With the advancement of modern communication technologies and formal education systems, indigenous communities in Pakistan are increasingly being integrated into contemporary services. This development has resulted in improved access to health, education, and information; however, it is simultaneously leading to rapid disintegration of traditional knowledge systems. Traditional practices, specifically those connected with ethnobotany, are slowly being replaced by contemporary practices, which leaves an important vacuum in terms of conserving traditional wisdom. In light of this, this study has been conducted to record the ethnobotanical knowledge of the village of Shah Allah Ditta of Islamabad district, Pakistan. Fieldwork was carried out between October 2022 and January 2023. Data were systematically collected through semi‑structured interviews with 100 informants, ensuring representativeness across gender and age groups. Plant specimens were collected, identified, and preserved following standard ethnobotanical protocols, and Use Value Indices (UVI) were calculated as the number of citations per species divided by the total number of informants to quantify their relative importance. The study showed that a total of 104 different plant species from 44 plant families have been used traditionally by the local community to cure a variety of diseases and health disorders in humans. Out of these, three plant families, which include Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae, were found to be very important because of their high frequency of use. Olea ferruginea Royle turned out to be the most important plant, having the maximum percent of use value (2.64%). Herbs constituted the largest proportion of species (46%) likely due to their proximity and accessibility within household surroundings. These results clearly establish Shah Allah Ditta as a source of indigenous knowledge. Conservation of this indigenous resource is vital for intergenerational knowledge transfer and its potential role in drug discovery.
Change in soil-plant-water interactions and rising drought frequency are major impacts of climate change, especially on maize, which is very sensitive to climate change in the tropics. The present research aims to explore the changes in functional traits, soil hydraulic properties and drought resilience under different intensities of drought. A randomized complete block design with five replications per treatment was used in the controlled field experiment which was carried out in southern Nigeria for 112 days (16 weeks). Irrigation was varied for each treatment to cover rain regime ranging from control to mild, moderate and severe drought. At weekly intervals and at harvest, the following climatic variables, soil moisture, traits of maize, soil hydraulic properties and crop performance were measured. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) was used to assess the effects of treatment. Result showed that the drought condition led to increase in air and soil temperature, decrease in soil moisture and soil humidity. Maize exhibited adaptive responses such as stomatal closure and root growth and thickening of the tissues leading to better water use efficiency. The effect of drought on the soil hydraulic properties is clearly shown by reduction in field capacity, increase in wilting point and reduction in hydraulic conductivity. The biomass reduction ranged up to 48% and significant reduction was observed in survival and drought resistance index in worst cases. There was also an extreme reduction in grain yield to 2.2 ± 0.4 t/ha with a severe limitation in reproduction. Physiological adaptation to drought, as water use efficiency increased with drought. The results indicate that climatic, soil and plant variables interact in a complex way in drought resilience and integrated management practices such as drought-tolerant crops and precision irrigation will be crucial to ensure maize production under climate variability.
Banana (Musa spp.) is a horticulturally important fruit crop of economic significance, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Vegetative propagation of banana via suckers is hindered by a low multiplication rate and high susceptibility to diseases. The current study optimized efficient protocols for large-scale in vitro multiplication and acclimatization of two commercially valued banana cultivars (William and Grand Naine) initially propagated from shoot tip explants. Clusters of shoot buds (1-2 cm) were multiplied on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium consisted of different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg l-1) of benzyl adenine (BA). Medium comprised of different concentrations of activated charcoal (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg l-1) was used for healthy shoot and root development. Acclimatization of the plantlets (40 cm) in the greenhouse was carried out on different soils, i.e., peatmoss, river sand, clay soil, hill sand, and desert sand. Results revealed that significantly highest shoot bud multiplication (Avg. 21.2), and plantlet formation was obtained in cv. Grand Naine on the MS medium consisted of 3.0 mg l-1 BA. Significantly highest leaf number (4 leaves), leaf length (10.7 cm), root number (12 roots), and root length (13 cm) were noted on the MS medium consisted of 3.0 mg l-1 activated charcoal, 0.1 mg l-1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Plantlets (15 cm) developed healthy shoot and roots during in vitro growth and were shifted in the greenhouse for acclimatization and further growth. Significantly higher survival rate (96%) of the acclimatized plantlets in the greenhouse and healthy growth was noted on the soil medium consisted of river sand in cv. Grand Naine after 1M (month). Protocols optimized for in vitro and ex vitro growth of the two elite banana cultivars (William and Grand Naine) will benefit to the farmers for large-scale cultivation in the area and across the world.
