RECENT ADVANCES IN APPLICATIONS OF ACTIVE CONSTITUENTS OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF DHOFAR, SULTANATE OF OMAN

 The Dhofar region of Oman is extremely opulent in plant biodiversity in comparison to other parts of the country. Most of the cultivated, medicinal and wild plants of the region are available in the mountainous side and hilly areas of Dhofar. The plants produce products from primary metabolism and others from secondary metabolism. On the basis of active constituents plants can be categorized into two groups:1. Medicinal plants and2. Aromatic plants.Over 250 complex chemicals have been recognized and extracted from herbal sources. In this review article, we discuss a selection of medicinal plants of the Dhofar region of Oman which are rich in active constituents and through recent reports discuss the application of the most active constituents. Among the medicinal plants of the Dhofar region, frankincense is also a well-known indicator of the region and has a unique position through its medicinal properties of its oil and gum resin

Hierarchically macroporous silver monoliths using Pluronic F127: Facile synthesis, characterization and its application as an efficient biomaterial for pathogens

AbstractHerein we report the facile synthesis of three dimensional macroporous (MP) silver monoliths serving as intelligent biomaterials against Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium) and Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis) bacteria with more efficacy against Gram negative bacteria. The macroporous silver monoliths were examined by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) study, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy analysis (EDX) and Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) adsorption technique. From the antibacterial activity results, it was concluded that macroporous silver monoliths can serve as efficient disinfection agents. The enhanced antibacterial properties of macroporous silver monoliths was possibly due to high surface free energy of the surface Ag+ atoms leading to cell membrane damage followed by cell death

Recent Advances in Anticancer Activity of Novel Plant Extracts and Compounds from Curcuma longa in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Among all forms of cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. There are several treatment options for HCC ranging from loco-regional therapy to surgical treatment. Yet, there is high morbidity and mortality. Recent research focus has shifted towards more effective and less toxic cancer treatment options. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the Curcuma longa plant, has gained widespread attention in recent years because of its multifunctional properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar was performed for studies reporting incidence of HCC, risk factors associated with cirrhosis and experimental use of curcumin as an anti-cancer agent. RESULTS: This review exclusively encompasses the anti-cancer properties of curcumin in HCC globally and it’s postulated molecular targets of curcumin when used against liver cancers. CONCLUSIONS: This review is concluded by presenting the current challenges and future perspectives of novel plant extracts derived from C. longa and the treatment options against cancers

Hypertension in alone and in combination with other stroke risk factors is associated with increased incidence of in-hospital mortality

Objective: To determine the outcome of hypertension alone and in combination with additional risk factors in a hospitalized stroke patient. Material & Methods: A retrospective analysis of 87 stroke patients who presented to Medical Unit-I of Lahore General Hospital, Lahore from January- March 2013. These patients were enrolled and the data was analyzed on SPSS version19 on which relevant details were noted and descriptive statistics like frequency mean and percentages were calculated. Overall frequency of isolated or multiple risk factors like Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Smoking, Previous Stroke, and Ischemic Heart Disease, Valvular Heart Disease contributing to mortality was determined by age, gender and CT scan findings. Results: Out of 87 patients, 65.5%(n=57) were discharged healthy and 34.5%(n=30) died during their hospital stay. The mean age of the group died was 62.4 years with a range of 28-90 years having 50%(n=15) males and 50%(n=15) females. Out of 30 deaths 40% (n=12) were having multiple co-morbidities like HTN, DM and IHD, 20%(n=6) were having HTN, DM and Smoking, 16.7%(n=5) with HTN and DM, 16.7%(n=5) with HTN and smoking and only 6.7%(n=2) with HTN. Of these patients, Intracerebral Hemorrhage 56.7%(n=17) and Cerebral Infarct 43.3%(n=13) were the CT scan findings. The patients reaching the hospital for more than 24 hours of symptoms onset were 62% (n=19), between 18-24 hours were 18%(n=5), between 12-18 hours were 10%(n=3), between 3-12 hours were 7%(n=2) and less than 3 hours were 3%(n=1) Conclusion: Majority of old aged patients with multiple risk factors and arriving late to the tertiary care centre had high risk of In-Hospital mortality with Hypertension in alone as well as with other co-morbidities is the leading risk factor in stroke related deaths. Keywords: HTN- Hypertension, IHD- Ischemic Heart Disease, DM- Diabetes Melitus, ICH- Intracerebral Hemorrhag

