International Journal of Applied and Experimental Biology

Differential gene expression analysis in patients with primary hyperhidrosis

2024-10-15T04:30:40+00:00

Hyperhidrosis, a condition of excessive sweat generation, is believed to be genetic, but it is yet not known well whether primary hyperhidrosis is regulated by a single gene or multiple genes. The prospective genes that regulate primary hyperhidrosis are known to be ITPR2, TMEM16A, FOXA1 and AQP5. Of these four genes, ITPR2 gene plays a significant role in primary hyperhidrosis; thus in the current research sequence, analysis of this gene was carried out. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, whole blood samples were taken from four patients inflicted with primary hyperhidrosis and two from healthy persons as control. From the blood samples, white blood cells were separated by reacting the samples with ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) solution to lyse red blood cells. Then total RNA was extracted using the trizol reagent. For synthesizing cDNA, one script reverse transcriptase cDNA synthesis kit was employed. The cDNA samples were quantified using a Qubit Flourometer and their quality was appraised on agarose gel. Real time PCR was performed to carry out the quantitative analysis of these four genes. Of four genes, the expression of three genes, i.e., TMEM16A, ITPR2 and FOXA1, was found to be significantly high in the primary hyperhidrosis patients, whereas low expression of the gene AQP5 was noted compared to that of the control samples. Microarray data analysis on anhidrosis was done using GEO2R database as well as the anhidrosis datasets available on Gene Exression Omnibus (GEO). From this analysis, the low expression of FOXA1 in anhidrosis was confirmed. Based on the highest expression of ITPR2 in hyperhidrosis, it was selected for PCR amplification as well as sequencing. The sequence analysis of ITPR2 showed 100% identity without any mutation.These key genes will further help us to devise new treatment modalities.

Assessment of genetic diversity of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars grown in Pakistan using ISSR markers

2024-10-15T04:44:10+00:00

Many American and European cultivars of grapes are grown in several countries. However, their interrelationship is indistinct. Therefore, ampelographic and genetic characterizations were conducted to analyze and identify the similarities and relatedness among seven different grapevine cultivars, namely Red Globe, Autumn Royal, Crimson Seedless, Thompson, Perlette, King Ruby, and Sundar Khani (from Pakistan). Morphological characteristics examined include berry morphology, fruit skin color, flesh color, sweetness, compactness, and weight of grape bunch. Molecular diversity of the cultivars was evaluated using the Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. The results showed that morphological characterization differed among the grapevine cultivars. Six primers examined yielded 84 scored bands ranging from 150 bp to 1200 bp. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.233 to 0.457, while the amount of polymorphism varied with each primer, from 83% to 100%. Our results showed that the fingerprints of ISSR markers are a proficient method for identification and resolution of genetic diversity among different grape cultivars.

Screening of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) genotypes for yield and other morphological components under the agro-climatic conditions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

2024-10-31T17:18:35+00:00

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is an important vegetable grown throughout Pakistan and many other countries. Due to its diverse genetic background it is possible to screen and develop approved varieties for yield and quality, using existing germplasm pool. The current study aimed to assess the morphological and yield parameters of 18 okra genotypes including two check varieties (Green Finger and Arka Anamika). The initial study was carried out in 2021 to evaluate performance of the selected genotypes for 50% flowering, internode length, number of nodes, capsule yield, 1000 seed weight, leaf color, leaf shape, and capsule color. Mean yield results showed that NIFA Bhindi Line-1 (NBL-1) and NIFA Bhindi Line-2 (NBL-2) performed well for the traits under study compared to the other genotypes. NBL-1 took 44 days to 50% flowering, and its minimum plant height was 130 cm with shorter internode length (4.35 cm), highest number of nodes (57), maximum fruit yield (18062 kg ha^-1) and maximum 1000 seed weight (67.5 g). Preliminary Yield Trial (PYT) conducted during 2022 at NIFA showed that NBL-1 displayed early fruiting (54 days), minimum plant height (124 cm), maximum fruit yields (13107 kg ha^-1) and maximum 1000 seed weight (67 g) over the other genotypes. Based on superior performance over the other genotypes, NBL-1 possesses the potential to become new commercially viable okra variety in the near future.

