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The current study aims at exploring enzyme inhibition of four species of medicinal herbs, namely Senna bicapsularis, Thevetia peruviana, Nerium oleander and Vinca major. Plant selection was done on the basis of their therapeutic uses by local practitioners. The crude methanolic extracts of these plants were tested for their α-glycosidase and urease enzyme inhibition potential. The observed urease inhibitory potential for the crude extract of S. bicapsularis, T. peruviana and N. oleander were 8.3 ± 0.33 μg, 6.98 ± 0.98 μg and 9.56 ± 1.43 μg, respectively while the V. major did not show any inhibition. In addition, the IC50 value for Thiourea was 22.3 ± 1.14 μg. The crude extracts of S. bicapsularis, T. peruviana, N. oleander, V. major were shown to inhibit α-glycosidase activity with an IC50 value of 630.3 ± 0.03 μg, 700.7 ± 2.43 μg, 430.4 ± 3.97 μg, and the standard (acarbose) 880 ± 1.03 μM, respectively. Based on the TLC profile, the extract of S. bicapsularis was subjected to column chromatography and the major component named rhein (1) was identified. Compound 1 exhibited excellent urease and α-glycosidase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 7.4 ± 0.32 and 622.3 ± 1.03 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) training program by Provincial Institute for Teacher Education (PITE) on the instruction performance of teachers at primary school level in Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The study was descriptive in nature and quantitative research was followed. For collecting the primary data, a closed-ended questionnaire was adopted. Findings of the study showed the positive effect of the ECCE training on the instructional performance of the teachers. The study also revealed the positive perception of the teachers about the ECCE training. The study concludes with recommendations that each public primary school should have a well equipped, functional ECCE room. Elementary and Secondary Education Department (EandSED) will make sure that each school has at least one specific ECCE notified teacher. In-service training may be provided on regular basis to teachers for their professional development at ECCE level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]