Plant-origin sunscreen products for skin protection from ultraviolet radiation are preferred over synthetic products as safer with regard to possible toxicity, allergies, and are eco-friendly. This study fills a gap in peer review research for endemic Albanian wild mountain tea (Sideritis raeseri Boiss & Heldr.) for its ultraviolet photoprotective properties under various solvent types, incubation days, and temperatures, by utilizing the Mansur method. S. raeseri aqueous extracts were centrifuged, filtered, and then mixed in two Erlenmeyer flasks: one with distilled water and the other with ethanol in a 1:4 v/v ratio. Absorbance measurements within the 290-320 nm range were taken at different temperatures over six consecutive days. Neither water nor ethanol absorbs within this range. In extracts at room temperature (29-31 °C), Sun Protection Factor (SPF) value expressed as mean ± standard deviation dropped from 26.426 ± 0.2 on day one to 17.930 ± 0.19 on day six; for refrigerated extracts at 11 °C, SPF dropped from 26.426 ± 0.2 to 22.469 ± 0.19. In the water-ethanolic mixture at room temperature, SPF dropped from 23.281 ± 0.21 to 13.387 ± 0.036, and with refrigeration, from 23.281 ± 0.21 to 21.199 ± 0.21. At refrigerated conditions, the SPF of S. raeseri extract was photochemically more stable and showed a longer shelf-life, while SPF values at room temperature incubation were lower. Higher SPF values were found in water solutions than water-ethanol. The refrigerated water-ethanol mixture could be utilized in sunscreen products as a stability factor for SPF values of S. raeseri extracts.
Vitex leucoxylon L.f. (family Lamiaceae) is a large deciduous tree with a spreading crown and trunk, distributed in peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Traditionally, the plant has been used in medicine for the treatment of fever, joint pain, jaundice, anaemia, asthma, cancer, wounds, headache and catarrh, with specific mention in Ayurveda for managing bone disorders. Pharmacological studies have revealed hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antimicrobial and analgesic activities. Phytochemical investigations have identified bioactive compounds including β-sitosterol, dimethyl terephthalate, isovitexin, vitexin, agnuside and aucubin, particularly concentrated in leaves and bark. In the present review, a systematic search was conducted following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines to ensure transparency and reproducibility. A total of 152 records were identified through database searches such as PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, Springer and Google Scholar using the keywords as “Vitex leucoxylon L.f.,” “ethnobotany” ands “pharmacology” from the period of 1994 to 2025. After removing duplicates (5 records), 147 studies were screened based on titles and abstracts. Following eligibility assessment of full texts, 107 articles met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized in this review. The identification, screening, eligibility and inclusion of pertinent research are all summarized in the PRISMA flow diagram. Future pharmacological and phytochemical research on V. leucoxylon L.f. is highly promising due to its wide therapeutic potential and phytoconstituent profile. This PRISMA-based systematic review reveals despite its enormous pharmacological potential, rigorous standardized, analytical, and clinical studies are needed to translate Vitex leucoxylon L.f. into an evidence-based therapeutic resource.
