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Introduction: Medicinal plants are the natural source of medicines used in treatment of many diseases among local communities of various countries. It is also the raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. Pakistan is a country with a variety of medicinal plants, comprehensively studied in some areas, while others still need more studies of their flora.

Human population is exceeding beyond the carrying capacity of earth resources and stresses like water shortage faced by the plants is jeopardizing the food security. Current research study was aimed to investigate the potentials of Zn-Aspartate (Zn-Asp), Zn-Sulphate (ZnSO4) and L-Aspartate (L-Asp) to be used as osmolytes and role of various levels of these chemicals in combating drought stress in maize plants in Punjab, Pakistan. Study was performed on two plots corresponding to drought and controlled environments. The lamina of maize plants was sprinkled row wise with various treatments including No spray (NS), water sprinkle (WS), sprinkle with ZnSO4 0.25% and 0.50%, sprinkle with Zn-Asp 0.25% and 0.50% and Foliar sprinkle of L-Asp 0.5% and 1%, respectively. Role of major osmoprotectants and secondary metabolites was analyzed and positive changes were found in total soluble sugars (41.16), flavonoids (5387.74), tocopherol content (9089.18), ascorbic acid (645.27) and anthocyanin (14.84) conc. which assists in mitigating drought menace on maize. Shoot mineral ions (Ca, K, Zn, P, Mg and N) status of water stressed maize plants was also analyzed and it was found that application experimental dose enhanced their availability to crop. Physio-biochemical studies were performed on antioxidants enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), carotenoid content (CC), malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, aspartate and free amino acid contents. The activity of SOD was increased by 28.5% and activity of POD was increased by 33.33% due to foliar applied 0.5% Zn-Asp under drought stress. Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll A, B and total chlorophyll content) analysis was also carried out in this study. It was found that conc. of different chlorophylls pigments increased (chl-A: 2.24, chl-B: 25.12, total chl: 24.30) which enhanced photosynthetic activity culminating into better growth and yield). The level of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide decreased by 43.9% and 32.8% respectively on treatment with 0.5% Zn-Asp proving the efficacy of the treatment in drought amelioration. Study reveals that Zn-Asp induced modulations are far better than conventional sulphate salts in mitigating water scarce environment. Current study recommends the use of the Zn-Asp to meet the global food and agricultural challenges as compared to ZnSO4 and L-Asp due to its better drought amelioration properties. This research provides valuable informations which can used for future research and practical use in agriculture fields by indigenous and other people to enhance yield of maize to meet the food necessities of country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In present research antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of leaves, bark and inflorescence of Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. was assessed and maceration method was used for the formation of extracts, by using ethanol as solvent. Antimicrobial potential of I. eriocarpa was determined against different bacterial and fungal strains. The antimicrobial potential of I. eriocarpa ranges from 9.6 ± 1.2 mm to 6 ± 0.8 mm with maximum activity showed by ethanolic extract of bark against E. coli and minimum efficacy by ethanolic extract of inflorescence against B. subtilis as compared to the zone of inhibition of standard antibacterial discs Methicillin, i.e. 9.4 ± 1.22 and Amoxicillin, i.e.9.3 ± 1.30 mm. The A. oryzae strain showed more resistance towards the plant extracts in comparison to A. niger. The leaves of I. eriocarpa had exhibited activity against A. oryzae, i.e. 14.8 ± 0.3 mm and bark demonstrated activity against A. niger, i.e. 12.6 ± 1.2 mm. The inflorescence had showed maximum activity against A. oryzae, i.e.10.3±0.8 mm in comparison to antifungal disc Griseofulvin. Antioxidant potential of I. eriocarpa was evaluated by three methods, viz., Total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoids content (TFC) and DPPH (1, 1- Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The TPC was evaluated and expressed as Quercetin μg equiv. /mg of extract. The value of total flavonoid contents varied from 39.3 ± 0.85 to 1.14 ± 0.13µg/mg. The highest amount of flavonoids was found in the ethanolic extracts of leaves (39.3 ± 0.85 µg/mg). The value of % DPPH radical scavenging varied from 23.3 ± 0.03 to 76.5 ± 0.09% as compared to standard BHT, i.e. 87.7 ± 0.12%. These results revealed reasonable antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, thus supporting its medicinal worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since last many decades, leaf epidermises have been given due importance in taxonomy especially of Poaceae family. The current study was designed to study the leaf epidermal traits by macroscopic and microscopic techniques. These grasses were collected from the various localities of the Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The selected plants were examined both abaxial and adaxial epidermal layers of a particular species. The study was aiming at evaluate determine the pattern of differences in epidermal morphology for appraisal of their importance in plant identification and classification. The most important features were the frequency of occurrence, morphological form and presence of silica bodies, short cells, long cells and prickles. By using sharp scalpel blade, both the abaxial and adaxial epidermal layers along with discrete mesophyll cells were removed keeping leaf on smooth hard tile. In almost all sample of plant species, enlarged long cells were found with anticlinal walls typically undulated and thickened, but not elevated, in relation to the periclinal walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]