Impact of automobile exhaust on biochemical and genomorphic characteristics of Mimusops elengi L. growing along roadsides of Lahore city, Pakistan.

Automobile exhaust releases different types of pollutants that are at great risk to the air quality of the environment and incidental distress to the nature of roadside plants. Mimusops elengi L. is an evergreen medicinal tree cultivated along the roadside of Lahore City. This research aimed to investigate physiological, morphological and genomorphic characteristics of M. elengi under the influence of air pollution from vehicles. Healthy and mature leaves were collected from trees on Canal Bank and Mall roads of Lahore as the experimental sites and control sites were 20 km away from the experimental site. Different physiochemical, morphological, air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and molecular analysis for the detection of DNA damage were performed through comet assay. The results demonstrated the mean accumulated Cd, Pb, Cu and Ni heavy metal contents on the leaves were higher than the control plants (1.27, 3.22, 1.32 and 1.46 µg mg-1). APTI of trees was 9.04. Trees in these roads significantly (p < 0.01) had a lower leaf area, petiole length and leaf dry matter content in comparison to control site. Increased comet tail showed that DNA damage was higher for roadside trees than trees in the control area. For tolerance of air pollution, it necessary to check the APTI value for the M. elengi at the polluted road side of Lahore city. For long-term screening, the source and type of pollutants and consistent monitoring of various responses given by the trees should be known.

Multienzyme and Antibacterial Potential of Bacteria Isolated from gut of Asian Honey Bee (Apis cerana Indica), Lahore Using Culture Dependent Method

Abstract The bacteria residing in the gut of honey bees (HB) has demonstrated a significant role in protecting bees against various pathogens, production of honey and wax. However, no information exists about the antibacterial potential of bacterial isolates from gut of Asian HB, Apis cerana Indica F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), against human pathogens. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial and multienzyme potential of aerobic bacteria from A. cerana gut using culture dependent approach. A total of 12 HB gut bacteria were characterized morphologically and biochemically. These strains were further screened for their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic human microorganisms Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis using cross streak (primary screening) and agar well diffusion methods (secondary screening). Preliminary characterization of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of two promising isolates was performed by measuring lactic acid concentrations, enzymatic digestion of antimicrobial compounds, stability over a range of temperature, pH and amplification of spaS (subtilin) and spoA (subtilosin) genes. In primary screening, among 12 HB isolates, eight strains showed statistically significant highest zones of inhibition (p≤0.05) against E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that these isolates belong to Bacillus genus, identified as B. tequilensis, B. pumilus, B. xiamenensis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. safensis, B. licheniformis, B. altitudinis (Accession numbers: MT186230-MT186237). Secondary screening revealed that among eight isolates, B. subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens showed statistically significantly strong inhibition (p≤0.05) against all tested pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that both isolates were resistant to antibiotics and possesses proteolytic, lipolytic and cellulolytic activities. The nature of the compound causing inhibitory activity was found to be proteinaceous and showed stability over a wide range of temperature as well as pH. PCR study confirmed the presence of bacteriocins by successful amplification of important antimicrobial peptide biosynthesis genes spaS and spoA. These results suggest that the HB gut is a home to bacteria that possess antimicrobial activity and important enzymes with antimicrobial potential. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the antimicrobial potential of bacteria isolated from gut of HB (A. cerana) against human pathogens.

In vitro anticancer and antioxidant potential of Cestrum species.

The methanolic extract of leaves and stem of Cestrum nocturnum and Cestrum diurnum were investigated for their antioxidant and anticancer attribute through standard methods. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was carried out to estimate the antioxidant activity of the extracts. Whereas, anticancer potential of extracts were tested against colon cancer cell line, HCT 116 and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, THP-1. Results showed that extracts of both plants exhibited a very strong antioxidant activity in a dose dependent manner. In addition, both extracts efficiently increased the cell death in two different cancer cell lines. Moreover, DNA fragmentation analysis further strengthens the anticancer potential of extracts of both types of plants. Current study, therefore, provide a preliminary data highlighting the antioxidant and anticancer activities of methanolic extract of leaves and stem of Cestrum nocturnum and Cestrum diurnum.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) planch extracts of bark and stem.

The phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of bark and stem of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) planch was assessed in order to verify its ethnopharmacological significance. All major secondary metabolites e.g. alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones were present. Antioxidant activity was analysed by using five techniques which included DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), TAA (Total Antioxidant Activity, TPC (Total Phenolic Content and MC (Metal Chelating) Activity. Ethanolic extract of bark showed the highest scavenging effects of 90.01±0.01%, with IC50 value of 24.32mg/ml. Aqueous stem extract showed best activity with IC50 value of 13.6±0.34mg/ml. The significance antioxidant potential indicates the effectiveness of bark and stem of P. quinquefolia in treatment of many diseases.

Phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant activity of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn) urban a traditional medicinal plant.

In the present study the crude extracts of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban were explored for their antioxidant potential using Ferric Reducing Power, Metal Chelating Activity and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assays. In crude extracts of pollen antioxidant components were initially extracted in methanol and further fractionated in solvents of different polarity, such as n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Water exhibited reasonable antioxidant activity. The extract was found to contain large amounts of phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 143-1155 mg/l of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and 911-2488 mg/l of quercetin (QE) respectively. Moreover, Super oxide Anion Radical Scavenging Activity and GS-MS analysis were also carried out.

In vitro antioxidant potential and free radical scavenging activity of various extracts of pollen of Typha domigensis Pers.

Antioxidant potential of the pollen of Typha domigensis Pers. using Ferric Reducing ower, Metal Chelating Activity and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assays has been carried out in the current research work. The antioxidant components were initially extracted from the pollen in methanol and were further fractionated in solvents of different polarity such as n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Water. Methanol extract which was found to have high reducing power, total phenolic contents with high metal chelating activity, has considerable prospective to utilize as a natural antioxidant and be capable to link with the total phenolic contents of plant.