Article
Plant Sciences
Nozipho P. Sibiya, Eugenie Kayitesi, Annah N. Moteetee
Summary: A literature survey revealed that several wild indigenous Southern African fruits had not been previously evaluated for their proximate and amino acid composition, as well as total energy value. The nutritional values of C. edulis, H. lucida, P. reclinata, and M. mochisia are being reported for the first time. The fruits contain essential amino acids but are generally a poor source of proteins compared to the recommended daily intake.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Taiwo Oluwafunmilola Abifarin, Gloria Aderonke Otunola, Anthony Jide Afolayan
Summary: The study revealed that Heteromorpha arborescens leaves are rich in nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, with antinutrient levels mostly within safe ranges, indicating their potential to effectively meet daily nutritional requirements and provide therapeutic benefits.
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marco Garcia-Vaquero, Gaurav Rajauria, Marta Miranda, Torres Sweeney, Marta Lopez-Alonso, John O'Doherty
Summary: The study aimed to determine the chemical, phytochemical, fatty acid and mineral profiles of three commercially relevant brown macroalgae collected off the west coast of Ireland over two years. Results showed significant variations in these profiles depending on the macroalgal species, season and year of collection. The findings indicate that protein content in the macroalgae was negatively correlated with carbohydrate content, with protein levels peaking in winter and/or spring and decreasing in summer and/or autumn.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arvind Kumar Bhardwaj, Nand Kumar Kashyap, Sanjoy Kumar Bera, Milan Hait, Harishankar Dewangan
Summary: This study conducted a preliminary phytochemical screening, physicochemical studies, proximate analysis, and element identification in Curcuma caesia rhizomes. The results showed that C. caesia contains various secondary metabolites and beneficial nutritional properties, with a higher ratio of crude protein, crude fiber, crude fat, and carbohydrates. It also revealed a rich supply of mineral elements. This research is important for the understanding of the medicinal value of C. caesia and the development of pharmaceutical formulations.
BIOCHEMICAL SYSTEMATICS AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Maria Bellumori, Marzia Innocenti, Luisa Andrenelli, Fabrizio Melani, Lorenzo Cecchi, Gaetano Pandino, Giovanni Mauromicale, Stefano La Malfa, Nadia Mulinacci
Summary: Sicily (Italy) is the second largest producer of Opuntia ficus-indica fruits, with a large amount of fruit discarded during selection for the fresh market. This study investigated the composition of these discarded fruits from the main Sicilian productive areas. The peel had the highest values of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, while seventeen phenolic compounds were detected in the peel and whole fruit samples. The chemometric analysis revealed a correlation between mineral and phenolic content with different fruit parts and a significant influence of the productive area.
Article
Biology
Fayaz Ali, Nasrullah Khan, Kishwar Ali, Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Ezaz Hasan Khan, David Aaron Jones
Summary: The fruit of Monotheca buxifolia is an underutilized wild edible fruit in Pakistan's Hindukush and Suleiman range mountains. This fruit is consumed by mountain communities as food and medicine, and it serves as an important source of income. The study investigated the total fruit yield, proximate composition, and mineral contents of Monotheca fruit, showing significant variations along the altitudinal gradient. The fruit was found to be rich in carbohydrates, proteins, macro and micro-nutrients, with fluctuations at different altitudes.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mobeen, Xiukang Wang, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Abida Parveen, Sahar Mumtaz, Amara Hassan, Muhammad Adnan, Sajid Fiaz, Sajjad Ali, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Shafaqat Ali, Ghulam Yasin
Summary: The research indicates that green leafy vegetables are important sources of nutrients for the human diet, with vegetables grown in horticulture gardens having better nutritional composition compared to those purchased from markets. Tannins were found to be higher in vegetables from the market, which can be harmful to human health. Further research is recommended to analyze the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-nutrients, and heavy metals in leafy vegetables, as well as explore the ethnomedicinal attributes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sobia Shahzad, Mumtaz Hussain, Hassan Munir, Muhammad Arfan
Summary: This study analyzed the proximate composition and phytochemical heterogeneity of locally adapted sisal plants in different seasons and locations in Punjab, Pakistan. The results showed that the seasonal and locational differences significantly influenced the phytochemical contents of sisal.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lilia Arenas de Moreno, Nancy Jerez-Timaure, Nelson Huerta-Leidenz, Maria Giuffrida-Mendoza, Eugenio Mendoza-Vera, Sojan Uzcategui-Bracho
Summary: Hierarchical cluster (HCA) and canonical correlation (CCA) analyses were employed to explore the multivariate relationships among chemical components of lean beef longissimus dorsii lumborum (LDL) and selected carcass traits of cattle fattened on pasture under tropical conditions. The study found that backfat thickness (BFT) and degree of marbling (MARBLING) were key variables highly correlated with total lipids (TLIPIDS), while carcass traits were poorly correlated with mineral content. Further analyses on the effects of sex condition on the associations among carcass traits and lipidic components are needed.
