An ethnobotanical survey of indigenous medicinal plants in Hafizabad district, Punjab-Pakistan

<div><p>Present paper offers considerable information on traditional uses of medicinal plants by the inhabitants of Hafizabad district, Punjab-Pakistan. This is the first quantitative ethnobotanical study from the area comprising popularity level of medicinal plant species intendedby using relative popularity level (RPL) and rank order priority (ROP) indices.Ethnobotanical data were collected by interviewing 166 local informants and 35 traditional health practioners (THPs) from different localities of Hafizabad district. Demographic features of informants; life form, part used, methods of preparation, modes of application and ethnomedicinal uses were documented. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using quantitative tools, i.e. Relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF) fidelity level (FL), RPL and ROP indices. A total of 85 species belonging to 71 genera and 34 families were documented along with ethnomedicinal uses. <i>Solanum surattense</i>, <i>Withania somnifera</i>, <i>Cyperus rotundus</i>, <i>Solanum nigrum</i> and <i>Melia azedarach</i> were the most utilized medicinal plant species with highest used value. The reported ailments were classified into 11 disease categories based on ICF values and highest number of plant species was reported to treat dermatological and gastrointestinal disorders. <i>Withania somnifera</i> and <i>Ranunculus sceleratus</i> with maximum FL (100%), were used against gastrointestinal and urinary disorders, respectively. The RPL and ROP values were calculated to recognize the folk medicinal plant wealth; six out of 32 plant species (19%) were found popular, based on citation by more than half of the maximum number of informant viz. 26. Consequently, the ROP value for these species was more than 75. The comparative assessment with reported literature revealed 15% resemblance and 6% variation to previous data;however79% uses of the reported species were recorded for the first time. The diversity of medicinal plant species and associated traditional knowledge is significant in primary health care system. Medicinal plant species with high RPL values should be screened for comprehensive phytochemical and pharmacological studies. This could be useful in novel drug discovery and to validate the ethomendicinal knowledge.</p></div

Informant consensus factor (ICF) of reported plant species against various ailments.

<p>Informant consensus factor (ICF) of reported plant species against various ailments.</p

Highly utilized species of the study are along with FL, RPL and ROP.

<p>Highly utilized species of the study are along with FL, RPL and ROP.</p

Ethnomedicinal plant species of the study area.

<p>Ethnomedicinal plant species of the study area.</p

Map of district Hafizabad-Pakistan.

<p>Map of district Hafizabad-Pakistan.</p

Demographic data of local informants (THPs. traditional health practioners, IP. indigenous peoples).

<p>Demographic data of local informants (THPs. traditional health practioners, IP. indigenous peoples).</p

Proportional contributions of plant part in herbal preparations.

<p>Proportional contributions of plant part in herbal preparations.</p

Augmented cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic response triggered by carvedilol and celecoxib combinations

<div><p>Abstract It is understood that drugs regardless of their order of administration can exhibit drug interactions. Established on the fact that treatment of hypertension may last for decades and prolong usage of multiple drug regimen may induce substantial pathophysiological changes. Hence, This study was designed to evaluate the possible synergistic toxic effects of anti-hypertensive (carvedilol), and anti-inflammatory drug (celecoxib) alone and in combinations. Well-established MTT assay, Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) and Ames assay were employed to evaluate the toxicity at cellular level. Results from MTT assay on Vero cell line revealed that drug combinations have more pronounced anti-proliferative activity with combine IC50 value of 13.7:47.8 µg/mL. Likewise, exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with drug combinations revealed significant (P<0.05) DNA damage (Class 3) in a dose dependent manner at concentrations ≥ 0.78: 2.34 µg/mL. However, carvedilol and celecoxib were non mutagenic against either mutant strain (TA 100 and TA 98) and combinations have also shown mild to moderate mutagenic potential. Nevertheless, upon addition of metabolic activation enzyme, concentration <12.5:37.5 µg/plate exhibited significant (P<0.05) mutagenicity against both tester strains. In conclusion, this study provides additional genotoxicity and mutagenicity data that could be used in considering options for formulating regimens with reduced mutagenic potential.</p></div

Output power of solar PV with irradiance levels from 400 to 1000 W/m².

Output power of solar PV with irradiance levels from 400 to 1000 W/m2.</p

Output power of ESS with solar irradiance levels from 400 to 1000 W/m² under different solar temperature conditions.

Output power of ESS with solar irradiance levels from 400 to 1000 W/m2 under different solar temperature conditions.</p