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Knowledge of genetic diversity is one of the most essential tasks for sustainable management of medicinal plants. In the present study, the molecular variability and population structure in a set of Ferula assafoetida accessions collected from different geographical regions of Iran were evaluated using start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) and universal rice primer (URP) markers. Based on results, SCoT (12 primers) and URP (12 primers) markers amplified 192 and 149 polymorphic fragments, respectively. The polymorphism information content (PIC) estimated by URP and SCoT ranged from 0.31 to 0.43, and 0.34 to 0.44, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance revealed the greater genetic variation within population compared to among them. The Kerman's population showed the highest values for the heterozygosity (He), percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB), Shannon's information index (I), and effective number of alleles (Ne). The neighbor joining (NJ) clustering algorithm grouped all investigated accessions into six and five main groups based on URP and SCoT data, respectively. The results of structure analysis based on both marker systems showed that all accessions were divided into five subpopulations. Furthermore, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) supported these findings. In conclusion, our results revealed a high level of genetic diversity and gene flow between F. assafoetida populations. Moreover, the SCoT markers were more effective than URP in detecting the genetic diversity in F. assafoetida populations. Hence, the use of SCoT markers in further genetic research such as genetic fingerprinting and association analysis would be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium parvum is an important coccidian parasite that could infect the intestine, respiratory and biliary tracts of man and animals. This study aims to test the potential therapeutic and prophylactic effects of a natural herbal agent (Asafoetida) versus the nowadays drug of choice (Nitazoxanide). Fifty bred female, white Albino mice of CDI strain were divided into 5 groups; group I (GI): immunosuppressed, infected with C. parvum and treated with Asafoetida, group II (GII): immunosuppressed, prophylactically treated with Asafoetida for 7 days prior to infection, group III (GIII): immunosuppressed, infected and treated with Nitazoxanide, group IV (GIV): immunosuppressed and infected (Positive control), group V (GV): immunosuppressed and non infected (Negative control). Parasitological and histopatholgical examinations of the stool, ileocaecal and liver specimens were performed for the study groups. GI showed reduction of the mean oocyst count in stool with improvement of the pathological changes at the ileocaecal region with preservation of hepatic architecture. Results of GI were better than GII and GIV but not as good as GIII. GII showed the least improvement among the test groups. GIII showed the best response between the test groups. GIV show no statistical significant difference between the mean oocyst count in the mice stool at the time of infection and 7 days after infection. It was therefore concluded that Asafoetida is a promising natural therapeutic and prophylactic agent against cryptosporidiosis while, Nitazoxanide is the best chemotherapeutic agent against cryptosporidiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanobiotechnology is a fast developing scientific field having several applications in biochemistry, medicine, biology, engineering, etc. and plays a key role in the development and improvement of clean, eco-friendly, non-toxic and cost effective techniques for the synthesis and assembly of metal nanoparticles. One of the foremost green synthesis approaches includes biofabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plants and plant products. In the present study, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Indian spice Asafoetida. Their formation was confirmed through UV–Vis spectral peak at 426.4 nm and their stability was also monitored for 3 months at room temperature using dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS analysis revealed that the particles so formed were not only monodispersed in nature but also stable at room temperature for 3 months with a reported size of 90–95 nm. The characterization techniques revealed that synthesized AgNPs were well distributed with size ranging from 90 to 100 nm. Furthermore, Asafoetida-AgNPs were tested for their anticancer activity against the HepG2 cell line. Cell viability assay was done to check the percentage of viable cells and morphological changes at various test concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ppm) after 24 and 48 h of exposure. The recorded viable cells at lowest concentration (0.01 ppm) was found to be 58.55% and at highest concentration (10 ppm) it was 40.08% after 24 h. Further, when the percent cell viability was observed at 48 h it was 45.22% and 20.23% at lowest and highest concentrations. Morphological characterization of HepG2 cells after the treatment of Asafoetida-AgNPs showed floating and patchy cells signifying their toxic nature against cancerous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on rapid and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using aqueous extract of Indian spice Asafoetida. To study the enhanced reducing and capping activity of Agave americana, four different combinations were employed, where a fixed volume of Asafoetida aqueous solution was mixed with different proportions of 1 mM aqueous silver nitrate solution and A. americana extract. Formation of AgNPs was signified through color change from colorless to dark brown and confirmed using UV–Vis spectral analysis. SEM and TEM results showed spherical and well dispersed AgNPs with particle size ranging between 50 and 125 nm, more over the X-ray diffraction patterns signified their crystalline nature. FTIR spectra of different combinations exhibited consistent pattern of decreasing particle size with increasing ratios of extracts which was also reflected in their larvicidal activity. The larvicidal application of these nanoparticles was also studied against three mosquito vectors and found most effective against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi. Risk assessment was monitored on HEK 293 cell lines and proved safer with range of 92.8–78.2% cell viability after 24 h. This is first report where size of AgNPs was controlled through phytoextract combinations and additive effect was validated through enhanced larvicidal activity and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]