Morpho-anatomical characters of family Oscillatoriaceae (algae) identified using primitive (LM) and advance technique (SEM) from Punjab, Pakistan.

In this study, 34 species belonging to the class Nostocophyceae order Nostocales and family Oscillatoriaceae were identified based on light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All species belong to nine genera of which two species belong to Arthrospira, six species to Lyngbya, ten species belongs to Oscillatoria, six species belong to Spirulina, seven species to Phormidium, three species to Microcoleus. The morpho-anatomical characters were identified among different species using LM and SEM. These studies highlighted that north-eastern area of Punjab was blessed with the diversity of algae. These outcomes also indicated that for internal examination along with LM, SEM was necessary for correct identification of algal sample up to specie level. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The different Oscillatoria species abundance in waste-water of four different areas. The sampling was carried out randomly in different seasons from the water bodies especially from waste-water. The morpho-anatomical characters were recognized using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thirty-four species belonging to the class Nostocophyceae order Nostocales and family Oscillatoriaceae were identified based on LM and SEM.

Light and scanning electron microscopy of Datura stramonium L. extract and its biological applications.

The study deals with the LM and SEM (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) of Datura stramonium L. extract and to evaluate its phytochemical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. The plant sample collected from different Lahore region was dried under shade. The plant extract was prepared using different solvents (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol). Phytochemical screening performed qualitatively for alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. Radical scavenging potential of plant extracts was estimated and ethyl acetate extract exhibited maximum percentage scavenging ability of 92.2 ± 0.09. Total antioxidant capacity of different extracts was measured by phosphomolybdate method. The ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts showed maximum values of 72.3 ± 0.08% and 79 ± 0.15% with respect to gallic acid. Total phenolic contents were determined through Folin-Ciocalteau method and highest value of 495.2 ± 3.4 was obtained by methanolic extract. DPPH-TLC autography was used for the visual detection of antioxidant compounds in different plant extracts. Antibacterial activity of plant extract was measured by disc diffusion method against microorganisms named Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis (Gram positive), and Salmonella typhimurium, and Proteus mirabilis (Gram negative). Because of the vast medicinal importance of D. stramonium L. it would be beneficial to study LM and SEM for correct identification of plant and to determine phytochemicals. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: LM and SEM (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) of Datura stramonium L. was studied for the exact identification of plant. To evaluate the biological activities of pharmaceutically important plant. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were determined. D. stramonium L. proved to be medicinally important plant.

Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy: A helping tool to identify the adultrant of dye from Curcuma longa L rhizome, and its ecofriendly applications on pharmaceutical products.

The current study was embraced to examine the morphoanatomical distinguishing proof utilizing light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and antibacterial activities of turmeric extract utilizing amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin. Cross over part of the rhizome is roundabout in structure. The peripheral layer is the periderm which comprises of 6-7 layers of digressively lengthened cells. This is trailed by an expansive cortex made of flimsy walled parenchyma cells with intercellular spaces. The antibacterial activities of turmeric extract in blend with drug items like amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin was likewise examined at various fixations. Different turmeric samples and drug items were gathered from various shops of Lahore. The samples were analyzed for antibacterial activities by utilizing pour plate method. In general outcomes showed fundamentally higher zone of inhibition of turmeric extract in combination with ciprofloxacin and lower zone of inhibition of turmeric extract in combination with amoxicillin. It is inferred that turmeric extract have hostile impact in blend with amoxicillin. Thus, the combination of turmeric extract with antimicrobial (amoxicillin) diminished the intensity of antibiotic. The turmeric extract have more antibacterial activity in mix with ciprofloxacin. Thus, the blend of turmeric extract with antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) expanded the intensity of antibiotic. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Morphoanatomical study of Turmeric rhizome using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial activities of turmeric extract like amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin was also investigated at different concentrations.

