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The emergence of medication resistance and unfavorable side effects from existing antibiotics has prompted the quest for novel antimicrobial agents over the last 2 decades. Plant extracts have been shown to have antibacterial effects in numerous studies. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the antibacterial effect of economically important medicinal plants found in Pakistan. Onosma bracteatum (flowers and leaves), Viola odorata (flowers and leaves), Cuscuta reflexa (whole plant), Swertia chirata (whole plant), and Fagonia arabica (whole plant) were used against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Water and ethanol extracts were obtained from different parts of the plants. To evaluate the antibacterial effect of these plants, qualitative assay agar well diffusion method was performed. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by the broth micro dilution method. Results revealed that the highest inhibition zone (18 mm) was shown by ethanol extract of V odorata flower against P aeruginosa. Ethanol extract of C reflexa plants is best for all 3 tested microbes (P aeruginosa, B subtilis, and E coli). The results concluded that all these plants have abilities to fight against these tested bacteria. Ethanol extract of V odorata flower has the highest activity against P aeruginosa.

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Tamarix gallica known as Jhau is traditionally used as expectorant, liver tonic, laxative, astringent, and antidiarrheal. The current study was proposed to determine the in vitro antioxidant, antidiabetic properties of the methanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts of Tamarix gallica arial part, subsequently the phytochemical evaluation. Hence, Tamarix gallica arial part extracts were extracted with methanol (MthTg), ethanol (EthTg), and distilled water (AqTg). Extracts phytochemical analysis were accomplished to identify the phenolic components (TPC and TFC). Extracts antioxidant property was evaluated by DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assay. For antidiabetic property, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were assessed. One Way ANOVA was applied statistically by means of software SPSS Statistics 23 and attained data were definite as mean ± standard deviation. Result revealed that EthTg have the maximum TPC and TFC levels than MthTg and AqTg. Antioxidant property in relations of DPPH (lowest IC50 = 1.309 ± 0.31), FRAP (323.51 ± 2.32), and ABTS (266.97 ± 25.14) assay was also highest in EthTg. EthTg was also exposed highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activity with lower IC50 (1.116 ± 0.051; 0.402 ± 0.2, respectively). The extracts antioxidant and antidiabetic activities order was as EthTg > MthTg > AqTg. TFC and TPC also revealed directly proportional correlation with antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties of the Tamarix gallica arial part extracts. Results noticeably stated that the ethanolic extract of Tamarix gallica have the highest antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. Tamarix gallica has competency to reduce the oxidative stress and can be utilized in the management of diabetes.

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The liver and kidneys are the vital organs of the body and perform important life-sustaining functions in the body. Synthetic drugs used in the treatment of liver and kidney diseases are sometimes inadequate and can lead to serious side effects. Medicinal herbs and plants were used to combat diseases for a long time and combination therapy is preferred over single plant therapy. In the current study, the Asparagus racemosus, Mucuna pruriens, Anacyclus pyrethrum, and Tribulus terrestris polyherbal preparation (PHP) was selected to evaluate its hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-nephrotoxic potential. The methanolic extract of PHP was prepared following standard protocols. Fifty-six albino rats were divided into 7 groups (n = 8). The negative control (NC) having the healthy rats and the remaining 6 groups were induced liver toxicity by intraperitoneally injecting 0.5 mL/kg of 50% CCl4 in olive oil. Group 2 was positive control and group 3 and 4 received silymarin standard drug at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Groups 5, 6, and 7 (PHP-1, PHP-2, PHP-3) were the liver-damaged rats receiving the PHP at a dose of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected at 21 of the trial, to evaluate oxidative stress, hepatoprotective and anti-nephrotoxic potential. Results of liver function tests revealed significant (P < .05) hepatoprotective activities of PHP after intoxication with CCl4 of albino rats as compared to standard groups. Moreover, results of renal functions also showed that PHP has a significant (P < .05) restoring the capacity of blood urea, creatinine, and uric acid in intoxicated rats as compared with the control group. The PHP also reduced the oxidative stress in the treatment groups by increasing the total antioxidant capacity and reducing the total oxidative status. It can be concluded that selected medicinal plants have a potential role in the management of liver and kidney disorders. So, by running the clinical trial on a large scale and by isolating the phytochemical constituents responsible for hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities, locally prepared drugs could be developed to manage liver and renal disorders.

