Uzma Hanif | Government College University, Lahore (original) (raw)

Papers by Uzma Hanif

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Dec 21, 2022

Free radicals interfere with the equilibrium of cells and tissues, which can lead to cancer. Fres... more Free radicals interfere with the equilibrium of cells and tissues, which can lead to cancer. Fresh water algae such as Microspora tumidula and Lyngbya kützingii is a great source of secondary antioxidant metabolites. These metabolites most likely work well in the therapy of cancer. Algae exhibit huge variety of pigments not only chlorophyll, Carotenoids, phycobilins, and xanthophylls are the most prevalent of these. In the beginning, the medicinal effect of microalgae biomass was studied when it was used as pills, powder, and water additives. More and more studies in recent years have focused on finding and using useful medicinal components in algae. Aim of this study to evaluate the antioxidant role of algae in pharmaceutical industries. In the current investigation, the algal extracts were prepared by using three solvents methanol, chloroform and n-hexane to know about antioxidant potential of algae of specific area. To evaluate the antioxidant activity different test were performed such as DPPH, TAA, TPC, FRAP and MC. In Microspora tumidula 15.16% DPPH highest value was shown by methanolic extract. In FRAP Lyngbya kützingii showed maximum value in methanolic extract 64 µM Trolox mg-1. While the highest value of TPC by Lyngbya kützingii was shown in chloroform extracts 37.5µg GAE /mg. The results of total antioxidant activity (TAA) were showed that Lyngbya kützingii and Microspora tumidula both exhibited the highest value 154mg /g and 152mg/g respectively in methanolic extract. The result of metal chelating test showed highest value in chloroform extract 10.44% by Lyngbya kützingii. So both these algal species showed antioxidant potential.

Agronomy

Mimosoideae is one of the taxonomically complex subfamilies of Fabaceae. Several studies have rep... more Mimosoideae is one of the taxonomically complex subfamilies of Fabaceae. Several studies have reported the pollen morphology of Mimosoideae taxa and their taxonomic relevance, but no such study was found specifically for Hainan Island in southern China. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the selected Mimosoideae taxa and explore the new palynological traits to support and strengthen the systematics of Mimosoideae using multiple microscopic techniques. The polar axis, equatorial diameter of the pollen grains, colpus length and width were measured. The smallest pollen grain size was found in Mimosa pudica (7.8 × 7.75 µm), while the largest pollen size was found in Albizia lebback (87.54 × 77.97 µm). Similarly, significant variation was found in the exine and colpus surface patterns. The subfamily Mimosoideae is considered eurypalynous because of the variation in pollen traits. In addition, variation was also found in the quantitative traits. Comparatively, the po...

International Journal of Phytomedicine, 2013

An Ethno botanical survey was carried out during 2011-2012 in order to document the importance of... more An Ethno botanical survey was carried out during 2011-2012 in order to document the importance of the plants in Qadirabad, Tehsile Phalia and District Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 54 plants were collected belonging to 29 families, from which 50 were dicots and 4 were monocots, 28 families were angiosperms and only 1 was Pteridophyte. Papilionaceae was the dominant family. The plant species collected from the studied area and were identified with flora of Pakistan. Plants were categorized in single usage plants, two usage plants, and multi usage plants. It was observed that mostly plants were used for treatment of different kinds of diseases like stomachic diseases, Piles, constipation; bleeding wounds, snake bite etc. Cutting of trees for earning livelihood were common. It was also observed during this study, that harvesting of the plants is very common for local uses

International Journal of Phytomedicine, 2014

The present work is an effort to discover ethnopharmacological effects, such as anti-microbial, M... more The present work is an effort to discover ethnopharmacological effects, such as anti-microbial, MIC, antioxidant assay, viz; total antioxidant, total phenolic contents, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH analysis. The crude extracts of bark and leaves of plant Spermadictyon suaveolens Roxb. was obtained in polar and nonpolar solvents viz; petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and distilled water. The physical and chemical properties of plant extracts were determined like colour, texture, chemical nature and percentage yield. S. suaveolens bark extract in water exposed maximum yield, i.e. 2.3% The pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains used were including two gram positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis ), three gram negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae ) and three fungal strains( Aspergillus niger , Aspergillus oryzae and Fusarium solani ) . Maximum zone of inhibition of S. suaveolens was leaf ...

