Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis and antimicrobial screening of ethanolic extract of Operculina terpathum from cholistan desert.

Aim of present study was to assess pharmacological (antioxidant, antibacterial & antifungal) potential of Operculina terpathum seeds. Ethanolic extract was prepared and its phytochemical evaluation show the different chemical compounds such as carbohydrates, phenols, tannin, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids and proteins. FTIR spectra showed the presence of organic acids, hydroxyl and phenolic compounds, amino groups, aliphatic compounds, functional groups such as amide, ketone, aldehyde, aromatics and halogen compounds. Antioxidant activity of the Operculina terpathum alcoholic extract was performed by DPPH method and it showed 97.13%whereas IC50±SEM (µg/ml) was 1.425±0.16. Antibacterial activity was performed against different bacterial strains and results were comparable with that of standard. Maximum antibacterial activity was exhibited by Bacillus subtillis (28.33±2 mm) and Bacillus pumilus (25.33±2 mm) respectively. Antifungal activity was also performed and it showed maximum activity against Aspergillus flavous and Candida albicans6±1, 5±1mm respectively. These results showed that Operculina terpathum has good antibacterial and antifungal activity against different microbes and it could be used as an alternative to antibiotics, as the antibiotics resistance is very common now a days.

Anti-diabetic Potential of Indigenous Medicinal Plants of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan: A Review.

Cholistan Desert is a sandy desert located in southern Punjab, Pakistan. The area is rich in more than 64 medicinal plants among 138 plant species. It is noteworthy that this remote desert lacks modern health care facilities and its inhabitants are dependent on locally-available plant species for the treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. Medicinal plants, traditionally have been ideal sources of remedies for the management of many non-communicable diseases; most modern prescriptions drugs have their origins from plants. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in the past few decades. Whereas medicinal plants are used globally, the specific properties of only a few have been identifies scientifically. Similarly, little scientific evidence exists that confirms the efficacy of the medicinal plants of this region for diabetes management. Ethnobotanical studies show that locally-available medicinal plants do have anti-diabetic potential. We reviewed the medicinal properties of 36 of these plants. Several ingredients derived from these plants have chemical constituents that demonstrate anti-diabetic activity, thereby validating their importance for the management of diabetes.

Quantification of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination using human placenta as biomarker from Punjab Province, Pakistan.

The present study biomonitored the placental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in women from Punjab Province, Pakistan, that provides the pioneer data for occurrence and body burden of PCBs in placental tissues from South Asian women. The ∑34PCB concentrations in placental tissues were ranged from 20.2 to 115.98 ng/g lipid weight (lip. wt.), with predominance of tetra-PCB (54.67%). The levels of ∑8DL-PCBs and ∑6-indicator PCBs were ranged from 2.03 to 27.64 ng/g (lip. wt.) and 1.71 to 30.8 ng/g (lip. wt.), respectively. The WHO-TEQ2005 values for DL-PCBs were ranged from 1.18 × 10-5 to 0.067 ng/g (lip. wt.), with highest value evaluated for CB-126. The estimated daily intake (EDI) for DL-PCBs was ranged from 9.27 × 10-8 to 5.25 × 10-4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight (bw), which was within the tolerable daily intake (TDI) values established by international organizations. The spatial distribution patterns of Σ34PCB concentrations from study area have shown relative higher concentrations in samples from urban and industrial cities than rural areas, and industrial and urban releases along with e-waste handling were recognized as vital PCB sources in the environment. In order to ascertain the transplacental transfer of PCBs, the fetal growth parameters were correlated with the ∑34PCB concentrations in placental tissues. The relationship between ∑34PCB concentrations in placental tissues and infant's anthropometric measures through multiple linear regression showed a negative correlation of infant's body weight (R2 = 0.0728), crown to heel length (R2 = 0.068), head circumference (R2 = 0.0342), chest circumference (R2 = 0.0001), and mid arm circumference (R2 = 0.0096) that noticeably highlights the inhibited fetal anthropometric development associated with maternal PCB bioaccumulation. Hence, an immediate elimination of ongoing PCB addition in the studied area has been emphasized and further investigations are suggested to appropriately manage the public and neonatal health risks in the region.