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Background Herein, we first time used the gum Moringa oleifera as reducing and capping agent for successful synthesis of silver nitrate and zinc oxide nanoparticles(NPs) through green synthesis approach. This study was aimed to check antibacterial activities of synthesized NPs against multidrug resistant bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods Aqueous solutions of AgNO 3 and purified gum powder were mixed with 1:1 ratio, autoclaved at 120 o C for 2 min. NPs pellet collected after centrifugation at 10,000 g for 20 min. ZnO NPs were prepared by mixing purified gum powder and metal salt with1:1 ratio, heated (70 o C) and stirred at 100 rpm for 4 h followed by centrifugation at 10,000  g for 20 min. Pellet was washed and calcinated at 400 o C for 4 h. Antibacterial potential against E. coli, S. aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was assessed by widely used Kirby-Bauer antibiotic susceptibility test. Results Optical observation of colour change from transparent to dark and UV-Visible analysis confirmed the synthesis of NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of prepared nonmaterial revealed the characteristic AgNPs and ZnO stretch vibrations at wave number of 523 cm − 1 and 471 cm − 1 resectively. Crystalline nature of AgNPs and ZnO NPs was confirmed by x-ray diffraction pattern with clear sharp Peaks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed good surface morphology of AgNPs and ZnO NPs with 50nm and 60nm size respectively. AgNPs and ZnO NPs exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against E. coli (with zone of inhibition of 21 ± 02mm and 22 ± 03mm) and S.aureus ( with zone of inhibition of 20 ± 03mm and 21 ± 02mm) while good activity was observed against “super bug” methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with 16 ± 03mm ad 17 ± 02mm zone if inhibitions respectively. Conclusions This novel addition of Moringa Gum based nanoparticles will open new dimensions in the field of nanomedicine and pharmaceutics especially against MDR bacterial strains.

The world is experiencing a cancer epidemic and an increase in the prevalence of the disease. Cancer remains a major killer, accounting for more than half a million deaths annually. There is a wide range of natural products that have the potential to treat this disease. One of these products is artemisinin; a natural product from Artemisia plant. The Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded in 2015 for the discovery of artemisinin in recognition of the drug’s efficacy. Artemisinin produces highly reactive free radicals by the breakdown of two oxygen atoms that kill cancerous cells. These cells sequester iron and accumulate as much as 1000 times in comparison with normal cells. Generally, chemotherapy is toxic to both cancerous cells and normal cells, while no significant cytotoxicity from artemisinin to normal cells has been found in more than 4000 case studies, which makes it far different than conventional chemotherapy. The pleiotropic response of artemisinin in cancer cells is responsible for growth inhibition by multiple ways including inhibition of angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, disruption of cell migration, and modulation of nuclear receptor responsiveness. It is very encouraging that artemisinin and its derivatives are anticipated to be a novel class of broad-spectrum antitumor agents based on efficacy and safety. This review aims to highlight these achievements and propose potential strategies to develop artemisinin and its derivatives as a new class of cancer therapeutic agents.

Background Lactuca sativa is an edible plant commonly used by local communities to manage diabetes and stomach problems. Methods This work aimed to investigate the anti-oxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic and Anti-Alzheimer effects of hydroponically (HyL) and soil-grown (SoL) Lactuca sativa . Streptozotocin-induced diabetes and AlCl 3 -induced Alzheimer’s disease model was used to evaluate the medicinal effects of Lactuca sativa . Results HyL showed significant activity in lipid peroxidation assay, DPPH and DNA protection assay, while SoL extract showed moderated activity, respectively. A similar activity response was quantified for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition assays. The cytotoxic potential of HyL and SoL extracts against MCF7, and HePG2 cancer cell lines exhibited significant activity. HyL and SoL showed a substantial decrease in blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes-related liver/kidney biomarkers and anti-oxidant enzyme trends moved toward normal after HyL and SoL treatment. In Anti-Alzheimer’s based Morris water and elevated plus maze tests, HyL and SoL displayed memory-enhancing response and anti-anxiety behaviour, respectively. HPLC quantification of dopamine and serotonin revealed a moderate but significant ( p <0.05) increase in the level of these neurotransmitters in HyL and SoL groups. Conclusion Overall, the study revealed that hydroponic Lactuca sativa possesses the therapeutic potential to treat diseases like Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

In the present study, five 4-aminophenol derivatives (4-chloro-2-(((4-hydroxyphenyl)imino)methyl)phenol(S-1), 4-((4-(dimethylamino)benzylidene)amino)phenol(S-2), 4-((3-nitrobenzylidene)amino)phenol(S-3), 4-((thiophen-2-ylmethylene)amino)phenol(S-4) and 4-(((E)-3-phenylallylidene)amino)phenol(S-5)) were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analyses. The synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Saccharomyces cervesea fungus) and antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory) activities. All the compounds showed broad-spectrum activities against the Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 4698), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), Bacillus subtilis sub. sp spizizenii (ATCC 6633), Bordetella bronchiseptica (ATCC 4617) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 9763) strains. The newly synthesized compounds showed a significant inhibition of amylase (93.2%) and glucosidase (73.7%) in a concentration-dependent manner. Interaction studies of Human DNA with the synthesized Schiff bases were also performed. The spectral bands of S-1, S-2, S-3 and S-5 all showed hyperchromism, whereas the spectral band of S-4 showed a hypochromic effect. Moreover, the spectral bands of the S-2, S-3 and S-4 compounds were also found to exhibit a bathochromic shift (red shift). The present studies delineate broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antidiabetic activities of the synthesized compounds. Additionally, DNA interaction studies highlight the potential of synthetic compounds as anticancer agents. The DNA interaction studies, as well as the antidiabetic activities articulated by the molecular docking methods, showed the promising aspects of synthetic compounds.