Article
Fisheries
Qiang Chen, Xiamin Jiang, Qingxi Han, Peng Sheng, Yonghui Chai, Ruibing Peng, Maowang Jiang, Zhongjian Mao, Shengtao Wu
Summary: The sustainable cultivation of triangle sail mussel Hyriopsis cumingii is hindered by the lack of a suitable diet. Through single factor experiments, it was found that Cyclotella sp. was the optimal microalgal diet for H. cumingii, followed by Scenedesmus dimorphus.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Zakaria Ait Lhaj, Rahma Bchitou, Fatima Gaboun, Rabha Abdelwahd, Tarik Benabdelouahab, Mohammed Rachid Kabbour, Paul Pare, Ghizlane Diria, Khadija Bakhy
Summary: The strawberry tree, grown in the Mediterranean region, produces edible fruit used for making jams, marmalades, and alcoholic beverages. Analysis of the wild fruits showed that they are rich in carbohydrates, total sugars, and dietary fiber, as well as containing health-promoting components and important minerals. The fruit of the Arbutus unedo tree is a promising alternative fruit source due to its nutritional value.
Article
Agronomy
Shamara Perera, A. Buddhika G. Silva, Yashora Amarathunga, Shiromi De Silva, Renuka Jayatissa, Ashoka Gamage, Othmane Merah, Terrence Madhujith
Summary: This study investigated the nutritional composition and bioactivity of six underutilized fruits from Sri Lanka. The fruits were found to possess high nutritional value and antioxidant activity.
Article
Agronomy
Candela Teruel-Andreu, Esther Sendra, Francisca Hernandez, Marina Cano-Lamadrid
Summary: The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the cultivar on the nutritional and functional parameters of Ficus carica leaves. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose were detected in all fig leaves, with mean values of 48.94, 66.74, and 43.70 g kg(-1) dried weight (dw), respectively. The most abundant macronutrient was calcium (Ca), followed by potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg). Ficus carica leaves can be a good material for obtaining extracts rich in fiber and calcium and provide an alternative source of these compounds to be incorporated into other nutraceutical and/or food matrices.
Article
Biology
Izaz Ahmad, Misbah Ullah, Mohamed Alkafafy, Nazeer Ahmed, Samy F. Mahmoud, Kamran Sohail, Habib Ullah, Wafaa M. Ghoneem, Mohamed M. Ahmed, Samy Sayed
Summary: The primary goal of this study was to assess the effects of maggot meal protein supplements on broiler production. The supplementation affected the broiler meat feed intake, body weight gain, FCR, dressing %, mortality, antibody titer against ND, and organoleptic features.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chinelo Chinenye Nkwocha, Raphael Chukwuma Ekeanyanwu, Innocent Uzochukwu Okagu
Summary: This study aimed to explore the nutritional and antinutritional compositions of Synsepalum dulcificum seeds. The results showed that the seeds have appreciable content of protein, minerals, and vitamins, which provide immense health benefits, and low levels of antinutrients.
TROPICAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
S. Jabeen, M. Zafar, M. Ahmad, A. T. Althobaiti, F. A. Ozdemir, M. A. Kutlu, T. K. Makhkamov, S. Sultana, M. Ameen, S. Majeed
Summary: The taxonomic importance of macromorphological and micromorphological seed characteristics was investigated using SEM in ten Salvia species from Pakistan. The results revealed that SEM could aid in taxon identification, especially at the genus and species levels.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abrar U. Hassan, Sajjad H. Sumrra, Muhammad Zubair, Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad F. Nazar, Muhammad N. Zafar
Summary: In this paper, we designed and studied new dyes with anchoring groups for semiconductor surfaces in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The computational results showed that these dyes had good electron-donating properties and a red shift in their absorption wavelengths, and the inclusion of a thiophene spacer increased the absorbance peak. These findings provide insights for the design of novel DSSCs with improved stability and efficiency.
STRUCTURAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rozina, Mushtaq Ahmad, Nasib Qureshi, Muhammad Zafar, Sheikh Zain Ul Abidin, Sher Aman Ullah
Summary: This study focuses on the production of biodiesel from non-edible Cordia dichotoma seed oil using a NiO nanocatalyst prepared with aqueous leaf extract of Anagallis arvensis L. Various analytical techniques were used to analyze the nanoparticles and confirm the production of methyl ester. The results showed a high biodiesel yield of 94% with fuel properties comparable to international standards.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abrar U. U. Hassan, Sajjad H. H. Sumrra, Ghulam Mustafa, Muhammad F. F. Nazar, Muhammad N. N. Zafar
Summary: In this study, a series of non-fullerene acceptor organic dyes were designed and their structures and properties were investigated for organic solar cells. The key properties including bandgap, ionization potential, maximum absorption wavelength, and electron injection were calculated and analyzed. The intramolecular charge transfer process and stability were also studied. It was found that some dyes exhibited promising nonlinear optical properties, providing a reference for the research and development of new organic optoelectronic materials.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MODELING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Abrar U. U. Hassan, Sajjad H. H. Sumrra, Wardha Zafar, Muhammad Imran, Sadaf Noreen, Muhammad Irfan
Summary: Nine new dyes were designed by end-capped modelling of a dithiophene-based 6,6 '-di(thiophen-2-yl)-4,4 '-bipyrimidine (DTB) moiety. These dyes exhibited smaller energy gaps and significant nonlinear optical response, making them potential contenders for nonlinear optical applications.
Article
Plant Sciences
Salman Majeed, Mushtaq Ahmad, Fethi Ahmet Ozdemir, Azize Demirpolat, Zeynep Sahan, Trobjon Makhkamov, Muhtor Nasirov, Muhammad Zafar, Shazia Sultana, Ghulam Yaseen, Nabila
Summary: Micromorphological and ultrastructural data have been used to study the evolution, classification, ecology, and phylogeny of seed plants. In this study, we conducted a comparative morphometric analysis of seed features in 16 dicot species from the Thal desert using scanning electron microscopy. We identified micromorphological similarities and differences among these species and determined their systematic relationships.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haleema Sadia, Saif Ullah, Faizan Ullah, Tabish Jadoon
Summary: The development of sensors that can selectively and accurately detect hazardous analytes, especially sulfur-based irritants, is crucial. In this study, the sensing mechanism of cyclic tetrapyrrole (CTPy) for reliable detection of various sulfur gases was explored using DFT calculations. The results showed that CTPy exhibited significant sensitivity to sulfur gases, as demonstrated by the interaction energies, charge transfer interactions, and changes in energy gaps and UV-Visible spectra. These findings provide valuable insights for designing highly sensitive hazardous analyte sensors employing CTPy.
COMPUTATIONAL AND THEORETICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Shabir Ahmad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Shazia Sultana, Alessio Papini, Fazal Ullah, Saddam Saqib, Asma Ayaz, Mansoor Ahmed Bazai, Wajid Zaman, Muhammad Zafar
Summary: This study investigated the pollen of fossil plants from the Miocene period in Pakistan, revealing its high biodiversity. The analysis of 31 samples using microscopic techniques identified 48 pollen types from 12 families. However, the preservation of floral records was found to be suboptimal.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nabila, Mushtaq Ahmad, Ashwaq T. Althobaiti, Wahid Ali, Khansa Masood, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Bisha Chaudhary, Muhammad Zafar, Muhammad Saeed Akhtar, Shazia Sultana, Sasan Zahmatkesh, Tariq Mehmood, Mudassar Azam, Saira Asif
Summary: Due to the increasing demand for honey, it is necessary to widely adopt better processing techniques. The most common technique, microporous ultrafiltration membranes, is used to assess the quality and quantity of valuable honey through melissopalynomorphs. Selective filtration of sugars from honey using ultrafiltration is crucial. This study employed membrane reactors and ultrafiltration protocols to authenticate 24 honey samples and analyze the pollen spectrum of dominant vegetation. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the nutritional benefits and active phytochemical constituents of the honey samples.