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Picrorhiza kurroa (P.K) usually familiar as kutki is a well-known plant in the Ayurvedic system of medicine due to its reported activities including antidiabetic, antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective. The current research was intended to evaluate the antioxidant, inhibition activity of the ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of P.K roots against α-amylase and α-glucosidase in vitro, after the phytochemical analysis. For this purpose, P.K roots were extracted with ethanol (EthPk), methanol (MthPk), and distilled water (AqPk) and phytochemical study of the extracts were performed to recognize the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). Antioxidant capability of the extracts was assessed by FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH assay. α-amylase inhibitory and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities were also determined. Software SPSS-23 was used to statistically analyze with One Way ANOVA and results were stated as mean standard deviation. Result of the study showed that MthPk contained the maximum concentration of TPC and TFC than EthPk and AqEh. Antioxidants in terms of DPPH (lowest IC50 = .894 ± .57), FRAP (612.54 ± 11.73) and ABTS (406.42 ± 4.02) assay was also maximum in MthPk. MthPk was also showed maximum inhibition activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase with lowest IC50 (.39 ± .41; .61 ± .24), respectively. The extracts α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities order was as MthPk > EthPk> AqPk. Results clearly specified that the methanolic extract of Picrorhiza kurroa have the maximum antioxidant, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. A positive correlation of TPC, TFC with antioxidant, and α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of the P.K roots were also shown. The plant has capability to diminish the oxidative stress and can be used to treat diabetes by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase actions.

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Medicinal plants are gaining popularity over synthetic medicines because antibiotic resistance demands the alternative source of medication. In the present research, the crude protein extraction of 4 medicinal plants Cassia fistula, Saccharum officinarum, Albizia lebbeck and Cymbopogon citrates was carried out. Crude protein extraction was done by 2 different buffers i.e. Tris NaCl buffer and PBS buffer. Protein confirmation was done by Bradford assay in the spectrophotometer. Antibacterial potential was checked and compared against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Neisseria gonorrhoea, Bacillus cereus and Proteus mirabilis. Antibacterial assay was performed by disc diffusion method, agar well method and zones of inhibition were calculated. The study results indicated that Tris NaCl extracts' antimicrobial potential is higher than that of the PBS buffer. On disc diffusion method the Tris NaCl buffer extracts of Cymbopogon citrates showed maximum zone of inhibition 11 mm and 9 mm against Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus respectively and control chloramphenicol showed maximum zone of inhibition 26 mm against Bacillus subtilis. Cassia fistula showed maximum zone of inhibition of 7 mm against Bacillus cereus while Saccharum officinarum and Albizia lebbeck didn't show the any antibacterial activity. On the other hand, Protein extracts from PBS buffer didn't show zone of inhibition against any bacteria. Only Albizia lebbeck showed minute zone of inhibition against Neisseria gonorrhea. On well diffusion method, Cassia fistula Tris NaCl protein extract showed the maximum zone of inhibition 20 mm and 18 mm against Proteus mirabilis and Bacillus subtilis respectively. While Albizia lebbeck PBS protein extract showed the maximum zone of inhibition 19 mm and 17 mm against Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. The results revealed that the protein extract of Albizia lebbeck, Cymbopogon citrates and Cassia fistula can be used tosynthesize antimicrobial drugs to treat the bacterial infections.

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The exogenous application of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is stated to increase tolerance of plants against different environmental stresses. Therefore, the present study was planned to get insight into ASA-mediated regulation of growth, secondary metabolism, and oxidative defense in 2 chickpea varieties. Ten seeds of 2 chickpea varieties (DG-89 and Bittle-98) were sown in plastic pots containing sandy loam soil with 3 drought stress levels, i.e. wet conditions or flooded water (100% FC) as recommended control, 75% FC, 50% FC and 25% FC for chickpea. The moisture contents were maintained and regularly monitored through the addition of normal irrigation water. The design of experimental was completely randomized with 3 replicates per treatment. Penultimate leaves were harvested with knife after 20 days of foliar spray to observe the effect of exogenously applied ASA (100 mg/L) on growth, and key-biochemical attributes of chickpea plants (DG-89 and Bittle-98) under drought stress regimes. Drought stress regimes caused a substantial decline in shoot (37% and 35%) and root length (67% and 78%), shoot (80% and 76%) and root (62% and 68%) fresh masses, shoot (71% and 63%) and root (77% and 74%) dry masses, leaf area per plant (77% and 80%), chlorophyll a (7% and 45%), chlorophyll b (57% and 42%), total chlorophyll (30% and 39%), total carotenoids (76% and 54%), total anthocyanins (38%), reducing sugar (10% and 57%), total soluble proteins (77% and 44%), total flavonoids (61% and 59%) and total phenolics (58% and 31%) contents in both DG-89 and Bittle-98, respectively. A significant increase in MDA (25%), H2O2 contents (100% and 62%), proline (145% and 131%), and ascorbic acid (133% and 203%) contents was documented in stressed plants of both varieties, respectively. Additionally, drought stress significantly improved the activities of POD (154% and 76%), CAT (87% and 45%) and SOD (248% and 143%) in both varieties. Exogenous application of ASA reduced drought-mediated oxidative stress by reducing MDA (53% and 14%), and H2O2 (84% and 56%) contents, proline contents (50% and 17%) and enhanced the shoot (6% and 25%) and root (43% and 33%) dry masses, leaf area (9% and 10%), chlorophyll a (7% and 32%), b (82% and 81%), and carotenoids (53% and 33%) in both barley cultivars. When plants of chickpea was treated with ASA had greater total anthocyanins (26% and 35%), free amino acids (48% and 28%), ascorbic acid contents (135% and 179%), total soluble proteins (34% and 23%), total flavonoids (58% and 35%) and phenolic (50% and 69%)contents besides the POD (41% and 64%), CAT (23% and 56%) and SOD (73% and 72%) enzymes activities. Plants of DG-89 showed more tolerance to drought stress than that of Bittle-98 as a manifest from higher plant biomasses. Thus, our results showed that foliar-applied ASA is an effective strategy that can be used to improve the tolerance of chickpea plants to drought stress.

