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Breast cancer [BC] is the deadliest neoplasm in women globally and the second leading cause of cancer associated deaths. Current treatment methods include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy and surgery. However, BC has shown resistance to these therapies and are often associated with side effects, multidrug resistance, recurrence are the major issues in BC treatment. Currently, dietary phytocompounds have emerged as beneficial agents for the prevention and treatment of cancer because of their safe and cost effective nature. Ursolic acid [UA] is widely spread in fruits and vegetables having the ability to inhibit BC proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis, arrest cell cycle, induced apoptosis, scavenge free radicals and regulate several anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. UA has also shown potential anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in several human BC cells. This review paper encompasses the role of UA against BC and their mechanism of action in vitro and in vivo studies.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable and compostable polymer obtained from annually renewable resources and is acknowledged to be sustainable and eco-friendly polymer with substantial commercial prospective as a textile fiber however, this polymer has not been investigated much in apparel applications. Therefore in this study it was aimed to develop biobased compostable socks from PLA draw textured melt spun yarns and to examine the effect of yarn linear density, fabric structure and stitch density on thermo-physiological characteristics of PLA based socks. 100% PLA based multifilament yarns of two different linear densities were melt spun and later draw textured on false twist texturing machine to be used for socks knitting. Single jersey and rib structures were produced with two different stitch densities to investigate their effect on thermal resistance, relative water vapour permeability, thermal conductivity, vertical wicking and air permeability of the socks. Minitab statistical software was employed to analyze the results of test samples. The coefficients of determinations (R-2 values) presented good estimation capability of the established regression models. The outcomes of this research may be useful in determining suitable manufacturing requirements of PLA based socks to accomplish precise thermo-physiological properties. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

To improve a cancer patient’s quality of life, short treatment duration resulting in rapid tumour removal while sparing normal tissue are highly desirable. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) commonly applied in a single treatment, while often effective can be limited at low photosensitizer or light doses. Combination therapies can overcome the efficacy limitations while not increasing treatment-associated morbidity. Here the efficacy of combination therapy comprised of doxorubicin (DOX) or methotrexate (MTX) with Photosens mediated PDT was investigated in three cell lines in vitro, employing multiple incubation sequences. Photosense is a mixture of aluminium phthalocyanines with different sulfonation. The results demonstrated higher synergistic effects when DOX or MTX-mediated chemotherapy preceded PDT light activation by 24 h. MTX is marginally more cytotoxic than DOX, when combined with Photosens (AlPcS2-4) mediated PDT. While MTX and DOX exposure prior to AlPcS2-4 incubation may enhance mitochondrial localisation photosensitizer, the simultaneous targeting of DNA, proteins, and lipids of the combination therapies leads to the observed high cytotoxicity at sub μM drug doses. Keywords: Photodynamic Therapy, Chemotherapy, Cancer, Combination therapy

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation in agricultural soils is one of the major threats to food security. The application of inorganic amendments such as mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP), gypsum and elemental sulfur (S) could alleviate the negative effects of Cd in crops. However, their long-term residual effects on decreasing Cd uptake in latter crops remain unclear. A field that had previously been applied with treatments including control and 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8% by weight of each MAP, gypsum and S, and grown with wheat and rice and thereafter wheat in the rotation was selected for this study. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown in the same field as the third crop without further application of amendments to evaluate the residual effects of the amendments on Cd uptake by wheat. Plants were harvested at maturity and grain, and straw yield along with Cd concentration in soil, straw, and grains was determined. The addition of MAP and gypsum significantly increased wheat growth and yield and decreased Cd accumulation in straw and grains compared to control while the reverse was found in S application. Both MAP and gypsum decreased AB-DTPA extractable Cd in soil while S increased the bioavailable Cd in soil. Both MAP and gypsum increased the Cd immobilization in the soil and S decreased Cd immobilization in a dose-additive manner. We conclude that MAP and gypsum had a significant residual effect on decreasing Cd uptake in wheat. The cost-benefit ratio revealed that gypsum is an effective amendment for decreasing Cd concentration in plants.

Aim of the study The present study aimed at documenting the indigenous knowledge on medicinal flora from the local communities residing near Swat River and high mountainous areas in Swat, Pakistan. Materials and methods Field study was carried out in 2013−14. The area was visited 17 times, and semi-structured and open-ended interviews were conducted in both the plain area nearby the Swat River (4 villages) and mountains (7 villages). A total of 83 erudite informants participated in the interviews with their prior consent. The collected data were analysed through quantitative indices viz., medicinal use value (MUV), relative frequency citation (RFC), family use value (FUV), informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level (FL). Results A total of 78 species belonging to 45 vascular plant families were documented as medicinally important. Lamiaceae was observed the dominant medicinal plant family with 11 species, leaf was the most used part, and powder the most preferred preparation type. Maximum MUV (1) was shared by 15 species while maximum RFC (0.385) was demonstrated by both Brassica juncea and Lepidium sativum. Smaller families with mostly 1 species showed higher FUV while among the larger families Amaryllidaceae and Papaveraceae showed maximum FUV of 0.89 and 0.87, respectively. Highest FL was shown by Mentha arvensis (70%) against gastrointestinal diseases. Highest ICF was demonstrated by hepatic disorders (0.93). Furthermore, we revealed 108 indigenous herbal medicinal recipes, 6 plants added to the medicinal plant trade list, 1 species (Vincetoxicum arnottianum) reported for the first time as medicinal plant, and several new uses for 49 well known medicinal plants. Conclusion The present survey documents diverse plant species that are utilised by local communities for treating a broad spectrum of disorders. Quantitative indices helped in marking important and most preferred plants. To conclude, we recommend the plants for pharmacological studies, documenting new uses, especially Vincetoxicum arnottianum, never screened before.

