Polygonum hydropiper L. is a traditionally used medicinal plant. The present study was designed to explore the α-amylase inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Polygonum hydropiper L. Polarity-based solvent extracts (n-hexane, acetone, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, and water) of Polygonum hydropiper leaves and stem were used. Antioxidant activity was assessed by free radical scavenging assay (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity methods. Quantitative phytochemical analyses suggested that the stem of Polygonum hydropiper L. contains higher levels of bioactive compounds than its leaves (p < 0.05). The results suggested that stem-derived extracts of Polygonum hydropiper L. are more active against bacterial species, including two Gram-positive and three Gram-negative strains. Moreover, our results showed that the bioactive compounds of Polygonum hydropiper L. significantly inhibit α-amylase activity. Finally, we reported the polarity-based solvent extracts of Polygonum hydropiper L. and revealed that the stem, rather than leaves, has a high antioxidant potential as measured by FRAP and DPPH assay with IC₅₀ values of 1.38 and 1.59 mg/mL, respectively. It may also be deducted from the data that the Polygonum hydropiper L. could be a significant candidate, which should be subjected to further isolation and characterization, to be used as an antidiabetic, antimicrobial and antioxidant resource in many industries, like food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases throughout the world. Different types of approaches are used for the treatment of cancer and one of them is using medicinal plants to reduce side effects. For the treatment of cancer, there are many proteins and cytokines to be targeted like the cyclooxygenase (COX-2) enzyme. High levels of COX-2 enzyme and prostaglandin were found in patients suffering from cancer. This points towards the potential of targeting this enzyme to inhibit its enzymatic activity and thus reduce prostaglandin. Phyla nodiflora has been reported to induce apoptosis and cell cycle progression in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells showing higher expression of transcription factors inducing tumorigenesis. Increased antioxidant activity in Ehrlich-Lettre ascites carcinoma (EAC-bearing) mice may be responsible for the anticancer effect. We decided to conduct in vitro experimental and Insilico study including antioxidant activity, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulation, drug-likeness, ADME and toxicity to identify therapeutic agent of Phyla nodiflora to verify anticancer and antioxidant activity of the plant and to verify either these compounds are harmful or safe for human body. The results show that methanol extract of the plant has potential as antioxidant and molecular docking shows that compounds of the plant including 8-methoxyluteolin (-8.8kcal/mol), 8-methoxyapigenin (-8.3kcal/mol) and3-methylherbacetin (-9.1kcal/mol) to be best potential drug candidates as they have highest binding affinity, follow Lipinski guidelines of five as well and the RMSD and RMSF show that they have strong binding interaction with receptor and show stability. In this study we have reported three bioactive molecules 8-methoxyluteolin, 8-methoxyapigenin and 3-methylherbacetin from Phyla nodiflora which may act as drug candidates and therapeutic agents for treatment of cancer while targeting the COX-2 enzyme.

Acromesomelic dysplasias (AMDs) are rare skeletal disorders marked by disproportionate shortening of middle and distal limb segments. Among these, AMD Maroteaux type (AMDM), is commonly associated with mutations in NPR2 gene. However, mutations in the Indian Hedgehog (IHH) gene have been linked to several skeletal dysplasia with overlapping features. In the present study, we report a consanguineous Pakistani family presenting with a novel AMDM type skeletal dysplasia that phenotypically resembles but is distinct from AMDM. Mmutational screening was carried out by whole exome sequencing (WES) followed by Sanger sequencing. In silico modeling and molecular dynamics simulation analysis were used to validate the variant. WES identified a novel homozygous missense variant in the IHH gene (c.1018G>A; p. Val340Met) which segregated within the family and was absent in unaffected ethnically matched controls. Structural modelling and simulations indicated that the p. Val340Met substitution destabilizes the IHH C-terminal auto processing domain leading to reduced compactness and stability. These changes are predicted to impair IHH processing and function, thereby contributing to disease onset. This study reports a novel form of AMDM type skeletal dysplasia in a Pakistani family, and identify the novel homozygous IHH variant, thereby expanding the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of IHH -related skeletal disorders.