Viola canescens Wall. is an important medicinal plant with reported therapeutic benefits. The current work sought to investigate the antidiarrheal properties of V. canescens extracts both in vivo and in silico. This study applied molecular docking to unravel the molecular mechanism of V. canescens and to find the most effective phytocompounds with antidiarrheal effects. The antidiarrheal activity of V. canescens was assessed utilizing the castor oil-induced diarrhea assay and the charcoal meal assay. Antidiarrheal characteristics were evaluated by measuring parameters such as intestinal motility, fecal score, and hypersecretion. The V. canescens extract had a dose-dependent and statistically significant impact in the charcoal meal assay and castor oil-induced diarrhea assay. In the castor oil-induced diarrhea assay, the ethyl acetate fraction (65.96%) showed the highest percentage of defecation inhibition at the highest dose (300 mg/kg (bw)), followed by the uncorrected crystalline compound (63.83%), crude alkaloids (63.83%), chloroform fraction (63.83%), and crude flavonoids (55.32%), while the aqueous fraction (40.43%) and n-Hexane fraction (42.55%) revealed the lowest antidiarrheal potential. In addition, the molecular docking investigation showed emetine, quercetin, and violanthin, isolated chemicals of V. canescens, to have the highest binding affinity to the target μ and δ opioid receptors with significant inhibitory capacity. These pharmacologically active metabolites in V. canescens were effective in treating diarrhea. This study lends credence to the traditional usage of V. canescens in treating gastrointestinal disorders.

This study aims to analyze the phytochemical and antimicrobial-related assays including antibacterial, antifungal, antipellicle, and antibiofilm potential of the root of an alpine medicinal plant (Arnebia euchroma (Royle) I.M.Johnst). Ethanolic, methyl acetate, chloroform, and aqueous extracts of root parts of the A. euchroma plant were prepared. The active metabolites of the root part of the plant were evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively by GC-MS and HPLC techniques, using ethanolic extract. The antimicrobial potential of A. euchroma was investigated using crude extract, fractions, and AgNPs of the A. euchroma root against two Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus) four Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris) and five fungal strains (Rhizoctonia, Cuneate fasciculus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida auris). All the bacterial strains showed sensitivity toward all the fractions (ethanolic crude, chloroform, aqueous, and methyl acetate) and AgNPs. While S. typhi was found the most susceptible, P. vulgaris was most resistant to all extracts and AgNPs. The case of anti-biofilm potential, the S. typhi and Enterococcus were shown to be most susceptible, these bacteria formed biofilm which was disrupted completely by the extracts. Among the fungal strains F. oxysporum and A. niger were the most susceptible and C. fasciculus was the most resistant fungi. All extracts, including ethanolic extract, chloroform, aqueous, and methyl acetate, at concentrations of 12.5 μg/mL and 16 μg/mL and AgNPs showed anti-pellicle activity against S. typhi, Rhizoctonia, and A. niger. Dose-dependent trend in all bioassays was noted. The ethanolic crude and chloroform extracts were the most active followed by methyl acetate and then aqueous extracts. The phytochemical analysis revealed that carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, phenols, tannins, proteins, and flavonoids were found in the plant while terpenoids were absent. The present study highlights that root of the A. euchroma is rich in various types of bioactive phytochemicals, which may be responsible for anti-microbial activities toward the tested pathogenic of bacterial and fungal strains. Our results suggest and confirm A. euchroma extracts could be used economically as a valuable bioproduct with new functional properties in the further drug development and pharmaceutical industries.

Caralluma tuberculata N.E.Br. is a naturally occurring plant that has been used for thousands of years for its health benefits. In the present study, the blood sugar lowering effect of C. tuberculata was investigated and compare with that of the diabetes drug metformin. The lyophilized extract of C. tuberculata was administered given to both non-diabetic and diabetic mice. Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups. Blood glucose levels were measured after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The dose was administered orally after being dissolved in maize oil. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test of SPSS were used to determine and compare the hypoglycemic effects of C. tuberculata extract and metformin at different time intervals. In diabetic mice administered C. tuberculata extract at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight, there was a significant (p<0.001) decrease in mean blood glucose level and a protective effect on organ weight. When the effects of the drug metformin (150 mg/kg body weight) were compared with those of crude plant extract C. tuberculata, the results indicated that metformin was less effective. C. tuberculate reduced blood glucose levels, and the effect was enhanced when it was combined with maize oil. CTE showed a protective effect against alloxan-induced increases in blood glucose levels and organ weight by increasing insulin production in an in vivo experiment. Therefore, CTE could be a promising pharmaceutical target for the treatment of diabetes.

The epidermal characteristics of the foliar of five species of the Verbenaceae family were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. The use of the SEM method to investigate the foliar epidermal features of Verbenaceae family has not yet been reported in Pakistan. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the anatomical characters for correct identification and taxonomic significance of the species within the family Verbenaceae. The result revealed that the plants exhibited variations in leaf epidermal features, including leaf cell size, stomata size, subsidiary cell size, and stomatal index. The studied species, with the exception of Duranta repens, are amphiostomatic i.e. they have stomata on both leaf surfaces. Normally, the stomata are anisocytic and animocytic and were observed on both leaf surfaces in most species. In Vitex negundo, the stomata were not visible as there were many tomentosa and glandular hairs. The shape of the epidermal cells was quite different on both leaf surfaces, with thick and straight epidermal walls in most species, except in Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene, which has smooth epidermal walls. Glandular hairs were observed in Lantana indica Roxb, Vitex negundo L., and Verbena officinalis L. The trichomes in V. negundo are segmented and branched. The largest length (30-33 μm) of stomata was found on the abaxial surface of P. nodiflora, while the smallest length (6-12.5 μm) of stomata was observed in Lantana indica Roxb. The size of epidermal cells varied in both length and width on both surfaces of the leaves. The mean length of epidermal cells was higher on the upper epidermal cell than on the lower surface. The length of the epidermis on the abaxial leaf surface was greatest in Verbenaceae members (42-47.5 μm) in V. officinalis and not in the other species. These anatomical features were given special consideration in the characterization and identification of Verbenaceae taxa.