ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS USED AGAINST COMMON DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS

Background: Ethnomedicinal knowledge is highly significant for persistence of human health care. Different studies shown that medicinal plants are considered as curing agent for digestive disorders in Pakistan. The aim of present review is to explore this ethnomedicinal information all over the Pakistan and to investigate the ecological status of these species in the country. Methodology: Online liter

ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF ALKALOIDS AND FLAVONOIDS EXTRACTED FROM TAMARIX APHYLLA LEAVES AGAINST COMMON HUMAN PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

Background: Alkaloids and flavonoids are secondary metabolites extracted from different medicinal plants. Tamarix aphylla a traditionally valuable medicinal plant; was used for the extraction of alkaloids and flavonoids in order to evaluate their antibacterial activity. Methodology: The leaves of the plant were collected from district Kohat, Pakistan, and their alkaloids and flavonoids were extracted with ethanol and methanol, respectively. Four bacteria i.e. Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were selected for the biological screening of these phyto-constituents. Results: The concentration of alkaloids was found to be more in the leaves of Tamarix aphylla than flavonoids. The extracted phytochemicals showed varied inhibition zones against tested bacterial isolates. Alkaloids showed highest inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (14±0.6 mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13±0.7 mm). Conversely, flavonoids showed the highest inhibitory affect against Salmonella typhi (17±0.7 mm) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14±0.7 mm). However, both extracts showed the lowest inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli. Conclusions: It was concluded that the alkaloids and flavonoids from Tamarix aphylla leaves have antimicrobial potential against common human bacterial pathogens. However, flavonoids were found to be more active phytochemical against tested bacterial strains as compared to alkaloids

Traditional medicines and their in-vitro proof against Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan

Objective: To gather the fragmented literature on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and in-vitro activities of medicinal plants of Pakistan being used against common infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Methods: A large number of published and unpublished research studies related to the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and anti-S. aureus activity of medicinal flora of Pakistan published from 1990-2018 were reviewed using online bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, ResearchGate and libraries. Results: S. aureus can cause many human ailments including endocarditis, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, septic arthritis, respiratory problems with an estimated infection rate of 25%-35% across the globe. This review comprised of 86 medicinal plants. Data showed that people mostly used leaves (50%) for the preparation of traditional medicines. Correlation analysis on the reviewed data revealed that methanolic extract concentrations of medicinal plants was highly significantly positive correlated (r=0.8; P<0.01) with the S. aureus zone of inhibitions. S. aureus reportedly showed complete resistant to the commonly used antibiotic erythromycin. Isolated compounds like altheahexacosanyl lactone, cinnamaldehyde, niloticane, gobicusin A, asparacosin A, muzanzagenin, isoagatharesinol, friedelin, inophynone and eugenol were active against S. aureus. This study provided in-vitro proof for the flora of Pakistan used against different infections caused by S. aureus. Conclusions: Antibacterial agents from natural sources could be more effective against bacterial pathogens and will be helpful in minimizing the adverse effects of synthetic drugs, and hence provides a base for the pharmaceutical industries

Assessment of Biochemical Parameters and Genotoxicity of Rice (Oryza sativa) Variation Treated with Zinc Sulfate and Boric Acid

Zinc sulfate and boric corrosive are transcendently utilized as manufactured composts for rice cropping system in Pakistan. The present research work was conducted to investigate the adverse effects of these fertilizers at 150 and 350 mg/L concentrations in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The biochemical and molecular parameters of NIAB-IR9 and KSK-282 varieties of rice were studied being treated with the selected fertilizers' concentrations. Both fertilizers showed positive effects on the biochemical parameters (total soluble sugars, chlorophyll a and b, total carotenoid) of rice seedlings as compared to controls. However, both fertilizers' concentrations with exception of zinc sulfate (150 mg/L) caused more cell membrane injuries and genotoxic effects in to rice seedlings. Zinc sulfate at 150 mg/L significantly decreased the cell membrane injury in the shoots (1.07 mu s/cm) and roots (2.0 mu s/cm) of KSK-282 as compared to the shoots (1.9 mu s/cm) and roots (3.7 mu s/cm) of control, respectively. Similarly, zinc sulfate at its lower concentration remained non-toxic for the genome of rice seedlings. Therefore, it can be concluded that zinc sulfate at 150 mg/L can be the suitable fertilizer's concentration to both rice varieties subjected to further field trials. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers