Phyto-fabrication, purification, characterisation, optimisation, and biological competence of nano-silver.

Published studies indicate that virtually any kind of botanical material can be exploited to make biocompatible, safe, and cost-effective silver nanoparticles. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that plants possess active bio-ingredients that function as powerful reducing and coating agents for Ag+. In this respect, a phytomediation method provides favourable monodisperse, crystalline, and spherical particles that can be easily purified by ultra-centrifugation.

Protective role of Monotheca buxifolia and Bosea amherstiana against H2O2 -induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes and its effect on oxidative enzymes.

Experimental based evidence suggests that most of the medicinal plants possess a wide-ranging pharmacological and biological activity that may possibly protect tissues against O-induced damages. The objectives of the current study are: first, to investigate the effects of Monotheca buxifolia and Bosea amherstiana on HO induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes and second, to determine its effect on oxidative enzymes. Cells were treated at concentration of 100μg/mL with both plants.

Anti-tuberculous, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities of secondary metabolites obtained from aspergillus and penicillium species isolated from soil.

Objective: To identify biological activities of secondary metabolites obtained from penicillium and aspergillus species..

Methods: The experimental study was conducted from December 2014 to November 2015 and comprised aspergillus and penicillium species that were isolated from the top soil of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, and Mian Rashid Hussain Shaheed Memorial Hospital, Pabbi, both in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.

Investigation of Staphylococcus aureus, prevailing in the environment of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.

The hospital environment plays an important role in the spread of microorganisms, including multi drug resistant (MDR) strains. Patients can acquire Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which can reside in the clinical setup that are not cleaned and can spread through air droplets, bed clothing, and healthcare workers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of S.

Mutation analysis for detection of drug resistance in mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Objective: To examine the frequency and distribution of mutations in the 'hot spot regions' of drug-resistant genes.

Methods: The study was conducted at Provincial Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Peshawar, Pakistan, from April 2015 to March 2016, and comprised sputum samples. Isolates were tested for drug susceptibility and resistant isolates were investigated for mutations analysis in the 'hot spot regions' of rpoB, rpsL, embB, pncA, gyrA and gyrB genes.

Hospital-visiting pregnant women signal an increased spread of hepatitis C infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.

Background: Seroprevalence of hepatitis C in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan was determined by screening blood samples of expectant mothers seeking antenatal care in gynecological units of district hospitals. The rationale behind this cohort study was that the availability of free-of-cost antenatal care in district hospitals brings expectant mothers from a broader geographical range in each district and thus provides a large sample-size of healthy pregnant women of known medical history for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) surveillance. The study was carried out along a south west to north east transact of five districts, Kohat-Peshawar-Nowshera-Charsadda-Mardan, with the central district Peshawar and outer districts Kohat and Mardan bordering northern mountainous ranges of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Molecular characterisation of isoniazid resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Objective: To investigate the frequency of mutations in catalase-peroxidase and inhibin alpha genes in clinical isolates of isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains.

Methods: The study was conducted at Provincial Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Peshawar, Pakistan, from April 2015 to March 2016, and comprised sputum specimens obtained from patients of different ages. All the isolates were analysed for isoniazid resistance.

Isolation of Chlorogenic Acid from Soil Borne Fungi Screlotium rolfsii, their Reversal of Multidrug Resistance and Anti-proliferative in Mouse Lymphoma Cells.

Background: Fungi performing a wide range of function in soil by secreting low molecular weight compound known as secondary metabolites. S. rolfsii is a soil borne phytopathogenic fungi was used for the production of bioactive compounds.

Antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Vitex agnus castus and Myrsine africana against clinical isolates of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a nosocomial pathogen that resides in the soft tissues causing many diseases. The current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in ear discharge and pus of patients and antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract (Cr.

Phytofabricated gold nanoparticles and their biomedical applications.

In a couple of decades, nanotechnology has become a trending technology owing to its integrated science collection that incorporates variety of fields such as chemistry, physics, medicine, catalytic processes, food processing industries, electronics and energy sectors. One of the emerging fields of nanotechnology that has gained momentous admiration is nano-biotechnology. Nano-biotechnology is an integrated combination of biology with nanotechnology that encompasses the tailoring, and synthesis of small particles that are less than 100nm in size and subsequent exploitation of these particles for their biological applications.

Corrigendum: Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Sesquiterpene Coumarins from Bioss: A New Anticancer Agent.

[This corrects the article on p. 26 in vol. 7, PMID: 26909039.

Green synthesis, characterisation and biological evaluation of AgNPs using Agave americana, Mentha spicata and Mangifera indica aqueous leaves extract.

The current study was performed to synthesize stable, eco-friendly and bio-compatible silver nano-particles (AgNPs) of , and leaves and to screen them for biological activities. The ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic analysis revealed that λ-max for AgNPs range from 350-500 nm. All AgNPs possessed polycrystalline structure as notified as intense graphical peaks in complete spectrum of 20 values ranging from 10-80° in X-ray diffraction measurements and supported by scanning electron microscopy data.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation, Molecular Docking Studies of Screlotiumol from Soil Borne Fungi Screlotium rolfsii and their Reversal of Multidrug Resistance in Mouse Lymphoma Cells.