Exotic and indigenous chicken breeds are gaining popularity over broilers due to their specific meat taste and flavor. This study evaluated the physical and nutritional meat quality traits of four chicken breeds to identify the most suitable breed for meat consumption. A total of 60 day-old-chicks of four different breeds (Fayoumi, Black Australorp, Naked Neck and Aseel) were assigned into 4 groups (15 chicks/group) and were raised for 20 weeks post-hatch. At the end of trial, meat samples (n = 5) from each group were assessed for physical traits (pH, water holding capacity, drip loss, and cooking loss) and nutritional composition (dry matter, protein, fat, and ash content). The Fayoumi breed exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher meat pH (5.74), greater water-holding capacity (49.73%), and lower drip loss (2.81%) than Black Australorp (5.18, 49.25%, 3.21%), Naked Neck (5.39, 49.04%, 3.07%), and Aseel (5.26, 46.94%, 3.22%). Cooking loss was comparatively lower in Fayoumi (25.89%) than in Naked Neck (26.88%) and Aseel (27.79%), while Black Australorp showed the lowest cooking loss (24.44%). The Fayoumi meat also contained significantly (P < 0.05) higher dry matter (30.54%), protein (21.88%), fat (5.13%), and ash (1.53%) relative to Black Australorp (28.36%, 21.16%, 4.13%, 1.07%), Naked Neck (28.60%, 20.92%, 4.34%, 1.35%) and Aseel (25.99%, 19.91%, 3.03%, 10.05%). In conclusion, Fayoumi chickens demonstrated superior overall meat quality, characterized by favorable physical properties and enhanced nutritional composition, suggesting that this breed may be a more suitable choice for consumers seeking high quality poultry meat.
Photosynthetic pigments are an important factor in determining the physiological status and the efficiency of the photosynthetic process in plants. This study aimed to determine the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll (a + b), and carotenoids within the leaves of thirteen cultivars of spring wheat. Wheat seeds were grown under controlled conditions, and photosynthetic pigments were extracted using acetone. Their concentrations were measured using a spectrophotometer at different wavelengths. The data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). The results indicated the presence of variation in the values of concentrations of photosynthetic pigments in the studied wheat cultivars. The highest chlorophyll a and carotenoid contents were recorded in cultivar Voevoda, while the highest chlorophyll b concentration was observed in cultivar L505. The two cultivars Lebedushka and Alexandrit showed lower levels of chlorophylls and carotenoids. A statistically significant difference was detected only for chlorophyll a, whereas chlorophyll b and carotenoids did not differ significantly among cultivars. Also, the study showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient between chlorophyll pigments was strongly positive, and the relationship of chlorophylls with carotenoids was moderately positive. The results showed variation in the content of photosynthetic pigments among the studied wheat cultivars under controlled conditions. The presence of a higher concentration of photosynthetic pigments in the Voevoda and L505 cultivars may indicate the presence of greater accumulation of these pigments and the possibility of photoprotection.
Urinary tract infections and urinary catheters are frequently related. Clinicians in underdeveloped nations often encounter urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are among the most prevalent bacterial illnesses. Selecting the appropriate empirical treatment for a patient may be aided by the results of area-specific surveillance studies that seek to identify the bacteria causing UTIs and their patterns of resistance. Pullulinase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes pullulin into maltotriose, panose, and maltooligosaccharides, is capable of inhibiting bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on urinary tract catheters. The goal of this work is to detect Paenibacillus macerans isolated from rhizosphere soil as pullulanase producer and to use the purified pullulanase as prebiotic, antibacterial, and antibiofilm agent. Using of modified pullulin-agar for screening pullulanase producers. Purification of pullulanase by DEAE-Cellulose A-50 column followed by sephadex G-150 column. Isolation of urinary catheters bacteria and using of pullulanase and detection biofilm formation on the catheters then applied of pullulanase as antibacterial and antibiofilm agent against urinary catheters bacteria in addition to enhance the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Eleven isolates of Paenibacillus macerans (41%) had showed an ability to produce pullulanase with different levels. Serial steps were used Pullulanase purification which included 70% ammonium sulfate saturation, DEAE-Cellulose A-50 ion exchange chromatography and sephadex G-100 gel filtration chromatography with a recovery yield of 22.9%, 8.11 fold of purification and specific activity 15.90 U/mg. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most predominant isolates in the urinary catheters. The purified pullulanase has a potential prebiotic characteristic to enhance lactic acid bacteria growth while allegedly impeding the development of pathogens and inhibiting their biofilm formation. Prebiotic properties are typically intended not only to reduce pathogen growth and biofilm formation, but to promote the growth of desirable and beneficial bacteria like lactic acid bacteria. In conclusion, pullulanase can be added to animal feed to increase digestibility and gastrointestinal health. It can also be used to cover catheters to assist avoid infections and bacterial colonization.