Evaluation of urban air pollution by metal contents of woody vegetation leaves in the urban ecosystem

2024-11-06T08:26:24+00:00

Urban air pollution is a major environmental concern, and it should be addressed on a priority basis for human health and the urban ecosystem. The study was performed to investigate and understand the spatial distribution and contamination levels in the leaves of selected plants (Eugenia jambolana, Morus alba, Dalbergia sissoo, Populus deltoides, Ficus religiosa, Ficus variegata, Cassia fistula, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Melia azedarach, Psidium guajava, Pongamia pinnata, Callistemon citrinus, and Polyalthia longifolia) exposed to the polluted areas of Canal Road, Lahore. Metal concentrations (Pb, As, Cr, and Cd) in the leaves of the plants were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The contamination level of As (Average ~1.03 mg/kg) was found to be moderately low in all trees tested except in Eucalyptus camaldulensis (As~2.11 mg/kg). Lead (Pb) accumulation levels in the leaves were observed to be visibly higher in almost all samples (Average ~ 5.34 mg/kg) than the WHO recommended limit (2 mg/kg). Among all samples, Ficus religiosa was found to have the highest levels of Pb. The contamination trends of Cr were observed to be high (Average~1.06 mg/kg) in non-native species, specifically in Eucalyptus camaldulensis (3.21 mg/kg). The Cd concentrations were also found to be higher in all plant samples (Average ~1.90 mg/kg) than the WHO permissible limit (0.02 mg/kg) in plants. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), GIS, and Minitab-19 were also applied to the data. This work is important to set a baseline for future researchers to appraise pollution load in different areas in light of the findings of this study.

Arginine-capped magnetite nanoparticles improve wheat growth and grain yield under salinity stress

2025-02-20T08:24:05+00:00

Salinity stress affects the growth and biochemical characteristics of cereal crops, ultimately reducing agricultural productivity. This study investigated the effects of foliar application of arginine nano-magnetite conjugate on wheat growth and grain yield under saline conditions. A pot experiment was conducted during the wheat growing season 2023-2024 by using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. For this purpose, 20 day-old plants were exposed to salt stress at 150 mM NaCl and after 30 days, foliar spray of Fe nanoparticles at control, nano-magnetite (50 mg L^-1), and arginine-capped nano-magnetite (50 mg L^-1) was performed. The data for various morpho-biochemical traits was collected after 15 days of spray. The results indicated that the application of Fe-nanoparticles improved growth traits of wheat under salt stress. Salinity stress negatively impacted all the indicators including soluble sugars. The yield attributes were also negatively affected by salt stress. In contrast, the exogenous application of arginine nano-magnetite improved soluble proteins, phenolics and leaf photosynthetic pigments, which caused improvements in 100-grain weight. Overall, the detrimental effects of salt stress on wheat plants were mitigated by the foliar spray of Fe-NPs. This study highlights that arginine nano-magnetite application to salt-stressed wheat plants could induce salt tolerance and recover crop yield.

Ecological studies of different plant communities of Malasaid Hills, District Bajour, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa, Pakistan

