Light and scanning electron microscopic observation of palynological characteristics in spineless Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) and its taxonomic significance.

Palynological characterization is considered to be one of the significant taxonomic tools for the delimitation and identification of morphologically complicated taxa. Hence, the pollen morphology of 12 species of spineless Astragalus L. was examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Studied pollen were small to medium, monad, prolate to per-prolate and tricolporate type in all studied taxa. The exine sculpturing varied from reticulate to microreticulate whereas colpus ornamentation ranged from scabrate to granulate. Furthermore, maximum polar and equatorial diameter was recorded in Astragalus leucocephalus Bunge. (45.00 µm) and A. pyrrhotrichus Boiss. (22.91 µm) while minimum in A. amherstianus Benth. ex Royle (28.75 µm) and A. amherstianus Benth. ex Royle (15.00 µm), respectively. Similarly, the ratio of polar to equatorial diameter was recorded maximum in A. ophiocarpus Boiss. (2.05). The width of colpi was larger in A. hamosus L. (1.29 µm) and smaller in A. ophiocarpus Boiss. (0.62 µm). We have also found the maximum value of mesocolpium in A. retamocarpus Boiss. (2.08 µm) while minimum in A. oxyglottis Steven ex M.Bieb. (1.87 µm). The quantitative pollen attributes helped in the development of pollen keys for the accurate and quick identification of the studied species. Furthermore, ordination and cluster analysis were performed for the differentiation of the investigated taxa at species level. Based on our results, we conclude that pollen features can be used for the delimitation and identification of the studied taxa. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Pollen micromorphology is a useful tool for classifying complicated taxa. The pollen micromorphology of 12 spineless species of Astragalus L. was studied using LM and SEM. The observed pollen characteristics aided in Astragalus L. serve for the identification and classification of taxa at specific level.

Implication of scanning electron microscopy as a tool for identification of novel, nonedible oil seeds for biodiesel production.

Biodiesel is a promising, bio-based, renewable, nontoxic, environment friendly, and alternative fuel for petroleum derived fuels which helps to reduce dependency on conventional fossil fuels. In this study, six novel, nonedible seed oil producing feedstock were explored for their potential for sustainable production of biodiesel. It is very important to correctly identify oil yielding plant species. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used as reliable tool for authentic identification of oil yielding seeds. Macromorphological characters of seeds were studied with light microscopy (LM). Outcomes of LM of seeds exposed distinctive variation in seed size from 16.3 to 3.2 mm in length and 12.4 to 0.9 mm in width, shape varied from oval to triangular, and color from black to light brown. Oil content of nonedible seed ranged from 25 to 30% (w/w). Free fatty acid content of seed oil varied from 0.32 to 2.5 mg KOH/g. Moreover, ultra structural study of seeds via SEM showed variation in surface sculpturing, cell arrangement, cell shape, periclinal wall shape, margins, protuberances, and anticlinal wall shape. Surface sculpturing varied from rugged, reticulate, varrucose, papillate, and striate. Periclinal wall arrangements confirmed variation from rough, wavy, raised, depressed, smooth, and elevated whereas, anticlinal walls pattern showed variation from profuse undulating, smooth, raised, grooved, deep, curved, and depressed. It was concluded that SEM could be a latent and advanced technique in unveiling hidden micromorphological characters of nonedible oil yielding seeds which delivers valuable information to researchers and indigenous people for precise and authentic identification and recognition.

Palyno-morphological characterization of selected allergenic taxa of family Poaceae from Islamabad-Pakistan using microscopic techniques.

Statistics around the world show an increased risk of high allergies associated with plants. The role of allergenic pollen is now well known. The most serious allergenic diseases are asthma and rhinitis, which affect 5-30% of the population of industrialized countries. This work focuses on the exploration of allergenic grass species of Islamabad, Pakistan and use microscopic techniques to correctly identify them. This study contains 11 species of grasses which showed variations in pollen morphological features. The dominant pollen shape was prolate, prolate-spheroidal and sub oblate. The largest polar diameter was calculated for Echinochloa crus-galli (56.00 µm) while the largest equatorial diameter was found in Cenchrus ciliaris (45.00 µm). Exine ornamentation varied from Gemmate-verrucate, Scabrate-reugulate, Verrucate-reticulate, Gemmate-Scabrate, Fine-Gemmate, Gemmate-rugulate, Gemmate-reticulate, Gemmate-scabrate, Scabrate-verrucate, and Scabrate. Maximum exine thickness was found in Eleusine indica (4.90 µm) while in C. ciliaris (1.50 µm) the minimum thickness of exine was measured. In E. crus-galli (1.54 µm), the largest P to E value was measured and the smallest value was noticed in Setaria verticillata (0.86 µm). The study was performed with an aim to identify the allergenic plant species in Islamabad-Pakistan using pollen morphological studies. This study provides significant information, to arrange the pollen types within their defined classes and to discuss various pollen features for developing an allergenic pollen atlas.