Gladiolus is a valuable ornamental crop, widely cultivated for its aesthetic appeal and commercial demand. However, its growth and flowering performance are often hindered by poor soil fertility and suboptimal nutrient management, which needs to be optimized for its commercial production under the agroclimatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan. Humic acid is a natural organic substance and is known to enhance soil properties and improve plant growth. Therefore, this experiment was conducted under RCBD split plot arrangement to evaluate the different humic acid levels and their influence on five different gladiolus cultivars. Results indicated that both humic acid and cultivars significantly influenced vegetative and reproductive attributes. The humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹ treatment was most effective, resulting in improved emergence, number of leaves, leaf area, spike emergence, 1st floret opening, florets per spike, field flower persistence, vase life, corm weight, and number of cormels. Enhanced performance was attributed to better nutrient uptake, chlorophyll synthesis, hormonal balance, and source–sink relationships under humic acid supplementation. Among cultivars, ‘White Prosperity’ showed superior vegetative growth and cormel production, while ‘Priscilla’ had longer vase life and heavier corms, indicating genetic differences in nutrient use and reproductive efficiency. The results show that humic acid not only promotes vegetative growth but also accelerates floral initiation, increases floret production, delays senescence, and enhances postharvest quality. It is concluded that humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹, in cultivars White Prosperity and Priscilla, was optimal for commercial gladiolus cultivation under Peshawar’s agro-climatic conditions.
Malathion, a widely used organophosphate pesticide, poses serious environmental and health risks due to its persistence and toxicity. This study investigates the bioremediation potential of bacterial consortia and plant-bacterial systems in constructed wetland settings for the degradation of malathion-contaminated soil at varying concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg/L). The four consortia (C1-C4) were constructed from three purified soil isolates and mixed in equal proportions and two plant species (Canna indica and Mentha arvensis) were tested individually and in combination over an eight-week period. All isolates were characterized by Gram staining and basic biochemical tests and identified as Gram-positive, catalase-negative Bacillus spp.; species-level molecular identification was not performed. Colorimetric analysis revealed that all bacterial treatments (bacteria + soil) achieved high removal efficiencies, showing degradation rates between 99.2% and 99.78% at 50mg/L and 100mg/L, reaching up to 99.99% at 200 mg/L in seventh week. Plant-based treatments also exhibited robust degradation, achieving up to 99.8% efficiency by the first week and reaching 100% in the third week at higher concentrations. Efficiency was generally higher at greater malathion concentrations, suggesting possible enzyme induction or microbial adaptation. Soil parameter analysis confirmed active microbial and plant-based remediation, with shifts in pH, organic matter, nitrate, sodium, and potassium supporting degradation processes. While bacterial consortia acted more rapidly, plant systems contributed significantly to sustained removal. Two-way ANOVA confirmed significant effects of time and pesticide dose on degradation efficiency across all treatments. Overall, all treatments achieved > 99% malathion degradation, with bacterial and plant-bacterial consortia showing promise as effective, low-cost, and environmentally friendly strategies for remediating pesticide-contaminated soils.
