BackgroundMatricaria chamomilla commonly known as “Chamomile” (Asteraceae) is a popular medicinal herb widely used in indigenous system of medicine for a variety of ailments. However, there is no detailed study available showing its effectiveness in hyperactive gut disorders like, abdominal colic and diarrhoea. This study was designed to determine the pharmacological basis for the folkloric use of Matricaria chamomilla in diarrhoea.MethodsThe crude aqueous-methanolic extract of Matricaria chamomilla (Mc.Cr) was studied for its protective effect in mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation. The isolated rabbit jejunum was selected for the in-vitro experiments using tissue bath assembly coupled with PowerLab data acquisition system.ResultsOral administration of Mc.Cr to mice at 150 and 300 mg/kg showed marked antidiarrhoeal and antisecretory effects against castor oil-induced diarrhoea and intestinal fluid accumulation, simultaneously, similar to the effects of cromakalim and loperamide. These effects of plant extract were attenuated in animals pretreated with K+ channel antagonist, glibenclamide (GB) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). When tested in isolated rabbit jejunum, Mc.Cr caused a dose-dependent (0.3-3 mg/ml) relaxation of spontaneous and low K+ (25 mM)-induced contractions, while it exhibited weak inhibitory effect on high K+ (80 mM). The inhibitory effect of Mc.Cr on low K+-induced contractions was partially inhibited in the presence of GB, while completely blocked by 4-AP. Cromakalim, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel opener, caused complete relaxation of low K+-induced contractions with little effect on high K+. Pretreatment of tissues with GB blocked the inhibitory effects of cromakalim on low K+, while the presence of 4-AP did not alter the original effect. Verapamil, a Ca++ channel antagonist, caused complete relaxation of both low and high K+-induced contractions with similar potency. The inhibitory effect of verapamil was insensitive to GB or 4-AP. When assessed for Ca++ antagonist like activity, Mc.Cr at high concentrations caused rightward shift in the Ca++ concentration-response curves with suppression of the maximum response, similar to the effect of verapamil, while cromakalim did not show similar effect.ConclusionsThis study indicates that Matricaria chamomilla possesses antidiarrhoeal, antisecretory and antispasmodic activities mediated predominantly through K+-channels activation along with weak Ca++ antagonist effect.

This study evaluates research carried out in Pakistan during 1975-2014 in the fields of pharmacy and pharmacology using different bibliometric indicators. The data have been retrieved from online database of the ISI Web of Science. The global share of Pakistan in the publications in the fields of pharmacy and pharmacology is only 0.25%. The volume and quality of research in pharmacology and pharmacy revealed a positive trend in Pakistan from 2005 onwards, as measured by the number of articles published in ISI-indexed journals. The average annual growth rate is 29.29% for publications and 34.22% for citations. If compared with Asian countries, 27 countries including Pakistan are ranked in top 100 publishing countries in the field of pharmacology/pharmacy by Web of Science. Out of those 27 countries, Pakistan holds 13th rank and still needs concrete measures to increase research productivity and visibility of researchers in the field of pharmacology/pharmacy.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of air pollution on road side fruit plants (Prunus avium L.) palynology. Flower samples were collected from polluted (1-2 m away from the edge of Quetta to Hunna Urak road) and for the comparison from non-polluted sites (250-300 m away from the same collection site). During the investigation different pollen parameters including pollen umbers/production, pollen size, pollen tube growth, pollen viability, pollen regularity and pollen protein contents were used through different methods. Results indicated that pollen grains of Prunus avium L. were very sensitive to automobile air pollution. Consequences showed significant reduction in numbers and sizes of pollen grains, pollen tube length and pollen viability of polluted site with respect to the control site. Maximum irregularity in pollen morphology and low pollen protein contents were also recorded from the polluted site. Moreover, results also designated that vehicular pollution increases the resting period of pollen grains for 1 to 3 h. So the different attributes of pollen grains can be used as sensitive bioindicators of adverse factors in botanical environment and this leads to the idea that reduction in the development and potential of pollen grains in response to various poisonous environmental pollutants can be exploited as a good index of air purity.

This study combines air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) in order to determine the potential of trees and ornamental shrubs that are frequently growing on the roads of Quetta, Pakistan, and the campus of the University of Balochistan, in Quetta, for green belt development. Our investigation exposed that not only APTI is suitable for the fitness of trees for building green belts. It is used to categorize vulnerable plant species for only bio-monitoring. The grouping of APTI and API in the present study is a practical technique for decreasing air pollution control. Laboratory analysis for APTI was carry out by the four physico-biological factors such as leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll content, ascorbic acid content, and relative water content. API for different plant species (trees and ornamental shrubs) was determined depending upon the characteristic grading by allotted + or-to the plants. The standard for determining API is given in Table 2. For examining the relationships among these factors statistics were utilized. This study indicated that the APTI is used as an instrument for choosing suitable plants to reduce environmental urban heat. API designated that Morus alba L., Pinus halepensis Miller, Ficus carica L., and Pistacia vera L. with API = 6 are excellent performers for green belt development. Morus nigra L. and Malus pumila Miller had API 5 and are considered very good performers, and Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl., Prunus armeniaca L., and Platycladus orientalis L. showed 4 API values with good performance for green belt formation. All the other remaining investigated trees and ornamental shrubs demonstrated poor values of API

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