Ali Rehman

Comparative Study of Heavy Metals in Soil and Selected Medicinal Plants

Essential and nonessential heavy metals like iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) were analyzed in four selected medicinal plants such as Capparis spinosa, Peganum harmala, Rhazya stricta, and Tamarix articulata by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). These medicinal plants are extensively used as traditional medicine for treatment of various ailments by local physicians in the area from where these plants were collected. The concentration level of heavy metals in the selected plants was found in the decreasing order as Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Cd > Pb. The results revealed that the selected medicinal plants accumulate these elements at different concentrations. Monitoring such medicinal plants for heavy metals concentration is of great importance for physicians, health planners, health care professionals, and policymakers in protecting the public from the adverse effects of these heavy metals.

Therapeutic modalities to combat leishmaniasis, a review

Abstract Leishmaniasis is an emerging dermal disorder that causes high morbidity and mortality levels with a wide spectrum of clinical complications. Current situation of chemotherapeutic options with some attempts at immunotherapy has remained a dilemma for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Primary precautionary measure which relies on the managed control of the host and sandfly bite prevention is difficult to establish, as the transmission of the disease is manifested by various Leishmania species. Secondary and tertiary prevention is dependent on the medical assistance using clinical guidelines and adequate therapy. However, long course of duration and resistant nature of drugs with pronounced side effects often lead to reduction or cessation of treatment. The aim of this article is to view the current status of chemotherapeutic agents used against leishmaniasis; a review of natural plant extracts exhibiting antileishmanial activities in vitro or in vivo alone or in combination with recommended drugs seeming to validate their use in folk medicine, topical applications of ointments currently used to develop new compounds under trial, substantial efforts in vaccine development and insights about immunoregulation along with the recommendations and guidelines for future perspectives.

Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Insecticidal Potentials of Oxalis corniculata and Its Isolated Compounds

Oxalis corniculata is a common medicinal plant widely used against numerous infectious diseases. The agrochemical potential of methanolic extract, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions were assessed to measure the antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities of the plant. The crude, chloroform, and n-butanol soluble fractions showed excellent activities against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, and Bacillus subtilis but have no activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Similarly the crude, n-hexane, and chloroform fractions were also found to have significant activity against fungal strains including Fusarium solani, Aspergillus flexneri, and Aspergillus flavus and have no activity against Aspergillus niger. Chemical pesticides have shown very good results at the beginning, but with the passage of time the need was realized to use the natural plant sources for the safe control of insects. The current study will provide minor contribution towards it. High mortality rate was recorded for the crude extract and chloroform fraction against Tribolium castaneum. The two isolated compounds 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (1) and 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-6,8-dimethoxyflavone (2) were evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal activities. The results showed that compound 2 was more active than compound 1 against the tested bacterial strains and insects.

The Effect of Extract/Fractions of Caralluma tuberculata on Blood Glucose Levels and Body Weight in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rabbits.

Caralluma tuberculata is a cooked food item in Pakistan especially for diabetics. The current study was designed to explore the antidiabetic potential of extract/fractions of Caralluma tuberculata in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits and its effect on body weight. The crude extract of the plant provoked 24% and 44% antidiabetic action at 25 and 50 mg/kg OP, respectively, after the 24th day of treatment, which was strongly supported by a positive effect on the body weight of animals. On fractionation, pretreatment of the ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated most dominant (25.17% and 34.83%) antidiabetic activity followed by n-hexane (19.33% and 32.76%) and aqueous fractions (16.44% and 22.36%) at 25 and 50 mg/kg OP, respectively, after the 24th day of treatment. The corresponding effect on blood glucose was also observed on body weight of diabetic rabbits. In sum, extract/fractions of the plant showed marked antidiabetic action and thus a provided scientific foundation to the use of the plant as an antidiabetic.

Antibacterial and antifungal study of Cichorium intybus

Abstract Objective To elucidate the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Cichorium intybus (C. intybus) . Methods The antibacterial and antifungal activities of C. intybus crude extract and its different solvent soluble fractions were carried out by using standard methods. Six bacterial strains like Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis were used for antibacterial activities while four fungal strains like Aspergillus flavus, Fusariun solani, Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger were subjected to various fractions for antifungal activities. Results Potentail activities of C. intybus were measured against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Water and ethyl acetate fractions showed promising activity against Fusariun solani and Aspergillus niger . Likewise, chloroform fraction was also found highly active against Fusariun solani . Conclusions The findings suggest that the plant has good antibacterial and antifungal properties and can be used for infection control and treatment. Therefeore, it is recommended that C. intybus is an significant medicinal plant and can be very useful for further biological assays.