The Hindu-Kush Himalaya region extends over 4 million km2 across the eight countries. Knowingly, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is considered the principal altitudinal permafrost constituent on earth and is deemed as the third ‘pole’. Among which, the Zoige wetlands are located in the northeastern boundary of QTP, wrapping a total area of 6180 km2 with an average altitude of 3500 m. This entire region is the hotspot for methane emission since the last decade. Given the importance of methane emission, many studies have focused on the effect of environmental fluctuations on the overall methane profile and, more recently on the methanogenic community structure. The current review summarizes recent advancements of the methanogenic community and methane profile and outlines a framework for better understanding of the microbial ecology of the Zoige wetlands, China. Moreover, as microorganisms are indispensable to biogeochemical cycles, especially for methane, they are believed to be the best indicators to identify the condition of wetlands. Hence, we suggest that, underpinning the microbial profile could help understand the status of a wetland.

Rhizosphere drives plant uptake of sparingly soluble soil zinc (Zn). An investigation with three experiments was conducted to study organic acid exudation by two contrasting wheat genotypes (Sehar-06 and Vatan), Zn fractions in 10 different calcareous soils from Punjab, Pakistan, and release of different soil Zn fractions by organic acids. The two genotypes differed significantly in biomass production and Zn accumulation under deficient and optimum Zn levels in nutrient solution. At a deficient Zn level, Sehar-06 released more maleic acid in the rhizosphere than Vatan. Ten soils used in the present study had very different physicochemical properties; their total Zn and Zn distribution among different fractions varied significantly. Zinc release behaviour was determined by extracting the soils with 0.005 mol L−1 citric acid or maleic acid. The parabolic diffusion model best described Zn release as a function of time. Parabolic diffusion model fitting indicated more maleic acid-driven than citric acid-driven soil Zn mobility from different fractions. Cumulative Zn release in six consecutive extractions during 24 h ranged from 1.85 to 13.58 mg kg−1 using maleic acid and from 0.37 to 11.84 mg kg−1 using citric acid. In the selected calcareous soils, the results of stepwise linear regression indicated significant release of Fe-Mn oxide-bounded soil Zn by maleic acid and its availability to the Zn-efficient genotype. Hence, release of maleic acid by plants roots played an important role in phytoavailability of Zn from calcareous soils.

A hydroponics experiment was conducted to evaluate the role of potassium (K) and silicon (Si) in mitigating the deleterious effects of NaCl on sugarcane genotypes differing in salt tolerance. Two salt-sensitive (CPF 243 and SPF 213) and two salt-tolerant (HSF 240 and CP 77-400) sugarcane genotypes were grown for six weeks in ½ strength Johnson's nutrient solution. The nutrient solution was salinized by two NaCl levels (0 and 100 mmol L −1 NaCl) and supplied with two levels of K (0 and 3 mmol L −1 ) and Si (0 and 2 mmol L −1 ). Applied NaCl enhanced Na + concentration in plant tissues and significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) reduced shoot and root dry matter in four sugarcane genotypes. However, the magnitude of reduction was much greater in salt-sensitive genotypes than salt-tolerant genotypes. The salts interfered with the absorption of K + and Ca 2+ and significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) decreased their uptake in sugarcane genotypes. Addition of K and Si either alone or in combination significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) inhibited the uptake and transport of Na + from roots to shoots and improved dry matter yields under NaCl conditions. Potassium uptake, K + /Na + ratios, and Ca 2+ and Si uptake were also significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) increased by the addition of K and/or Si to the root medium. In this study, K and Si-enhanced salt tolerance in sugarcane genotypes was ascribed to decreased Na + concentration and increased K + with a resultant improvement in K + /Na + ratio, which is a good indicator to assess plant tolerance to salt stress. However, further verification of these results is warranted under field conditions.

Screening cultivars to grow under conditions of low phosphorus (P) availability and utilize P efficiently from compounds of low solubility in soils may be beneficial to overcome poor plant growth in P-deficient soils. The growth behavior and P utilization efficiency of seven wheat cultivars grown in hydroponics were studied, using rock phosphate as P source. The wheat cultivars grown for 30 days were significantly different in biomass accumulation, P uptake and P utilization efficiency. The dry matter production of all the cultivars was significantly correlated with P uptake, which in turn correlated to the drop in the root medium pH. The ranking of wheat cultivars on the basis of dry matter yield, P uptake and P utilization efficiency was Zamindar 80 > Yecora > C 271 > WL 711 > Barani 83 > PARI 73 > Rohtas. The cultivar Zamindar 80 appeared to possess the best growth potential in P-deficient soils.