Fabrication of lecithin-gum tragacanth muco-adhesive hybrid nano-carrier system for in-vivo performance of Amphotericin B.

Nano-carriers are excellent systems for improving bioavailability of poor aqueous soluble drugs. This study focuses fabrication of lecithin-gum tragacanth muco-adhesive hybrid NPs for enhancing Amphotericin B (AmpB) oral bioavailability. AmpB loaded lecithin NPs were synthesized through solvent diffusion method. Green synthesis of stable muco-adhesive gum tragacanth (GT) gold NPs was confirmed through UV-vis spectrophotometer and FT-IR. AmpB loaded lecithin NPs hybrid with GT gold NPs were characterized for shape, size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, drug entrapment efficiency and drug-excepients interactions using atomic force microscope (AFM), zetasizer, UV-vis spectrophotometer and FT-IR respectively. In-vivo bioavailability of AmpB loaded in NPs was investigated in rabbits. AmpB loaded muco-adhesive NPs were found polydispersed with 358.3 ±â€¯1.78 nm mean size and -19.9 ±â€¯0.51 mV zeta potential. They entrapped 78.91 ±â€¯2.44% AmpB and enhanced its oral bioavailability in animals. Results reveal the hybrid NPs as efficient carriers for enhancing AmpB oral bioavailability in controlled manner.

Identification of monocot flora using pollen features through scanning electron microscopy.

Pollen used to track structural and functional evolution in plants as well as to investigate the problems relative to plant classification. Pollen characters including ornamentation, shape, apertural pattern, pollen symmetry, colpus length, width, and margins used to detect the similarities and dissimilarities between genera and also species of the same genus. In this study pollen features of 20 monocot species belonging to 15 genera of the Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Iridaceae, Ixioliriaceae, Liliaceae, and Xanthorrhoeaceae were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). In this study two species that is Zephyranthes citrina and Tulbaghia violacea were reported for the first time from Pakistan. Pollen grains were visualized with LM. Non-acetolyzed and acetolyzed pollen were examined using SEM. A taxonomic key was developed to highlight the variation in pollen features in order to make their systematic application for correct species identification.

Cytotoxicity, In vitro anti-Leishmanial and fingerprint HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of Trillium govanianum.

Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don (Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae), commonly known as 'nagchhatry' or 'teen patra', distributed from Pakistan to Bhutan about 2500-3800 m altitude is indigenous to Himalayas region. In folk medicine the plant has been reported for the treatment of wound healing, sepsis and in various sexual disorders. This paper reports, for the first time, to evaluate the cytotoxicity, in vitro anti-leishmanial (promastigotes) and fingerprint HPLC-photodiode array analysis of the MeOH extract of the roots of T. govanianum and its solid phase extraction fractions. Reverse phase HPLC-PDA based quantification revealed the presence of significant amount of quercetin, myrecetin and kaemferol ranging from 0.221to 0.528 µg/mg DW. MeOH extract revealed distinguishable protein kinase inhibitory activity against Streptomyces 85E strain with 18 mm bald phenotype. The remarkable toxicity profile against brine shrimps and leishmanial was manifested by MeOH extract with LC50 10 and 38.5 µg/mL, respectively.

Evaluation of resazurin microtiter plate assay and HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of Asparagus adscendens.

Asparagus adscendens Roxb. (Asparagaceae), is native to the Himalayas. The present study, for the first time, was undertaken to explore the antimicrobial potential, to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the methanol extract of the roots of A. adscendens and its solid-phase extraction (SPE) fractions using resazurin microtitre assay against Gram-positive and negative bacterial-registered strains and to carry out HPLC-photodiode array analysis of the SPE fractions. The methanol extract and all SPE exhibited considerable level of antibacterial potential against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC: 2.5-0.009 mg/mL) than against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC: 1.25-2.5 mg/mL). The use of microtitre plates has the advantage of lower cost, fast and quantitative results. Like other Asparagus species, the presence of phenolic compounds in all SPE fractions was evident in the HPLC-PDA data.

One new royleanumoate from Teucrium royleanum Wall. ex Benth.

One new royleanumoate, a benzene ester (1), has been isolated from T. royleanum Wall. ex Benth along with two known compounds, namely, 3,4-dihydroxymethyl benzoate (2) and oleanolic acid (3). The structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was established on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), heteronuclear multiple quantum Coherence (HMQC), and correlation spectroscopy (COSY) experiment.

Pistagremic acid, a glucosidase inhibitor from Pistacia integerrima.

