| 1. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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A comparative study of the in vitro enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. and Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret from Pakistan: New sources of natural products for public health problems
- 2019
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In: South African Journal of Botany. - : Elsevier BV. - 0254-6299 .- 1727-9321. ; 120, s. 146-156
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Infusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from flowers of Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. and Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poiret and evaluated for in vitro inhibition of enzymes implicated on the onset of neurological diseases (acetylcholinesterase: AChE and butyrylcholinesterase: BuChE), diabetes (alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase), obesity (lipase) and skin hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). Extracts were also appraised for radical scavenging activity (RSA) on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, and for metal chelating activity on copper and iron ions. Samples were evaluated for their total contents in different phenolics groups by spectrophotometric methods, for phenolic profile by high performance liquid chromatography e diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) and for mineral contents by microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AE). Regarding B. monosperma, the tincture allowed for a moderate inhibition of AChE, the decoction was able to inhibit alpha-glucosidase and no activity was observed towards BuChE, alpha-amylase or lipase. All extracts had a low or moderate inhibition towards tyrosinase, and significant RSA and metal chelating potential. As for S. grandiflora, only the decoction inhibited AChE, none of the extracts was able to inhibit BuChE, all samples inhibited alpha-glucosidase and infusions and decoctions had similar inhibitory properties towards alpha-amylase. None of the extracts was active against lipase, but all were able to inhibit tyrosinase. Extracts had also significant RSA, moderate copper chelation and decoctions had the capacity to chelate iron. The most abundant macroelements in both species were potassium and calcium, while iron was the prevalent microelement, especially in B. monosperma. Both species had significant levels of phenolic compounds, and the main components in decoctions and infusions of B. monosperma were syringic and salicylic acids, while the major compound identified in tinctures was the flavonoid luteolin-7-O-glucoside. In S. grandiflora the most abundant were chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acids and catechin hydrate. Molecular docking studies on the most abundant molecules in S. grandiflora, (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid, indicate that these compounds are able to dock to alpha-glucosidase in a similar manner than acarbose. Our results suggest that flowers of both species are a promising source of high value-added compounds with enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties. (c) 2018 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Advances in genetic engineering of Ajuga species
- 2018
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In: Biotechnological Approaches for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants : Conservation, Genetic Improvement and Utilization. - Singapore : Springer Singapore. - 9789811305344 ; , s. 599-629
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
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| 3. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Artemisinin and its derivatives: a promising cancer therapy
- 2020
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In: Molecular Biology Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0301-4851 .- 1573-4978. ; 47, s. 6321-6336
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The world is experiencing a cancer epidemic and an increase in the prevalence of the disease. Cancer remains a major killer, accounting for more than half a million deaths annually. There is a wide range of natural products that have the potential to treat this disease. One of these products is artemisinin; a natural product fromArtemisiaplant. The Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded in 2015 for the discovery of artemisinin in recognition of the drug's efficacy. Artemisinin produces highly reactive free radicals by the breakdown of two oxygen atoms that kill cancerous cells. These cells sequester iron and accumulate as much as 1000 times in comparison with normal cells. Generally, chemotherapy is toxic to both cancerous cells and normal cells, while no significant cytotoxicity from artemisinin to normal cells has been found in more than 4000 case studies, which makes it far different than conventional chemotherapy. The pleiotropic response of artemisinin in cancer cells is responsible for growth inhibition by multiple ways including inhibition of angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, disruption of cell migration, and modulation of nuclear receptor responsiveness. It is very encouraging that artemisinin and its derivatives are anticipated to be a novel class of broad-spectrum antitumor agents based on efficacy and safety. This review aims to highlight these achievements and propose potential strategies to develop artemisinin and its derivatives as a new class of cancer therapeutic agents.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Biotic stress triggered small RNA and RNAi defense response in plants
- 2020
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In: Molecular Biology Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0301-4851 .- 1573-4978. ; 47, s. 5511-5522
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The yield of crops is largely affected by different types of biotic stresses. To minimize the damage, crop plants adapted themselves to overcome the stress conditions through gene expression reprogramming at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. With a better knowledge of plants' responses in adverse environments, new methodologies and strategies have been applied to develop better stress-tolerant plants. In this manner, small RNAs (micro RNA and small-interfering RNA) are reported to play a central role to combat biotic stresses in plants. Depending upon the stress stimuli, these small RNAs can up or down regulate the genes expression, that indicate their potential role in overcoming the stress. These stress-induced small RNAs may reduce the expression of the target gene(s) that might negatively influence plants' response to the adverse conditions. Contrariwise, miRNA, a class of small RNA, can downregulate its expression to upregulate the expression of the target gene(s), which might positively aid to the stress adaptation. Along with this, benefits of RNA interference (RNAi) have also been stated in functional genomic research on insects, fungi and plant pathogens. RNAi is involved in the safe transport of dsRNA to the targeted mRNA(s) in the biotic stress-causing agents (for example fungi and insects) and saves the plant from damage, which is a safer approach compared to use of chemical pesticides. The current review summarizes the role of small RNAs and the use of RNAi to save the plants from biotic stress conditions.