2024-12-30T10:42:48+00:00

Ecological evaluation was conducted of the vegetation in Malasaid Hills (Bajaur Agency), Khyber Pakhtonkhwa, Pakistan. Overall, 12 different plant cummunities were recorded in this area. The Cynodon-Morus-Vitex (CMV) community had a total of 22 plant species comprising nine herbaceous, 5 shrubby, and 8 tree species. The community was dominated by Cynodon dactylon, Morus alba, and Vitex negundo. The species richness (S.R) of this community was 0.880, similarity index (S.I) 25.80 and maturity index (M.I) 50.37. The Dodonea-Quercus-Teucrium (DQT) community comprised a total of 29 plant species. Of these, 11 were herbaceous, 14 shrubby, and 4 tree species. The species richness (S.R) of the community was 1.63, similarity index (S.I) 20.79 and maturity index (M.I) 51.92. The Berberis-Olea-Ajuga (BOA) community had a total of 34 plant species comprising 15 herbaceous, 12 shrubby, and 7 trees. The species richness (S.R) of the community was 1.23, similarity index (S.I) 15.38, and maturity index (M.I) 46.94. The Salvia-Cynodon-Berberis (SCB) community comprised 16 herbaceous, and 8 shrubby plants, but not a single tree species was found in this community. The species richness (S.R) was 1.31, similarity index (S.I) 33.33 and its maturity index (M.I) 49. The Cyperus-Calotropis-Ziziphus (CCZ) community comprised 20 herbaceous, 8 shrubby, and 5 tree species. The species richness (S.R) of the community was 1.14, similarity index (SI) 24.39, and maturity index (M.I) 58.37. The Juglans-Rumex-Viola (JRV) community contained 22 herbaceous, 12 shrubby, and 3 tree species. The species richness of this community was 1.45, similarity index 19.17 and maturity index 43.94. The Reinwardtia-Geranium-Olea (RGO) community comprised 19 herbaceous, 14 shrubby, and only one tree species. The species richness of this community was 1.60, similarity index 16.49, and maturity index 51.60. The Rumex-Medicago-Cynodon community (RMC) had 15 herbaceous, 7 shrubby, and 13 plants as trees. The species richness of this community was 1.31, similarity index 19.75 and maturity index 50.25. The Duchesnea-Acacia-Neriuum (DAN) community had 7 herbaceous, 8 shrubby, and 4 plants as tree species with species richness 0.954, similarity index 40, and maturity index 48.33. The Viola-Berberis-Quercus (VBQ) community contained 13 herbaceous, 9 shrubby, and 4 tree species. Overall, the communities observed in this area had a different composition.

Chlorophyll and carotenoid quantification: An MS Excel-based calculator

2024-12-30T10:43:55+00:00

Quantification of photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids, is one of the potential determinants in plant physiology and related disciplines. Spectrophotometric methods employing the Arnon's equations are widely used for this purpose following pigment extraction in 80% acetone. However, manual calculation of these parameters is often a tedious and error-prone process, particularly for researchers analyzing large numbers of samples. To address this challenge and enhance efficiency in plant physiology laboratories, we have developed a user-friendly Chlorophyll Calculator as an MS Excel spreadsheet. This technical note describes the development of the calculator and highlights its advantages for efficiently quantifying the photosynthetic pigments. This simple software tool named Chlorophyll Calculator v 1.2 was written in Microsoft® Excel 2010 for the mathematical calculations of the most fundamental photosynthetic pigments. This spreadsheet is based on the most popular methods of Arnon (1949) for chlorophyll estimation and of Davis (1976) for carotenoid determination. It can calculate up to four different types of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, total, and carotenoids). All estimates carried mean values and standard errors. The tool has been tested under different Microsoft® Excel for Microsoft Windows® environments. It is available free of charge for use in teaching and research. It can be obtained from the supplementary data of this article.

Impact of municipal solid waste amendments on molybdenum bioaccumulation in soil and vegetables: Health risk and bioavailability assessment

2025-02-18T11:52:45+00:00

This study examines the effects of municipal solid waste (MSW) amendments on molybdenum (Mo) concentrations in both soil and vegetables in two growing years. Three MSW treatments were tested, i.e., 25% MSW + 75% garden soil (T1), 50% MSW + 50% garden soil (T2), and 75% MSW + 25% garden soil (T3), with a control treatment of 100% garden soil (T0). Fifteen vegetable species were cultivated to evaluate Mo uptake and bioaccumulation. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Bioaccumulation Factor (BCF) values confirmed the impact of MSW on Mo accumulation in both soil and vegetables, with Allium cepa and Mentha arvensis showing greater sensitivity to Mo contamination. Health risk assessments revealed that vegetables grown in MSW-amended soils, especially Allium cepa at T3 Year-1, had higher Daily Intake of Metal (DIM) and Health Risk Index (HRI) values compared to those grown in the control soil. The analysis of molybdenum concentrations in blood samples taken from people of various localities added a human health aspect to the study. This study highlights the potential of MSW compost in increasing Mo bioavailability and the implications for human health through vegetable consumption, emphasizing the need to carefully monitor Mo levels in MSW-amended soils.