A new compound namely (13-(3,3-dihydroxypropyl)-1,6-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isochromen-8(5H)-one (1) was isolated from an ethyl acetate extract of the borne fungi Screlotium rolfsii. Its chemical structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Screlotiumol 1 were evaluated for their effects on the reversion of multidrug resistant (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) of the soil borne fungi.

Bioassay-Guided Isolation of Sesquiterpene Coumarins from Ferula narthex Bioss: A New Anticancer Agent.

The main objective of cancer management with chemotherapy (anticancer drugs) is to kill the neoplastic (cancerous) cell instead of a normal healthy cell. The bioassay-guided isolation of two new sesquiterpene coumarins (compounds 1 and 2) have been carried out from Ferula narthex collected from Chitral, locally known as "Raw." Anticancer activity of crude and all fractions have been carried out to prevent carcinogenesis by using MTT assay.

Comparative Study of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Tumor Marker in Stomach and Colon Cancer Patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Background: Due to the increase in morbidity and mortality rate, cancer has become an alarming threat to the human population worldwide. Since cancer is a progressive disorder, timely diagnosis would be helpful to prevent/stop cancer from progressing to severe stage. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, most of the time, tumors are diagnosed with endoscopy and biopsy; therefore rare studies exist regarding the diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GIT) carcinomas based on tumor markers, especially CEA.

Level and evaluation of tumor marker CA-125 in ovarian cancer patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Background: Due to the increase in morbidity and mortality rate, cancer has become an alarming threat to the human population worldwide. Since cancer is a progressive disorder, timely diagnosis is necessary to prevent/stop cancer from progressing to a severe stage. In Khyber Paktunkhwa, Pakistan, many tumors are diagnosed with endoscopy and biopsy; rare studies exist regarding the diagnosis and evaluation of ovarian cancer, based on tumor markers like CA-125.

Antibacterial, anti-fungal and phytotoxic activities of Ferula narthex Boiss.

Crude methanolic extract of roots, aerial parts and its subsequent fractions of Ferula narthex Boiss were tested for antibacterial, anti-fungal and phytotoxic activities. Crude methanolic extract of roots and its fractions showed significant antibacterial effect against P.aeruginosa (86.

Evaluation of mycotoxins, mycobiota, and toxigenic fungi in selected medicinal plants of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Medicinal plants are used worldwide to treat a variety of ailments. Due to the provenance of medicinal plants, they are subjected to contamination by moulds, which may be responsible for spoilage and production of mycotoxins. The investigation was designed to throw light on mycological and mycotoxicological status of some medicinal plants from Pakistan and the result showed 30 % and 26.

Response rates of standard interferon therapy in chronic HCV patients of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).

Background: Interferon based therapy is used to eradicate the Hepatitis C Virus from the bodies of the infected individuals. HCV is highly prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) that is why it is important to determine the response of standard interferon based therapy in Chronic HCV patients of the region.

Study Design: A total of 174 patients were selected for interferon based therapy.

The antifungal, cytotoxic, antitermite and insecticidal activities of Zizyphus jujube.

Plants are very useful, self-generating machines, producing a variety of useful bioactive products. Keeping in view this idea, the crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Zizyphus jujuba were screened for antifungal, cytotoxic, antitermite and insecticidal activities. Low activity was shown by the crude methanolic extract (12%), n-hexane (9%), chloroform (20%) and ethyl acetate (14%) fraction against Penicillium notatum.

Anti-spasmodic action of crude methanolic extract and a new compound isolated from the aerial parts of Myrsine africana.

Background: Myrsine africana is an herbaceous plant that is traditionally used as appetizer and carminative. Locally, it is used for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, rheumatism and diarrhea by healers. The aims of the current study were to screen the crude methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts (leaves and stem) of M.

Anti-inflammatory and enzyme inhibitory activities of a crude extract and a pterocarpan isolated from the aerial parts of Vitex agnus-castus.

A new compound, 6a,11a-dihydro-6H-[1] benzofuro [3,2-c][1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]chromen-9-ol was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Vitex agnus-castus. The structure of this compound was identified with the help of spectroscopic techniques ((13)C NMR, (1)H NMR, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY and COSY). The compound showed low urease- (32.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of teucrium royleanum (Labiatea).

The crude methanolic extract and subsequent fractions of Teucrium royleanum (Labiatea) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Against tested pathogens, crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities. Highest antibacterial activity was displayed by the ethyl acetate fraction against S.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of andrachne cordifolia muell.

The crude methanolic extract of Andrachne cordifolia Muell. (Euphorbiaceae) and its various fractions in different solvent systems (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities against the tested pathogens.

Enzyme inhibition activities of Andrachne cardifolia Muell.

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Andrachne cardifolia Muell, including chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were subjected to in vitro enzyme inhibition activity against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease enzymes. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (40-89%) was shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against lipoxygenase, while low to significant activity (40-71%) against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated poor to significant activity (25-73%) against acetylcholinesterase and no activity against urease.