Sidra Sabir

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Revolutionizing Agriculture: Synthesis and Applications

Nanotechnology is the most innovative field of 21st century. Extensive research is going on for commercializing nanoproducts throughout the world. Due to their unique properties, nanoparticles have gained considerable importance compared to bulk counterparts. Among other metal nanoparticles, zinc oxide nanoparticles are very much important due to their utilization in gas sensors, biosensors, cosmetics, drug-delivery systems, and so forth. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) also have remarkable optical, physical, and antimicrobial properties and therefore have great potential to enhance agriculture. As far as method of formation is concerned, ZnO NPs can be synthesized by several chemical methods such as precipitation method, vapor transport method, and hydrothermal process. The biogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs by using different plant extracts is also common nowadays. This green synthesis is quite safe and ecofriendly compared to chemical synthesis. This paper elaborates the synthesis, properties, and applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

A review of therapeutic potential of Saussurea lappa-An endangered plant from Himalaya.

There are 300 known Saussurea species. Among them, Saussurea lappa (S. lappa) is a representative perennial herb, globally distributed across Himalaya region. S. lappa has been traditionally used in medicines without obvious adverse effects. Despite significant progress in phytochemical and biological analyses of S. lappa over the past few years, inclusive and critical reviews of this plant are anachronistic or quite limited in scope. The present review aims to summarize up-to-date information on the active constituents, pharmacology, traditional uses, trade and challenges in conservation and sustainable use of S. lappa from the literature. In addition to botanical studies and records of the traditional use of S. lappa in over 43 diseases, scientific studies investigating the latent medicinal uses of this species and its constituent phytochemicals for a range of disorders are presented and discussed. The structure, bioactivity, and likely mechanisms of action of S. lappa and its phytochemicals are highlighted. Although some progress has been made, further scrupulous efforts are required to investigate the individual compounds isolated from S. lappa to validate and understand its traditional uses and develop clinical applications. The present review offers preliminary information and gives direction for further basic and clinical research into this plant.

Nano particles: An emerging tool in biomedicine

Abstract Nanotechnology is an emerging scientific discipline with numerous applications in the field of biomedicine and manufacturing new materials. They hold potential to be applied in different biological fields and most strictly focused in medical applications, e.g., tools for noninvasive imaging, diagnostic test assays for early disease detection, drug development and targeted drug delivery systems to reduce secondary systemic negative effects. Nanoparticles have contributed a lot to the advancement of the medical arena. To extract gold nanoparticles with different techniques, green biosynthesis is under exploration due to its cost-effective, eco-friendly preparations with controllable shape, size and disparity, great physical and chemical inertness, optical properties related with surface plasmon resonance, surface modification, surface bio-conjugation with molecular probes, excellent biocompatibility and less toxicity. A significant potential of nanoparticles in biomedical applications including imaging of tissues and cells, sensing of target molecules, drug delivery is among recent efforts in their synthesis and functionalization e.g., Feridex (iron oxide nanoparticles) have been clinically administered as a contrast agent in MRI.

A probe into biochemical potential of Aconitum violaceum: A medicinal plant from Himalaya

Abstract Aconitum violaceum Jacq. ex Stapf belonging to family Ranunculaceae is an important medicinal plant of Himalaya regions. Its medicinal potential is due to the presence of pharmacologically active compounds such as At, aconitine, benzoic acid, aconine and flavanoids. This plant has notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Traditionally, this plant is used for the treatment of asthma, cough, neuraldisorders, cardiac diseases as well as for curing sciatica and joint pain. Due to remarkable medicinal values and commercialization, this plant is threatened and it is at high risk of extinction. Conservation practices and management techniques should be carried out to protect this important plant from extinction. Recent biotechnological approaches will be quite helpful for its conservation.

Pharmacological aptitude and profiling of active constituent from Otostegia limbata-Comprehensive review

Abstract The plants provide medicinally valuable substances since ancient time and are the cheapest, oldest, as well as imperative source of pharmacologically active chemical compounds used for the treatment of several diseases. Medicinally, Otostegia limbata (O. limbata) is very imperative species of genus Otostegia which are extensively utilized by traditional practitioners against several ailments and its chemical constituents possess antispasmodic, antiulcer, antidepressant, sedative, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory for eyes inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidant, haemagglutination activity, cholinesterase inhibition for Alzheimers treatment, antitussive potential, anti-aphids and larvicidal potential aptitude. The pharmacological impact of O. limbata and their diverse biological activities along with its active constituent are complied in this review. This species provide rich variety of biologically active secondary metabolites. Quite large number of active compounds isolated from O. limbata is the evidence to have considerable potential making them competent candidate for critically required novel drugs.

Pharmacognostic and clinical aspects of Cydonia oblonga: A review

Cydonia oblonga Miller (C. oblonga) is considered as an important medicinal plant throughout the world. It is native to Mediterranean region and Central Asia having a long term history of medicinal and ethnobotanical use. C. oblonga is well known for its antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiallergic, antihemolytic, aphrodisiac and UV protectant activity. It is a good and low cost natural source of metabolites with interesting biological properties. Extensive research has been performed on the metabolic profile and biological potential of this species. In particular, quince leaves reveal to constitute a promising natural source of bioactive phytochemicals and are suitable for application in nutritional/pharmaceutical fields. Mostly it is grown for fruit and also serves as rootstock for pear. This paper gives an overview of scientific literature available on plant C. oblonga.