Bis-acyl-thiourea derivatives, namely N,N’-(((4-nitro-1,2-phenylene)bis(azanediyl)) bis(carbonothioyl))bis(2,4-dichlorobenzamide) (UP-1), N,N’-(((4-nitro-1,2-phenylene) bis(azanediyl))bis(carbonothioyl))diheptanamide (UP-2), and N,N’-(((4-nitro-1,2-phenylene)bis(azanediyl))bis(carbonothioyl))dibutannamide (UP-3), were synthesized in two steps. The structural characterization of the derivatives was carried out by FTIR, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR, and then their DNA binding, anti-urease, and anticancer activities were explored. Both theoretical and experimental results, as obtained by density functional theory, molecular docking, UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence (Flu-)spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and viscometry, pointed towards compounds’ interactions with DNA. However, the values of binding constant (Kb), binding site size (n), and negative Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) (as evaluated by docking, UV-vis, Flu-, and CV) indicated that all the derivatives exhibited binding interactions with the DNA in the order UP-3 > UP-2 > UP-1. The experimental findings from spectral and electrochemical analysis complemented each other and supported the theoretical analysis. The lower diffusion coefficient (Do) values, as obtained from CV responses of each compound after DNA addition at various scan rates, further confirmed the formation of a bulky compound–DNA complex that caused slow diffusion. The mixed binding mode of interaction as seen in docking was further verified by changes in DNA viscosity with varying compound concentrations. All compounds showed strong anti-urease activity, whereas UP-1 was found to have comparatively better inhibitory efficiency, with an IC50 value of 1.55 ± 0.0288 µM. The dose-dependent cytotoxicity of the synthesized derivatives against glioblastoma MG-U87 cells (a human brain cancer cell line) followed by HEK-293 cells (a normal human embryonic kidney cell line) indicated that UP-1 and UP-3 have greater cytotoxicity against both cancerous and healthy cell lines at 400 µM. However, dose-dependent responses of UP-2 showed cytotoxicity against cancerous cells, while it showed no cytotoxicity on the healthy cell line at a low concentration range of 40–120 µM.

Berberis lycium is an indigenous plant of Pakistan that is known for its medicinal properties. In the current study, we investigated the anti-Alzheimer's effect of berberine isolated from Berberis lycium. Root extract of B. lycium was subjected to acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay and column chromatography for bioassays guided isolation of a compound. The neuroprotective and memory improving effects of isolated compound were evaluated by aluminium chloride induced Alzheimer's disease rat model, elevated plus maze (EPM) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests., Levels of dopamine and serotonin in rats brains were determined using HPLC. Moreover, western blot and docking were performed to determine interaction between berberine and [beta]-secretase. During fractionation, ethyl acetate and methanol (3:7) fraction was collected from solvent mixture of ethyl acetate and methanol. This fraction showed the highest anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and was alkaloid positive. The results of TLC and HPLC analysis indicated the presence of the isolated compound as berberine. Additionally, the confirmation of isolated compound as berberine was carried out using FTIR and NMR analysis. In vivo EPM and MWM tests showed improved memory patterns after berberine treatment in Alzheimer's disease model. The levels of dopamine, serotonin and activity of antioxidant enzymes were significantly (p<0.05) enhanced in brain tissue homogenates of berberine treated group. This was supported by decreased expression of [beta]-secretase in berberine treated rat brain homogenates and good binding affinity of berberine with [beta]-secretase in docking studies. Binding energies for interaction of [beta]-secretase with berberine and drug Rivastigmine is -7.0 kcal/mol and -5.8 kcal/mol respectively representing the strong interactions. The results of docked complex of secretase with berberine and Rivastigmine was carried out using Gromacs which showed significant stability of complex in terms of RMSD and radius of gyration. Overall, the study presents berberine as a potential drug against Alzheimer's disease by providing evidence of its effects in improving memory, neurotransmitter levels and reducing [beta]-secretase expression in the Alzheimer's disease model.

