Azad Jammu Research Articles

An updated catalogue of true flies (Insecta: Diptera) from northern Pakistan

We present the first comprehensive catalogue of true flies from the northernmost territories of Pakistan, including Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. In the current inventory, 64 genera and 153 species in 16 families are being documented. The total number of known species has been updated based on the availability of taxonomic literatures from Pakistan. In 2007, Insect Fauna of Azad Jammu & Kashmir was updated and it lists only 16 known species in order Diptera where as there is no such documented information so far available on the dipterous fauna of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, during the last few decades, relatively a few studies have been conducted on some major group of flies, i.e., Syrphidae, Sepsidae, Calliphoridae, and Tephritidae from Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Among these, Syrphidae represents 53 species which is the highest number of species recorded, followed by Sepsidae and Calliphoridae with 20 and 18 species, respectively. The present diversity does not reflect the true species account in the northern areas; the important biogeographic area that exhibits a very heterogeneous fauna, not only because of the high mountains with valleys (the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges of the Western Himalayas) but also the junction points of the world’s two largest zoogeographical regions (the Oriental and Palaearctic). Some common families, i.e., Stratiomyidae, Asilidae, Bombyliidae, Muscidae, Conopidae, Pipinculidae, Tachinidae, and some other families which are common in high mountainous regions of northern Pakistan still need to be explored in the future studies. The complete locality data for each valid species are presented as the baseline for future studies from northern areas of Pakistan, i.e., Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Heavy Metal Estimation and Quality Assurance Parameters for Water Resources in the Northern Region of Pakistan

The current study investigates the water quality parameters of drinking water resources in District Neelam (DNLM), Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Northwestern Pakistan. The studied area has been recently reported with many waterborne diseases, which probed this analytical study. The samples were aseptically collected from springs, taps, and surface water bodies. The water quality parameters, such as physical, microbiological, anions, and heavy metals, were tested. Results showed that the electrical conductance (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS), were 974.60 µS/cm and 912.10 mg/L, respectively, exacerbating the quality of drinking water in DNLM. For microbial water testing, we used 3M-Petrifilms as a detection source, which could separate coliform bacteria from E. coli by creating unique surface chromophores. Out of sixty collected samples, 76% had bacterial contamination. Nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate (9.8, 15.0, and 15.1 mg/L), were also surpassing the safe limits of the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for water quality measurement. The heavy metals, i.e., As, Cr, Cu, and Pb were also tested in current analysis. Pb and Cr (0.04 mg/L and 0.06 mg/L) exceeded from safe drinking water guidelines of the WHO and more than 50% of the collected samples had Pb as a major water pollutant in DNLM. Poor waste management, open sludge discharge, lack of municipality measures, and mineral leaching into the freshwaters of DNLM due to mining and metal extraction processes were the main sources of water pollution in the region. The inorganic pollutants were responsible for the sudden rise of different malignancies and other fatal diseases (vital organ failures and reproductive disorders) in the region, which has not been reported in the past. The current investigation yielded useful baseline data of the drinking water reserves of NW Pakistan that could help to develop techniques for the mitigation of water pollutants present in the region.

ANALYSIS OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY OF AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR

The study was conducted to find out educational facilities provided to early childhood education in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. Descriptive research method was used for conducting the research. In descriptive research survey method was used for the collection of data from respondents. All two hundred sixty (260) teachers working in fifty-two (52) government primary schools of AJ&K were population of study. Universal sampling technique was used to select the sample from population. A questionnaire based on five-point Likert scale was used as research instrument to collect data from teachers. Questionnaire was consisted of educational facilities i.e., the indoor and outdoor educational facilities. Mean, frequency, and percentage were used for analysis of data. It was found that ECE teachers support the specific learning tasks to be carried out there. ECE teachers helps to lay the foundation for education for rest of a child's life. It is suggested that trained teachers may be hired for ECE children to enhance quality of ECE program in AJ&K. There may be equal educational infrastructure and chances available to provide equity of learning to students across the District Kotli.