Current study described micropropagation of commercial date palm cv. Gulistan through juvenile inflorescence explants. Immature spathes (20 cm in length) were excised before emergence from leaf axils in the crown at particular time i.e. early of February. For sterilization, the undissected spathes were dipped in NaOCl solution (40%) for 10 minutes on laminar air flow hood. Medium used for callus formation in the inflorescence explants was consisted of 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D, 0.1 mg/L IAA, 5.0 mg/L NAA induced significantly highest callus (87%) in primary explants. Highest somatic embryogenesis (84%) was obtained on the medium contained 0.1 mg/L NAA, 0.1 mg/L Kinetin. Shoot induction and multiplication (91%) was recorded on the medium consisted of 0.1 mg/L NAA, 0.05 mg/L BA. Leaves number (4.1), leaves length (17 cm), roots number (4.0), roots length (7 cm) were recorded as significantly highest on the medium consisted of 0.1 mg/L NAA. Trimming of embryonic root at 1-2 mm distance from plantlets’ base produced 3-4 adventitious roots. In vitro hardening supported to choose healthy plantlets which survived well in greenhouse. Plantlets’ survival percentage in greenhouse after 1M (88%) as significantly highest was recorded on the soil mixture contained peatmoss, river sand, perlite (1:1:¼ v/v). 46 cm long plantlets produced 4 small fronds/compound leaves, were cultivated in open field. Fruiting in trees started after three years of cultivation in open field. Introduction of elite date palm cultivars like Gulistan via micropropagation will be an addition to the existing cultivars in the area.
Structural studies of proteins provide a comprehensive understanding of their functions, and form the basis for designing drugs that can modulate their activity. However, the structural characterization of membrane proteins is often challenging due to their hydrophobic nature. This article highlights key structural and functional aspects of a representative membrane protein, STY4874 – also known as styMdtM, which is an efflux transporter encoded by the genome of Salmonella Typhi, the causative agent of typhoid fever in humans. Our structural studies have, so far, been focused on obtaining diffraction-quality crystals of the protein. For this purpose, crystallization trials have been performed using both the wild-type and mutant forms of the protein, in the presence or absence of ligands (substrates or inhibitors). Crystals of the wild-type styMdtM and its thermally stable mutants diffracted anisotropically to resolutions between 4.5 and 8 Å, rendering the collected data not useful for structure solution. On the other hand, crystals of a 13-amino acid deletion mutant isotropically diffracted to 10 Å, fueling our interest in engineering truncated styMdtM mutants for obtaining crystals suitable for diffraction to high resolutions for structure determination. Here, we discuss preliminary findings and key lessons learned from our studies, spanning over a decade.
Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly lethal zoonotic paramyxovirus with no licensed vaccines or targeted antiviral therapies, posing a serious global health threat. Recurrent outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia highlight the critical need for efficacious and broadly protective vaccine strategies. In this research, an immunoinformatics-based approach was utilized to construct a multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) targeting the highly conserved NiV fusion protein (NCBI ID: AAY43915.1). The protein exhibited high antigenicity, non-allergenic potential, and favorable physicochemical properties. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL), Helper T-lymphocyte (HTL), and B-cell epitopes were predicted and rigorously screened for immunogenicity, non-toxicity, and sequence conservancy, resulting in the selection of epitopes with over 90% identity across Bangladeshi and Malaysian NiV strains. Population coverage analysis confirmed the broad applicability of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA), particularly in endemic regions. The finalized MEV construct, incorporating appropriate linkers and a 50S ribosomal protein adjuvant, showed structural stability following modelling, refinement, and validation. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinity with TLR3 and TLR4, Computational immune simulations predicted robust adaptive immune responses, and codon optimization, along with in silico cloning, confirmed favorable expression in E. coli. Although these findings are supported by computational analyses and should be validated experimentally, the proposed MEV demonstrates strong cross-protective and immunogenic potential, offering an encouraging platform for the design of a pan-strain NiV vaccine.
