Palynological studies of some problematical medicinal plants of Pakistan

Morphology of pollen grains of each species is based on specimens selected at random. Proposed characters i.e. grain, shape of pollen grain, equatorial view, polar view, equatorial diameter [E], polar diameter [P], P/E ratio, length of colpus, exine surface, exine thickness, number of spines between colpi in each species were recorded for comparison. At species level, micro-morphological differences and distribution of surface pattern, shape and size of pollen have been found to exist. The pollen grains are consistently echinate, trizonocolporate. This study demonstrates the potential of pollen studies in distinguishing some taxonomic groups in the Asteraceae. The present research project is confined to the palynological studies of some of the problematical medicinal plants of Pakistan. Sixteen different genera: acacia, Agrimonia, Allium, Anthemis, Asparagus, Berberis, Centella, Colchicum, Cotula, Delphinium, Gentiana, Lactuca, Matricaria, Nigella, Phyllenthus, Viola have been examined in this study. Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis nobilis, and Cotula aurea have been differentiated with the help of palynology. The palynological studies of Lactuca dissecta [with white flowers] and Lactuca dissecta [with purple flowers] showed many characteristic differences

Iodine deficiency - still a major public health problem in some areas of swat

To assess iodine deficiency in four villages of Kabal, Swat, a survey was conducted in children of age group of 5-15 years. 728 school going children were surveyed for the purpose. 17 [62.3%] male and 265 [57.3%] female children were suffering from goiter. Overall Total Goitre Rate [TGR] was 59.2%. Goitre prevalence among male and female children was almost the same [P< 0.005]. Goitre prevalence increased with age among males [P> 0.05]; while in females the prevalence almost remained unchanged [P> 0.05]. Estimation of urinary iodine revealed that 91 [26.5%], 70 [20.4%], 73 [21.3%] and 109 [31.8%] children were suffering from serve, moderate, mild and no deficiency, respectively. Analysis of salt sample collected from 400 families of the area showed that 28 [7.0%] families were using salt without iodine, 218 [54.5%] were using salt with less than 20 ppm of iodine while 154 [38.5%] families were using with more than 20 ppm of iodine. On the basis study we conclude that iodine deficiency is still a major public health problem in the area and needs correction. To improve the situation universal salt iodization needs to be implemented at least in this area