Development of Health Care Facilities in Rural Areas of District Bagh, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir: A study of the application of the WASH-FIT tool

Background: In order to maintain health of the communities; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices are important as they help prevent new infections from occurring. Water supply and hygiene are unsatisfactory in Pakistan's Primary Healthcare Centers. Interventions must be introduced to improve the conditions in water, sanitation, healthcare waste, and hand hygiene. Objective: To assess the outcomes of the WASH-FIT process at randomly selected Rural Health Centres in district Bagh, Azad Kashmir. Methodology: Three Rural Health Centers in District Bagh, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir including; Malot, Rehra, and RHC Birpani, with a sample size of 32, were examined in this quasi-experimental study, from March to May 2020. The WASH practices of the aforementioned RHCs were assessed using WASH-FIT. Shortcomings were identified initially, and later an assessment was done after the intervention had been implemented. The intervention measures included a range of actions including; the use of chlorine tablets, giving water coolers, hand rubs, dustbins with lids, maintenance of the hospital register, use of gloves, masks along with health education sessions. SPSS version 24 was used for the analysis. Results: Without intervention, in these RHCs only 0 to 50% of the WHO criteria for water, sanitation, healthcare waste, and of hand hygiene. Water, sanitation, healthcare waste, and hand hygiene outcome were significantly raised by 25-100% (p value<0.05) following intervention in certain indicators. Hence with the intervention introduced, the performance of all the indicators was improved to up to 100%. Conclusion: WASH-FIT tool has significantly improved the healthcare facilities in terms of water, sanitation, hygiene, and hospital waste in selected RHCs in this study, which plays a critical role in the prevention of infections.

Factors Affecting Habitat Selection of Endangered Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) in Pakistan: Implications for Raptors Conservation

The steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis) is an endangered migratory raptor species that migrates in winter to Pakistan and neighbouring countries. In Pakistan, the species migrate at the end of autumn and utilise different habitats across the country. Very little information is available about the species’ population status, distribution, and factors affecting its distribution in Pakistan. In the present study, we predicted the distribution of steppe eagles in Pakistan associated with different environmental variables. We used 149 presence points of the species from an online source (GBIF), published literature, and wildlife photographers. The MaxEnt analysis showed that highly suitable habitats were mostly present in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), federally administered areas and surrounding areas, southern areas of Sindh Province, and some parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province. In addition, some patches were also predicted by MaxEnt in Balochistan Province. Human population density (27.0%), chicken density (16.6%), temperature seasonality (11.1%), and rivers (10.3%) were identified as the main environmental factors that affect the habitat distribution of steppe eagle in Pakistan. Only a small percentage (2.62%) of the total Pakistan area was estimated to be a highly suitable area for steppe eagles, while 20.58% and 7.46% were identified as the least and moderately suitable areas, respectively. Conservation of identified habitats and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts to conserve this endangered eagle species are recommended for immediate and long-term conservation across Pakistan.

A CASE STUDY ON COST ANALYSIS AND LOAD ESTIMATION OF HYBRID RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM USING HOMER PRO

Pakistan is facing serious energy deficiency issues. Moreover, emission of polluted gases must be minimized to reduce the air pollution. The emission of harmful gases can be lessened by the implementation of renewable energy resources. Such issues can be curtailed through proper planning on national and gross root level. In this study, load estimation and cost analysis for the installation of optimized hybrid model of renewable energy resources in electrical engineering department of University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir has been presented. In order to analyze load and estimate the cost, different scenarios are generated on Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) Pro software. On the basis of these scenarios, the system having less cost of energy and emission of polluted gases is proposed as the optimal system to power the department.

