Aniqa Batool

Evaluation of selected indigenous medicinal plants from the western Himalayas for cytotoxicity and as potential cancer chemopreventive agents

The western Himalayas in the northern areas of Pakistan have significant potential for ethnomedicinal research. In the current study, indigenous informants were interviewed using open-ended questionnaires and a free-listing of knowledge related to native medicinal plants. Information patterns indicated that over 100 local plant species were in frequent medicinal use for a variety of conditions, including inflammation and cancer. Several field surveys were conducted in community forests and meadows, with the aim of exploration, collection, taxonomic identification, and finally, in vitro analysis. Organic extracts of eight species were tested for inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), activation of retinoic acid X receptor alpha (RXR), induction of quinone reductase (QR), and inhibition of aromatase, along with assessment of cytotoxicity with four human cancer cell lines. Mellia azedarach, Ajuga bractiosa, Figonia cretica and Swertia chirata inhibited both tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activated NF-κB activity, whereas Silybum merianum and Rumex dentatus were only active against TNF activation. The lowest IC50 values for inhibition of TPA activated NF-κB activity were 0.41 and 0.44 μg/mL for A. bractiosa and S. chirata, respectively. Extracts from three plant species, A. bractiosa, R. dentatus and R. hastaus, were active in the RXR assay. Results from the QR assay showed five active samples (with induction ratios >2) belonging to four species: A. bractiosa, R. dentatus, S. merianum and S. chirata. Most of the plant extracts were not cytotoxic (IC50 values >20 μg/mL) with HepG2, MCF7, LNCaP and LU cell lines. Only two plants, R. dentatus and R. hastaus, demonstrated moderate cytotoxic responses (IC50 values 5-15 μg/mL) with HepG2, MCF7 or LNCaP cells. None of the plant extracts was found to inhibit aromatase activity. Based on these data, it may be suggested that the plants under investigation contain potential chemopreventive compounds. Additional testing is required. However, the positive responses observed in these bioassays illustrate the high potential of local medicinal plants.

Potential of soil amendments (Biochar and Gypsum) in increasing water use efficiency of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench

Water being an essential component for plant growth and development, its scarcity poses serious threat to crops around the world. Climate changes and global warming are increasing the temperature of earth hence becoming an ultimate cause of water scarcity. It is need of the day to use potential soil amendments that could increase the plants’ resistance under such situations. Biochar and gypsum were used in the present study to improve the water use efficiency (WUE) and growth of Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench (Lady’s Finger). A 6 weeks experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Stress treatments were applied after 30 days of sowing. Plant height, leaf area, photosynthesis, transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance and WUE were determined weekly under stressed [60% field capacity (F.C.)] and non-stressed (100% F.C.) conditions. Stomatal conductance and Tr decreased and reached near to zero in stressed plants. Stressed plants also showed resistance to water stress upto 5 weeks and gradually perished at sixth week. On the other hand, WUE improved in stressed plants containing biochar and gypsum as compared to untreated plants. Biochar alone is a better strategy to promote plant growth and WUE specifically of A. esculentus, compared to its application in combination with gypsum.

A Dialogue on Perspectives of Biochar Applications and Its Environmental Risks

Biochar presents great promise as a technology that makes a substantial contribution in various fields of environmental research. However, existing knowledge is still uneven and limited in terms of its effective utilization and field application. In this review, a comprehensive discussionof biochar technology is presentedwith respect to three main aspects:(1) biochar stability; (2) application in soil for conditioning, remediation, and GHG reduction; and (3) biochar sustainability and its environmental impacts. Biochar is a highly stable and slow-mineralizing product; therefore, its application promotes agricultural productivity by providingan efficient nutrient balance and soil fertility, and by restricting the loss of nutrients due to its surface sorption capacity. Moreover, it contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the soil through carbon sequestration. The high adsorption capacity of biochar aids in removing contaminants from soil, thus assisting in the restoration of contaminated sites.Nevertheless, biochar poses certain negative impacts to the environment as well. A few studies have reported that biochar could release organic and inorganic contaminants such as phenol, PAHs, POPs, dioxins, furans, and heavy metals into the soil, altering the soil productivity and soil biota. In certain circumstances, biochar is also responsible for emission of CO2 from soil due to the priming effect. However, the effect of biochar in soil varies widely depending upon ecological conditions, the pyrolysis process, and the feedstock materials. Overall, this review aims to help in evaluating and addressing the mechanistic understanding of biochar functions in the environment and encouraging awareness of the need forfuture research to counteract its negative environmental consequences.

Drinking water quality, water distribution systems and human health: a microbial evaluation of drinking water sources in salt range

In developing countries, most of the population is exposed to a wide range of enteric pathogens and suffers numerous episodes of gastrointestinal illnesses as a result. Microbiologically contaminated drinking water, unsafe supplies of water for personal hygiene and underprivileged sanitation, are the main contributors to an estimated 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year causing 2.2 million deaths, mostly among infants.1 Waterborne infectious diseases are caused by certain types of microbes present in drinking water, which is related to inadequate water supply, and/or contamination of water sources. The most familiar pathogens found in water are total coliforms, E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Cryptosporidium, Legionella spp., Vibrio cholerae and some viruses like Hepatitis virus.2 By 2001, a total of 1415 species of infectious microbes known to be pathogenic to humans had been identified.3 Diseases like diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and sometimes hepatitis are also referred with water as a medium to cause and spread of such diseases because of their presence in water. Poor sanitation system is considered as a major cause of such diseases.4 The extent of bacterial contamination in drinking water is strongly related to seasonal trends as well as geographical variations.5 The capacity of bacteria to survive and grow at alkaline pH values is of widespread importance in the epidemiology of pathogenic bacteria present in saline waters either used for drinking or any other purpose.6 E. coli when grown in a buffer medium at pH 7.0, E. coli cells exhibit a generation time of 18 minutes, whereas at a pH level of 8.7 the cells exhibit a generation time of 25 minutes.7