The production of safer and healthy foods using sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices plays a vital role in determining their market value and nutritional benefits. In this context, due to continuously changing environmental attributes, the risk factors related to sustainable agriculture and product safety are being increasingly investigated (Arshad and Shafqat, 2012). In recent years, through utilizing effective strategies such as valid farm management practices and mechanized agriculture, efforts have been made to enhance the growth and productivity of various crops without compromising food quality standards (Chaudhry et al., 2006). Plant growth regulators (PGRs), due to their multiple growth and physiological functions, are gaining recognition as an emerging agricultural practice. However, some risk factors associated with the applications of PGRs have also been observed in certain agricultural practices in the form of volatilization, chemical degradation, leaching, oxidation, etc. Therefore, in order to gain increased efficiency in targeted crops, the effective use of appropriate doses of PGRs is recommended (Aslam et al., 2013).Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), a member of the family Amaranthaceae, and, like other leafy green vegetables, is a valuable source of essential minerals and important bioactives required for proper growth and bodily functioning. In Pakistan, this leafy green vegetable is locally known as "palak". It is now widely recognized that dietary fiber and phytochemicals such as flavonoids, vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic acids, and phytosterols, which are inherent formulations of spinach and other leafy green vegetables, are associated with lowering the risk of certain diseases such as cataracts, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, coronary heart disorders, and certain cancers (Djousse et al., 2004;Hung et al., 2004). Such high-value compounds have been reported to exhibit multiple biological effects, including cytotoxic, antimutagenic, antioxidant, antiviral, and antifungal activities (Hounsome et al., 2008).

The role of organic farming cannot be neglected from view of quality crop production as the running unhealthy strategies commonly employed in agriculture are destabilizing farming systems 1. Now-a-days, the goal to access valuable crop yield is accomplished by practicing non-destructive and economical agricultural practices which aim to ensure crop productivity. In recent years, it is a common practice to implement plant growth regulating compounds which might include growth hormones, inorganic fertilization and plants extracts etc. These growth enhancers are employed in various exogenous modes i.e. seed priming/foliar conducts, seed/soil application etc 2. Such valuable substances benefit plants promoting their growth and proper differentiation/development while applied even at low concentration/dose. Their higher concentrations might lead to inhibit growth effects 3. Therefore, it is preferred to avoid use of synthetic soil/foliar additives, preservatives, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to avoid environmental contamination and maintaining appropriate farming strategies 4. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) of natural/synthetic origin are gaining continued appraisal in agriculture farming systems since long. The practice of implementation of PGRs in agriculture is ensuring promising nutrient status besides improved yield of plants. The exogenously applied PGRs are also reported to show promising effects through appropriate modulation of concerned physiological, metabolic and other biochemical

In current study toxicological profile of a commonly used herbal formulation was evaluated that is used extensively for gynecological disorders like menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, leucorrhea, irregular menstrual cycle, pre-menstrual syndrome and post-menopausal bleeding. It was also claimed to strengthen endometrium and ovaries. Since this herbal formulation was been used by a large number of population hence there was a need to assess acute and sub-chronic toxicity. Acute oral toxicity (LD50) was observed in albino mice using standard protocols whereas sub-chronic, hematological and histopathological studies were assessed on 24 albino rabbits after giving herbal formulation for 60 days in two doses (20 and 60 mg/kg) against control groups. The outcomes of present study showed that the drug is safe up to 5000 mg/kg following acute oral toxicity test and no mortality was observed during sub chronic toxicity studies. Results of sub-chronic toxicity did not show any significant changes in biochemical, hematological and histopathological parameters. However, some indicators such as urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, and RBC count were altered, but these changes do not correlate with the histopathological results and may be associated to intra individual variations. Despite the safety of the drug in few animals, clinical trials and more investigations on a large number of animals are essentially needed to establish safety and efficacy of the herbal formulation.

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Two binuclear selenium adducts (5 and 6) were designed using molecular docking approach while finding their promising interaction to four angiogenic factor-proteins including COX-1 (Cyclooxygenase-1), VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A), HIF (Hypoxia-inducible factor) and EGF (human epidermal growth factor). They were consequently synthesized using In-situ coordination approach. The green synthetic approach was employed for coordination as it was carried out in water instead of organic solvents. The synthesized adducts as well as their respective bis-benzimidazolium salts (2 and 4) were confirmed by 1H and 13C-NMR along with FT-IR spectroscopy. The both were, then, subjected to In-vitro anticancer activities against breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7), cervical cancer cell line (Hela), mouse melanoma cell line (B16F10) and retinal ganglion cell line (RGC-5) using MTT assay while comparing their activities with a commercially established standard-drug 5-Fluorouracil. However, the exceptional activities of both adducts and bis-benzimidazolium salts were explored.