Pollen micro-morphological features have proven to be helpful for the plant taxonomists in the identification and classification of plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the palynological features of family Asteraceae and Lamiaceae from flora of District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan using both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscope (LM) for their taxonomic importance. Pollen of seven Asteraceous species belonging to four genera and four Lamiaceae species categorized into four genera were collected from different localities of research area.The present research work provides detailed information of diverse morphopalynological characters both qualitatively and quantitatively including pollen shape, type, diameter, P/E ratio, exine sculpturing and thickness. Type of pollen in Asteraceae and Lamiaceae was ranged from tricolporate, tricolpate, trizonocolpate and hexazonocolpate. The maximum polar diameter (40.05 μm) and equatorial diameter (37.66 μm) was observed in the Ajuga bracteoosa while minimum polar and equatorial diameter was noted in Isodon rugosus (11.10 μm) and Erigeron canadensis (13.20 μm) respectively. Sculpturing of exine include; echinate, reticulate scabrate, aerolate, reticulate-verrucate, reticulate-scabrate, perforate and reticulate to perforate. Exine thickness was examined maximum 1.50 μm in Helianthus tuberosus, whereas minimum in Conyza Canadensis (0.16 μm). The pollen fertility was found highest in C Canadensis (83.33%) and lowest in Ajuga bracteosa (58.06%). The observed pollen morphology has many valuable qualitative and quantitative attributes for the better understanding of their taxonomy and play significant role in correct identification.

Phytoextraction involved the use of plants in rapid, efficient, less expensive, and environment friendly removal of toxic metals from contaminated soil. For this study, a pot experiment was conducted and plant species: Abelmoschus esculentus, Avena sativa, Guizotia abyssinica, and Glycine max were subjected to six copper concentrations i.e., 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg Cu kg −1 for the investigation of Cu phytotoxicity, tolerance, and accumulation for 12 weeks under green house. Soil without spike were taken as control. After 12 weeks of experiment, Cu toxicity on growth and chlorophyll contents were determined. Among four plant species, only A. sativa, C. tetragonoloba and S. indicum seeds were germinated at 300 mg Cu kg −1 . The growth parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under high Cu stress (from 25 to 100 mg Cu kg −1 ) in G. abyssinica and G. max. The chlorophyll content found maximum at 25 mg Cu kg −1 in all plant species as compared to control. Significantly, high Cu accumulation was found in roots and shoots of A. sativa. The highest values of bioconcentration factor, bioaccumulation coefficient, translocation factor (all greater than 1), phytoremediation ratios, and accumulation with high tolerance suggested that A. sativa was a suitable plant for effective Cu phytoextraction.

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Phytochemicals are compounds derived from plants that are assumed to have defensive role against certain disease. They have antioxidants, anticancer, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antithrombic and anti-inflammatory properties. They have a high specificity to boost the immune system and play important role in the metabolism of hormones. The current study is based on qualitative and quantitative evaluation of total phenolics contents, phenolic compounds, antioxidant potential, free and bound phenolic acids in selected vegetables available at the local market of Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan. Two different extraction procedures ultrasonic-assisted base hydrolysis extraction and sonication extraction were used. Total 13 phenolic compounds were found and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), in which Ferulic acid was quantified in a higher amount of 16.71 mg/g in bitter gourd. Total phenolic contents were determined by using Perklin-Elmer lambda UV/Visible spectrophotometer and higher concentration was found in Bitter gourd 92.56 mg 100/g as compared to Luffa and Brinjal with 79.03 and 66.56 mg 100/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) was measured at ?max of 517 nm, results revealed that Bitter gourd possessed the higher antioxidant activity with 182.61 µMol/g followed by Luffa and Brinjal with 112.94 and 82.96 µMol/g. The total Flavonoid contents were higher in Brinjal with 44.32 mg g-1 whereas Luffa and Bitter gourd possess the Flavonoid concentration in the range 38.02 and 34.64mg g-1 respectively, the total tannin contents also higher in Brinjal 31.40 mg/g follwed by in Luffa and Bitter gourd with 25.17 and 21.19 mg/g respectively. Antimicrobial activity showed that, all the extracts are the highly effective against S. aureus as compared to E. coli. Finally, it is concluded that all the selected vegetables are very good sources of Phenolic compounds as well as phytochemicals and should be included in the daily human diet for good health. On the basis of obtained results, it is also suggested that these samples will be further investigated for the determination of fatty acids by GC-MS and liquid chromatography-mass spectrum (LC-MS).