Genomic analysis, evolution and characterization of the heat shock protein-70 gene family in foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P.Beauv.] along with expression analysis under saline conditions

2025-02-19T04:23:25+00:00

Under stress conditions, heat shock proteins (HSPs) serve as fundamental regulators of cellular homeostasis. The molecular chaperone HSP70 belongs to a group of stress-related proteins which play important roles across growth and developmental events. The production of HSP70 proteins significantly increases during stress events including heat exposure, and salinity and drought conditions to protect proteins and maintain crucial macromolecular structures, thereby improving overall plant stress tolerance. This study identified 28 HSP70 genes in Setaria italica through phylogenetic analysis and placed these genes into four separate clades. The preserved structural elements and functional domains and conserved sequence patterns indicated that HSP70 genes maintain evolutionary stability. The HSP70 gene family spanned nine chromosomal scaffolds and most protein products were predicted to function in the cytoplasm. The analysis of synonymous substitutions and non-synonymous substitutions showed that HSP70 genes underwent both purifying and positive selection processes leading to their functional divergence. This study outcomes deliver a significant understanding of HSP70 genes' functional roles together with their association with plant growth and developmental processes.

Early growth responses of selected cucurbit vegetables to salt stress

2025-02-19T04:17:41+00:00

This study investigated the early growth responses of selected highly economically cucurbit vegetables under varying salt concentrations. Four potential cucurbit species (Luffa aegyptiaca, Cucurbita pepo, Praecitrullus fistulosus, and Cucurbita maxima) were grown in Petri plates in a complete randomized block design with four replications. Varying salt solutions used were: 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of NaCl. Seed germination was monitored daily. Seedlings were harvested after 10 days and their shoot and root lengths, as well as fresh and dry weights were measured. The results showed that NaCl concentrations affected all measured parameters in all four vegetables. Germination percentage and germination index decreased under high salinity levels. Overall, germination and growth of the crops were better at 50 mM NaCl than those at the other salt levels. Of the four species, Cucurbita maxima had the highest germination percentage and germination index at all NaCl concentrations, indicating its superior tolerance to sat stress during germination stage. Cucurbita maxima was also superior to all species in terms of seedling biomass produced under varying levels of NaCl. Conversely, Cucurbita pepo showed the lowest germination percentage and index. The study concluded that Cucurbita maxima was the most tolerant species to salinity stress during the early growth stages.

Ethnomedicinal survey of plants used in home remedies by the local community of the unexplored village Dudday, District Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan

2025-05-21T06:07:22+00:00

Ethnomedicinal survey at village Dudday, District Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan was conducted during 2024 to document the important species of plants and related information that are used by the local community to cure several diseases. This site has never been explored before in terms of vegetation composition and structure. Indigenous knowledge concerning the medicinal practice was gathered through structured questionnaires during personal interviews made through the field trips. Plants were systematically arranged based on family name, vernacular name, plant part used, and ethnomedicinal home remedies and uses. For botanical nomenclature and classification of plants, Angiosperm Phylogeny Group-IV was used as a reference. All plant specimens collected, identified, preserved and mounted during survey were preserved at the Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Pakistan for further use. A total of 48 plant species were identified through taxonomic description and information shared by the local people through ethnomedicinal knowledge. Foeniculum vulgare and Sesamum indicum had higher number of respondents. Ficus religiosa had the highest Use Value (0.55). Relative Frequency Consensus (0.506) was noted for Sesamum indicum. Most of the wild plants showed highest Use Value than those of cultivated plants. Most common diseases noted in this study were of digestive and skin. The highest Informant Consensus Factor (0.987) was recorded for dental problems, while the highest fidelity level (20%) was recorded for skin issues. It was concluded that most of the people living in that village still depend on plants to cure various diseases through folk knowledge. This folk knowledge can be used for further scientific studies to develop medicines at commercial scale.

Some morphometric traits of Rita rita from Southern Punjab, Pakistan

2024-07-12T02:32:58+00:00

In this research work, fifty (50) specimens of Rita rita inhabiting River Chenab, one of the five rivers of the Punjab Province, were evaluated to observe morphometric and proximate composition of the fish specimens. To analyze the influence of biological factors, condition factor was determined based on body constituents using regression equations. Various morphometric characters i.e. total length (TL), standard length (SL), fork length (FL), head length (HL), head width (HW), body girth (BG), body depth (BD), dorsal fin length (DFL), pectoral fin length (PtFL), pelvic fin length (PvFL), anal fin length (AFL), dorsal fin base (DFB), anal fin base (AFB), caudal fin length (CFL), and caudal fin width (CFW) were measured to know their correlation with the size and types of growth pattern. Morphometric analysis showed isometric growth pattern of the fish in the current study.

