Jehan Ara

University of Karachi · Food Science & Technology

Acetaminophen (AAP) is an analgesic-antipyretic drug which is considered safe at recommended dose, but its overuse may induce renal and hepatic injuries. Marine macro algae have great potential against drug-induced renal and hepatic dysfunctions. The present study described the reno-protective and hepato-protective effects of the ethanol extract of...

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely consumed drug for pain management and treatment of pyrexia. However, beyond its recommended dose, it becomes harmful for health and may induce acute liver dysfunction. Current work is designed to ameliorate the APAP induced liver toxicity which was induced in rats by giving intra-peritoneal injection of APAP (800mg/...

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM), an endocrine disease is characterized by increased level of blood glucose. Diabetes may affect other functions of the body and organs including, renal function and lipid metabolism. Pandanus tectorius ( P. tectorius) Parkinson ex Du Roi is a small tree used in folk medicine in treatment of many diseases. Methods...

Background Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is one of the most important causes of liver dysfunction. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) an analgesic-antipyretic drug is generally considered safe but its overdose may cause liver toxicity. Marine macro-algae (seaweeds) especially brown seaweeds possess unique biological activities including hepatoprotective pot...

Postharvest fungal spoilage of vegetables and fruits during their storage period is a cause of huge loss in overall production. An active organic molecule from a natural product bears great potential in order to substitute synthetic fungicides. For example, the essential oils extracted from natural sources are formed as a secondary metabolite in an...

Solvent fractions (n-hexane, cholorofrom, methanol) and fractions containing sterols of Jolyna laminarioides was evaluated in triton-induced and high-fat-diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Oral administration of J. laminarioides significantly reduced the elevated level of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c, both in triton induced and h...

World Summit on Advancement in Food Science and Technology will discuss the scope and challenges of food technology and how to create sustainable food future to meet the demand of the future population. We invite all the food researchers, food scientists and agricultural research scientists to be a part of the world summit on advancement in food sc...

Background Acetaminophen is an efficient painkiller usually safe when used in therapeutic doses. It may cause hepatotoxicity when overdosed and triggers nephrotoxicity as well, besides affecting lipid and glucose metabolism. Marine macro-algae possesses various biological activities including hepatoprotective. Stokeyia indica is a brown alga, found...

Background Polysaccharides from seaweeds have been reported to possess biological activities with potential medicinal value. Present study was aimed to investigate hepatoprotective effect of crude sulphated polysaccharides extracted from Sargassum swartzii against acetaminophen-induced liver injury. Methods The polysaccharides from S. swartzii was...

Caulerpin, an orange-red algal pigment possessing a unique bis-indole structure, has been found in 80% of the species of the green alga genus Caulerpa. Caulerpin and the corresponding diacid have been shown to be plant growth regulators and posses various biological activities. Caulerpin has also been reported from the red alga Chondria armata. Thi...

Liver plays a major role in transforming and clearing the chemicals form the body, but same time it is susceptible to the toxicity of these chemicals. Liver diseases are now become major public health problem worldwide, beside viral infection, autoimmune diseases, infectious agents, toxic chemicals and many drugs at higher doses can cause hepatic i...

Seaweed can promote plant growth and also enable them to tolerate drought, disease or frost. In this study, eight seaweeds Stokeyiaindica, Stoechospermum marginatum, Sargassum binderi, Spatoglossum variabile (brown), Melanothamnus afaqhusainii, Solieriarobusta (red), Rhizocloni umimplexum and Halimeda tuna (green) collected from Buleji beach, Karac...

Twenty five isolates of epiphytic yeasts were isolated from healthy surface of tomato, mango, lemon, orange, grape fruit and green chili and evaluated for their potential against postharvest Penicillium digitatum decay of kinnow fruits. Identification of yeast was confirmed by molecular biology tools. Twenty isolates have shown maximum in-vitro act...

Fluorescent Pseudomonas has been reported to associate with root nodules of a number of plants and play role in plant disease suppression and increased plant growth. However their role in nodule formation is still unclear. In a gnotobiotic experiment, combined effect of two isolates each of fluorescent Pseudomonas (NAFP-19 and NAFP-32) and rhizobia...

Micro-fungi have been the source of novel and pharmacologically active compounds over decades. Among them, genus Penicillium has been recognized as a rich source of bioactive metabolites. In this study, out of 80 plant samples, endophytic Penicillium species were isolated from 14 samples (root, stem and leaves) and identified as P. asperum, P. citr...

Rhizobia and fluorescent Pseudomonas associated with root nodules were studied for their in vitro activity against root rotting fungi and root-knot nematode and their ability to promote plant growth by production of phytohormones. Leucaena leucocephala root nodules were collected from the experimental field of University of Karachi and were used to...

Following harvest, tomato fruits are susceptible to an attack by many fungal pathogens, but healthy fruits may also harbor beneficial micro-flora, which can delay the spoilage of fruit. In this study, 30 isolates of epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas were isolated from healthy fruits of lemon, melon, grapefruit, tomato and orange. Twelve isolates we...

Diabetes is lifelong, largest growing; serious metabolic disease which results in increased blood sugar level, and dysfunction of kidney and blood vessels. Basically there are two types of diabetes known as type 1 or insulin dependent and type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In pharmacology the treatment of disease is insulin, but thi...

Hepatoprotective and reno-potective effect of Sargassum species was investigated in rats against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and acetaminophen (AAP) intoxication. The rats were given ethanol extracts of Sargassum ilicifolium, S. lanceolatum and S.swartzii orally at dose of 200mg/kg b.w. (body weight) daily for 14 days. These seaweed treated rats we...

Seaweeds have been consumed as human food from thousands of years. In this study ethanol extract of 16 different seaweeds were tested for mosquito larvicidal activity against 4th instar larvae of Aedes aegyptii. The ethanol extracts of Padina pavonia and Sargassum ilicifolium caused 50% mortality at 1200ppm concentration. However other seaweeds Hal...

Three isolates each of fluorescent Pseudomonas (NAFP-19, NAFP-31 and NAFP-32) and rhizobia (NFB- 103, NFB-107 and NFB-109) which were originally isolated from root nodules of mungbean (Vigna radiata) showed significant biocontrol activity in the screen house and under field condition, against root rotting fungi viz., Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusari...

Induction of systemic resistance by neem cake (Azadirachta indica) and endophytic Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a plant growth promoting bacterium, was evaluated in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under salinity stress and fungal infection. The combination of biocontrol agent and organic matter induced tolerance against fungal infection (Macrophomina phas...

Endophytic and rhizospheric fluorescent Pseudomonas have widely been used as biological control agents against soilborne plant pathogens. In this study, fifteen epiphytic fluorescent Pseudomonas isolated from the surfaces of citrus (grapefruit, orange and lemon) melon and tomato fruits were characterized for their in vitro activity against root rot...

Objective: To assess the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol extracts of Sargassum variegatum (S. variegatum), Sargassum tenerrimum (S. tenerrimum) and Sargassum binderi occurring at Karachi coast against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and acetaminophen intoxication in rats. Methods: Sargassum species were collected at low tide from Buleji beach at Kar...

In the present study ethanol and water extracts of 15 seaweeds, Dictyota dichotoma var. velutricata, Dictyota indica, Iyengaria stellata, Padina pavonia, Sargassum swartzii, Sargassum variegatum, Stoechospermum marginatum, Stokeyia indica, Jolyna laminarioides, Caulerpa taxifolia, Halimeda tuna, Ulva fasciata, Ulva lactuca, Solieria robusta, and Me...

Biostimulants are used in agricultural practices for plant growth improvement. These fertilizers improve microbial activity and cause a negative impact on soil-borne pathogens. In recent years, stimulating plant’s natural defense is considered as most promising alternative strategy for crop productivity. The present study was carried out to examine...

Without application of chemical pesticides control of soilborne diseases is a great challenge. Stimulation of natural plant's defense is considered as one of the most promising alternative strategy for crop protection. Organic amendment of soil besides direct suppressing the pathogen, has been reported to have an influence on phytochemicals in plan...

Salvadora persica and S. S. oleoides are facultative holophytic plants, well known as miswak, are traditionally used to ensure oral hygiene among Muslim people in Asian and African counties. Species of Salvadora have a number of proven pharmacological importance. Besides, terrestrial fungi endophytic fungi are also gaining importance for the isolat...

The mycorrhizosphere is the region around a mycorrhizal fungus in which nutrients released from the hyphae increases microbial population and its activities. In this study five mycorrhizospheric fluorescent Pseudomonas (MRFP) were evaluated for biocontrol potential under field condition using mungbean (Vigna radiata) as test plant. MRFP-249 signifi...

Liver is the main site in the body for intense metabolism and excretion. A number of chemicals and drugs which are used routinely cause liver damage. The present study investigates the antihepatotoxic effect of Physalis peruviana whole ripe fruit, water and ethanol extracts of fruit in normal as well as in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxicated ra...

Objective: A Cross Sectional population based serological studies was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for syphilis women with recurrent miscarriages. Methods: Patient's 5ml whole blood was collected through venepuncture technique. Data were collected by all women answered a questionnaire and by investigating blo...

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that long-term hyperlipidaemia is associated with coronary heart disease. The dietary and pharmacological lowering of elevated plasma LDL cholesterol appears to be one of the methods to reduce the development of atherosclerosis and related heart diseases. During this study, ethanol extracts of 13 seaweed...

Incorporation of organic matter in soil before sowing of seeds or transplanting the seedlings has been reported to increase microbial activity in soil, especially fluorescent Pseudomonas that play a vital role in suppressing the root rotting fungi and parasitic nematodes invading plant roots. In this study, dry powder of seaweeds Sar-gassum binderi...

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and watermelon (Citrullus la-natus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai) are highly susceptible to root rotting fungi Fusarium solani, F. oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina and root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) causing huge losses each year in Pakistan. In field experiments, application of asafoetida, a medicinal gum from Fe...

Red chili is amongst the important market commodities mainly for its pungency, color and their respective therapeutic significances. However, the persistence of aflatoxin contamination in chilies at higher levels is raising the health and economic risks. Post harvest practices may play as crucial role to make the red chilies physically damaged that...

Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] is an important vegetable crop is grown world wide including Pakistan. However, diseases are the limiting factor in okra production. In Pakistan okra crop is attacked by various soilborne plant pathogenic fungi like Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp., and root knot nematodes Meloidog...

Nutritionally valuable seaweeds are being used as fresh or dried vegetables or as ingredients in wide variety of prepared foods. Interest in seaweeds has increased markedly through out the world due to their value in nutrition and in medicine. In this study 16 seaweed species collected from Karachi coast were examined for the estimation of ascorbic...

Several fungi are known to regulate the nematode densities in soil by exhibiting a range of antagonistic activity including production of nematoxic compounds. Since fungi and nematodes occur together in the rhizosphere, the toxic metabolites naturally produced by fungi may be responsible for keeping a low level of nematode populations. In this stud...

With the rising popularity of organic farming, due to adverse effect of chemicals, the seaweed fertilizer industry is growing rapidly worldwide. Seaweeds act as natural plant growth stimulator and enable the plants to withstand drought, disease or frost. Root diseases of tomato and sunflower caused by root rotting fungi, Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia...

The oxidative damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused damage to bio-molecules leading to various diseases such as cancer, coronary heart diseases, renal failure, diabetes, ageing etc. There is an increasing interest in natural antioxidants because of the safety and toxicity problems of synthetic antioxidant. In this study, antioxidant...

Discovery of anticancer drugs that must kill or disable tumor cells in the presence of normal cells without undue toxicity is an extraordinary challenge. In the past 50 years, number of highly successful drugs based upon fungal metabolites was discovered. Beside producing antibiotics, fungi have a much greater potential for producing other medicina...

Application of seaweed as soil amendment for the control of soilborne plant diseases has increased in recent years due to their environment friendly role. In screen house study, a red seaweed Solieria robusta used as soil amendment showed better suppressive effect on root rotting fungus Fusarium solani than Topsin-M, a fungicide, but was found less...

Marine algal community signifies a huge source of compound endowed with ingenious structure and potential biological activities. Cytotoxicity of plant or fungal material is considered as the presence of antitumor compounds. In this study, ethanol extracts of seaweeds Dictyota dichotoma var. velutricata, D. hauckiana, D. indica, Iyengaria stellata,...

Chili (Capsicum annuum) is an important vegetable and spice crop worldwide produced and consumed as fresh or processed. However production is increasingly constrained by chili plant diseases. The four diseases that lead to wilting in chili are Phytophthora root rot, Verticillium wilt, Rhizoctonia root rot, and Fusarium wilt. The association of Fusa...

Post-harvest diseases caused by bacteria, yeast and fungi develops on fruits and other plant products between harvesting and consumption. The threat of post-harvest disease influences the way most horticultural crops are handled. Therefore the accurate identification of the causal pathogen is essential before appropriate treatment can be made to co...

Root diseases caused by root-rotting fungi and root-knot nematodes are a serious problem in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) production throughout the world. Due to constraints in use of synthetic pesticides, alternate methods for disease management including biocontrol and cultural practices are being sought out. The effect of rhizobia (Brad...

Solvent fractions (i.e. n-hexane, chloroform and methanol) of the ethanol extracts of the seaweeds Codium iyengarii, Jania capillacea, Stokeyia indica and Solieria robusta caused more than 50% mortality of Meloidogyne javanica juveniles within 24 h at 10 mg/ml. Nematode mortality increased with an increase in fraction concentration or exposure time...

Application of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium alone or with crustacean chitin, fungicides (benlate/captan) or Paecilomyces lilacinus (a biocontrol agent) significantly suppressed Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani attacking roots of chilli. Paecilomyces lilacinus, an egg pa...

Chloroform and methanol fractions of an ethanol extract of Spatoglossum asperum showed antifungal activity against the highly destructive plant pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina while the n-hexane fraction showed activity against Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani. n-Hexane and methanol fractions also showed nematicidal activity against the pla...

The effect of soil amendment by brown, green and red seaweeds was studied in controlling the root rot infecting fungi of okra seedlings in the greenhouse. The soil amendment with seaweeds Stokeyia indica, Padina pavonia (brown), Solieria robusta (red), at 1% w/w reduced Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani infection on ok...

During the present study, ethanol extracts of five seaweed species Solieria robusta, Iyengaria stellata, Colpomenia sinuosa, Spatoglossum asperum and Caulerpa racemosa at 10 mg/ 200 g body weight were tested for their hypolipidaemic activity. All the species significantly decreased the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprote...

Soil amendment with crustacean chitin used alone or with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacillus subtilis significantly (p<0,05) reduced infection of Rhizoctonia solani Fusarium solani on sunflower and R.solani on chickpea. Crab chitin used alone or with P.aeruginosa or B.subtilis completely controlled the infection of Macrophomina phaseolina on chickpea....

The crystal structure of caulerpin (dimethyl 6,13-dihydrodibenzo[b,i]phenazine-5,12-dicarboxylate, C(24)H(18)N(2)O(4)), an indole alkaloid, reported in space group Cc with an acute beta angle, has been redetermined in the correct space group, C2/c. The molecule has twofold crystallographic symmetry and is composed of two essentially planar indole g...

A total of 22 ethanol extracts of seaweed species (13 brown, 6 green and 3 red) collected from the Karachi coast were investigated for brine shrimp cytotoxicity. Of all the species, only six namely Stoechospermum marginatum, Sargassum swartzii, S. binderi, Spatoglossum asperum, Stokeyia indica (brown) and Caulerpa racemosa (green) showed significan...

Seaweed viz., Sargassum tenerrumum, S. swartzii and S. wightii bused as soil amendment alone or with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bradyrhnobium japonicum and Paecilomyces lilacinus significantly (p<0.05) reduced infection of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium solani on sunflower. Seaweeds were found less effective or increased Rhizoctonia solani infec...

Soil amendment with Prosopis juliflora, P.glandulosa, P.cinererea and neem cake significantly (p<0.05) controlled the infection of Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium solani on okra roots. Combined use of Prosopis spp., with Verticillium chlamydosporium and Paecilomyces lilacinus showed better control of root infecting fungi th...