Broomrapes (Orobanche sp.) are root holoparasitic plants causing severe damage to various families of horticultural crops. A Preliminary survey was carried in tomato fields infested with orobanche in Potohar plateau of Pakistan. Results indicated that each planting bed comprising10-12 tomato plants contained 7-8 parasitic weeds. Overall survey indicated the 65-70% plants suffered partial or complete yield loss. Further, it was estimated that the number of weeds inhabiting plant-1 was ranged from 2-4. Yield loss was estimated at 57.17 tons/ha while in terms of financial loss, it was 2579.87 $/ha. Hence total estimated loss on the total surveyed area of 16 hectares was 41395.85 $. The high potential of tomato cultivation in Pakistan reinforces the urgent protection measures to resolve this emerging issue.

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The present study investigated the potential of different concentrations of molasses wastewater to produce bioelectricity, reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and functionally active microbial community in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Five different MFC setups were compared in which three were fed with molasses (two at room and one at 35 C temperature), while fourth and fifth were used as control reactors fed with distilled water and acetate, respectively. During first, second and third phases of the experiment; 1, 3 and 5 g L À1 molasses in distilled water were used as 500, 1000 and 1500 mg L À1 COD loading rate, respectively. Analysis of different parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity performed after 3 days interval due to 3 days hydraulic retention time, while COD, current, the voltage after 24 hours interval. The maximum voltage (1011 mV) and current (0.91 mA) were produced in MCF-3 when 5 g L À1 of molasses was used, while maximum power density 1570.68 mW L À1 was produced by MFC-1. The highest COD removal (95%) was found in MFC-3 at 500 mg L À1 influent COD, comparable with control MFC-5 with acetate which exhibited 97% COD removal at the same loading rate of acetate. High throughput DNA sequencing showed Clostridium sensu stricto abundance was higher among all other genera in all MFCs, ranges between 11 and 17 in MFCs with molasses, 18.3 in MFC with acetate and a lower value of 5.8 in control MFC without molasses. Romboutsia found higher in MFCs with molasses and acetate, might be responsible for higher electricity generation in these MFCs. Higher Shannon diversity and low abundance were found in MFC4 with distilled water while low diversity with higher abundance due to enrichment of certain genera under specific substrates was found in MFC 2 and 5 fed with molasses and acetate, respectively. It was concluded that MFC with molasses concentration 5 g L À1 showed

Background: Chronic liver injury leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis. This leads towards the activation of myofibroblasts in the liver and secretes extracellular matrix proteins that make the fibrous scar. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to characterize the polyphenolic content present in Acacia jacquemontii stem and to evaluate its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Methods: The phenolic contents present in Acacia jacquemontii polyphenolic extract (AJPPE) were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of AJPPE was determined through biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, and ALP) lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL) antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, LPO, GSH, and CAT), anti-fibrotic activity (collagen deposition) and histopathological analysis. Results: HPLC analysis of AJPPE showed the presence of polyphenols including chlorogenic acid, P-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and kaempferol in a remarkable therapeutic range. Results of in-vivo analysis have shown the significant decrease in the level of lipid profile including LDL (low-density lipoprotein), TC (total cholesterol), and triglycerides; liver function markers (AST, ALT, and ALP); collagen deposition and significantly increased the level of anti-oxidative biomarkers (CAT, SOD, LPO, and GSH) by using AJPPE. Conclusion: The above-mentioned results have shown that AJPPE possesses significant anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects. Furthermore, histopathological results also supported the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of AJPPE.