In this research study biodiesel has been successfully produced from vegetable seed oil of an indigenous plant Salvadora persica L. that meets the international biodiesel standard (ASTM D6751). The biodiesel yield was 1.57 g/5g (31.4% by weight) and the in-situ transesterification ester content conversion was 97.7%. The produced biodiesel density was 0.894 g/mL, its kinematic viscosity 5.51 mm 2 /s, HHV 35.26 MJ/kg, flash point 210 o C, cetane no. 61 and sulphur content 0.0844 %. Thermal analysis of the biodiesel showed 97% weight loss was achieved at 595°C with total oxidation of the biodiesel. The production energy efficiency was 0.46% with a lab scale setup, assuming the volume fraction ratio (volume of the sample/ total volume of the equipment used). The results revealed that single step in-situ transesterification method is suitable for the production of biodiesel from Salvadora persica seed oil.

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A novel compound Salvialactomine (1) along with two other unusual occurring natural products Pentatriacontanoic acid 1, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester (2) and 5-Methylflavone (3) were isolated from the callus of Salvia santolinifolia Boiss. Callus was initiated on MS medium containing NAA (0.5 mg/L) and further sub-cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA with BA (0.5 + 1.5 mg/L). The structures of isolated compounds were determined by using mass spectrometry, 1D, and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1, and 3 were tested for two different cancer cell lines, i.e. Hela (Cervical cancer cell) and PC-3 (Prostate cancer cells). IC was found as > 30 using Doxorobicin (0.912 ± 0.12 μmol L) as a standard.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is widely considered as a functional food mainly due to its various beneficial components including vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, bioactive and antioxidant compounds that stimulate health beyond basic nutrition. The overwhelming agricultural crop at salinity conditions faced several abiotic and biotic stresses that unfortunately reduced the potential applicability of highly nutritious plants. Therefore, in this study the response of antioxidant enzymes were studied at different germination stages of the seedlings and results suggested that all antioxidant enzymes play a crucial role during oxidative stress. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) seedlings had the potential to germinate remarkably well up to 800 mM NaCl concentration and the average weight of seedlings and soluble protein content was efficiently increased at high salinity. During oxidative stress, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase significantly showed tolerances to salinity stress conditions. Among them, Ascorbate Peroxidase presented significant activity even at 600 mM of NaCl in germination stage 1. The antioxidant defense mechanism of Spinacia oleracea is activated at the very early stage of germination which perhaps helps the plant to survive under harsh conditions thus maintaining the nutritional components of the plant.