Mushtaq Ahmad’s research while affiliated with Quaid-i-Azam University and other places

Natural honey is enriched with essential and beneficial nutrients. This study aimed to investigate the melliferous flora microscopic techniques and assess the biochemical properties of honey. Flavonoid and phenolic contents in honey samples were analyzed via colorimetric and Folin-Ciocalteu methods and the alpha-amylase, reducing power, and minerals using Pull’s and spectroscopy methods. HPLC determined the Sucrose, fructose, and glucose content in the honey samples. Four different classes of moisture content were used to assist the honey quality, including A + < 17, A = 17–18, B = 18–19, and C > 19. This study identified the Eucalyptus globulus, Trifolium pratense, Neltuma juliflora, Ziziphus mauritiana, Asphodelus tenuifolius, Cynodon dactylon, Saccharum spontaneum, and Vachellia nilotica as the predominant plant species honey samples. The total range of moisture was observed from 16.5 to 21.1% in the samples studied. The honey class within the range of 16.5–17.5% was identified as the optimal class. Four classes of sucrose level were used to evaluate the honey quality, including: (2.50–2.60 = A +); (2.61–2.75 = A); (2.76–3.00 = B); (3.00 + = C). The total variation of sucrose levels in the analyzed ranged from 2.50 to 3.89%. Overall, the findings of these studies implemented various aspects of honey production, quality, and potential health benefits, benefiting consumers, beekeepers, and researchers.

This study presents the production of FAMEs from non-edible Silybum marianum oil using a catalyst consisting of an MXene/SrTiO3 composite. The primary aim of this study was to reduce our reliance on petroleum-based fuels by harnessing non-edible oil sources. The catalyst, once prepared, achieved an impressive conversion rate of 98.8%. The optimal parameters for this catalytic conversion included a 7 wt% catalyst concentration, a 1:12 molar ratio of oil to methanol, a 100 min reaction time, and a reaction temperature of 60 °C. These parameters ensured the successful completion of the FAME conversion process. The physicochemical properties of Silybum marianum oil confirmed its suitability as a biodiesel source on an industrial scale. The verification of the synthesized MXene/SrTiO3 catalyst was conducted via XRD, SEM, EDX, and BET, and synthesized biodiesel was confirmed via 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR, and GC-MS. These results indicate that the catalyst described in this study exhibits significant potential for cost-effective biodiesel production under the appropriate reaction conditions.

Industrial activities are paramount to sustaining the economy in a rapidly developing nation and global powerhouse like India. Leather industries are important in the country’s economic map due to the high revenue and employment generation opportunities. Several of these industries contribute largely to environmental pollution. The pollution of the environment is mainly caused by improper disposal of the tannery effluents that are highly rich in hexavalent chromium, a potent human carcinogen. Hexavalent chromium imparts toxic effects on the biotic components, which include plants, animals, and humans. The review portrays the current status of the Indian leather tanning sector and its impact on the Indian economy. The process of chromium tanning and its adverse effects on the environmental biotic components have been briefly discussed. Phytoremediation of these effluents using suitable hyperaccumulating plants has been suggested as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for the sustainable restoration of the polluted environment. The mechanism behind the remediation approach and the factors influencing it have been detailed. The manuscript briefly discusses some important advancements in the field of phytoremediation and emerging technologies and concludes by emphasizing further research for sustainable management of tannery wastes.

The black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) are an ideal insect to produce compost and animal feed. The goal of this study was to use Kitchen waste 50 grams, Cow dung 50 grams, and Rotten fruits 50 grams attractants to gather wild H. illucens and their egg clutches from their natural microhabitat in dumping sites. The fly was trapped in a 1×1×1 feet trap net. The results indicate that humidity 42.5±50.5%, F = 1.754, P = .233 and temperature 27.975±37.05ºC, F = 1.126, P = .353) during the capture of H. illucens and egg clutch in a natural environment. The life cycle has included seven instars, a duration of 39 days, and the longest time period of the instar 6th recorded. We have optimized the temperature range to 24-30ºC and humidity to 60-95% in indoor rearing of the H. illucens. We recorded the varying ingredient content levels, highest Moisture at 38.5%, Crude protein at 55.13%, Crude fiber at 28.18%, Crude fat at 28.18%, and Total Ash at 15.5%. The H. illucens indoor farming is recommended for quality of protein production under a controlled environment which will boost the Pakistani economy and reduce threats to aquatic fauna.