Morpho-anatomical characterization of some members of euglenophycota (algae) of north-east Punjab, Pakistan based on light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

The study was carried out in four districts, that is, Gujranwala, Gujarat, Narowal and Sialkot of Punjab, Pakistan. The sampling was carried out randomly in different seasons from the water bodies especially from wastewater. Twenty-one species belonging to Euglenophycota were identified using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy from which 04 species belong to genus Phacus, 02 species belonging to Trachelomonas and Euglena based on light microscopy. It was observed that Euglena was the most diverse genus and it is supposed to be the indicator species of the polluted water. It was observed that E. oblonga was found in maximum pH range, that is, 7.0-11.0. Similarly, E. brevicaudatus was found in maximum EC, that is, 169 ± 1.5 ms/cm these outcomes indicated that for internal examination along with LM, SEM was necessary for correct identification of algal sample up to specie level.

Light microscopy proved to be useful technique for morpho-anatomical examination of four wild plant species growing sideways wastewater tunnels.

The present study was conducted to determine the influence of wastewater used for irrigation purposes on anatomical characters of four wild plants with the help of light microscopy (LM). The plant selected were Trianthema portulacastrum L., Amaranthes viridis L., Portulaca oleracea L., and Persicaria barbata L. This wastewater comprises of municipal, industrial, and dairy waste containing organic matter, Ca++ , Mg++ , nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It was found that T. portulacastrum L. and P. oleracea L. were directly affected and the size of vascular tissues and cortex reduced many times as compared to control, while on the other hand A. viridis L. and Persicaria berbata L. showed high growth than control these characters were clear using LM technique.

Pollen morphological assessment of specific selected species of district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan under LM and SEM.

Around 30 pollen samples, 16 families and 25 genera that were gathered, identified and preserved from 6 different localities of District Sheikhupura. Light and scanning electron microscopy was done for all collected flora. Out of the total samples, 43% specie was identified as herbs, 23% as shrubs, and 33% were identified as trees. The flora was both wild and cultivated. Wild plants were 33%, cultivated 40% and 26% of them were both wild and cultivated. Qualitative and Quantitative survey of pollens revealed polar shape of pollens were 37% spheroidal, 20% prolate spheroidal, 17% oblate spheroidal, remaining were rectangular and pecolpate. Sexine and nexine were available in 100% of samples. Thirty-three percentage of pollen grains were having spines on them. The presence of spines on pollen grains represents the evolutionary relationship amongst the plants. Current study was conducted to record and analyze palynomorphic diversity in district Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan.

Microscopic techniques used for the identification of medicinal plants: A case study of Senna.

BACKGROUND: The use of quality control tool for adulteration of Senna (Cassia aungustifolia) a pharmaceutically very important. They were used for multiple health disorders such as constipation, indigestion, epilepsy, asthma, piles, migraine, and heart problems. Two different species of same family or same genus used commercially in Indo-Pak using the same medicine name Senna. One named as Senna (C. aungustifolia) and its adulterant named as Sickle Senna (Cassia obtusifolia). METHODOLOGY: These two plants were analyzed using classical microscopic techniques light microscopy and the modern chemotaxonomic traits scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence studies and phytochemical studies. RESULTS: The C. aungustifolia L. had found to be a perennial herb with trilobed pollen, diacytic, paracytic, and anisocytic stomata having smooth walled epidermal cells, whereas the C. obtusifolia stands out as a perennial shrub with spheroidal and circular pollen and paracytic type of stomata having irregular shaped epidermal cells. The powdered drug of C. aungustifolia is dark grayish green, whereas the powdered drug of C. obtusifolia is light green in color. Investigation and other techniques used in this project provided the basis for the authentication of this species.

Cucurbits Plants: A Key Emphasis to Its Pharmacological Potential.

