Medicinal plants provide rich resources of ingredients which can be used in drug development and synthesis. In Pakistan Periploca aphylla Decne. (Asclepiadoideae) is used to treat gastrointestinal, dermatological and topical diseases whereas Fagonia olivieri (Zygophyllaceae) is generally used for the cure of cancer, diabetes, asthma, fever, toothache, urinary discharges, stomach troubles and renal disorders. This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacological activities of P. aphylla and F. olivieri using in vitro and in vivo models. The fresh samples (whole plant) of P. aphylla and F. olivieri were collected and made in to a fine powder after shade drying. Methanol extract of powder was resolved with escalating polarity to get fractions; n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residual aqueous fraction. The extract/fractions were subjected to phytochemical analysis which showed the existence of tannins, saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, phlobatannins and flavonoids. All the extracts/fractions showed potent activity against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria and fungal species. However, the most active fractions of F. olivieri were ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous while methanol, n-butanol and aqueous fractions of P. aphylla exhibited activity against a maximum number of strains as compared to other fractions. These fractions also exhibited good cytotoxic activity as the maximum (96.66 %) was shown by ethyl acetate fraction of the F. olivieri and methanol extract of P. aphylla at 1000 mg/ml. Total phenolic and flavonoid content of P. aphylla was found to be higher in the ethyl acetate (186±1.18 mg GAE/g of extract) and n-butanol fractions (85.1667±0.13 mg RE/g extract) respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the lowest IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radicals. The n-butanol fraction exhibited the radical scavenging activity for superoxide and OH radical and H2O2 scavenging. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the F. olivieri samples ranged from 16 ± 0.881 to 50 ± 1.764 mg GAE/g extract and 19 ± 0.529 to 106 ± 0.892 mg RTE/g extract, respectively. The antioxidant activity was measured by a number of in vitro systems. The aqueous extract showed the highest radical scavenging activity with IC50 = 55 ± 1.212 μg/ml for DPPH, followed for ABTS, H2O2, and superoxide radical. However, ethyl acetate fractions exhibited the lowest IC50 values for phosphomolybdenum and OH radical scavenging assays. xxiii Quantification of phenolic compounds was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which showed the presence of rutin, catechin, myricetin and caffeic acid in the crude extract and fractions of P. aphylla and F. olivieri. Thirty compounds were identified in P. aphylla methanol extract during GC-MS analysis which revealed that hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (13.65%) was a major component followed by 1,1,6-trimethyl-3-methylene-2-(3,6,9,13 tetramethyl-6- ethenye-10,14-dimethylene-pentadec-4-enyl)cyclohexane (9.41%), 9-Octadecenal, (Z)- (CAS) (8.00%), Pyrrolidine, 1-(6-phenyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)- (CAS) (7.50%) and 5 (Dimethylamino)-3-ethoxy-5-isopropyl-1-(4''-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-[2"-(4- "''trifluoromethylphenyl) ethynyl]-1,3-cyclopentadiene (5.28%). The prevailing compounds in F. olivieri were methyl 1-(but-2''-en-1''-yl)-6,7- (dimethoxy)isoquinoline-3-carboxylAte (71.89%), ethyl hydrogen P,5''-anhydro-2'',3''- O-isopropylideneadenosine-8-phosphonate (7.64%), 2-Bromo-5-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4 (trimethylsiloxy)phenyl)furan (3.33%) and [1]Benzothieno[2'',3''-3,4]thieno[3'''',2''''- 7,8]cycloocta[1,2-b:5,6-b'']diquinoxaline (3.25%). Piscidic acid (C11H12O7) was isolated and identified by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectrum studies from aqueous fraction of F. olivieri, as an antibacterial compound isolated for the first time using activity guided fractionation. Anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant activities were measured by means of carrageenan induced paw edema and forced swim test (FST) in Sprague-Dawley rats respectively. The maximum activity was shown by n-butanol and methanol fractions of P. aphylla while ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of F. olivieri in the above assays. The anti-diabetic potential of P. aphylla and F. olivieri was measured using glucose tolerance test and streptozotocin induced diabetes. The aqueous fraction of the F. olivieri and the n-butanol fraction of P. aphylla showed anti-diabetic potential. The effect of methanol extract of P. aphylla and F. olivieri was also investigated against paracetamol, gentamicin and doxorubicin-induced toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats. At the end of the experiments, body weight and organ (liver, kidney, heart, lungs, testes, brain) weights were measured. Serum ALT, ALP, AST, total bilirubin, total protein, urea, creatinine and lipid profiles such as cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL were assayed. The levels of cardiac biomarker enzymes viz LDH, CK, CK-MB were observed. Lipid peroxidation (indexed by TBARS) and antioxidants like glutathione, glutathione transferase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase xxiv were assessed. Histopathology of tissues was also performed. The genetic parameters were evaluated by means of DNA fragmentation and DNA ladder assay. The lesions induced by these drugs in all the above mentioned parameters were determined to be lower particularly in the P. aphylla and F. olivieri treated groups. Moreover, extracts administered at 400 mg/kg were found to show greater protective effects than that at 200 mg/kg. Furthermore, the protective activity of these extracts was comparable to that of silymarin, an active moiety in Silybum marianum, wellknown for its hepatic regenerative activity. Thus the results show that crude methanol extracts and partitioned fractions of P. aphylla and F. olivieri possess antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antidepresssent, anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects. The spectra of activities displayed by the extracts could be credited to the presence of these phytochemicals (flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids). This may validate the use of these plants in traditional medicine for the treatment of various disease conditions and signifies the potential of P. aphylla and F. olivieri as sources of therapeutic agents.
