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Morchella is highly prized for its distinct and delicious taste, making it one of the most sought-after and valuable macrofungi. Despite Pakistan exporting morels to various European countries, Morchella's diversity in this South Asian country has not been cataloged using multilocus DNA sequence data. Realizing the need for their scientific identity, various collections were commissioned, including those from the low and high altitudinal zones of the Charsadda, Swat, and Poonch districts of Pakistan during autumn of 2015 through 2019. Specimens were identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and portions of the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) loci. Multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed the autumnal collections were Morchella galilaea Masaphy & Clowez. The species was previously documented in the United States, China, Israel, and Turkey. A detailed taxonomic description, light and scanning electron microscopy, and multigene molecular phylogenetic analyses of the species are reported here for the first time from Pakistan. The study underscores the necessity for further surveys of unexplored areas of Pakistan and systematics of Morchella to augment species diversity and their geographic distribution. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Specimens of Morchella were collected from low and high altitudinal zones in Pakistan during the autumn. Specimens were assessed using multigene (ITS, RPB1, RPB2, and TEF1) molecular phylogenetic analyses for the first time in Pakistan. The specimens were identified as Morchella galilaea based on multigene molecular phylogenetic analysis. Updated taxonomic descriptions of macro- and microanatomical characters were provided for clarity and precision. Hitherto-unreported shapes of paraphyses and acroparaphyses are observed and thoroughly reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of an ascospore is provided.

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Metallic nanoparticles have received a significant amount of reflection over a period of time, attributed to their electronic, specific surface area, and surface atom properties. The biogenic synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) is demonstrated in this study. The green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) is acquiring considerable attention due to its environmental and economic superiorities over other methods. Leptolyngbya sp. L-2 extract was employed as a reducing agent, and iron chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) was used as a substrate for the biogenic synthesis of FeONPs. Different spectral methods were used for the characterization of the biosynthesized FeONPs, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy gave a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of FeONPs at 300 nm; Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis was conducted to identify the functional groups responsible for both the stability and synthesis of FeONPs. The morphology of the FeONPs was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which shows a nearly spherical shape, and an X-ray diffraction (XRD) study demonstrated their crystalline nature with a calculated crystallinity size of 23 nm. The zeta potential (ZP) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of FeONPs revealed values of -8.50 mV, suggesting appropriate physical stability. Comprehensive in-vitro pharmacogenetic properties revealed that FeONPs have significant therapeutic potential. FeONPs have been reported to have potential antibacterial and antifungal properties. Dose-dependent cytotoxic activity was shown against Leishmania tropica promastigotes (IC50: 10.73 µg/mL) and amastigotes (IC50: 16.98 µg/mL) using various concentrations of FeONPs. The cytotoxic potential was also investigated using brine shrimps, and their IC50 value was determined to be 34.19 µg/mL. FeONPs showed significant antioxidant results (DPPH: 54.7%, TRP: 49.2%, TAC: 44.5%), protein kinase (IC50: 96.23 µg/mL), and alpha amylase (IC50: 3745 µg/mL). The biosafety of FeONPs was validated by biocompatibility tests using macrophages (IC50: 918.1 µg/mL) and red blood cells (IC50: 2921 µg/mL). In conclusion, biogenic FeONPs have shown potential biomedical properties and should be the focus of more studies to increase their nano-pharmacological significance for biological applications.

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This study evaluates macro-nutrient (MN) and prevailing heavy metal (HM) concentrations in wild edible morels (WEM) species viz., Morchella crassipes, Morchella pulchella, and Morchella eohespera and the associated soil that were collected from different altitudinal zones (Azad Kashmir, Murree, Swat, and Skardu) of Pakistan. A special emphasis on potential health risk analysis for HM in WEM consumption was also explored. In general, MN concentration in fruiting bodies and their associated soil samples were in the following order: potassium (K) > magnesium (Mg) > calcium (Ca) > sodium (Na) and Ca > Mg > K > Na, respectively. The concentration for HM in WEM ranged between 20.0 and 78.0 mg/kg, 1.09 and 22.1 mg/kg, 2.1 and 22.1 mg/kg, 0.26 and 13.1 mg/kg, 0.43 and 9.1 mg/kg, 1.07 and 7.0 mg/kg, 1.01 and 5.4 mg/kg, and BDL and 3.1 mg/kg for zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), respectively, and those in underlying soil samples, lowest and highest HM concentration were recorded for Zn (33.7-113.6 mg/kg), Cu (13.0-40.8 mg/kg), Ni (3.1-23.0 mg/kg), Pb (1.3-22.0 mg/kg), Co (2.9-5.6 mg/kg), Cr (2.7-11.1 mg/kg), Mn (2.0-7.1 mg/kg), and Cd (1.1 mg/kg 7.6). Although, Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in some of the WEM samples and Cd in the soil had exceeded the permissible limits set by different organizations. The greater accumulation/or transfer potential for Zn, Co, Ni, and Cu were recorded in WEM from their associated soil. The health risk index (HRI) for HM in all assessed samples of WEM was < 1, predicting no risk to the consuming population. Furthermore, the correlation analyses depicted that the power of hydrogen (pH), low organic matter contents, and sandy texture are likely to be responsible for HM transfer to the lower pool of soil. But the increasing concentration of HM in WEM warrants threats and suggests further monitoring and future policy plan and implementation to avoid the potential health risks via its regular consumption.

