The present investigation was an attempt to explore the nutraceutical potential of pomegranate peel and bagasse extracts based value added/functional drinks against various metabolic syndromes. Three different pomegranate varieties namely Kandhari, Desi and Badana were nutritionally characterized followed by punicalagin quantification, product development and finally the bio-efficacy trial was carried to evaluate health benefits of respective drinks against hypercholesterolemia and diabetes. The nutritional analysis revealed that pomegranate peel and bagasse are a good source of protein, fiber, fat, potassium (K) and calcium (Ca). For the extraction of polyphenols three types of solvent were used i.e. methanol (50%), ethanol (50%) and ethyl acetate (50%). Amongst tested pomegranate peels & bagasses, Kandhari variety demonstrated the highest total phenolic contents (TPC) [259.05±27.40 & 30.67±4.72 mg/g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)], total flavonoid contents (TFC) [53.53±6.14 & 8.86±1.91 mg/g rutin equivalent (RE)] and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH (70.66±7.44 & 42.30±5.75%)], likewise, maximum TPC (272.68±17.03 & 31.72±4.75 mg/g GAE), TFC (54.90±3.89 & 8.74±2.48 mg/g RE) and DPPH (72.41±5.87 & 43.34±5.97%) were noticed in methanolic extract of all varieties. The pomegranate peels and bagasses of all varieties were quantified by HPLC that depicted 110.59±8.84 mg/g and 1.77±0.41 mg/g of punicalagin, respectively. Afterwards, in product development phase, three types of value added drinks were formulated as drink containing pomegranate peel extract (D1), drink containing bagasse extract (D2) alongside with control (D0) for comparison purpose. The prepared drinks were subjected to physicochemical characterization during two months storage interval. In this milieu, storage intervals and treatments imparted significant effect on color tonality parameters of value added drinks. Moreover, storage interval substantially affected pH and acidity of drinks except for total soluble solids (TSS). Sensory scores of formulated value added drinks decreased with the progression of storage time however, the scores remained within acceptable range throughout the course of study. The efficacy trial was conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats. Accordingly, three types of studies were designed i.e. study I (normal rats), study II (hypercholesterolemic rats) and study III (diabetic rats). Additionally, each study was further divided into three groups G-1, G-2 and G-3 depending on the drinks i.e. D0, D1 and D2 that they were subjected to respectively. The body weights of experimented rats were affected substantially due to the application of value added drinks in all studies. The pomegranate peel extract based drink (D1) resulted in maximum decline in serum cholesterol values during study I, II & III by 3.09, 14.52 & 10.26% likewise a pronounced reduction in LDL and triglyceride levels was evaluated due to utilization of drink D1 (3.75, 14.86 & 11.75% and 3.12, 9.99 & 7.05%) followed by D2 (2.02, 10.74 & 7.72% and 2.89, 5.63 & 4.22%), respectively. Similarly, HDL increases significantly due to administration of value added drinks in study II and III. As far as antidiabetic perspectives are concerned, a substantial decline (p˂0.05) in serum glucose level was observed in study II (7.50 & 5.11%) and study III (13.28 & 8.71%) due to consumption of drink D1 & D2, correspondingly. Nevertheless, a substantial increase in insulin level was documented in D1 (5.66 & 8.74%) and D2 (3.38 & 4.37%) administrated groups during study II & III. Moreover, for the assessment of anti-oxidative markers, glutathione level was enhanced and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level was reduced by utilization of value added drinks. The results of liver and kidney functioning tests as well as hematological attributes ensured the safety of value added drinks. It is inferred from the present exploration that Kandhari pomegranate peel was more effective as compared to Kandhari bagasse based drinks to mitigate hypercholesterolemia and diabetes.
The Immensely Merciful to all, The Infinitely Compassionate to everyone.
46:01 a. Ha. Mim.
46:02 a. The sending down of this Book – The Divine Qur’an - is from Allah. b. The Almighty, The All-Wise.
46:03 a. WE did not create the celestial realm and the terrestrial world and whatever is between them, except for a purpose and for a specified time. b. Yet those who disbelieve continue turning away from what they are warned about – coming of The Time of Final Judgment.
46:04 a. Say O The Prophet: b. ‘Consider those who call on other entities apart from Allah. c. Show me what part of the terrestrial world they have created? d. Or do they have any partnership in the creation and maintenance of the celestial realm? e. Bring me any form of a Scripture that came to you before this Qur’an, or any tradition of Divine knowledge, if you are truthful.’
46:05 a. And who could be more astray/misguided than the one who calls on other entities apart from Allah- b. those who will not respond to him even until the Time of Resurrection, c. while they are not even aware of their being called on?
46:06 a. And when people are gathered together for the Final Judgment they – their worshipful entities - will become hostile to those who worshiped them, b. and they are going to deny all acts of their worship.
46:07 a. But whenever OUR Messages in The Qur’an are recited to them in all their clarity, b. those who...
Scholars of the Usul -early and recent- have paid utmost importance to the Maqâsid al-Shariah or the Objectives of Shariah and tried to substantiate, associate and link them with its sources, Qur’an and Sunnah, then to derive from them the Legislator’s or the Shari‘s purpose, the revelation’s true purpose and how it benefits the creatures in terms of promoting what is in their interest and shunning away what is harmful. These objectives became the point of interest for the jurists and scholars who toiled to understand the texts and what they connoted and they continue to venture into its depths and extract its treasures. It becomes quite evident from their exegeses of Qur’an and the Prophetic Traditions and elucidations of the juristic principles and issues. Imam al-Shâtibī and Ibn ‘Ashoor are two such scholars in this field who studied the Objectives of Shariah and contributed to this discipline so greatly that they became reference points for those who came after them. The basic principles in the field that were inferred by them are still its pillars. The Objectives of Shariah are divided into four kinds with reference to their benefits: the necessities, needs, improvements and supplements. The necessities are further divided into protection of Deen, protection of self, of intellect, of possessions and of race among others. Prudence demands that all means should be employed to safeguard these necessities. Thus knowing the Objectives of Shariah and their promulgation among the masses is quite important for the society since it leads towards promotion of the beneficial and shunning away the harmful elements in it.
The slow growth in employment during the present and past few economic recoveries around the world has generated interest among economic researchers in the phenomenon of jobless growth. In developing countries the potential of economic growth to generate employment has often been questioned. The present study is assesses this potential in Pakistan which has relied mainly on economic growth in the past to generate employment. Using a production function, an employment demand model is derived in which Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the main explanatory variable. This model is estimated using annual time series data for the period 1974-2008, first at the national level and then by pooling data for the major sectors of the economy. Econometric estimates of the parameters of this model have been used to calculate a threshold level of GDP growth below which growth in employment is expected to be stagnant. The analysis of national data indicates that the economic growth in Pakistan has generally been slower than the level of growth required to generate employment growth. This result is mainly attributed to below threshold level of growth in the manufacturing sector of the economy which is regarded as one of the main engines of economic growth by economic planners in Pakistan. Among the potential factors behind the above results are labour productivity, sectoral shifts in the labour market, and the macroeconomic policies of the last three decades. Directions for future research and policy implications of results are also discussed in this study.