Zinc (Zn) is an important micronutrient and its adequate supply is considered indispensable for growth, development and normal functioning of plants. In plants, it plays a significant role in photosynthesis, DNA replication, cell division, membrane permeability and integrity, protein synthesis and enzymatic activity, specifically in carbonic anhydrase. Zinc is equally important for human diet and its deficiency affects the immune system, disrupts normal cell growth and reproductive system, and causes skin disorders. Being a co-factor for more than 100 enzymes in human beings, it also provides protection against cancer. Strategies must be employed to increase Zn contents of cereal grains to overcome the Zn deficiency in human beings. Recent reports depict that more than 70% of Pakistani soils are categorized as zinc deficient due to Zn deficient parent material, high soil pH, high calcareousness, more salts and waterlogged conditions and the deficiency passes on to crops as well. Decent amount of zinc is believed to be indispensable for growth and development of maize which is one of the important cereal crops of Pakistan. It is crucial to increase bioavailability of Zn in maize. Among the principal sources used for this purpose, ZnSO4, containing 33% of Zn, is commonly used, but only 4-8 % of the total applied zinc is available to plants while other gets fixed into soil. Furthermore, being expensive, it has economic implications for farmer’s community. Contrarily, zinc oxide (ZnO) is a cheaper and insoluble source which contains 80% of Zn. Bio-activation of insoluble source (ZnO) could be a cost effective method to improve Zn availability from it. Keeping in view the above said problem, the present study was conducted to formulate and evaluate bio-activated zinc for improving yield and quality of maize. For bio-activation purpose, several zinc solubilizing bacteria were isolated from rhizosphere of maize grown soil and quantified on the basis of zinc solubilizing potential and maximum pH reduction in broth medium by the bacterial isolates, finally selecting ten potential zinc solubilizing bacteria. The selected bacterial isolates, capable of solubilizing ZnO, were further screened for their plant growth promoting activity under axenic conditions. Out of ten bacterial isolates, AZ6 was selected for further experiments on the basis of maximum zinc solublization potential, pH reduction and improved growth of maize seedlings. The selected bacterium was later identified as Bacillus sp. AZ6 (Accession No. KT221633), on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The Bacillus sp. AZ6 was characterized for its plant growth promoting attributes. The results implied that Bacillus sp. AZ6 had 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity and produced siderophores for the biocontrol purpose. Auxins production was also observed by inoculation of Bacillus sp. AZ6 in the presence and absence of L-tryptophan. Bacillus sp. AZ6 also has the ability to produce organic acids like cinamic, ferulic, caffeic, chlorggenic , syrirgic and gallic acids, which were detected on HPLC. These acids solubilized the insoluble source of zinc (ZnO) by lowering pH of broth media. Bacillus sp. AZ6 was used with the organic material (grinded orange peel) to bio-activate the insoluble ZnO with different formulations. Efficient formulations (BOZ1, BOZ2, BOZ3, & BOZ4) were evaluated for temporal release of zinc. With the application of bio-activated zinc formulations, zinc bioavailability was increased significantly as compared to available form (ZnSO4), on the 60th day of incubation. BOZ4 was the most efficient among all for the whole sampling duration (0, 12th, 24th, 36th, 48th, 60th and 72th day). Different combinations varied in their potential for enhancing Zn bioavailability in soil and they were further evaluated in pot and field trials. The pot experiment was conducted to evaluate and compare the different formulations of bioxviii activated zinc with the ZnSO4 on maize crop. Data were analyzed following completely randomized design. Sole application of insoluble source of zinc (ZnO) did not influence the growth, physiological, yield and quality parameters of maize whereas ZnSO4 improved these parameters significantly. Inoculations with zinc solubilizing bacteria also promoted these parameters in most of the cases as compared to control (without zinc) but results were at par with the control. Application of bio-activated zinc formulations had a significant effect on growth (fresh and dry root and shoot biomass), physiology (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll contents and carbonic anhydrase activity), yield and quality (crude protein, crude fiber, ash, oil contents, dry matter and grain zinc concentration) of maize as compared to ZnSO4 in pot conditions. Among the bio-activated zinc formulations, application of BOZ4 and BOZ3 significantly promoted most of parameters as compared to available form of zinc (ZnSO4). BOZ4 improved grain yield 11% more as compared to ZnSO4. The results of pot trial were confirmed under field conditions by conducting experiments on maize in two seasons (Field trial I in March, Field trial II in July). The results implied that growth, physiology, yield and quality parameters were significantly improved by BOZ4 and BOZ3 formulations as compared to ZnSO4. Data were analyzed following randomized complete block design for field experiments. BOZ4 improved the grain yield in field trial I and II by 10% and 12% respectively as compared to ZnSO4. The combined use of organic material enriched with zinc source (ZnO) and zinc solubilizing bacteria seems to be an effective approach, yet, cost effective, less time consuming and environmental friendly as compared to other zinc sources. Concluding, bio-activation of ZnO is an effective strategy for economical supply of Zn for improving yield and quality of maize, ultimately the farmer’s community can get the maximum profit from their limited resources in addition to biofortification of crop produce with respect to Zn.
راقم الحروف دے ایک وڈے مہربان ذوالفقار علی بھٹی (مرحوم) سب انجینئر سن ۔ اوہناں دا بڑا شوق سی کہ مرشد سائیں خواجہ محمد عبدالرحمن ہوراں دی صفتاں تے شعراں وچ ایک چھوٹا جیا رسالہ ہونا چاہیدا اے جس نوں پڑھ کے عام تے سادہ لوگ وی فائدہ اٹھا سکن ۔ اُوہناں نے ایہہ کم میرے ذمے لادیتا ۔ میں رسالہ لکھ ہی رہیا ساں پرجناب ذولفقار علی بھٹی ہوراں دے اچانک سدے آگئے تے او رحیم یار خاں دے اندر اپنے اللہ سوہنے کول ٹر گئے ۔ بڑا دکھ ہویا پر اوہناں دیاں یاداں دل وچوں نہ گئیاں ۔ پڑھن والیاں نوں میں بڑے ادب نال آکھاں گا کہ میرے اس مرحوم سجن لئی ضرور دعا کرن کہ اللہ سوہنا انہاں دی قبر نوں اپنے نور نال بھر دیوے۔ خاکسار اقبال قادریؔ بہاول نگر
The present study is aimed to examine the relation of Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing among the Muslim Youth. People find no time for offering prayers and reciting Holy Qur’ān because they are very busy in their daily routines and if they do so, they do it for short period of time when they are in some trouble. The objectives include firstly the exploration of the relationship of Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing. Second objective of the study is to explore the correlation of the Holy Qur’ān recitation with depression, anxiety and stress among young Muslims. Study sample comprises of 100 young Muslims (43 males and 57 females) falling between 17 and 25 years from Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Instruments used for data collection include psychological wellbeing scale by Kamman and Flett (1983) and DASS (depression anxiety stress scale) by Lovibond and Lovibond (1995) and a demographic sheet. Results of the study showed that significant positive relationship exists between Holy Qur’ān recitation and psychological wellbeing among young Muslims and Holy Qur’ān recitation negatively relates with depression, anxiety and stress. The present study findings support that those young Muslims who had more rate of Holy Qur’ān recitation were psychologically more stable as compared to non-frequent reciters. In the light of findings of current study, it can be declared as a quintessence that Holy Qur’ān Recitation can serve as an influential element in ensuring the positive mental health of youth. Educators and Policy makers can play a crucial role in promotion of Holy Qur’ān familiarity which will make certain the psychological and mental health of youth and of the society at large.
This PhD thesis envisages the phytochemical and pharmacological studies of an important member of Rhamnaceae family, Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew. The main objective behind this investigation was to authenticate the folkloric history of this plant. Some of the folkloric uses of genus Zizyphus from the available literature include antidiabetic, hepatic protective, antioxidant, and antiulcerinic, antibacterial and anticancer while specifically Zizyphus oxyphylla is famous for its analgesic, antipyretic and hepatic protective uses. Fractions of stem, leaves and roots of Z. oxyphylla were screened for phytochemical constituents while fractions of stem and leaves were screened for pharmacological activities. This scientific pursuit resulted in some significant findings. The phytochemical studies on Z. oxyphylla resulted in isolation and structural elucidation of three new compounds. Two of the new compounds were cyclopeptide alkaloids named Oxyphylline B (1) and Oxyphylline C (2) while the third new compound was a flavone i.e. (+)-R, S Maackiain (3). Apart from these new compounds four other compounds Oxyphylline D (4), Nummularine-C (5), Nummularine-R (6), b-Sitosterol (7) and Stigmasterol 3- O- b-glucosides (8) were also isolated. Amongst these known compounds only Nummularine-R (6) was previously isolated from Z. oxyphylla while other known compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant and thus new source. Oxyphylline B (1), Oxyphylline C (2) and Nummularine-R (6) were isolated from the chloroform fraction of stem of Z. oxyphylla. From the dichloromethane fraction of roots Oxyphylline D (4) and Nummularine-C (5) were isolated while (+)-R, S Maackiain (3), b-Sitosterol (7) and Stigmasterol 3- O- b-glucoside (8) were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of leaves of Z. oxyphylla. Stem and leaves oils sub fractions, when analyzed by GC-MS, yielded fatty acids, lipids, long chain hydrocarbons and long chain ketones. Some major compounds which were yielded in high percentage were Heptacosane (10.0782 % in sample WO3), Tetracosane acid, methyl ester (9.2234 % in sample WO2), Dotriacontane, 1-Hexacosene and 1-Eicosene (6.4403, 6.6830 and 6.1095 respectively in sample WO5), 11decyl Tetracosane, (4.2749 % in sample WO1), Azafirin (4.4609 % in sample WO1) and 9-octyl Hexacosane, (3.7489 % in sample WO1). While other known compounds below were 3 % concentrations. Few of the peaks in gas chromatogram and their respective mass spectral data remained unidentified. As regards to pharmacological studies, some interesting and significant findings were obtained. Crude extracts, fraction and some of the isolated compounds were investigated for antibacterial, antifungal, toxicity tests (Brine shrimp bioassay, lemna bioassay, insecticidal), in vitro anti-inflammatory activity and enzyme inhibition bioassays including urease and carbonic anhydrase inhibition bioassays. Only ethyl acetate fraction of leaves showed moderate antibacterial activity. Crude extract and n-hexane fraction of leaves and only n- hexane fraction of stem exhibited 35 % inhibition of fungal growth. Maximum phytotoxic activity was revealed by both stem and leaves at the highest concentration used. Crude extract of leaves gave the highest inhibition (90 %) while chloroform was the most active fraction of stem of Z. oxyphylla. Neither of the extracts and subsequent fractions from stem or leaves were able to produce an impression as active cytotoxic agent. n-hexane and ethyl acetate fraction of leaves exhibited 40 % mortality against Callosobruchus analis. Two fractions of leaves (chloroform and n-hexane) gave excellent anti inflammatory activity when screened for in vitro anti- inflammatory activity. Polar fractions of stem showed the maximum urease inhibitory activity. Ethyl acetate fraction of the stem gave maximum reading of 86.7 % ± 0.03, while leaves showed low urease inhibitory activity. Stem and leaves of Z. oxyphylla exhibited low to moderate carbonic anhydrase activity. Oxyphylline B (1) showed comparatively better antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 0.1 mg/mL). Oxyphylline C (2) showed a lower antibacterial activity as compared to Oxyphylline B. Oxyphylline D (3) showed its highest antibacterial activity against E. coli and it lowest antibacterial activity against Shigella flexenari. Nummularine-C (5) and Nummularine-R (6) when compared we found that Nummularine-C was more active than Nummularine-R in many cases. Oxyphylline B (1) showed low activity against Candida albicans. While in the case of Oxyphylline C (2) it was found that it was moderately active against three fungal strains i.e. C. albicans, Micropspoum canis and Fusarium solani. Nummularine-R (6) and Oxyphylline B (1) showed low inhibition of Jake bean urease. Both of them gave readings of 35.73 and 34.24 % inhibition. Maximum urease inhibitory activity was shown by Oxyphylline D (3). It inhibited the urease enzyme by 58.21 %. When IC50 ± SEM value was calculated it came out to be 420.11 ± 1.22 μM. New compounds