The study was implemented to actuate the qualitative and quantitative phyto constituents of Iresine herbstii extracts and its antiviral efficacy against avian ND virus. Among four tested solvents, the ethanolic extract of Iresine herbstii revealed the presence of highest quantity of all tested phytochemicals while petroleum ether extract showed the least. Folin-Ciocalteu method assessed the range of TPC extended from 81.01 ± 0.67 to 126.35 ± 0.45 µg GAE/mg. Acetonic extract showed the highest amount among all extracts and petroleum ether possessed the lower quantity. TFC ranged from 54.37 ± 0.45 to 88.12 ± 0.26 µg QE/mg followed by colorimetric method. From all extract ethanolic extract showed highest quantity and petroleum ether revealed the lower. HPLC analysis of ethanolic extract of I. herbstii confesses the presence six bioactive components by using the HP5-MS column. To check the antiviral potential of plants, different prepared treatments of plant extract and live virus were inoculated at 9 days old SPF embryonated chicken eggs. Results exposed that all plant extracts produce antiviral activity against NDV in ovo according to their potential and phytochemical profile. The highest survival rate was observed in the ethanolic extract at 400 µg/mL and acetonic extract at 300 µg/mL as it controls the NDV activity completely, evidence of absence of embryo death and HA titre. Dichloromethane and petroleum ether could not inhibit the virus completely. 600 µg/mL concentration was proved as toxic in all extracts except petroleum ether extract which showed a dose dependent pattern.

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Recently, medicinal plants are achieving great interest because of their use in ethno medicine treatment of different common diseases and also other medicinal assertions are now reinforced by comprehensive scientific evidence. Almost 82 research articles and abstracts published, so far, were screened for evaluating antiviral efficiency of various plant samples and 23 different plants were found to be traditionally used against Newcastle disease (ND). ND is a most transmissible viral disease of avian species caused by virulent strain of Avula virus from the Paramyxoviridae family. The first epidemic of ND was perceived in Java, Indonesia and England in year 1926. ND causes great economic loses to the commercial poultry farmers around the world. Medicinal plants are traditionally used in the control of viral or other diseases and infections. Plants have been found useful in treating many microbial diseases in man and animals caused by bacteria and viruses. The ability to synthesize compounds retaining antiviral potential by secondary metabolism makes plants a vital source of pharmaceutical and therapeutic products, which can reduce chemotherapeutic load in birds. Current studies signify that the natural products posses a rich potential source of new antiviral compounds. Further ethnobotanical studies and laboratory investigations are established to identify species having potential to improve ND control.

Cisplatin (CP) is a commonly used, powerful antineoplastic drug, having numerous side effects. Casticin (CAS) is considered as a free radical scavenger and a potent antioxidant. The present research was planned to assess the curative potential of CAS on CP persuaded renal injury in male albino rats. Twenty four male albino rats were distributed into four equal groups. Group-1 was considered as a control group. Animals of Group-2 were injected with 5mg/kg of CP intraperitoneally. Group-3 was co-treated with CAS (50mg/kg) orally and injection of CP (5mg/kg). Group-4 was treated with CAS (50mg/kg) orally throughout the experiment. CP administration substantially reduced the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione (GSH) content while increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels. Urea, urinary creatinine, urobilinogen, urinary proteins, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were substantially increased. In contrast, albumin and creatinine clearance was significantly reduced in CP treated group. The results demonstrated that CP significantly increased the inflammation indicators including nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity and histopathological damages. However, the administration of CAS displayed a palliative effect against CP-generated renal toxicity and recovered all parameters by bringing them to a normal level. These results revealed that the CAS is an effective compound having the curative potential to counter the CP-induced renal damage.

Continuous occurrence of heavy metals is a major cause of environmental pollution due to its toxic effects. At minimum concentrations, these metals are highly reactive and can gather in the food chains and food web, causing major dangers to public health concerns. Soil samples were collected from Paharang drain, Faisalabad. Cadmium tolerant bacteria were isolated and evaluated for their MIC against Cd. The isolated bacterial strain GCFSD01 showed MIC value upto 30 mM/L. The bacterial strain with the highest resistance against Cd was selected for further study. Molecular characterization of bacterial isolate GCFSD01 was performed by 16S rRNA which confirmed it as Bacillus cereus. Optimum growth conditions of bacterial strain were also evaluated. Strain GCFSD01 showed optimum growth at pH 7 and 37 °C temperature. Our result revealed that B. cereus strain GCFSD01 reduced 61.3% Cd after 48 hrs. Multiple metal tolerance and Cd reduction by B. cereus indicate its potential for further use for decontamination of polluted soil.