Surveillance of Berberis Species across Poonch Division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Berberis is one of the most important medicinal plant and it has a great medicinal value. Berberis has such pronounced medicinal values that it is used to cure many diseases and has exhibited great therapeutic effects among the local communities throughout the world. Diversity of Berberis is uncertain to great extent in Poonch division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Berberis specimens were collected from four districts comprising fifteen tehsils of Poonch division of Azad Kashmir. About 40 prominent locations were visited during flowering and fruiting stages during 2016-17. A total of seven species and a sub species were identified on the basis of morphological studies. Studies showed that identified Berberis species were present in all the four districts. Shanon and Simpson indices were used for calculating diversity of Berberis species in the study area along with calculating species evenness and equitability. Diversity indices indicated that there was moderate diversity of Berberis species within different districts and different tehsils. Simpson diversity index indicated that there is an 87 % chance that two individuals selected randomly from the study area would be different. Species evenness indicated that each specie identified from each tehsil had maximum chance of occurrence and each identified species is present in every tehsil. Species equability also indicated similar kinds of results which indicated that different species were evenly distributed in each tehsil. It was concluded that there is moderate diversity of Berberis species in Poonch division of Azad Jammu and kashmir. All the identified species were present in all the districts. The present study will advance our knowledge regarding identification and distribution of Berberis species in Poonch division.

Effect of organizational climate on self-efficacy of Teachers at secondary school level in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

The major aim of this research was to determine the effect of organizational climate on teachers' self-efficacy at the secondary level in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). Therefore, this study was descriptive and quantitative in nature, and a survey design was used to collect the data. All the secondary school teachers working in secondary schools of District Bagh were the population of the study. The overall population of the study consisted of 2544 secondary school teachers. From which, the researchers selected 254 by using a simple random sampling technique. The survey was completed with the help of questionnaires. For this purpose, two self-developed questionnaires were used in this study which were based on the organizational climate and self-efficacy of teachers. Data were collected via Google Forms by sending them using different social media groups. Furthermore, regression analysis was used to analyze the data. It is concluded that the organizational climate affects the self-efficacy of teachers at the secondary school level in AJ&K.

Role of Islamic work ethics in shaping employees’ behaviour: evidence from the banking sector in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of Islamic work ethics (IWEs) on the job satisfaction, commitment and loyalty among the bank employees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachData for this study was collected using the purposive sampling from 354 bank employees of Azad Jammu and Kashmir region.FindingsThe findings of this study support all the three proposed hypotheses, with IWEs demonstrating significant positive relationships with job satisfaction, organisational commitment and employee loyalty.Practical implicationsBecause of the nature of operations, banks need energetic employees who can participate actively in work activities. The implementation of IWEs enables banks to improve their employees’ satisfaction, commitment and loyalty, which will benefit the organisation in the long term through improved performance.Originality/valueBy encouraging the adoption of IWEs, organisations can increase job satisfaction, employee’s commitment and loyalty in the workplace, especially in an Islamic banking context. Therefore, managers should strengthen the mutual understanding among employees regarding IWE principles. They should be consistently applied and disseminated by Islamic banks’ management in the form of a formal code of ethics that applies to all actions within the organisation. Besides, this study contributes in terms of divine command theory which was yet to be tested with employee’s behaviour. Loyalty was another behavioural attribute which is providing novelty while testing with IWEs in banking context.

"Comparison of SSR And ISSR Based DNA Polymorphism of Maize Genotypes Grown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir"

"Comparison of SSR And ISSR Based DNA Polymorphism of Maize Genotypes Grown in Azad Jammu and Kashmir"

Pattern of Organism and Drug Sensitivity on Culture and Sensitivity of Pus from Soft Tissue Abscesses in Pediatric Patients

