The biological significance of polyoxometalates is well renowned owing to their anticancer, antiviral and antibiotic properties. Here another therapeutic aspect of polyoxometalates has been explored as alkaline phosphatase inhibitors along with the remarked anticancer and amoebicidal properties. Synthesis and inhibitory studies of a set of seven polyoxotungstates against two major isozymes of alkaline phosphatase i.e. tissue specific and tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase revealed their promising activity as alkaline phosphatase inhibitors. All compounds exhibited alkaline phosphatase inhibitory potency in nanomolar ranges. For tissue specific alkaline phosphatase, Na₁₀[H₂W₁₂O₄₂]·27H₂O (A6) was found to be the most potent inhibitor (K_i value 313 ± 7 nM), while for tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase Na₃₃[H₇P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]·92H₂O (A3) showed the highest inhibition potency (K_i values 135 ± 10 nM). Moreover cytotoxicity evaluation of these compounds against lung carcinoma cells and immortalized human corneal epithelial cells demonstrated their anticancer potential with no cytotoxic effects on normal human cell lines. All anticancer drugs result in an impaired immune system and such immunocompromised persons become vulnerable to opportunistic infections specially Acanthamoeba which causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) which almost always results in death. The exclusive property of our tested polyoxotungstates is their strong amoebicidal activity against Acanthamoeba. Hence the study reveals a new window towards cancer therapy with the combined control of elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis in cancer patients.

Naegleria is well recognized for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis which always results into death. To date there is not a single report demonstrating molecular identification of Naegleria from water resources of Pakistan thus the aim of the proposed study. Here, in total 135 various water samples (like domestic tap water, municipal water, sea water, well water, tube well water, canal water, boring water, sewage water, lake water and stream water) were collected across Pakistan and evaluated for Naegleria species. Naegleria australiensis (pathogenic) and Naegleria lovaniensis (non pathogenic) were isolated on non nutrient agar plates and were further identified by PCR and sequencing. To best of our knowledge we have described for the first time the isolation and molecular identification of thermotolerant pathogenic and non pathogenic Naegleria species from diverse water samples including drinking water across Pakistan. The presence of pathogenic Naegleria species in diverse water samples may add the health threat to the community.