The present study was conducted to investigate the co-selection of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in epiphytic bacteria isolated from Withania somnifera, Ficus benghalensis, Olea europaea and Aloe vera. Thirty epiphytic bacterial strains were isolated. Six isolated strains were selected and observed to have significant multiple heavy metals and antibiotics resistance. Single and synergistic effect of heavy metals and antibiotics constantly boosted the growth rate of selected bacterial isolates. Inoculation of these epiphytic bacteria caused increment in seedling, shoot and root length upto 58-70%, 25-37%, 87-125% respectively, while there was an increase in number of leaves upto 25-50% of Triticum aestivum. These epiphytic bacteria exhibited high extracellular antioxidant potential with rise in DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging ability (33-59%) and phenols concentration (78-173 µg/ml). Phylogenetic analysis revealed 99-100% similarity of these bacterial strain AN1 (Staphylococcus pasteuri), AN2 (Microbacterium paraoxydans), BG4 (Pseudomonas azotoformans), BG6 (Staphylococcus haemolyticus), OL21 (Staphylococcus haemolyticus), and AV2 (Paenobacillus lactis). Sixty-six percent of these bacteria carried IntI1 gene having similarity with XerC integrase/recombinases superfamily conserved domains. Our findings suggested that existence of IntI1 gene in epiphytic bacterial genome helps in their survival under stress environment.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common medical problem affecting a significant number of individuals around the world. The administration of UTIs in patients with renal abnormalities can be challenging, as these patients might require specific consideration and antibiotic regimens. The purpose of this study, which was carried out in the District Bahawalpur, was to investigate the prevalence, bacterial composition, and antimicrobial resistance pattern of UTIs in individuals with renal conditions, including renal calculi, renal cysts, and renal failure. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 50 clinical samples from Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, were subjected to microbiologic analysis using urine culture and drug susceptibility testing, and statistical analysis using descriptive statistics. Mean Patient Age was 28.52 ± 2.99, and the female to male ratio was 27:23. Among 50 patients 44% had right kidney stones, and 56% of patients faced UTIs for the first time. The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli (E. coli) (50%), which was followed by Klebsiella spp (20%), Pseudomonas spp (16%), Morganella spp (8%), and Staphylococcus aureus (6%). Azetronam was effective against some bacteria, including 4.0% of Escherichia coli and 8.0% of Klebsiella spp. Amoxicillin and Polymyxin were less effective than Augmentin and Amikacin, which were the most often used antibiotics. Our study demonstrates that antibiotic selection based on bacterial etiology is crucial for effective UTI treatment in patients with renal abnormalities. These findings improve patient outcomes and address the challenge of antibiotic resistance in patients with renal conditions.
The study was conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan, aimed to evaluate the microbiological and physicochemical quality of potable water from various sites. Sampling was conducted in spring 2023 across 20 sites in Islamabad, selection was based on population density and proximity to potential contamination sources (urban runoff, agriculture. Microbiological parameters (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method and physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved salts (TDS), turbidity, hardness, chloride, and nitrate were measured using standard procedures. The findings highlighted significant disparities in E. coli contamination across different sites, with the highest count at Site H (21.8) and the absence of E. coli at multiple sites (A, E, G, K, and N), indicating a need for site-specific microbial monitoring. Physicochemical analysis revealed variability in water quality, with pH levels ranging from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Notably, turbidity levels were highest at Sites D1 measuring a 93.5 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU), while Site F exhibited the highest EC (4020 µS) and TDS (3015 mg/L). High EC, turbidity and TDS at these specific sites were attributed to geological mineral dissolution, agricultural runoff, and inadequate sewage management. Site H recorded the highest nitrate concentration at 20 mg/L, suggesting contamination from agricultural runoffs or sewage. The study underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and tailored interventions to ensure safe drinking water standards across different locations and mitigate public health risks associated with contaminated groundwater.
Traditional medicines, largely derived from plants, contain bioactive compounds that serve as protective agents against environmental stressors (biotic and abiotic) and can also enhance human health. With the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance, there is an urgent need to explore safe and effective plant-derived alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antibacterial potential of three commonly used medicinal plants: Camellia sinensis, Aloe vera, and Momordica charantia. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were prepared and qualitatively screened for tannins, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, proteins, carbohydrates, phlobatannins, and terpenoids. Quantitative analysis further revealed that M. charantia had the highest alkaloid content (5.29%), while its ethanolic extract exhibited the greatest protein (37.9 mg/g dry extract) and carbohydrate levels (30.6 mg/g dry extract). The antibacterial activity of the extracts was tested against a Gram-positive strain (Staphylococcus aureus) and a Gram-negative strain (Klebsiella pneumoniae). The results showed that C. sinensis consistently demonstrated the strongest antibacterial activity in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts, producing inhibition zones of 20 ± 0.95 mm against S. aureus and 12 ± 2 mm against K. pneumoniae. In comparison, M. charantia exhibited selective inhibition, being effective only against S. aureus, while A. vera showed moderate antibacterial activity depending on the extraction solvent. Overall, the findings highlight the therapeutic promise of C. sinensis as a natural antimicrobial agent. Future studies should expand antimicrobial screening to additional pathogens and include in vivo assays to validate the clinical applicability of these extracts.