پروفیسر ڈاکٹر محمد ایوب اردو تحقیق و تنقید میں ایک نیا اضافہ ہیں۔اس سے قبل وہ پنجابی ادب میں اپنی صلاحیتوں کے جوہر دکھا چکے ہیں۔پنجابی حلقہ ادب میں آپ کا نام کسی تعارف کا محتاج نہیں۔حالیہ چند عرصوں میں انہوں نے اردو ادب کے میدان میں قدم رکھا اور اپنی صلاحیتوں کو بروئے کار لاتے ہوئے اردو ادب میں اپنی پہلی کتاب لکھ ڈالی۔اس کتاب میں شامل بیشتر مضامین ہماری معاشرتی زندگی سے جڑے ہوئے ہیں جس سے یہ بات واضح ہوتی ہے کہ ڈاکٹر محمد ایوب اپنے اردگرد کے معاشرتی حالات پر گہری نظر رکھتے ہیں۔ان مضامین کا مواد اپنے مجموعی مزاج میں پر اعتماد فکری فضا اور گہری وسعت نظر کا حامل ہے۔نبی کریمﷺکی ذات سے والہانہ عقیدت و محبت کا اظہار ان کے مضامین میں ملتا ہے۔انہوں نے نے نئے نعتیہ اشعار کہنے والے شعراء حضرات کی اصلاح بھی کی ہے۔اس کے علاوہ انہوں نے نام نہاد مذہبی پیشواؤں کو بھی آڑے ہاتھوں لیا ہے جو مذہب کو اپنے مفاد کیلئے استعمال کرتے ہیں اور بہت سے معاشرتی مسائل پر بھی نظر دوڑائی ہے۔ انہوں نے پنجاب کی تہذیب و ثقافت کو ادب میں زندہ رکھنے کے حوالے سے بھی اپنا کردار ادا کیا ہے۔ جملہ مضامین سے یہ بات پورے وثوق سے کہی جا سکتی ہے کہ ڈاکٹر محمد ایوب کا نقطہ نظر ایک مثبت طرز فکر کا حامل ہے۔انہوں نے اپنے مضامین میں نہایت سادہ الفاظ کا انتخاب کیا ہے جس سے معاشرے کی اصلاح ممکن ہے۔مجھے یقین ہے وقت کے ساتھ ساتھ پنجابی کی طرح اْردو ادب میں بھی ان کی اہمیت میں گراں قدر اضافہ ہوگا۔
کتاب میں موجود تمام مضامین اردو ادب سے تعلق رکھتے ہیں جو کہ اس سلسلے میں ان کی پہلی...
Civic behavior reflects the values related to individual’s attitude towards family, peer group, and neighborhood and includes the way one behaves in the society and community as a whole. The purpose of the present study is to describe what civic behavior is, its characteristics, its status in the Hadith, and the way forward for improvement of the civic behavior as guided by Sīrah of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). Study implies that truthfulness, mercifulness, polite talk, helping others, respect for others, caring and sharing and promise-keeping, loyalty, sympathy, honesty, kindness, brotherhood, cooperation, fairness and unity are the core qualities that make the individual a civilized and active citizen and our Holy Prophet (ﷺ) is the embodiment of all these virtues. Descriptive approach was followed to explain and analyze the concept. First the concept of civic behavior was interpreted, then its importance and characteristics were discussed. After that it was explored in the light of the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The findings highlight that the civic behavior in its best form was preached and practiced by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) and his companions. Each dimension was interpreted in the light of the Quran and the Sīrah. It was concluded that Sīrah of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) is an immaculate source of guidance and inspiration for not only Muslims but also for the whole mankind in acquiring the core values and abilities that determine the Civic behavior of an individual which ultimately results into a well-organized, peaceful and civilized society The study suggests that civic behavior of the citizens has significant impact on the formation and development of a peaceful society. It is recommended that civic behavior as reflected in the life of and practiced by the Holy Prophet (ﷺ) should be promoted and practiced for achieving a civilized social setup.
The study “Promoting Elite Culture by Pakistani TV channels” intends to investigate how media in Pakistan has portrayed the elite culture which may be differentiated as one of the leading social class through the different living standards including the lifestyle, the unique ideas and fabricated stuff from the rest of the society. The key focus of the study is to meet the objectives to find out; whether TV programs are changing the culture of Pakistani society; whether Pakistani drama is promoting western dressing culture; whether morning show is promoting dance and expensive dress culture; and whether promoting elite culture by Pakistani TV channels. The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative methodologies for data collection. The survey method is used for the quantitative part using the questionnaire as a tool and collects data from 300 males and 300 female’s respondent’s residents of Lahore, Gujrat and Islamabad having age ranging 18 to 60. On the other hand expert interviews conducted from two social sciences academicians and media professionals in qualitative part. This study used cultivation analysis by Gerbner and social learning by Bandura as a theoretical framework. The demographic analysis shows that majority of the respondents have age 18-30 years, intermediate education, single marital status and are students have point of view that entertainment TV channels, drama and morning shows are promoting elite culture. Hypothesis analysis shows that entertainment TV channels, drama and morning show are positively imposing elite class culture on the rest of the society. Findings also show that Pakistani entertainment TV channels, ARY digital drama and GEO entertainment morning show is promoting elite culture and the hypotheses are statistically approved. The researcher used SPSS applying One-Way ANOVA test and applied post Hoc Tukey test. Academicians and media professionals conclude that television dramas and morning shows are promoting an elite culture in a society. Luxurious homes, expensive cars, parties, use of alcohol, drugs, and romance are promoted in drama. While morning shows are mostly in agreement on heavy dresses, makeup, dance competitions, wedding ceremonies including Mehndi, couple dancing and song competitions.