Background Chromium (Cr) toxicity significantly threatens agricultural ecosystems worldwide, adversely affecting plant growth and development and reducing crop productivity. Trehalose, a non-reducing sugar has been identified as a mitigator of toxic effects induced by abiotic stressors such as drought, salinity, and heavy metals. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the influence of exogenously applied trehalose on maize plants exposed to Cr stress. Results Two maize varieties, FH-1046 and FH-1453, were subjected to two different Cr concentrations (0.3 mM, and 0.5 mM). The results revealed significant variations in growth and biochemical parameters for both maize varieties under Cr-induced stress conditions as compared to the control group. Foliar application of trehalose at a concentration of 30 mM was administered to both maize varieties, leading to a noteworthy reduction in the detrimental effects of Cr stress. Notably, the Cr (0.5 mM) stress more adversely affected the shoot length more than 0.3mM of Cr stress. Cr stress (0.5 mM) significantly reduced the shoot length by 12.4% in FH-1046 and 24.5% in FH-1453 while Trehalose increased shoot length by 30.19% and 4.75% in FH-1046 and FH-1453 respectively. Cr stress significantly constrained growth and biochemical processes, whereas trehalose notably improved plant growth by reducing Cr uptake and minimizing oxidative stress caused by Cr. This reduction in oxidative stress was evidenced by decreased production of proline, SOD, POD, MDA, H2O2, catalase, and APX. Trehalose also enhanced photosynthetic activities under Cr stress, as indicated by increased values of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids. Furthermore, the ameliorative potential of trehalose was demonstrated by increased contents of proteins and carbohydrates and a decrease in Cr uptake. Conclusions The study demonstrates that trehalose application substantially improved growth and enhanced photosynthetic activities in both maize varieties. Trehalose (30 mM) significantly increased the plant biomass, reduced ROS production and enhanced resilience to Cr stress even at 0.5 mM.

Heavy metal (HM) stress is one of the most important abiotic stresses affecting flora and fauna worldwide due to a rapid global increase in the urbanization and industrialization and the consequent rise of HM concentration in the atmosphere. Typically, plants have distinct mechanisms to cope up with HM stress. These mechanisms rendering tolerance to the plants by detoxifying the HMs. Additionally, a number of physiological and molecular changes occur in plant cells due to their exposure to HMs. This culminates in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause oxidative stress in plants, which significantly affects plant metabolism and disrupts normal vital cellular functions. However, in order to cope with such stresses, plants possess a strong antioxidant defence system to counteract increases in the ROS-induced stress. The enzymatic components of this system include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and glutathione reductase (GR). The non-enzymatic components are ascorbate, glutathione and phenolic compounds along with lipid-soluble molecules such as carotenoids and tocopherols. This review makes an effort to collect and collate the currently available information on metal stress and cellular antioxidant systems of plants, emphasizing upon the role of enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms for detoxification of HM-induced oxidative stress.

In the present study, a novel PbS:Ni (10 at. %) nanostructure was synthesised via a simple solid state reaction method at 400 °C and constant pressure. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of a face-centred cubic crystalline structure. Preferential growth is observed along the (311) plane direction. The calculated crystallite size of PbS:Ni (10 at. %) from XRD analysis was found to be equal to 65 nm. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of nanostructured PbS:Ni (10 at. %) materials. Its band gap of ~ 2.14 eV was determined by photoluminescence spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the structure of the material. Electrical properties were studied by I-V characteristic at ± 5 V and a temperature range from 100 K to 300 K. The lnV-lnI plot showed a non-linear behaviour of PbS:Ni (10 at. %). Impedance spectroscopy is applied at temperatures from 100 K to 300 K in a frequency range from 20 Hz to 2 MHz to observe the dielectric response of PbS:Ni (10 at. %). As obtained, ε′ ~ 26 and conductivity in the order of 10-4 S · cm-1 were obtained at all temperatures above 10 4 Hz. The results obtained from photoluminescence spectroscopy, I-V characteristics and impedance spectroscopy confirm that PbS:Ni (10 at. %) can be considered as a suitable material for optoelectronic applications.

A diverse group of microorganisms known as plant-associated fungi, also known as endophytic fungi, are usually found anonymously between the cell’s gaps and in plant tissue. These endophytic fungi as allelochemical producers were identified on the leaf of Bursera simaruba, which belongs to family Burseraceae. By the formation of secondary metabolites that boost the plant’s tolerance to biological stresses, growth of host plant is enhance by endophytic fungi. Additionally, they have the ability to biosynthesize “phytochemicals” that are therapeutically important but were formerly believed that only formed by the plant that serves as the host. Between 2011 and 2021, compound from endophytic fungi with wide range of biological activity and novel structure are published and especially identify the endophytic fungi origin, focus on biological and structural activity of compound they form, and special attention given to pharmacological activity of endophytic fungi and mechanism of specific compound. This chapter shows that endophytic fungi have greater capacity that are harnessed as the other way of secondary compounds for the study of pharmacology.