Umbilical cord-derived secretome induces apoptosis and reduces proliferation in cancer cells

2024-12-17T14:59:52+00:00

Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) have the best ability to travel to the tumor site and they serve as a tool to fight cancer. This study showed that secretome from UCMSCs (UCMSCs-Sec) could inhibit the growth of prostate cancer (PC-3) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells, and induce apoptosis in the cells. The UCMSCs-Sec treatment was given to PC-3 and HeLa cells. After 7 days, cell viability assay was performed to evaluate cell viability, and ELISA for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was performed to evaluate neovascularization. RT-PCR was also done to measure the expression of ki67, caspase-3, PCNA, BAX and GAPDH genes. The levels of secreted antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione, were estimated in the treated and untreated groups. Decreased cellular viabilty revealed increased apoptosis in HeLa and PC-3 cells treated with UCMSCs-Sec. Gene expression analysis showed that apoptotic genes (BAX and caspase-3) were upregulated, proliferative genes including ki67 and PCNA were reduced, while GAPDH remained unchanged as it is a house-keeping gene. The UCMSCs-Sec treatment was also found to reduce neovascularization in the cancer cells. Furthermore, relative levels of secreted antioxidative enzymes were also reduced in PC-3 and HeLa cells treated with UCMSCs-Sec. These findings could be an indicative that UCMSCs-Sec can promote cellular death and prevent the cellular division of cancer cells. The present study explores anticancer potential of secretome from USMSCs. This strategy could be a viable therapeutic option for the treatment of neoplastic cells.

Prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among potential expatriates entering GCC states in different districts of KPK, Pakistan

2025-02-23T07:50:18+00:00

Viral hepatitis and syphilis have emerged as significant public health concerns on a global scale. The study was conducted retrospectively to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, and syphilis among the potential expatriates entering the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states in the year 2022. A total of 42,688 blood samples were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA kits) with the ARCHITECT i1000SR and i2000SR automated immunoassay analyzers, utilizing the microparticle immunoassay technology. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS version 26. The subjects’ ages ranged from 20 to 51 years with a mean age of 28.09 ± 6.153 years, and they belonged to different districts of KPK. The study noted a higher proportion of males than females, with 4.6% (1971) of the subjects being female and 95.4% (40,717) male. Among the females, all were housewives, in contrast to the males of which 98% were engaged in labor work and only 2% being professionals. Of a total of 42,688 samples, HBV occurrence was 0.67% (287/42,688), while HCV was slightly higher as 0.83% (358/42,688). Syphilis showed the highest occurrence as 0.9% (398/42,688), and HIV was limited to 0.1% (56/42,688). This health check-up program is very vital to determine the health status of the expatriates and ensure that they are free from any infectious disease which may be detrimental to the community’s security. These implications hold significance for public health policies and the enhancement of health screening models in the GCC states.

Terpinen-4-ol induces apoptosis and antiproliferation in glioblastoma cells via modulation of p53 and VEGF

2025-02-25T10:22:31+00:00

Glioblastoma is an invasive tumor arising from astrocytes of brain. It has devastating effects and poor prognosis. It tends to be malignant and aggressive with distinct histopathological features. Many therapies including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are in practice to treat cancer, but it is associated with a lot of adverse side effects. Terpenen-4-ol is a monoterpene derivative of essential oil which has several anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and antifungal activities, and is safe as compared to other treatment options available. In this study, we observed anticancer effects of terpinen-4-ol against glioblastoma cell line, cell viability in all groups of cells evaluated via MTT, morphology, and ELISA of p53 for the estimation of apoptosis, VEGF for the evaluation of angiogenesis, and antioxidant assay. The results demonstrated the anticancer effects of terpinen-4-ol against the glioblastoma SF767 cell line, showing reduced cell viability, increased apoptosis via p53 activation, decreased angiogenesis through VEGF inhibition, and enhanced antioxidant activity with decreased glutathione levels. The current study demonstrated that terpinen-4-ol treatment can cause apoptosis in SF767 glioblastoma cells via maintaining p53 and VEGF expression.