (90.69 ± 0.26, 63.55 ± 1.06, 51.86 ± 0.43%, respectively), and reduction of ferric ions (184.2 ± 6.75 mg GAE/100 g DW). V6 leaves harvested from Lahore and that of Super Sarhad (V3) from Swabi showed the highest inhibition of OH radical (61.21 ± 0.79%), and molybdate ions (623.6 ± 0.12 mg AAE/100 g DW), respectively. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis revealed strong relationships of climatic conditions, soil properties and elevation with TPC, TFC and free radicals’ scavenging potential in the bulbs and leaves of onion varieties. The variations in the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant potential of different varieties, and their associations with climatic and soil factors revealed the complexity of the growing conditions and genetic makeup that imposed significant impacts on the synthesis of secondary metabolites and nutraceutical potential of food and medicinal plant species.

Plant species of the Poaceae family are not only used as fodder and forage but also contribute substantially to the treatment of various health disorders, particularly in livestock. Consequently, the present study was aimed to document the therapeutic uses of Poaceae practiced by the inhabitants of the Punjab Province for the treatment of various veterinary health disorders. Semi structured interviews, group discussion and field walks were conducted to collect the data. Quantitative indices including cultural significance index (CSI), relative frequency of citations (RFC), fidelity level (FL), relative popularity level (RPL), and Jaccard Index (JI) were used for the data analysis. Traditional uses of 149 species belonging to 60 genera and 16 tribes of 5 sub families of Poaceae were recorded. Whole plants and leaves were the most consistently used parts with 40.94 and 29.53%. The plants were mainly given orally as fodder (59 reports) without processing followed by decoction (35 reports). Most of the species were employed to treat infectious diseases (25.93%), and digestive disorders (14.10%). Triticum aestivum had the highest CSI, RFC and RPL levels at 8.00, 0.96, 1.00, respectively, followed by Oryza sativa and Poa annua. Likewise, T. aestivum and Saccharum spontaneum had 100% FL and ROP. Jaccard index ranged from 12.25 to 0.37. Twelve plant species namely Chrysopogon zizanioides (anti-inflammatory), Pennisetum lanatum (improve bull fertility), Cymbopogon citratus (glandular secretion), Sorghum saccharatum and Themeda triandra (malaria), Aristida funiculate (anticancer), Koeleria argentia (skin allergies), Tetrapogon villosus (antibacterial), Cynodon radiatus (eyes infection), Sporobolus nervosa (Jaundice), Enneapogon persicus (antifungal), and Panicum repens (dysfunctional cattle organs) were reported for the first time, with novel ethnoveterinary uses. The inhabitants of the study area had a strong association with their surrounding plant diversity and possessed significant knowledge on therapeutic uses of Poaceae to treat various health disorders in animals. Plant species with maximum cultural and medicinal values could be a potential source of novel drugs to cure health disorders in animals and human as well.

Present study was conducted to investigate the adsorption and ultrasound-assisted adsorption potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanoparticles loaded on chitosan (AgCS composite) as nano-adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal. AgNPs were synthesized using leaf extract of Ligustrum lucidum, which were incorporated on the chitosan’s surface for modification. UV–Vis Spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX techniques were used to confirm the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials. Batch adsorption and sono-adsorption experiments for the removal of MB were executed under optimal conditions; for fitting the experimental equilibrium data, Langmuir and Freundlich’s isotherm models were adopted. In addition, the antimicrobial potential of the AgNPs and AgCS were examined against selected bacterial and fungal strains. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed AgNPs synthesis from the leaf extract of L. lucidum used as a reducer, which was spherical as exposed in the SEM analysis. The FTIR spectrum illustrated phytochemicals in the leaf extract of L. lucidum functioning as stabilizing agents around AgNPs and AgCS. Whereas, corresponding crystalline peaks of nanomaterial, including a signal peak at 3 keV indicating the presence of silver, were confirmed by XRD and EDX. The Langmuir model was chosen as an efficient model for adsorption and sono-adsorption, which exposed that under optimum conditions (pH = 6, dye initial concentration = 5 mg L−1, adsorbents dosage = 0.005 g, time = 120 min, US power 80 W), MB removal efficiency of AgNPs was >70%, using ultrasound-assisted adsorption compared to the non-sonicated adsorption. Furthermore, AgNPs exhibited promising antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus with the maximum zone of inhibition (14.67 ± 0.47 mm). It was concluded that the green synthesis approach for the large-scale production of metallic nanoparticles is quite effective and can be recommended for efficient and cost-effective way to eradicate dyes, particularly from textile wastewater.