Phytochemical investigation of medicinally important plants of the Pothohar region of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE:To report the phytochemical composition(flavonoids,phenolics,saponins,tannins,and terpenoids)and biological activities(antioxidant,phytotoxic,cytotoxic,antifungal activities)of medicinally important plants of Pothohar region.METHODS:In the current study various qualitative and quantitative phytochemical tests were conducted to investigate the phytochemical composition of plant extracts prepared in benzene,chloroform and methanol.The same extracts were further utilized in different biological activities i.e.,antioxidant[total antioxidant capacity,total reducing power,and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)scavenging assay],phytotoxicity(Radish seed bioassay),brine shrimp cytotoxicity and antifungal activities(against four pathogenic fungal strains).RESULTS:Phytochemical analysis indicate flavonoids,phenolics,saponins,tannins and terpenoids were present in almost all plants however,maximum amount of total phenolic and flavonoid contents was reported in of Malva parviflora and Lepidium pinnatifidum.Extracts of Malva parviflora and Lepidium pinnatifidum also depicted the superlative antioxidant activity(total antioxidant capacity,total reducing power,and DPPH scavenging activity).Maximum fungal growth inhibition was demonstrated by extracts of Centaurea calcitropa,Vicia sativa and Malva parviflora.The maximum cytotoxicity was shown by the extracts of Centaurea calcitropa.Moreover,for phytotoxicity assay the highest allelopathic potential was exhibited by extracts of Lepidium pinnatifidum.Solvents prejudiced results;the best results were obtained by Methanol followed by Chloroform and Benzene.CONCLUSION:Centaurea calcitropa,Vicia sativa,Malva parviflora and Lepidium pinnatifidum are most promising medicinal plants of Pothohar region for future studies.

巴基斯坦波特瓦尔高原土壤侵蚀调查报告

[目的]开展巴基斯坦的土壤侵蚀调查与典型单元的定量评价研究,旨在为巴基斯坦土壤侵蚀防治和了解泛第三极生态环境现状提供科学依据。[方法]在巴基斯坦北部的波特瓦尔高原,沿着穆里—伊斯兰堡—拉瓦尔品第—古杰尔汗—杰格瓦尔—保恩路线,选择了15个调查单元(12个小流域,3个矩形区),于2019年4月16—20日,对调查单元内的土壤侵蚀类型与特征、土地利用类型和水土保持措施等进行了调查。[结果]波特瓦尔高原的林地、草地整体土壤侵蚀较轻,以片蚀为主;土壤侵蚀主要发生在建设用地,开挖边坡、排土边坡、土路边坡和砖厂平台等人为形成的边坡和裸露平台在降雨和径流的作用下产生沟蚀;部分自然山坡因过度放牧,发生重力侵蚀和沟蚀。15个调查单元的平均土壤侵蚀速率平均值介于51.40~1338.91t/(km^2·a)之间。[结论]波特瓦尔高原的土壤侵蚀主要发生在建设用地,应对生产建设项目引起的土壤侵蚀进行监督治理,同时通过试验开发匹配的土壤侵蚀防治措施;北部穆里地区是巴基斯坦重要的水源涵养地,需要对该地区大量的建设项目进行合理的规划与审批,防止土壤侵蚀加剧,引起水质和生态环境恶化;应加强沟壑区溯源侵蚀的研究与防控,以保护农田,确保粮食安全;需加强对该区土壤侵蚀基础数据的采集,并对不同尺度的土壤侵蚀发生机理与过程进行研究,切实保障巴基斯坦土地资源。