Microscopy Research and Technique

Microscopy Research and Technique, 2020

Adulteration is the root cause of producing not only a chemically and pharmacologically inferior ... more Adulteration is the root cause of producing not only a chemically and pharmacologically inferior but also in some instances hazardous or poisonous drug. Despite availability of several techniques, microscopy and physicochemical analyses are the most practical approaches for crude drug authentication. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate morphological, microscopic, and physicochemical properties of root, bark, leaf, and fruit of Diospyros montana Morphological properties were determined by sensory organs, whereas microscopic features of cross‐sections and powders were determined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The proximate and fluorescence analyses were performed using the standard guidelines. The physical examination of fresh, shade‐dried, and powdered material showed no significant change in color. The identifying cellular structures included cuboidal cork, pitted tracheids, scalariform, reticulate and spiral xylary vessels, and rosettes, raphide, and cuboidal cal...

5 Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the water quality of Hana Urak and Hazar Ganji (... more 5 Abstract: This study was carried out to assess the water quality of Hana Urak and Hazar Ganji (Karkhasa) of Quetta city. A total of 12 water samples were collected from two locations. The physico-chemical parameters for water quality included pH (7.56±0.2-7.43±0.19), total solids (0.03±0.007-0.04±0.01) and total coliform bacteria (412.33±52.08-381±98.38). Some heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb) were also determined. All parameters were compared with standard permissible limits to assess the best-designated use of water for drinking purposes. The concentration of all the trace metals was with in the permissible limits for its use as drinking water and other purposes according to World Health Organization (WHO). Since the water of both areas contain high number of coliform bacteria, hence cannot be used for drinking purposes without prior treatment. The present study recommends that top priority should be given to monitor the depletion of water level of both areas.

In the present study, the effects of dung, leaf litter and urea were examined in the development ... more In the present study, the effects of dung, leaf litter and urea were examined in the development of mycorrhizal associations under field conditions in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) cv. masur 95. Various growth parameters, fresh and dry weights of the plant, root-length and shoot-length were determined. In the final yield, the percentage of general infection, number of arbuscules, number of vesicles, number of pods per plant, as well as the number of seeds per plant, 100 seeds weight were recorded over a period of six weeks to ascertain the effects of the mycorrhizal associations. The control plot (To) showed normal growth while experimental plot, especially amended with leaf litter (T2), showed the greatest mycorrhizal infection as compared to the soils amended with urea (T3) and dung (T1). This is because urea and dung contain high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus which suppress the mycorrhizal infection that is why the plots T3 and T1 showed stunted growth. The number of arbusc...

International Journal of Phytomedicine, 2015

HCV continues to be a major health threat globally; approximately 130 million people are infected... more HCV continues to be a major health threat globally; approximately 130 million people are infected around the world. The aim of the study was to describe the HCV prevalence in drug addicts the most deprived, isolated and most of the times poor part of our community. This was a cross sectional study focusing the drug addicts under treatment in rehabilitation centers. A total of 92 drug addicts were recruited from four different centers at Lahore including Silverlining Lahore, Silverlining Sheikhupura, Roshan Mustaqbil Lahore and Panah Lahore. All the subjects were tested for HCV RNA PCR, SGPT and SGOT. Out of 92 subjects 23 (25%) were HCV positive and remaining 69 (75%) were HCV negative concluding the drug addicts a higher risk group. Among the HCV positive IDU`s showed a greater percentage 78% (18) and non-IDU`s only 22% (05) proving the injection users the highest risk group. The HCV positive drug users also turned up with a much high SGPT and SGOT levels with a mean of 92 U/L and ...

Transylvanian Review, 2017

Background: The present study was carried out to clear up the taxonomic position and delimitation... more Background: The present study was carried out to clear up the taxonomic position and delimitation of the taxa through palynological parameters. In the present study palynological investigation of some selected medicinal plants belonging to district Lahore was conducted. Materials and Methods: The distinguishing characteristics for the selected species were found using systematized methods by using LM and SEM. In this study important pollen morphological features of these medicinal species such as polar and equatorial outline and their diameter, P/E ratio, presence or absence of pore, sculpturing of pollen, exine thickness, intine thickness, intercellular distance of exine and intine, presence or absence of spines, length of spines, width of spines, presence or absence of colpi and length of colpi, were compared. Remarkable variations in these pollen characters had been observed among these medicinal plants. Results: Pollen grains were usually circular-semicircular (Calendula officin...

The Research work was conducted to analyze the palynomorphological data of ornamental plants coll... more The Research work was conducted to analyze the palynomorphological data of ornamental plants collected from Lahore city. The results compiled indicated that total 14 pollen taxa were identified belonging to 12 families and 14 different genera. The pollen identified belonging to woody, herbaceous and shrubby vegetation. Among them nine were exotic taxa and five were native species. Woody pollen was abundant in samples while the percentage of the herbaceous pollen consisted of only 21.42%. Colpate and prolate type of apertures were characterized in all the pollen taxa. It was observed that circular apertures were only present in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. and Cassia fistula Linn. The maximum pollen size was recorded in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn. and Lagerstroemia indica Linn.

$Research paper thumbnail of “Phytochemical and antimicrobial investigation of methanolic extract/fraction of Ocimum basilicum L.”$

The crude solvent extracts of medicinal plants may be exploited as medicines for the betterment o... more The crude solvent extracts of medicinal plants may be exploited as medicines for the betterment of human health. The isolation, purification and characterization of active phytochemical components and their mechanism of action is of predominant grandness. Keeping in view the importance of Ocimum basilicum, the present study was designed to document the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract of O. basilicum stem. For this purpose dried powdered stem was extracted by successive solvent extraction using petroleum ether (for non-polar Fractions), chloroform (for constituents of intermediate polarities) and methanol (for polar constituents). Six major fractions Ob-1 to Ob-6 were separated from the methanolic extract of O. basilicum stem by column chromatography and purified by thin layer chromatography. All biological active and purified fractions were analyzed by Ultra Violet (UV) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. These extracts were initially s...

The antioxidant potential and total phenolic contents of a red alga Agardhiella robusta (Grevi.) ... more The antioxidant potential and total phenolic contents of a red alga Agardhiella robusta (Grevi.) Borg belonging to Rhodophycota collected from coastal areas of Karachi, Pakistan was investigated through various in vitro protocols. Antioxidant potential measured through total antioxidant determination, total phenolic contents, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and DPPH analysis. The antioxidant components were initially extracted in methanol and were further fractionated in solvents of different polarity. The results showed that the petroleum ether fraction exhibited highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, i.e. (79.5±1.9%) at a concentration of 1000ug/ml with IC50 286.13±0.34 μg/mL relative to the BHT. While Methanol extract showed highest phenolic contents i.e. 1542.5 ±1.2 GAEmg/mL, highest FRAP values i.e. 18.95± TEuM/mL as well as least IC50 value of 25.81 ± 0.65 μg/mL which indicated its potential for scavenging the free radicals. On the basis of these results obtained h...

Soil samples collected from an archaeological site Gulabi Bagh Lahore to evaluate pollen morpholo... more Soil samples collected from an archaeological site Gulabi Bagh Lahore to evaluate pollen morphology and type of pollen present in the surface soil or their origin either they belong to vegetation of the same area or somewhat migrated. For that purpose soil was collected from 2 feet deep of the ground on 17 November 2008. Standard methods were used for the treatment of soil samples and slides were prepared. The results indicated total 10 pollen taxa in the soil sample belonging to 9 families and 10 genera. Among them nine were introduced or cultivated and only one belonging to the natural vegetation. The shapes of pollen were mostly prolate and spheroidal. Polyporate number of aperture and porate type of aperture was characteric in all the pollen taxa except one in Jatropha curcas Linn. which was non aperturate. It was also observed that maximum pollen size was recorded in Murraya koenigii (Linn.) Spreng. and the minimum pollen size was observed in Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) P. Beauv.

Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (Vill.) Brenan, a medicinal herb belongs to family Amrant... more Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (Vill.) Brenan, a medicinal herb belongs to family Amranthaceae. Pharamcognostical and physicochemical characterization of A. graecizans subsp. silvestris which included; macro and microscopic evaluation, phytochemical and physicochemical analysis of leaf, stem, root, fruit and seeds was investigated. Transverse sections of leaf, stem and root showed the arrangement of different cells, certain tissues that will serve as diagnostic characters to standardize this plant. The powder microscopy of leaf, stem, root, fruit and seed depicted various microscopic structures including; fibres, vessels, tracheids, oil cells, starch granules, cortical cells, cork cells, phloem, collenchyma and parenchyma tissues etc. In fluorescence analysis different colors were seen when extracts were exposed to ordinary and UV light. Phytochemical screening of methanolic extract of whole herb exhibited the occurrence of saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, card...

The present study aimed for the extraction of color dyes from different sources, such as Brassica... more The present study aimed for the extraction of color dyes from different sources, such as Brassica oleracea, Brassica campestris, Citrus limon, Citrus limetta, Tagetes erecta, Spinacea oleracea, Beta vulgaris, Rosa indica and Curcuma longa. The leftovers of such plants were mainly used for color dye extraction and their confirmation using spectrophotometric analysis. The specific color pigments like carotenoids, anthocyanin, chlorophyll and betanin were found to be the main coloring agents that impart specific color to the samples. Among all these samples, the maximum yield was obtained from C. limetta aqueous peel extract, and among all the temperatures employed room temperature was found out to be the most suitable temperature for the stability of color extracts. The extracted colors were utilized in candy making and sugar syrup making and were also used for coloring various foods stuffs. Moreover, the extracted color dyes were applied for dyeing purposes on cotton cloth with alum ...

The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) results in the unintentional release into the ... more The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) results in the unintentional release into the water body. Therefore, understanding of the potentially harmful impacts of AgNPs and Ag‐salt on aquatic animals is a need of time. This study was design to analyze the oxidative stress and histopathological damages in Cyprinus carpio. The synthesis of AgNPs from Halymenia porphyraeformis and by reduction of chemical was done. Nanoparticles were characterized with UV–Visible spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, and FTIR analysis. The comparative toxicological effect of chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ch‐AgNPs), green silver nanoparticles (Gr‐AgNPs), and Ag‐salt on C. carpio was analyzed. For oxidative stress analysis, different tests Lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase, glutathione reduction (GST), and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) were performed. The highest LPO 245.168 ± 0.034 was recorded in Ch‐AgNPs‐treated gills and the lowest 56.4532 ± 0.02 was found in Gr‐AgNPs‐treated liver. Maxi...

$Research paper thumbnail of Phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant evaluation of different fractions of Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (Vill.) Brenan$

Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine, 2014

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant ability of methanolic extract an... more OBJECTIVE To evaluate the phytochemical and in vitro antioxidant ability of methanolic extract and different fractions of Amaranthus graecizans subsp. silvestris (A. graecizans subsp. silvestris). METHODS Methanolic extract of A. graecizans subsp. silvestris was obtained by cold maceration and then methanolic extract was subjected to fractionation and different fractions i.e. n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions were obtained. Methanolic extract and all other fractions were subjected to phytochemical investigation by performing different phytochemical group tests like alkaloid, tannins, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, etc. In vitro antioxidant activity of A. graecizans subsp. silvestris was evaluated by using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), ferric thiocyanate assay, total antioxidant activity by phosphomolybdenum, ferric reducing antioxidant power, total phenolic content and lipid peroxidation methods. RESULTS Maximum antioxidant activ...

The present study deals with the application of glucose oxidase (GOX) for the production of metal... more The present study deals with the application of glucose oxidase (GOX) for the production of metal gluconates by fermentation method. It provides a method for the conversion of glucose into gluconic acid and its derivatives using the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOX). Due to the presence of calcium carbonate in fermentation medium the gluconic acid is converted into calcium gluconate. Conditions like concentration of substrate, temperature, pH, fermentation period and different phosphate sources were optimized during fermentation. The maximum GOX activity was observed at 35°C (pH 5.5) after 44 h of incubation at 100 rpm. At the maximum enzyme activity, the percentage yield of gluconates are also maximum; both go side by side. Sulphuric and oxalic acids method were employed for the production of gluconic acid. Derivatives of gluconic acid that is, calcium lactate gluconate, sodium gluconate, potassium gluconate, zinc gluconate and copper gluconate were formed by using double displacement a...