Gum Arabic is an edible, dried, gummy exudate extracted from the stems and branches of Acacia Senegal. It is commonly used in the pharmaceutical and food industries as an emulsifier and stabilizer agent. The present study assessed the nutritional composition of gum Arabic (T1) and its food products, namely T2 (Khorak) and T3 (Gond Pak), which were locally prepared in Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan. Gum Arabic was sourced from the local tree Acacia Senegal, whereas its food products, i.e., Khorak and Gond Pak, were prepared and evaluated for proximate composition, amino acids profiling, minerals, and vitamins quantification. The observed results showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) among treatments. The T1 exhibited higher values for ash (3.17%), dietary fiber (66.10%), titratable acidity (1.5%), valine (0.30 mg/g), serine (0.68 mg/g), potassium (254.22 mg/100g), sodium (118.55 mg/100g), calcium (7976.30 mg/kg), magnesium (2061.5 mg/kg), iron (76.57 mg/kg), and thiamine (7.74 mg/100g). T2 showed higher pH (5.47), moisture (11.61%), carbohydrate (39.25%), energy value (308.65 kcal/100g), methionine (0.02 mg/g), isoleucine (0.16 mg/g), leucine (0.68 mg/g), tyrosine (0.39 mg/g), lysine (3.35 mg/g), vitamin A (141.33 IU/100g), vitamin C (4.65 mg/100g), niacin (26.25 mg/100g), and pyridoxine (0.06 mg/100g). T3 had higher protein (12.29%), crude fat (15.99%), aspartic acid (1.66 mg/g), threonine (0.533 mg/g), glutamic acid (4.43 mg/g), proline (0.079 mg/g), glycine (0.446 mg/g), alanine (0.443 mg/g), phenylalanine (0.54 mg/g), histidine (0.20 mg/g), tryptophan (0.92 mg/g), riboflavin (0.71 mg/100g), folate (21.97 mg/100g), and cyanocobalamin (1.17 mg/100g). Cysteine, arginine, vitamin D, E, pantothenic acid, and biotin were not detected in any treatments. The study concludes that gum Arabic and its food products are highly nutritious, suggesting their suitability for consumption in regions with prevalent malnutrition.
The present study was conducted to analyze the behaviour of arrivals and wholesale price of potatoes in the Fruit and Vegetable (F and V) Market of Okara City, Pakistan. Time series data for the last seven years was collected on market arrivals and prices of potatoes from the government department. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was found to be positive (30%) regarding prices, and negative (-7%) for arrivals of potatoes. The variation in prices and arrivals differed across the months. The findings revealed that the highest (211.3%) arrivals variation occurred during the month of November, and the highest (25.89%) price variation took place during the month of February. The results of the Cuddy-Della-Valle Index showed medium instability (24.38 %) in case of prices, and low instability (4.76%) regarding the arrivals. The Karl Pearson Correlation Coefficient method indicated that mostly across the months, there exists a positive relationship between market arrivals and prices of potatoes with the exception of a few months. The study confirmed the highest seasonal arrivals index (338.11%) for the month of February and the highest seasonal price index (136.98%) for the month of November. In order to get maximum benefit from marketing of potatoes, it is suggested that all the concerned stakeholders should look timely and properly at the trend of market prices and market arrivals of potatoes in the F & V markets. Proper management along with market intelligence of arrivals and prices would increase the welfare of farmers, consumers and other stakeholders which involved in the agri-food supply chain of potato.