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| 6. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Enhanced stress tolerance in transformed Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. regenerants by upregulated gene expression of metabolic pathways
- 2020
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In: Turkish Journal Of Botany. - : The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-ULAKBIM) - DIGITAL COMMONS JOURNALS. - 1300-008X .- 1303-6106. ; 44, s. 410-426
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The rol oncogenes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes enhance the production of medicinally important compounds in plants and provide a first barrier against the overproduction of reactive oxygen species during biotic and abiotic stress. 'this study was designed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in biosynthetic pathways and their impact on metabolic contents and environmental stress tolerance in regenerated Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. After successful transformation, real-time quantitative PCR confirmed the increased expression (1.94-6.59-fold) of HMGR, HDS, FDS, PAL, and TTG1 genes in transgenic lines. Furthermore, GC-MS coupled with principal component analysis revealed diverse concentrations of 97 metabolites in A. bracteosa. Transgenic lines showed greater survival under multiple stresses. This was revealed by significant chlorophyll content (8.13-21 mu moles/m(2)), higher quantum efficiency of PSII (F-v/F-m), and the performance index (PIabs) value. Similarly, catalase and peroxidase enzyme activities were enhanced during extreme drought (300-400 mM mannitol) and salinity (150-200 mM NaCl) conditions, compared to untransformed control. Wild type control plant leaves were completely necrotized by Aspergillus fumigatus (FCBP 66) and Fusarium solani (FCBP 0291), whereas transformed leaves had improved antifungal resistance. In conclusion, our data suggest that rolABC genes have a significant impact on the synthesis of metabolites involved in enhancing multistress tolerance in A. bracteosa.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Metabolic signatures altered by in vitro temperature stress in Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex. Benth
- 2017
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In: Acta Physiologiae Plantarum. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0137-5881 .- 1861-1664. ; 39
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To elucidate how biosynthesis of plant metabolites is affected by temperature, metabolite profiles from in vitro regenerated plants raised under different temperature regimes of 10, 15 C, 20 C, 25 C and 30 C were obtained using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to identify key metabolites. Several bin masses were detected by PCA loading scatter plots which separated the samples. In-house bin program selectively manifested the putative known metabolites depending on % total ions count and intensity of selected bins in the plant samples. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were harvested to highest levels (12.9 mg GAE/g DW and 9.3 mg QE/g DW), respectively, at 15 C. Besides, pinoresinol (lignan), some of the vital amino acids such as serine, methionine, histidine and glutamine were found to be at higher amount in plants raised at 15 C. Significant phenylpropanoids like cinnamic acid, caffeic acid and quercitol were detected at a higher concentration in plants raised at 15 C as compared to other treatments. However, phosphoenolpyruvate, and oxalosuccinate (intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway) were accumulated the most in plants raised at 30 C and they were detected with lowest values at 10 C. Glucose and deoxy-xylose 5 phosphate (intermediates of TCA cycle) were found in higher amounts at temperature treatments of 15 and 25 C, respectively. We conclude that a low-temperature treatment (15 C) results in a stress-induced accumulation of a variety of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites.
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| 9. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Production of biomass and medicinal metabolites through adventitious roots in Ajuga bracteosa under different spectral lights
- 2019
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In: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1011-1344 .- 1873-2682. ; 193, s. 109-117
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ajuga bracteosa an important medicinal herb, is getting endangered worldwide due to destructive harvesting by pharmaceutical industries in its different habitats. It is in dire need for protection and demands conservation and sustainable utilization. In the present study, effects of a-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) under different spectral lights were estimated on the growth, secondary metabolism and biosynthesis of phenolic acids in adventitious roots (AR) cultures of A. bracteosa. Among the different spectral lights, highest AR induction frequency (88%) and formation of biomass (72 g/L FW and 22 g/L DW) were recorded in explants incubated in the presence of 1.5 mg/L NAA under yellow light. Maximum production of poly phenols (TPC;44.2 mg) and flavonoids (TFC;2.51 mg) were recorded in the AR cultures grown in the presence of blue light. Further, highest total protein content of (401.6 mu g) was detected in the AR in response to normal white light. Blue spectral light induced maximum superoxide dismutase (SOD; 2.5 nM) and peroxidase activity (POD;0.85 nM) respectively, in AR cultures. Compared with other monochromatic lights, red light significantly enhanced the antioxidant potential of the AR cultures. Analysis through High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) revealed significant variations in the levels of important phenolic acids such as gallic acid, catechin, rutin, caffeic acid, myricetin and apigenin in the AR samples treated with the lights of different spectra.
