RNAseq Analysis Reveals Altered Expression of Key Ion Transporters Causing Differential Uptake of Selective Ions in Canola (Brassica napus L.) Grown under NaCl Stress.

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses prevailing throughout the world that severely limits crop establishment and production. Every crop has an intra-specific genetic variation that enables it to cope with variable environmental conditions. Hence, this genetic variability is a good tool to exploit germplasms in salt-affected areas. Further, the selected cultivars can be effectively used by plant breeders and molecular biologists for the improvement of salinity tolerance. In the present study, it was planned to identify differential expression of genes associated with selective uptake of different ions under salt stress in selected salt-tolerant canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivar. For the purpose, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth response of different salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant canola cultivars. Plants were subjected to 200 mM NaCl stress. Canola cultivars-Faisal Canola, DGL, Dunkled, and CON-II-had higher growth than in cvs Cyclone, Ac-EXcel, Legend, and Oscar. Salt-tolerant cultivars were better able to maintain plant water status probably through osmotic adjustment as compared to salt-sensitive cultivars. Although salt stress increased shoot Na+ and shoot Cl- contents in all canola cultivars, salt-tolerant cultivars had a lower accumulation of these toxic nutrients. Similarly, salt stress reduced shoot K+ and Ca2+ contents in all canola cultivars, while salt-tolerant cultivars had a higher accumulation of K+ and Ca2+ in leaves, thereby having greater shoot K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios. Nutrient utilization efficiency decreased significantly in all canola cultivars due to the imposition of salt stress; however, it was greater in salt-tolerant cultivars-Faisal Canola, DGL, and Dunkled. Among four salt-tolerant canola cultivars, cv Dunkled was maximal in physiological attributes, and thus differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were assessed in it by RNA-seq analysis using next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. The differentially expressed genes (DEG) in cv Dunkled under salt stress were found to be involved in the regulation of ionic concentration, photosynthesis, antioxidants, and hormonal metabolism. However, the most prominent upregulated DEGs included Na/K transporter, HKT1, potassium transporter, potassium channel, chloride channel, cation exchanger, Ca channel. The RNA-seq data were validated through qRT-PCR. It was thus concluded that genes related to the regulation of ionic concentrate are significantly upregulated and expressed under salt stress, in the cultivar Dunkled.

Bioassay Directed Isolation, Biological Evaluation and in Silico Studies of New Isolates from Pteris cretica L.

Members of genus Pteris have their established role in the traditional herbal medicine system. In the pursuit to identify its biologically active constituents, the specie Pteris cretica L. (P. cretica) was selected for the bioassay-guided isolation. Two new maleates (F9 and CB18) were identified from the chloroform extract and the structures of the isolates were elucidated through their spectroscopic data. The putative targets, that potentially interact with both of these isolates, were identified through reverse docking by using in silico tools PharmMapper and ReverseScreen3D. On the basis of reverse docking results, both isolates were screened for their antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, α-glucosidase (GluE) inhibition and antibacterial activities. Both isolates depicted moderate potential for the selected activities. Furthermore, docking studies of both isolates were also studied to investigate the binding mode with respective targets followed by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energies. Thereby, the current study embodies the poly-pharmacological potential of P. cretica.

Antioxidant activity of an ethnobotanically important plant Quisqualis indica Linn.

The antioxidant potential of leaf, stem, root and flower extracts of Quisqualis indica Linn. was assessed to verify its ethnopharmacological importance. Both polar and non-polar solvents like n-hexane, chloroform, ethanol and distilled water were used to obtain crude extracts. The chloroform extract of leaves showed the maximum %age yield, i.e. 27.3% while the n-hexane extract of stem showed the minimum yield, i.e. 0.2%. Five activities including DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS+ assay, Total flavonoid components (TFC), Total phenolic components (TPC) and Metal chelating Assay (MC) were employed to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the plant. The ethanol extract of inflorescence of the plant displayed most elevated DPPH potential, i.e. 452.11%. Aqueous extract of root had highest value of TEAC i.e., 7.4515 mmol. The aqueous extract of flower displayed the highest level of phenolic contents with the value of 35 in terms of GAE mg/mL. On the other hand, the chloroform extract had the highest % bound iron value of 128 and the aqueous extract of flower showed a high concentration of Flavonoids having the value 347.65mg/l of Quercetin. It has been inferred that all parts of Quisqualis indica L. possess good antioxidant potential. Differents parts showed different antioxidant potentials hence they can be used as curative agents against human and animal ailments.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) planch extracts of bark and stem.

The phytochemical screening and antioxidant potential of bark and stem of Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) planch was assessed in order to verify its ethnopharmacological significance. All major secondary metabolites e.g. alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, reducing sugars, cardiac glycosides and anthraquinones were present. Antioxidant activity was analysed by using five techniques which included DPPH Free Radical Scavenging Activity, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), TAA (Total Antioxidant Activity, TPC (Total Phenolic Content and MC (Metal Chelating) Activity. Ethanolic extract of bark showed the highest scavenging effects of 90.01±0.01%, with IC50 value of 24.32mg/ml. Aqueous stem extract showed best activity with IC50 value of 13.6±0.34mg/ml. The significance antioxidant potential indicates the effectiveness of bark and stem of P. quinquefolia in treatment of many diseases.

Phytochemical screening, GC-MS analysis and in vitro antioxidant activity of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn) urban a traditional medicinal plant.

In the present study the crude extracts of pollen of Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban were explored for their antioxidant potential using Ferric Reducing Power, Metal Chelating Activity and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity assays. In crude extracts of pollen antioxidant components were initially extracted in methanol and further fractionated in solvents of different polarity, such as n-Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Water exhibited reasonable antioxidant activity. The extract was found to contain large amounts of phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 143-1155 mg/l of gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and 911-2488 mg/l of quercetin (QE) respectively. Moreover, Super oxide Anion Radical Scavenging Activity and GS-MS analysis were also carried out.

Analysis of Insect toxicity and repellent activity of Phytochemicals from "Skimmia laureola, Nair" against "Black garden ant, Lasius niger" of Pakistan.

A study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity and repellency of essential oils from root, stem and leaves of Nazar panra, Skimmia laureola (DC.) Zucc. Ex Walp. of family (Sapindales: Rutaceae) ver. Nair of Pakistan. The oils were tested at three concentrations i.e. 1, 5 and 10%. Black garden ant, Lasius niger L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Pakistan were selected and exposed to essential oils at room temperature. All essential oils showed Insecticidal activity with LC(50)=10.15, while dose dependant effect was significant with R(2)=0.98. It can be concluded that the three Essential oils in this study have both Insecticidal as well as repellent effect.

3-Ammonio-4-hydroxy-benzoate monohydrate.

The title compound, C(7)H(7)NO(3)·H(2)O, which crystallized as a hydrate, was obtained from an extraction of the plant species Saussurea atkinsonii of the asteraceae family collected from the hilly area (Ayubia) of Pakistan during the flowering season. The dihedral angle between the benzene ring and the carboxyl-ate group is 25.64 (5)°. In the crystal, the packing is consolidated by N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, as well as weak aromatic π-π stacking [centroid-centroid separation = 3.9365 (9) Å] and C=O⋯π inter-actions.