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Vegetation structures and dynamics are the result of interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem. The present study was designed to investigate vegetation structure and species diversity along various environmental variables in the Yakhtangay Hills of the Hindu-Himalayan Mountain Pakistan, by using multivariate statistical analysis. Quadrat quantitative method was used for the sampling of vegetation. PC-ORD version 5 software was used to classify the vegetation into different plants communities using cluster analysis. The results of regression analysis among various edaphic variables shows that soil organic matter, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, CaCO3 and moisture contents shows a significant positive correlation with species abundance, while the soil pH has inverse relationship with plant species abundance. Similarly, species richness increases with increase in soil organic matter, CaCO3 and moisture contents, while decrease with increase in soil pH, total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity (p < 0.05). The vegetation was classified into four major plant communities and their respective indicators were identified using indicator species analysis. Indicator species analysis reflects the indicators of the study area are mostly the indicators to the Himalayan or moist temperate ecosystem. These indicators could be considered for micro-habitat conservation and respective ecosystem management plans not only in the study area but also in other region with similar sort of environmental conditions.

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The Cobalt Oxide and Calcium-Aluminum Oxide nano-catalysts were analyzed using Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. Preliminary results showed that the particles of Cobalt Oxide exhibit sponge like morphology and homogenous distribution as per confirmation via SEM. Its average particle size ranges to 30.6 nm demonstrating enormous number of pores and aggregative in nature. Its various peaks were ranging from 19.2 to 65.4 after XRD analysis. The highest intensity was observed at 36.9 position. The energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques were used to calculate the elements present in sample according to their weight and atomic percentage. The cobalt oxide contain cobalt as the most abundant element with 46.85 wt% and 18.01 atomic percent. It contain oxygen with 30.51 wt% and 43.19 atomic percent. Whereas, SEM of calcium aluminum oxide showed random morphology. According to the calculation of Scherrer equation regarding XRD analysis, it was distributed homogenously with particle size ranges from 30 to 40 nm. Its porous morphology was due to the interconnecting gaps between different particles. It result the eight peaks ranging from 18.1 to 62.7 in XRD spectrum. The highest intensity observed at 35.1 with average crystallite particle size of 25.6 nm. The calcium aluminum oxide contain aluminum 7.45 wt% and 6.93 atomic percent. The calcium was the most abundant element with54.7 wt% and 34.24 atomic percent followed by oxygen with 37.26 wt% and 58.42 atomic percent. It was concluded that the SEM, XRD, and EDX are the most significant techniques to characterize nano-catalysts in particular and other compounds generally.

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A combination of micromorphology and phylogenetic analysis based on translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) revealed these specimens as Helvella bachu, the first record of this species in Pakistan after China. Moreover, the material was evaluated for antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Four strains of bacteria, i.e., Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella aerogenes, K. pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus were used for antibacterial activity following Soxhlet extraction. The maximum zone of inhibition of methanolic extract of H. bachu at 30 mg/mL against B. .subtilis was 31.9 ± 1.735 mm, followed by K. aerogenes (29.33 ± 2.19 mm), K. pneumoniae (27.08 ± 4.6 mm), and S. aureus (24 ± 1.53 mm), respectively. The methanolic extract, in free radical scavenging assay, of H. bachu has shown antioxidant potential with an IC50 value of 0.4047 µg/mL while that of ascorbic acid was 0.374 µg/mL. Hence, H. bachu can serve as a source of mushroom-based nutraceuticals.