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| 10. |
- Kayani, Waqas Khan
(author)
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Thidiazuron regulated growth, secondary metabolism and essential oil profiles in shoot cultures of Ajuga bracteosa
- 2018
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In: Industrial Crops and Products. - : Elsevier BV. - 0926-6690 .- 1872-633X. ; 121, s. 418-427
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ajuga bracteosa a highly demanding pharmaceutical plant, is getting endangered in several regions of the world due to ruthless and destructive harvesting. Research efforts need to be done for its sustainable production and utilization. In this study, effects of Thidiazuron (TDZ) in comparison to conventional cytokinins were tested in vitro on shoot morphogenesis, antioxidant system and biosynthesis of volatile organic compounds in A. bracteosa. Thidiazuron alone acted as the best growth regulator for direct shoot morphogenesis in explants by promoting highest induction of shoots (88%) in stem explants cultivated on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with 1.2 ppm (TDZ). At lower doses (0.5 ppm), TDZ resulted in highest multiplication (18 shoots) and elongation (5.8 cm) of shoots. Further, shoot cultures raised in vitro at TDZ (1.2 ppm) displayed higher activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD: 4.2 U/mg protein), peroxidase (POD: 2.8 U/mg protein) and ascorbate peroxidase (APx: 1.8 U/mg protein), respectively.Maximum total phenolic content (TPC; 4.5 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoid content (TFC; 3.5 mg QE/g DW), respectively were detected in shoot cultures grown over MS medium combined with 1.2 ppm TDZ plus 2.0 ppm benzylaminopurine (BA). Analysis through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC MS) showed, biosynthesis of 34 volatile compounds in the in vitro raised shoots. Wherein, TDZ (1.2 ppm) resulted in production of substantial amounts of bioactive monoterpene hydrocarbons including a-pinene (5.3%), camphene (4.45%), limonene (3.4%), 1,8 cineole (14.3%), alpha-thujone (9.4%) and oxygenated monoterpenes such as camphor (12.2%), borneol (11.4%) and nerol (9.2%). Thus, besides providing an ex-situ conservation strategy for a high valued medicinal herb, this study has the potential for commercial production of important bioactive volatile compounds.
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| 11. |
- Mahmood, Rashid, et al.
(author)
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Assessment of antidiabetic potential and phytochemical profiling of Rhazya stricta root extracts
- 2020
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In: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. - : Springer Nature. - 2662-7671. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia that may occur due to genetic, environmental or lifestyle factors. Natural remedies have been used to treat diabetes since long and many antidiabetic compounds of varied efficacies have been isolated from medicinal plants. Rhazya stricta has been used for decades for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and associated ailments. Considering the folkloric use of R. stricta against diabetes, it was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of its root extracts against diabetes through in vitro assays and in vivo studies using animal model along with phytochemical profiling through GCMS. Methods: Various fractions of Rhazya stricta obtained through column chromatography were evaluated for a variety of assays including a-glucosidase, Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), beta-secretase and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion studies. For the in vivo studies the alloxan-induced diabetic mice were treated with root extracts and blood glucose levels, HbA1C, and other biochemical markers along with the histological study of the liver were done. The phytochemical identification was performed using an Agilent 7890B GC coupled to a 7010 Triple Quadrupole (MS/MS) system. GraphPad Prism software version 5.01 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Majority of the extract fractions showed excellent results against diabetes by inhibiting enzymes DPP-IV (Up to 61%) and beta-secretase (Up to 83%) with IC50s 979 pg/ml and 169 mu g/ml respectively with increase in the GLP1 secretion. The results of in vivo studies indicated a marked reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c levels along with positive effects on other parameters like lipid profile, liver functions and renal functions of extract-treated mice as compared to control. The histological examination of the liver demonstrated hepatoprotective effects against diabetes led changes and various classes of phytochemicals were also identified through GCMS in different fractions. Conclusion: The results revealed strong antidiabetic activity of R. stricta root with the potential to protect body organs against diabetic changes. Moreover, a variety of phytochemicals has also been identified through GCMS that might be responsible for the antidiabetic potential of Rhazya stricta root.
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