Ultrasound assisted one pot expeditious synthesis of new pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine analogues using mild and inexpensive 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) catalyst

The one-pot three-component reaction for the synthesis of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives has been reported via initial Knoevenagel, subsequent addition and final heterocyclization of substituted aromatic aldehydes, cyanoacetamide and 6-aminouracil in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent using 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as new organocatalyst under ultrasound irradiation. The results showed that a series of aromatic aldehydes were successfully used to prepare the targeted pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives with good to excellent yields (81–93%) and there is no major effect on the yield of product by electron donating/withdrawing substituents. Short reaction time, environment friendly procedure, excellent yields, inexpensive and readily available catalyst are the advantages of this procedure. All synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and mass spectral data

Computational analysis for antimicrobial active pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives on the basis of theoretical and experimental ground

Annulated pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized with methoxy, hydroxyl, nitrile and bromine substituents in its skeleton and correlated by electronic effect of substituents on the magnitude of antimicrobial activity. The different electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents of the pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives exerted positive influence on its antimicrobial activity against some Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria such as, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. Antibacterial screening revealed that the presence of heteroaryl, cyano and amino groups on pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine skeleton increases its penetrating power on bacterial cell wall and becomes more biologically active. All the pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra

Comparative Genomic Characterization of Buffalo Fibronectin Type III Domain Proteins: Exploring the Novel Role of FNDC5/Irisin as a Ligand of Gonadal Receptors

FN-III proteins are widely distributed in mammals and are usually involved in cellular growth, differentiation, and adhesion. The FNDC5/irisin regulates energy metabolism and is present in different tissues (liver, brain, etc.). The present study aimed to investigate the physiochemical characteristics and the evolution of FN-III proteins and FNDC5/irisin as a ligand targeting the gonadal receptors including androgen (AR), DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 6 (DCAF6), estrogen-related receptor β (ERR-β), estrogen-related receptor γ (ERR-γ), Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15), and nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1). Moreover, the putative role of irisin in folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis was also elucidated. We presented the molecular structure and function of 29 FN-III genes widely distributed in the buffalo genome. Phylogenetic analysis, motif, and conserved domain pattern demonstrated the evolutionary well-conserved nature of FN-III proteins with a variety of stable to unstable, hydrophobic to hydrophilic, and thermostable to thermo-unstable properties. The comparative structural configuration of FNDC5 revealed amino acid variations but still the FNDC5 structure of humans, buffalo, and cattle was quite similar to each other. For the first time, we predicted the binding scores and interface residues of FNDC5/irisin as a ligand for six representative receptors having a functional role in energy homeostasis, and a significant involvement in folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis in buffalo

CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL PROFILE AND FREQUENCY OF MYCOPLASMA MYCOIDES SUBSP. CAPRI INFECTION IN GOATS IN NORTHERN ZONE OF KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Caprine mycoplasmoses are important diseases of goats and occur worldwide. The current study was designed with the objective of investigating the frequency and clinico-pathological profile of caprine mycoplasmosis in two districts in the northern zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Three hundred nasal swabs were collected, 150 each for Swat and Buner from goats showing clinical signs of respiratory mycoplasmosis. In districts Swat and Buner, 21.3% and 31.3% samples were mycoplasma positive (respectively). All isolates were identified as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri by biochemical and growth inhibition testing. Blood and serum samples from 30 mycoplasma positive goats were collected for studying hematological and blood biochemistry profile. Hematological results showed that there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration while significant increase (P<0.05) in the Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin and Mean Corpuscular Volume value was recorded. Blood biochemistry revealed that total serum protein and albumin were decreased significantly (P<0.05) while there was a significant increase (P<0.05) in serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and globulin fraction of serum. It can be concluded that Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri is the most prevalent species of caprine respiratory mycoplasmas in the northern zone of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa