Maria Batool’s research while affiliated with University of Lahore and other places

Pumpkin is a well-known multifunctional ingredient in diet, full of nutrients, has opened up new vistas for scientists in past years. Not just the fruit of pumpkin, but the flower, seed as well as peel are rich source of primary and secondary metabolites including proteins, carbohydrates, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, tryptophan, delta-7-sterolsand many other phytochemicals. This climber is being used traditionally in many countries such as Austria, Hungary, Mexico, Slovenia, China, Spain, and several Asian as well as African countries as functional food and to promote health promising properties. Other benefits of pumpkin such as improving spermatogenesis, wound healing, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-ulcerative properties and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia have also been confirmed by researchers. For better drug delivery, nanoemulsions and niosomes made by pumpkin seeds have also been reported as a health promising tool but still more researches need to be done in this field. This review mainly focuses on compiling and summarizing most relevant literature to highlight the nutritional value, phytochemical potential and therapeutic benefits of pumpkin.

Several products consist of probiotics that are available in markets, and their potential uses are growing day by day, mainly because some strains of probiotics promote the health of gut microbiota, especially Furmicutes and Bacteroidetes, and may prevent certain gastrointestinal tract (GIT) problems. Some common diseases are inversely linked with the consumption of probiotics, i.e., obesity, type 2 diabetes, autism, osteoporosis, and some immunological disorders, for which the disease progression gets delayed. In addition to disease mitigating properties, these microbes also improve oral, nutritional, and intestinal health, followed by a robust defensive mechanism against particular gut pathogens, specifically by antimicrobial substances and peptides producing probiotics (AMPs). All these positive attributes of probiotics depend upon the type of microbial strains dispensed. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bifidobacteria are the most common microbes used, but many other microbes are available, and their use depends upon origin and health-promoting properties. This review article focuses on the most common probiotics, their health benefits, and the alleviating mechanisms against chronic kidney diseases (CKD), type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and obesity.

Lifestyle associated disorders have always been a hazard for the advancement of chronic diseases. Therefore, use of natural dietary sources is proved to be safe for reducing the occurrence and management of chronic diseases. Okra along with its various parts has been used for the treatment of several diseases. The present study was done to examine the ameliorating effect of okra seed oil on hypercholesterolemic rats. Spargue Dawley Rats were randomly divided into five groups fed with selected experimental diets for a period of 30 days. After inducing hypercholesterolemia, the rats in treatment groups were fed with 6%, 12% and 18% okra seed oil respectively mixed with their normal diet. Decrease in cholesterol and LDL were observed in group 2, 3 and 4. Increase in HDL was also observed in group 2, 3 and 4 from 24.33 ± 1.29 to 25.33 ± 1.29, 23 ± 2.94 to 25 ± 2.94 and from 23.67 ± 1.29 to 26.67 ± 1.29 at day 28. A decrease pattern was also observed in triglycerides in group 2, 3 and 4 from 74 ± 2.22 to 72 ± 2.22, 72 ± 1.63 to 68 ± 1.63 and from 74 ± 3.11 to 66.67 ± 2.45 at day 28. Okra seed oil has the potential to ameliorate hypercholesterolemia. This vegetable can be a part of medical nutrition therapy.

Virtually 100 years before α-tocopherol (universally known as a-Vitamin-E‖) remained revealed. It was essential component to preclude fetal recommencement in expectant. In 1940s, Vitamin E existed recognized as the crucial part that plays in deactivating and extinguishing the free radicals that is present inside the diverse compartments of muscles. There are the eight diverse types of bits interconnected to Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) are founded in human food or diet that is basically manufactured from plants. In overall, the quantity of α-tocopherol (as a Vitamin E) provided by a standard nourishment assortments from 6 to 13 mg per day (1 IU = 0.67 mg). In record states, the predictable mediocre consumption is lower than 10 mg per day. Lipoproteins that are act as an antioxidant are the form of vitamin E is produced in different parts of the body especially in Liver organ where it plays as defender of definite fatty acids and proteins that is existent in the tissue from free activists. It alleviates the cellular casings and it also enhanced the enablement of the immune reaction throughout the infections. It has been reported that the Vitamin E is used to be protecting the various types of diseases like it save the colon infection, prostate malignance, certain cardiac syndromes, ischemia, flume, inflammation and nervous infections.

Virtually 100 years before α-tocopherol (universally known as a-Vitamin-E‖) remained revealed. It was essential component to preclude fetal recommencement in expectant. In 1940s, Vitamin E existed recognized as the crucial part that plays in deactivating and extinguishing the free radicals that is present inside the diverse compartments of muscles. There are the eight diverse types of bits interconnected to Alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) are founded in human food or diet that is basically manufactured from plants. In overall, the quantity of α-tocopherol (as a Vitamin E) provided by a standard nourishment assortments from 6 to 13 mg per day (1 IU = 0.67 mg). In record states, the predictable mediocre consumption is lower than 10 mg per day. Lipoproteins that are act as an antioxidant are the form of vitamin E is produced in different parts of the body especially in Liver organ where it plays as defender of definite fatty acids and proteins that is existent in the tissue from free activists. It alleviates the cellular casings and it also enhanced the enablement of the immune reaction throughout the infections. It has been reported that the Vitamin E is used to be protecting the various types of diseases like it save the colon infection, prostate malignance, certain cardiac syndromes, ischemia, flume, inflammation and nervous infections.