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Background: Plants possess a vast array of bioactive compounds with strong antioxidant properties, which can be explored for their potential pharmacological activities and utilized as novel therapeutic agents. Objective: The current study was designed to rationally justify the use of Cordia rothii (CR) and Viola serpens (VS) as antioxidants, antibacterials, and antifungals, as they have traditionally been used for such purposes. Methods: Phytochemical screening of aqueous methanolic extracts from CR and VS was conducted, followed by measuring their antioxidant potentials, including total phenolic and flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and reducing power capacity. Additionally, in vitro antibacterial and antifungal tests, as well as in vivo acute toxicity assessment were carried out. Results: The phytochemical screening of the CR and VS extracts revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and flavonoids. Both extracts exhibited antioxidant scavenging potential with IC50 values of 0.039 and 0.05 mg/ml, respectively. The CR extract displayed bactericidal activity against S.aureus ATCC 6538, S.epidermidis ATCC 12228, and E.coli ATCC 8739, while no antifungal activity was observed in either extract. The LD50 of either extract was calculated to be greater than 10 g/kg/bw. In the acute toxicity study, no toxic effects were observed on body weight, water intake, liver weight, or abnormal liver enzyme levels. Histopathological studies showed no significant abnormalities in the control or extract-treated groups. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the traditional uses of plant extracts possess potent antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which could potentially be utilized as a novel drug.

The current study was conducted at Microbiology Laboratory, Auriga Group of Companies, Lahore duing 2019, aimed for screening and isolating a biocontrol agent that inhibits Macrophomina phaseolina (M. phaseolina) and Fusarium incarnatum (F. incarnatum) growth by reducing disease incidence and increases maize agronomic performance. A plate culture assay was used to screen biocontrol agent for fungal pathogens such as M. phaseolina and F. incarnatum responsible for charcoal foot rot and stalk rot. Among 37 isolates, CD6C isolated from press mud, demonstrated a substantial antifungal potential. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed 100% similarity between CD6C and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The growth inhibition % during plate culture assay for M. phaseolina and F. incarnatum was 46.5 + 1.9 and 49.8 + 1.1, respectively. The supernatant also had the best antifungal activity against charcoal rots caused by M. phaseolina in comparison to the control during the pot experiment. P. aeruginosa CD6C treatment showed a decline in maize foot rot caused by M. phaseolina. Research findings showed that P. aeruginosa CD6C could impede M. phaseolina growth and exacerbate maize plant growth parameters. The data support discovering more antifungal compounds from P. aeruginosa CD6C, which can lead to competent and successful pathogen biocontrol treatment. Moreover, study suggested that P. aeruginosa CD6C was found to be auspicious for maize plant and should be promoted for plant growth enhancement and suppression of fungal diseases by scaling down chemical pesticides for pollution control.

The current study aimed to explore non-pathogenic, non-aflatoxigenic and competent microbial isolates accountable for producing hydrolytic enzymes and plant growth-stimulating hormones for proficient and augmented conversion of agricultural waste press mud (PM) into biofertilizer through composting. Four bacterial (B. altitudinis CD2E, P. aeruginosa CD6C, B. velezensis BS2, B. wiedmannii BTA) and one fungal isolate (A. niger PM-4) were selected for microbial inoculum formulation for composting of PM heaps in different treatments. The compatibility studies found that the bacterial isolates were compatible with each other, however, A. niger PM-4 was found non-compatible with P. aeruginosa CD6C and B. velezensis BS2. The heap containing bacterial consortium T3 (PM + consortium) found its maturity on the 21st day by reducing more C/N, total organic carbon (TOC), higher total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) 2.15+0.02%, total phosphorous (TP) (1.42+0.01%), and total potassium (TK) (1.0+0.03%) than any other treatments.