Cucurbita genus has received a renowned interest in the last years. This plant species, native to the Americas, has served worldwide folk medicine for treating gastrointestinal diseases and intestinal parasites, among other clinical conditions. These pharmacological effects have been increasingly correlated with their nutritional and phytochemical composition. Among those chemical constituents, carotenoids, tocopherols, phenols, terpenoids, saponins, sterols, fatty acids, and functional carbohydrates and polysaccharides are those occurring in higher abundance. However, more recently, a huge interest in a class of triterpenoids, cucurbitacins, has been stated, given its renowned biological attributes. In this sense, the present review aims to provide a detailed overview to the folk medicinal uses of Cucurbita plants, and even an in-depth insight on the latest advances with regards to its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer effects. A special emphasis was also given to its clinical effectiveness in humans, specifically in blood glucose levels control in diabetic patients and pharmacotherapeutic effects in low urinary tract diseases.

Implication of palynological techniques for the authentication of adulterated drugs traded with the same name in different herbal markets of district Lahore, Pakistan.

Adulteration in traded medicinal plants is a significant issue nowadays and use of these adulterated medicinal plants can impose harmful impact to end user. However, this problem can be overcome by ensuring the identification of traded medicinal plants which are used in making different herbal medicines. In this regard, palynological markers are considered to be an important taxonomic tool in the identification of original medicinal plant from its adulterant. Hence this study attempted to provide particular reliable palynological markers for distinguishing selected medicinal plants from their adulterants, that is, Cinnamomum verum versus Canella winterana, Cinnamomum tamala versus Cinnamomum obtusifolium, Gymnema sylvestre versus Gymnema lactiferum, Artemisia maritima versus Artemisia absinthium, Achillea millefolium versus Adhatoda vasaka, Sphaeranthus indicus versus Sphaeranthus africanus, Averrhoa carambola versus Butea monosperma, and Morus nigra versus Morus alba. Results demonstrated great variations in multiple palynological characters between original medicinal plant and its adulterant such as in pollen size, shape, colpi length, exine, intine thickness, and fertility. In equatorial view, circular to spheroidal shape of pollen was found in A. millefolium while oblate shape was observed in A. vasaka. Similarly B. monosperma pollen was 34 µm, whereas pollen of its adulterant A. carambola was 21 µm. Moreover, colpi length of A. maritima was 11.8 µm, whereas 4.5 µm in A. absinthium. Hence it can be concluded that palynological characters are commendably helpful in identification of genuine medicinal plant from its adulterant.

Morpho-palynological assessment of medicinal flora of district Lahore, Pakistan based on LM and SEM.

This study was carried out to identify 20 high valued medicinal plants of District Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan with the help of the palynological studies. The distinguishing characteristics for selected species were found by systematized methods using light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. In this study, important pollen qualitative and quantitative features of these medicinal species such as polar and equatorial outline and their diameter, P/E ratio, presence or absence of pore, sculpturing of pollen, exine thickness, intine thickness, intercellular distance of exine and intine, presence or absence of spines, length of spines, width of spines, presence or absence of colpi and length of colpi, were compared. Remarkable variations in these pollen characters have been observed. Pollen grains were usually circular-semicircular (Calendula officinalis), spheroidal (Convolvulus arvensis), bilobed and trilobed (Convolvulus arvensis), spiny, (Abutilon indicum), oblate (Terminalia chebula) and elongated (Euphorbia pilulifera). In polar view Conyza bonariensis exhibited the highest pollen size [195.9 (211.6-180.2) µm]. While in equatorial view Calendula officinalis and Euphorbia pilulifera had lowest value [22.5 (20-25) µm] whereas Carissa carandas [165 (140-179) µm] appeared to be the largest. Parthenium hysterophorus showed the highest P/E ratio, that is, 1.28. Colpi were reported in only 7 species. Most of the plants showed 100% fertility but Terminalia chebula showed the least value 35%. In the present, project the diversity in pollen morphology present pollen as a valuable taxonomic tool. It is also concluded that pollen features are helpful at the specific level as well as generic level and can provide us fruitful taxonomic solutions. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Palynological flora of the medicinal plant species of district Lahore, Pakistan is investigated first time on the basis of LM and SEM and the flora is found very significant for taxonomic investigations.