Nida Sohail

University of Karachi

From last few decades, microbes gained special attention residing inside plant tissues, now called endophyte. Studies proved that these microbes are able to produce biologically active metabolites and effective candidates against various pathogens. Endophytic fungi are a source of natural therapeutic products. Therefore, endophytic Fusarium species...

Pakistan is facing weather extremities since the beginning of this year. Recent flood has sparked a major health crisis within the victims. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression within survivors (adults and children) is relatively high and step should be taken in time to cure there deteriorating mental health.

Microorganisms are essential for human life. Since time immemorial, every process on earth has been affected by an unending ability of microorganisms to renovate the world. From the last two decades, microbes residing inside plants have gained special attention and are called endophytes. These microbes have natural potential for production of vario...

Endophytic fungi live inside plant tissues but do not cause any disease. Several reports have now revealed that they have great influence on host. In this study, the beneficial role of endophytic fungi is highlighted and explored. Endophytic fungi isolated from healthy plants were identified as Aspergillus terreus, Curvularia lunata, C. hawaiiensis...

Kidney is an important organ which is necessary for the body to perform various important functions which include blood purification, expelling metabolic wastes and managing water and electrolytes balance in the body. In this era of modern science, many synthetic drugs are used on patients to examine their therapeutic properties. Unfortunately, som...

This letter is an insight into health hazards caused by the recent flooding and preventive measures in Pakistan.

To the Editor, Pakistan has experienced agricultural disasters since May 2022 as a result of rainfall-related flooding and waterlogging. The record rainfall rate witnessed in Pakistan was disastrous and marked considerable damage to crop production in the country. Being an agricultural country around 40% of the labor force relies on agriculture for...

Acetaminophen (AAP) is an analgesic-antipyretic drug which is considered safe at recommended dose, but its overuse may induce renal and hepatic injuries. Marine macro algae have great potential against drug-induced renal and hepatic dysfunctions. The present study described the reno-protective and hepato-protective effects of the ethanol extract of...

Microorganisms are essential for human life. Since time immemorial, every process on earth has been affected by an unending ability of microorganisms to renovate the world. From the last two decades, microbes residing inside plants have gained special attention, and are called endophytes. These microbes have natural potential for production of vari...

Nephrotoxicity is a serious side effect for patients who receive cisplatin chemotherapy. The objective of this study is to determine the protective role of seaweed (Ulva fasciata) also called sea lettuce, against an anticancer drug cisplatin induced kidney dysfunction. Ethanol extract of U. fasciata (200mg/kg) and its solvent fractions (n-hexane, c...

From the last two decades, microbes residing inside plants have gained special attention, and are called endophytes. These microbes have natural potential for production of various bioactive metabolites and can be used as therapeutic agents against a plethora of maladies. Endophytic fungi are now recognized as an excellent source of widely occurrin...

Endophytic fungi are now recognized as an excellent source of widely occurring natural products. Fungi are wonderful producers of natural products, mostly secondary metabolites. The vital use of these fungi may provide benefit to current demand for novel biomolecules in agriculture, medical and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, endophytic f...

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) or AAP is a widely used analgesic-antipyretic drug that causes hepatotoxicity at higher than the effective doses. The present study assesses the nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of seaweed Sargassum ilicifolium against AAP toxicity in rats. Damage to the liver and kidney was induced by administering a single...

BACKGROUND Kidney dysfunction remains a problem for patients who receive cisplatin chemotherapy. In this study we evaluated the protective role of an edible seaweed Ulva fasciata (U. fasciata) commonly known as sea lettuce, against kidney dysfunction induced by cisplatin. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The objective of this study is to determine the prote...

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM), an endocrine disease is characterized by increased level of blood glucose. Diabetes may affect other functions of the body and organs including, renal function and lipid metabolism. Pandanus tectorius ( P. tectorius) Parkinson ex Du Roi is a small tree used in folk medicine in treatment of many diseases. Methods...

Background Drug-induced hepatotoxicity is one of the most important causes of liver dysfunction. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) an analgesic-antipyretic drug is generally considered safe but its overdose may cause liver toxicity. Marine macro-algae (seaweeds) especially brown seaweeds possess unique biological activities including hepatoprotective pot...

Several reports revealed that endophytic fungi have great influence on host plants, as they promote plant growth and minimize disease severity caused by various pathogens. In this study, endophytic fungi isolated from healthy plants were identified as Aspergillus terreus , Curvularia lanata, C. hawaiiensis, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium solani,...

Cisplatin is widely used in anticancer therapy, but a substantial percentage of patients who receive the therapeutic dose of cisplatin develop nephrotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity may also develop after a single dose or low repeated doses of cisplatin. Ulva fasciata is an edible seaweed, commonly known as sea lettuces have also been shown various biologi...

Aims The efficacy of three isolates of endophytic Penicillium species that have shown significant suppressive effect on root rotting fungi in our previous study were further evaluated in pots and field plot experiments for their effect on root diseases of okra, induction of systemic resistance and physiochemical properties of okra fruit. Methods a...

Solvent fractions (n-hexane, cholorofrom, methanol) and fractions containing sterols of Jolyna laminarioides was evaluated in triton-induced and high-fat-diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Oral administration of J. laminarioides significantly reduced the elevated level of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c, both in triton induced and h...

Cisplatin is considered one of the best anticancer medications often used for the treatment of various cancers even with its adverse effects. Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is a widely used analgesic-antipyretic drug that causes hepatotoxicity at higher than the effective doses. The present study assesses the nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effe...

Liver plays a major role in transforming and clearing the chemicals form the body, but same time it is susceptible to the toxicity of these chemicals. Liver diseases are now become major public health problem worldwide, beside viral infection, autoimmune diseases, infectious agents, toxic chemicals and many drugs at higher doses can cause hepatic i...

Diabetes is lifelong, largest growing; serious metabolic disease which results in increased blood sugar level, and dysfunction of kidney and blood vessels. Basically there are two types of diabetes known as type 1 or insulin dependent and type 2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In pharmacology the treatment of disease is insulin, but thi...