The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38 � 0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21 � 0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80 � 4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18 � 11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33 � 15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54 � 1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54 � 0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03 � 0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62 � 0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89 � 1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9'-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.

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In the present study the understory vegetation or communities under the canopy of tree species of Cholistan desert (27° 42' and 29° 45' North and longitudes 69° 52' and 75° 24' East) and the effect of canopy cover on the soil chemistry were studied. Quadrats of 1 m 2 were laid to record the different plant species underside the canopy cover of tree species and then frequency, density and plant cover were recorded, whereas relative frequency, relative density, relative cover and IVI for each of the plant species were computed following the standard methods. The study was repeated for three times and field guides were used to identify the plant species. Soil analysis showed that tree species greatly modified the soil chemistry beneath the canopy cover. Stipagrostis plumosa, Salsola baryosma and Cenchrus cilaris were the major plant species that form the understory communities of tree species due to their close association with each other in the Cholistan desert. Other plant species also take part in forming the understory vegetation of tree species but to some less extent as they fail to form any type of association with each other.