Efficient free radical scavenging activity of Ginkgo biloba, Stevia rebaudiana and Parthenium hysterophorous leaves through DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)

Free radical scavenging activity of three important plants Ginkgo biloba, Stevia rebaudiana and Parthenium hysterophorous was carried out to evaluate and explore new potential sources of natural antioxidants. For this purpose the leaves of the three plants were processed. In these experiments the order of the antioxidant activity was, maximum activity shown by methanolic extract of Ginkgo biloba followed by Parthenium hysterophorous and Stevia rebaudiana. Furthermore the ethanolic extract of Ginkgo biloba also showed maximum antioxidant activity seconded by Stevia rebaudiana and Parthenium hysterophorous.Keywords: Ginkgo biloba, Stevia rebaudiana and Parthenium hysterophorous, DPPH, radical scavenging activit

Identification, Characterization, and Palynology of High-Valued Medicinal Plants

High-valued medicinal plants Achillea millefolium, Acorus calamus, Arnebia nobilis, Fumaria indica, Gymnema sylvestre, Origanum vulgare, Paeonia emodi, Peganum harmala, Psoralea corylifolia, Rauwolfia serpentina, and Vetiveria zizanioides were identified with the help of taxonomical markers and investigated for characterization and palynological studies. These parameters are used to analyze their quality, safety, and standardization for their safe use. Botanical description and crude drug description is intended for their quality assurance at the time of collection, commerce stages, manufacturing, and production. For this purpose the detailed morphology was studied and compared with the Flora of Pakistan and other available literatures. Here we reported the pollen grain morphology of Origanum vulgare, Paeonia emodi, Psoralea corylifolia, and Rauwolfia serpentina for the first time. Similarly the crude drug study of Gymnema sylvestre (leaf), Origanum vulgare (aerial parts), Paeonia emodi (tubers), and Peganum harmala (seeds) was also carried out for the first time

Rearing the Cotton Bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, on a Tapioca-Based Artificial Diet

The impact of a tapioca-based artificial diet on the developmental rate, life history parameters, and fertility was examined over five consecutive generations for the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a highly polyphagous pest of many agricultural crops. The study showed that when fed the tapioca-based artificial diet during larval stage, larval and pupal developmental period, percent pupating, pupal weight, emergence rate of male and female, longevity, fecundity and hatching were non-significantly different than that of the control agar-based artificial diet. Moreover, the cost to rear on tapioca-based diet approached 2.13 times less than the cost of rearing on the agar-based artificial diet. These results demonstrate the effectiveness and potential cost savings of the tapioca-based artificial diet for rearing H. armigera

Careers work in higher education in Pakistan: current practice and options for the future

In this article we examine the development of career guidance in Pakistani higher education. The article is primarily based on a review of the existing literature on career guidance in Pakistan, but also includes the consideration of some new data gathered from a review of higher education institutions websites and five case study interviews. It considers both local and global influences as relevant contexts for understanding how the development of career guidance in Pakistani higher education is taking place. Concerns about alignment between skills supply and demand provide key drivers both for the development of career guidance and for wider higher education reform. However the practice of career guidance in Pakistani higher education is shown to be lagging behind the policy aspirations, both due to limited investment and due to more fundamental cultural challenges that have yet to be fully addressed. If career guidance is going to continue to develop within Pakistan it will need to be strengthened by new policy and resources but also through the development of indigenous theories.N/

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Plant-Based Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization and Applications

Nanotechnology is a fast-expanding and multidisciplinary field with many applications in science and technology [...

Natural products as reservoirs of novel therapeutic agents

Since ancient times, natural products from plants, animals, microbial and marine sources have been exploited for treatment of several diseases. The knowledge of our ancestors is the base of modern drug discovery process. However, due to the presence of extensive biodiversity in natural sources, the percentage of secondary metabolites screened for bioactivity is low. This review aims to provide a brief overview of historically significant natural therapeutic agents along with some current potential drug candidates. It will also provide an insight into pros and cons of natural product discovery and how development of recent approaches has answered the challenges associated with it

Effects of chitosan and salicylic acid on the production of pharmacologically attractive secondary metabolites in callus cultures of Fagonia indica

International audienceFagonia indica is valuable for its multiple uses such as anticancer, antimicrobial and antioxidant throughout the world. Various biotechnological approaches need to be employed for the sustainable production of plant biomass and its phytochemical content. Elicitation has been shown to be a very potent tool for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in different in vitro cultures. The current study involves the application of various concentrations of chitosan and salicylic acid as elicitors in callus cultures keeping Thiadizuron induced callus as a control. The main aim was to enhance the accumulation of biomass and secondary metabolite contents. The results show that maximum biomass; Fresh weight (FW: 38.0 g/100 mL) and secondary metabolites [Phenolic content (16.9 mu gGAE/mg; Flavonoid content (2.2 mu gQE/mg)] were observed in CHT treated cultures. The SA treated calli also showed better accumulation of biomass (FW: 37.5 g/100 mL) and phytochemicals [Phenolic content (12.29 mu gGAE/mg); Flavonoid content (1.73 mu gQE/mg)] as compared with control. The antioxidant potential was found in correlation with the production of PC/FC and found higher in CHT (94.3%) cultures than SA (90.2%) and control. For instance, the antioxidative enzyme activities [peroxidase (POD: 4.41) and superoxide dismutase (SOD: 0.42 nM/min/mg FW)] were found optimum in CHT treated samples. HPLC analyses revealed significant accumulation (5.5 +/- 0.004 mu g/mg DW) and (5.2 +/- 0.001 mu g/mg DW) of pharmacologically active components in CHT and SA treated samples, respectively. The results showed that both elicitors have potential to enhance the biomass accumulation and polyphenols in callus cultures of Fagonia indica

Mechanistic evaluation of phytochemicals in breast cancer remedy: current understanding and future perspectives

International audienceBreast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers around the globe and accounts for a large proportion of fatalities in women. Despite the advancement in therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, breast cancer still represents a major challenge. Current anti-breast cancer approaches include surgical removal, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and the use of various chemotherapeutic drugs. However, drug resistance, associated serious adverse effects, metastasis and recurrence complications still need to be resolved which demand safe and alternative strategies. In this scenario, phytochemicals have recently gained huge attention due to their safety profile and cost-effectiveness. These phytochemicals modulate various genes, gene products and signalling pathways, thereby inhibiting breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, they also target breast cancer stem cells and overcome drug resistance problems in breast carcinomas. Phytochemicals as adjuvants with chemotherapeutic drugs have greatly enhanced their therapeutic efficacy. This review focuses on the recently recognized molecular mechanisms underlying breast cancer chemoprevention with the use of phytochemicals such as curcumin, resveratrol, silibinin, genistein, epigallocatechin gallate, secoisolariciresinol, thymoquinone, kaempferol, quercetin, parthenolide, sulforaphane, ginsenosides, naringenin, isoliquiritigenin, luteolin, benzyl isothiocyanate, α-mangostin, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, pterostilbene, vinca alkaloids and apigenin