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Skin cancer is a life threatening disease and their prevalence and risk has been increasing over the past three decades causing significant loss to human health worldwide. Mostly skin cancer has developed resistance against chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, development of novel, cost effective and efficient treatment methods are needed. Phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants and dietary sources are often biologically active and has attracted the attention of researchers and pharmaceutical industries around the world. Many in vitro and in vivo studies of these bioactive compounds have shown potential antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects in the fight against skin cancer. These phytochemicals also regulate several other molecular processes such as angiogenesis, metastasis and cell cycle to combat skin cancer. The present review provides perspectives on the key phytochemicals, their therapeutic potentials, bioavailability and molecular mechanism of action in the cancer therapeutics. Current challenges and future directions for research are also critically discussed.

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Cancer is a devastating disease and remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in both developed and developing countries. Although there are large number of drugs that can be used for the treatment of cancer, the problem is selective and specific killing of cancerous cells without harming the normal cells. There are some biological barriers to potential drug delivery in cancer cells like hepatic, renal, abnormal vasculature, dense extracellular matrix, and high interstitial fluid pressure. The physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles (NPs) such as size, shape, and surface charge may also have significant effects on tumor penetration. NPs coated with drug can be used to overcome these biological barriers to enhance targeted delivery. This literature survey encompasses the biological barriers to potential drug delivery in cancer cells, elaborate on designing strategies to enhance NPs penetration and distribution inside the tumor interstitium. Scientists are now doing great efforts to design next-generation of nanomedicines (NMs) that need to be better targeted with high specificity and efficacy to kill cancer cells. These challenges need to be overcome through collaborations among academia, pharmaceutical industries, and regulatory agencies to eradicate this global menace. Furthermore, this review article has critically discussed the recent developments, controversies, challenges, emerging concepts, and future perspectives in cancer NMs.

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Breast cancer [BC] is the deadliest neoplasm in women globally and the second leading cause of cancer associated deaths. Current treatment methods include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy and surgery. However, BC has shown resistance to these therapies and are often associated with side effects, multidrug resistance, recurrence are the major issues in BC treatment. Currently, dietary phytocompounds have emerged as beneficial agents for the prevention and treatment of cancer because of their safe and cost effective nature. Ursolic acid [UA] is widely spread in fruits and vegetables having the ability to inhibit BC proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis, arrest cell cycle, induced apoptosis, scavenge free radicals and regulate several anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. UA has also shown potential anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in several human BC cells. This review paper encompasses the role of UA against BC and their mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo studies.

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AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge on medicinal flora from the local communities residing near Swat River and high mountainous areas in Swat, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Field study was carried out in 2013-14. The area was visited 17 times, and semi-structured and open-ended interviews were conducted in both the plain area nearby the Swat River (4 villages) and mountains (7 villages). A total of 83 erudite informants participated in the interviews with their prior consent. The collected data were analysed through quantitative indices viz., medicinal use value (MUV), relative frequency citation (RFC), family use value (FUV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL). RESULTS: A total of 78 species belonging to 45 vascular plant families were documented as medicinally important. Lamiaceae was observed the dominant medicinal plant family with 11 species, leaf was the most used part, and powder the most preferred preparation type. Maximum MUV (1) was shared by 15 species while maximum RFC (0.385) was demonstrated by both Brassica juncea and Lepidium sativum. Smaller families with mostly 1 species showed higher FUV while among the larger families Amaryllidaceae and Papaveraceae showed maximum FUV of 0.89 and 0.87, respectively. Highest FL was shown by Mentha arvensis (70%) against gastrointestinal diseases. Highest ICF was demonstrated by hepatic disorders (0.93). Furthermore, we revealed 108 indigenous herbal medicinal recipes, 6 plants added to the medicinal plant trade list, 1 species (Vincetoxicum arnottianum) reported for the first time as medicinal plant, and several new uses for 49 well known medicinal plants. CONCLUSION: The present survey documents diverse plant species that are utilised by local communities for treating a broad spectrum of disorders. Quantitative indices helped in marking important and most preferred plants. To conclude, we recommend the plants for pharmacological studies, documenting new uses, especially Vincetoxicum arnottianum, never screened before.

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A young girl presented with fits vomiting and epigastric pain. Investigations including CT-Scan brain, MRI brain, MRV brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination were normal. Her urine was screened for porphobilinogen which was positive. She responded to intravenous dextrose and hypercaloric diet

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