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Gout is arthritis caused due to Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals deposition occurring particularly in patients with associated comorbidities limiting the use of conventional therapies. This study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of urinile (a herbal drug) for the treatment of gouty arthritis. Allopurinol was used as standard drug (positive control). The study population of 250 volunteers (gouty arthritis patients) were divided into 2 groups as test and control group (n = 125 each). Gouty arthritis patients in test and control group were treated with 300 mg each of urinile and allopurinol, respectively. Clinical symptoms of all the study volunteers were recorded and serum uric acid was determined. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction in serum uric acid level toward normal was found in test group individuals. Clinical symptoms of gouty arthritis patients were also improved in test group compared to control group. Results showed that urinile has the potential to decrease serum uric acid level in gouty arthritis patients probably because of its antioxidant potential and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. It can be concluded that the tested herbal drug urinile is more potent in treating gouty arthritis patients and can be used as an effective alternative to the most commonly used allopathic drugs.

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Rauwolfia serpentina has a wide range of therapeutic effects so this study was planned to explore the antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic therapeutic responses of R serpentina doses using albino rats by measuring the blood pressure, biochemical parameters, and histological architecture of liver and kidney tissues. Thirty albino rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 6) as G1 (normal Control) received normal diet, G2 (positive control) received only 8% NaCl added diet (high salt diet); G3 was given atenolol (standard drug control) 50 mg/kg body weight, G4 and G5 groups were given methanolic plant extract as low dose (100 mg/kg body weight) and high dose (200 mg/Kg body weight) daily along with high salt diet for 4 weeks, respectively. Rauwolfia serpentina significantly (P < .05) decreased the blood pressure in G4 and G5 groups as compared to G2 and G3. Significant (P < .05) impact was reported, on serum lipid profile and serum proteins as well as hepatoprotective and renoprotective potential on studying tissues sections under microscope, in animal groups given herbal extract as compared to control groups. It could be concluded that R serpentina has therapeutic effect to manage the hypertension and hypercholesterolemia most probably via protecting the liver and renal architectures.

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Multidrug resistance has increased globally in the communities. Bacterial infections associated with health care have weakened the existing antimicrobial therapy and demand the search for alternative therapies. In the present investigation, the medicinal plant Pulicaria gnaphalodes from Quetta, Pakistan, has been screened for antimicrobial potential. In vitro antimicrobial efficacy of P gnaphalodes extracts (methanol and ethanol) was quantitatively evaluated on the basis of zone of inhibition against different bacteria and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In vivo, antihypercholesterolemic activity is determined in different rat groups. The results of the study indicated that the ethanol extract of P gnaphalodes showed maximum zone of inhibition for Bacillus subtilis of 12.1 ± 1.1 mm from all others. The methanol extract showed maximum zone of inhibition for Staphylococcus aureus of 11.9 ± 1.0 mm and rifampicin showed maximum zone of inhibition of 23.1 ± 0.9 mm. The results of ethanol and methanol extract of P gnaphalodes against different bacteria revealed that this plant has greater antimicrobial activity. However, the plant extract shows nonsignificant antihypercholesterolemic activity. The extract of this plant can be utilized as medicine to inhibit several infections caused by some bacterial pathogens found in human body.

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Lentinus edodes is a culinary-medicinal mushroom that has an established history of use in Asian therapies. The mushroom offers well-documented beneficial health effects such as antihypercholesterolemic, antitumor, and antibacterial activities. In this study, dried powder of L. edodes fruiting bodies was used to evaluate immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects in hypercholesterolemic rats. Albino rats (n = 24) were divided into 3 groups: the control (CON) group, the hypercholesterolemia-only group (HCG), and the L. edodes group (LEG). Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rats in the HCG and LEG by feeding cholesterol and cholic acid in a chow maintenance diet (CMD) for 24 days. The CON group was fed the CMD throughout the experiment. The HCG continued on the high-cholesterol diet without any L. edodes supplement. The LEG was fed the high-cholesterol diet supplemented with L. edodes for an additional 42 days. Various biological health biomarkers, such as total antioxidant capacity, total oxidant status, arylesterase, paraoxonase activity, and liver enzymes in serum were studied to evaluate antioxidant and hepatoprotective responses. Cell-mediated immunity was evaluated in each group through a delayed type of hypersensitivity reaction. The total oxidant status decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) after administration of L. edodes in the diet. The cell-mediated immune response significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in the LEG. The significant decrease in liver enzymes supports the hepatoprotective effect of L. edodes. In conclusion, the results show the immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities of L. edodes supplementation in hypercholesterolemic rats.

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