Fungal pathogens are one of the major reasons for biotic stress on rice ( Oryza sativa L.), causing severe productivity losses every year. Breeding for host resistance is a mainstay of rice disease management, but conventional development of commercial resistant varieties is often slow. In contrast, the development of disease resistance by targeted genome manipulation has the potential to deliver resistant varieties more rapidly. The present study reports the first cloning of a synthetic maize chitinase 1 gene and its insertion in rice cv. (Basmati 385) via Agrobacterium -mediated transformation to confer resistance to the rice blast pathogen, Pyricularia oryzae . Several factors for transformation were optimized; we found that 4-week-old calli and an infection time of 15 minutes with Agrobacterium before colonization on co-cultivation media were the best-suited conditions. Moreover, 300 μM of acetosyringone in co-cultivation media for two days was exceptional in achieving the highest callus transformation frequency. Transgenic lines were analyzed using molecular and functional techniques. Successful integration of the gene into rice lines was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction with primer sets specific to chitinase and hpt genes. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis of transformants indicated a strong association between transgene expression and elevated levels of resistance to rice blast. Functional validation of the integrated gene was performed by a detached leaf bioassay, which validated the efficacy of chitinase-mediated resistance in all transgenic Basmati 385 plants with variable levels of enhanced resistance against the P . oryzae . We concluded that overexpression of the maize chitinase 1 gene in Basmati 385 improved resistance against the pathogen. These findings will add new options to resistant germplasm resources for disease resistance breeding. The maize chitinase 1 gene demonstrated potential for genetic improvement of rice varieties against biotic stresses in future transformation programs.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is associated with addiction, emotional dysregulation, motor impairments, cognitive deficits, and depressive symptoms, which are exacerbated by stress and social isolation. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of combined treatment and environmental enrichment in METH withdrawn mice. Behavioral, biochemical and neurochemical outcomes were evaluated. Post-treatment results demonstrated: motor and exploratory behavior via OFT (open field test) mobility increased to from 32.37 meters (withdrawal group) to 59.52 meters, anxiety reduction indicated in EPM (elevated plus maze test) open arm rose from 33.2 to 74.2 sec, while cognitive improvement by MWM (morris water maze test) escape latency decreased from 225.4 to 127.4 sec in hidden platform trial. Moreover, memory and exploration activity were determined by NOR (novel object recognition test) and HBT (hole board test) which showed enhanced novel object exploration (16.4 vs 5 sec) and exploratory behavior (17.6 explored areas vs 8.6). Social interaction time increased to 41.64 sec, and light-dark compartment preference improved to 68.4%. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated antioxidants enzymes activity POD (peroxidase) (0.178 U/min) SOD (superoxide dismutase) (0.82 U/mg protein) and CAT (catalase) (3.6 U/min) indicating improved oxidative stress resilience. Neurotransmitters restoration was observed with serotonin (0.21 µg/mg) and dopamine (0.46 µg/mg) levels rebounding from negligible withdrawn group. These findings demonstrate that combined treatment and enriched environment robustly accelerate functional recovery in METH-withdrawn mice, suggesting a promising strategy for mitigating addiction-related deficits.

Honey is prized for its nutritional and healing properties, but its quality can be affected by contamination with toxic elements. This study evaluates the nutritional value and health risks of fifteen honey samples from different agro-climatic regions of Pakistan. Physicochemical properties such as color, pH, electrical conductivity, moisture, ash, and solids content were within acceptable ranges. ICP-OES analysis was used to assess six essential minerals and ten toxic metals. Except for slightly elevated boron levels (up to 0.18 mg/kg), all elements were within safe limits, with potassium reaching up to 1018 mg/kg. Human health risk assessments—including Average Daily Dose of Ingestion, Total Hazard Quotient, and Carcinogenic Risk—indicated no carcinogenic threats for adults or children, despite some elevated metal levels. Antioxidant activity, measured through total phenolic content (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging assays, showed that darker honeys had stronger antioxidant properties. While the overall quality of honey samples was satisfactory, significant variations (p ≤ 0.05) were observed across different regions. These differences are attributed to diverse agro-climatic conditions and production sources. The findings highlight the need for continued monitoring to ensure honey safety and nutritional quality.

Phoenix dactylifera is known for medicinal importance due to its antioxidant, antidiabetic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of P. dactylifera seeds to cure Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD was induced in the rats with streptozotocin + aluminium chloride followed by treatment of methanolic extract of P. dactylifera seeds. The blood glucose levels were determined at regular intervals, which showed a prominent decrease in the extracts treated group. Behavior tests, including the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) test and Morris Water Maze (MWM) test, were used to evaluate memory patterns in rats. The results indicated that extract-treated rats significantly improved memory behavior compared to the diseased group. After dissection, the serum electrolytes, antioxidant enzymes, and choline esterase enzymes were measured in different organs. The serum parameters creatinine, urea, and bilirubin increased after extract treatment. Similarly, the level of antioxidant enzymes like peroxidases (POD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in the extract-treated group showed improved results that were close to the normal control group. The enzyme (lipase, insulin, amylase, and acetylcholine) levels were found enhanced in extract groups as compared to diseased rats. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the level of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitters, which were increased significantly for P. dactylifera seeds with values of 0.18 μg/mg tissue and 0.56 μg/mg tissue, respectively. Overall, results showed that P. dactylifera seeds proved to be quite efficient in improving the memory and behavior of treated rats. The antioxidants and enzymes were also increased; therefore, it may be a potential candidate for treating AD.