The main objective of current study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential and nutritional composition of milk thistle with special reference to silymarin. For the purpose, different varieties of milk thistle were procured from three different cities of Pakistan. The study was comprised of three different phases. In 1st phase, nutritional composition, that is, moisture, fat, protein, fiber, and nitrogen free extract, was determined according to their respective methods. Moreover, antioxidant potential and quantification of silymarin content were explored in 2nd phase. Furthermore, in last phase, milk thistle seeds tea was developed and evaluated for nutritional and sensorial characteristics. At last, data obtained from each parameter was subjected to appropriate statistical design to determine the level of significance. Results showed significant difference in the nutritional and chemical composition of different milk thistle varieties as well as locations. Moreover, moisture content, ash content, fat content, fiber content, protein content, and NFE varied from 6.27% to 5.01%, 2.37 to 1.25%, 23.19 to 19.74%, 7.4 to 4.39%, 30.09 to 20.74%, and 45.42 to 34.13%, respectively. Furthermore, silymarin content quantified though HPLC ranged from 1669.5 mg/g to 1607.6 mg/g for soxhlet extract whereas, 1,840.6 mg/g to 1765.9 mg/g for microwave‐assisted extraction extract. Conclusively, it was depicted from the results that in case of variety, Blue was the best than White whereas, Islamabad was best in case of location.

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A three-dimensional geomechanical physical model is first constructed according to the similar simulation theory for a roadway excavated in inclined rock mass strata. The similar simulation model is then loaded in the laboratory using a self-designed YDM-E physical model testing device to observe the stress distribution and associated failure process of the roadway. For the roadway excavated in the rockmass strata with an inclined angle of 25°, it is found that cracks are initiated firstly in the rockmass located in the right-upper corner of the roadway and then propagate and coalesce resulting in that the rock located in the right-upper corner of the roadway detaches from the roof and falls into the roadway causing the collapse of the roadway. An unsymmetrical supporting scheme is then proposed to use cablebolts to supplement the regular support system of shotcrete lining and rockbolts for the roadway excavated in the inclined rock mass strata, which ensures the stability of the roadway while saving the supporting costs. In the proposed unsymmetrical supporting scheme, additional cablebolts are installed in the direction where the failures and rock falls easily occur during the tunnelling of the roadway in the inclined rockmass strata. The proposed unsymmetrical supporting scheme is finally tested in a roadway excavated in the inclined rockmass strata of a coal mine. According to the continuous monitoring results in three months, it is found that the convergence between the roof and the floor of the roadway and that between the lateral walls become stable in about two months after the tunnelling of the roadway, and the separation of rock mass strata in both the rockbolt-reinforced zone and the cablebolt-reinforced zone is small, which indicates that the proposed unsymmetrical support scheme can ensure the stability of the roadway excavated in the inclined rockmass strata while keeping the supporting costs economical.