Pistacia integerrima Stewart in traditionally used as folk remedy for various pathological conditions including diabetes. In order to identify the bioactive compound responsible for its folk use in diabetes, a phytochemical and biological study was conducted. Pistagremic acid (PA) was isolated from the dried galls extract of P. integerrima. Strong α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of PA was predicted using its molecular docking simulations against yeast α-glucosidase as a therapeutic target. Significant experimental α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of PA confirmed the computational predictions. PA showed potent enzyme inhibitory activity both against yeast (IC(50): 89.12±0.12µM) and rat intestinal (IC(50): 62.47±0.09µM) α-glucosidases. Interestingly, acarbose was found to be more than 12 times more potent an inhibitor against mammalian (rat intestinal) enzyme (having IC(50) value 62.47±0.09µM), as compared to the microbial (yeast) enzyme (with IC(50) value 780.21µM). Molecular binding mode was explored via molecular docking simulations, which revealed hydrogen bonding interactions between PA and important amino acid residues (Asp60, Arg69 and Asp 70 (3.11Å)), surrounding the catalytic site of the α-glucosidase. These interactions could be mainly responsible for their role in potent inhibitory activity of PA. PA has a strong potential to be further investigated as a new lead compound for better management of diabetes.

Royleanumin, a new phytotoxic neo-clarodane diterpenoid from Teucrium royleanum.

Here we report the isolation and structure elucidation of a new phytotoxic neo-clerodane diterpenoid, royleanumin (1), along with known constituents, ursolic acid and beta-amyrin. Its structure was deduced by spectral studies including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometric techniques and by the comparison with reported data. The compound was assayed for its phytotoxicity against lettuce seedlings. Royleanumin (1) exhibit strong activity and can be proposed as lead chemical for the development of a new environmentally friendly herbicide.

Furanone derivatives from terrestrial Streptomyces spp.

Chemical investigation of the terrestrial Streptomyces sp. isolates GT2005/020 and ANK148 led to the isolation of two microbial furanone derivatives, 5-hydroxy-4-methylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-3-one (1) and 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-furan-3-one (2), respectively, which have some similarity to quorum sensing molecules of the AI-2 type. In addition, the known compounds chalcomycin, ferulic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, uracil, thymine, 2'-deoxy-thymidin, monensin B (3), phencomycin, and 1-acetyl-beta-carboline were isolated. The structures of 1 and 2 were deduced from extensive studies of NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectra. Additionally, the complete NMR shift assignments for monensin B (3) using H-H COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments are reported here for the first time. We are describing the taxonomy and fermentation of the producing strains, the structure elucidation of the new metabolites and their bioactivity.

Antioxidant activity of mulberry fruit extracts.

Phenolic compounds were extracted from the fruits of Morus nigra and Morus alba using methanol and acetone. The sugar-free extracts (SFEs) were prepared using Amberlite XAD-16 column chromatography. All of the SFEs exhibited antioxidant potential as determined by ABTS (0.75-1.25 mmol Trolox/g), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (EC(50) from 48 µg/mL to 79 µg/mL), and reducing power assays. However, a stronger activity was noted for the SFEs obtained from Morus nigra fruits. These extracts also possessed the highest contents of total phenolics: 164 mg/g (methanolic SFE) and 173 mg/g (acetonic SFE). The presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts was confirmed using HPLC method and chlorogenic acid and rutin were found as the dominant phenolic constituents in the SFEs.

Anti-inflammatory xanthones from the twigs of Hypericum oblongifolium wall.

Two new xanthonolignoids, hypericorin A (1) and hypericorin B (2), along with five known new source compounds, a xanthonolignoid, kielcorin (3), 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyxanthone (4), 3,4,5-trihydroxyxanthone (5), 1,3-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone ( 6) and 1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone (7), were isolated from the stems (twigs) of Hypericum oblongifolium Wall. The structures of the new compounds were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (EI-MS, HREI-MS, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY). We also report herein for the first time the single crystal X-ray structure of compound 6. Compounds 1- 7 were screened for their IN VITRO anti-inflammatory (respiratory burst) inhibiting activities using isolated human neutrophils; compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 showed significant activities (IC (50) = 816.23 ± 73.30, 985.20 ± 55.80, 965.21 ± 65.80, 907.20 ± 50.80, 975.20 ± 81.10 µM, respectively), compound 6 showed moderate activity (IC (50) = 2500.85 ± 50.50 µM), while compound 4 was totally inactive at 1000 µg/mL as compared to the positive control used, indomethacin (IC (50) = 757.99 ± 5.90 µM), and aspirin (IC (50) = 279.44 ± 4.40 µM). Compound 4 was also inactive in comparison with other tested Hypericum compounds.

Synthesis and antimalarial activity of novel chiral and achiral benzenesulfonamides bearing 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole moieties.

A series of new benzenesulfonamides, most of which are chiral, incorporating 1, 3, 4-oxadiazole and amino acid moieties have been synthesized. Some of these compounds were screened for antimalarial activity and also evaluated for their ability to inhibit hem polymerization. The electrophoretic analysis indicated that one compound was effective in inhibiting the degradation of hemoglobin. The synthesized compounds were tested in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. These derivatives have the potential for the development of novel antimalarial lead compounds.