Article
Plant Sciences
Wajia Noor, Muhammad Zafar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Ashwaq T. Althobaiti, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Trobjon Makhkamov, Yusufjon Gafforov, Akramjon Yuldashev, Oybek Mamarakhimov, Omer Kilic, Heba F. Eid, Talip Sahin, Shazia Sultana, Bibi Sadia, Anwer Usma, Amjad Khan
Summary: Petiole anatomy is an important tool for species discrimination. This study examined the petiole anatomy of 25 wild Brassicaceae taxa from Northern Baluchistan to identify significant variations for species identification. Several qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the petiole were observed and statistically analyzed to determine their ability to differentiate taxa. The findings have implications for understanding the anatomy, evolution, and microclimatic effects on Brassicaceae plants in different regions.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Shahab Ali, Muhammad Zafar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shazia Sultana, Amjad Khan, Salman Majeed, Jamil Raza
Summary: In this study, the taxonomic value of Asteraceae pollen from the Sikaram Mountain Pak-Afghan border was assessed. Microscopic techniques were used to observe and measure the pollen of 15 species. The study found that the pollen grains were usually Tricolporate, triangular to circular in polar view, with varying shapes and sculpturing. The research also identified differences in pollen size, spine length, and exine thickness among different species. Cluster analysis was used to classify closely related taxa. The study highlights the importance of palynological research in taxonomy and applied sciences.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Haleema Sadia, Ahmad Kamal Hassan, Ziaul Haq Abbas, Ghulam Abbas
Summary: This work investigates the performance of system throughput in intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRSs)-enabled phase cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) framework. The aim is to maximize the sum rate of secondary users in the proposed phase cooperative downlink network configuration by exploiting optimization solutions. However, the optimization problem is NP-hard and cannot be directly solved. Therefore, an alternating optimization approach is applied to solve the maximization problem by exploiting transmit beamforming (BF) and phase shift optimization. The results show that the proposed framework improves the sum rate of users compared to conventional heuristic BF schemes.
PHYSICAL COMMUNICATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Aqsa Aziz, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Abdel-Rhman Z. Gaafar, Mohamed S. Hodhod, Shazia Sultana, Mohammad Athar, Fethi Ahmet Ozdemir, Trobjon Makhkamov, Akramjon Yuldashev, Oybek Mamarakhimov, Maxsuda Nizomova, Salman Majeed, Bisha Chaudhay
Summary: The study focused on the synthesis of copper oxide phyto-nanocatalyst using non-edible Citrullus colocynthis as a new renewable feedstock. Under optimized conditions, the maximum biodiesel yield of 95% was achieved. The synthesized phyto-nanocatalyst showed high efficiency and stability, even after being reused five times, thus proving to be a promising alternative for the future biodiesel industry.
Article
Agronomy
Maria Ameen, Muhammad Zafar, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Heba F. Eid, Trobjon Makhkamov, Akramjon Yuldashev, Oybek Mamarakhimov, Maxsuda Nizomova, Rima J. Isaifan, Shaista Jabeen, Salman Majeed
Summary: The research aimed to investigate and identify the micro-morphological characteristics of selected seed-bearing crops using scanning electron microscopy. Chemical extraction via Soxhlet apparatus resulted in estimating the oil content and FFA content, with a maximum biodiesel yield of 98% achieved. Multivariate analysis using PCA revealed similarities and differences among factors/variables, and SEM examination exhibited ultra-morphological characters and distinct variation in cell-wall ornamentation.
Review
Microbiology
Yusufjon Gafforov, Milena Raseta, Sylvie Rapior, Manzura Yarasheva, Xuewei Wang, Liwei Zhou, Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar, Muhammad Zafar, Young Woon Lim, Mengcen Wang, Bekhzod Abdullaev, Rainer W. Bussmann, Gokhan Zengin, Jiajia Chen
Summary: Interest in edible and medicinal macrofungi has a long history in Central Asia, while interest in inedible and medicinal macrofungi has recently increased. A study conducted in Uzbekistan collected various species of edible and inedible medicinal basidiomycetes. The research focused on measuring diversity and habitat associations using morphological characters and rDNA-Internal Transcribed Spacer sequence data. The study identified 17 species of medicinal macrofungi associated with 23 species of trees and shrubs. The findings provide valuable information on the traditional and modern uses of these mushrooms, including their potential application as medicines, food, and cosmetic ingredients.