Background: Soft tissue abscesses is one of the most commonly observed complication in children. This infection may impart the longer stay at hospital and also increase the cost of medical care. Objective: The study was carried out to find the pattern of organisms and the sensitivity of drugs from the pus produced in soft tissue abscesses among patients. Study design: It is cross-sectional study conducted from January 2020 to November 2022. Material and Methods: The study was conducted at the pediatric department of the Div. HQ teaching hospital Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The study was carried out on 160 patients having at least one abscess on their body. The study also collected information about the predisposing factor that could have led to abscess formation. The site of distribution of the abscess was also analyzed. The abundance of microorganisms that were isolated from the samples of abscesses was also studied. Results: it was found that in most of the patients (45.5%) the blunt trauma was the main cause of formation of abscess. The common cause of abscess at extremities was blunt trauma. The common cause of abscess at head and neck site was upper respiratory tract infection and lymphadenitis. The head and neck area along with lower limb was the site that had most of the abscess. Conclusion: In our study the blunt trauma at extremities was found to be main factor leading to pus formation from smooth tissue abscess among infants. The most common region where pus was formed was extremities, head and neck area and lower limb area. Keywords: klebsiella pneumonia and Soft tissue abscesses.

Spatial variations in COVID-19 risk perception and coping mechanism in Pakistan

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, which instigated governments to impose lockdowns across their countries. Amidst the lockdown in Pakistan, this study comprised measures of the COVID-19 risk perception, coping mechanism, and spatial variations. The data from 40 selected indicators was collected using an online questionnaire and grouped into domains (4 risk perception and 3 coping mechanisms domains). The results revealed the spatial variations and the levels of risk perception and coping mechanisms within the study area. Relative to each other, overall risk perception was highest in Northern Areas (Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir) and Islamabad, and lowest in Balochistan province. Very little spatial variation was observed in terms of coping mechanisms. Age, gender, and marital status influenced the risk perception associated with COVID-19. The findings suggest spatial variation in risk perception, implying the need for localized and modified COVID-19 risk communication and risk reduction strategies.

Associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with the reported incidence of important endemic infectious disease agents and syndromes in Pakistan

BackgroundPersons in Pakistan have suffered from various infectious diseases over the years, each impacted by various factors including climate change, seasonality, geopolitics, and resource availability. The COVID-19 pandemic is another complicating factor, with changes in the reported incidence of endemic infectious diseases and related syndromes under surveillance.MethodsWe assessed the monthly incidence of eight important infectious diseases/syndromes: acute upper respiratory infection (AURI), viral hepatitis, malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, typhoid fever, measles, and neonatal tetanus (NNT), before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrative health data of monthly reported cases of these diseases/syndromes from all five provinces/regions of Pakistan for a 3-year interval (March 2018–February 2021) were analyzed using an interrupted time series approach. Reported monthly incidence for each infectious disease agent or syndrome and COVID-19 were subjected to time series visualization. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between each infectious disease/syndrome and COVID-19 was calculated and median case numbers of each disease before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Subsequently, a generalized linear negative binomial regression model was developed to determine the association between reported cases of each disease and COVID-19.ResultsIn late February 2020, concurrent with the start of COVID-19, in all provinces, there were decreases in the reported incidence of the following diseases: AURI, pneumonia, hepatitis, diarrhea, typhoid, and measles. In contrast, the incidence of COVID was negatively associated with the reported incidence of NNT only in Punjab and Sindh, but not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Balochistan, or Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) & Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Similarly, COVID-19 was associated with a lowered incidence of malaria in Punjab, Sindh, and AJK & GB, but not in KPK and Balochistan.ConclusionsCOVID-19 was associated with a decreased reported incidence of most infectious diseases/syndromes studied in most provinces of Pakistan. However, exceptions included NNT in KPK, Balochistan and AJK & GB, and malaria in KPK and Balochistan. This general trend was attributed to a combination of resource diversion, misdiagnosis, misclassification, misinformation, and seasonal patterns of each disease.

Himalayan mountains imposing a barrier on gene flow of wheat yellow rust pathogen in the bordering regions of Pakistan and China

The wheat yellow rust pathogen has been shown to be diverse and potentially originated in the Himalayan region. Although Himalayan populations of Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan have been previously compared, little is known about the relative divergence and diversity in Puccinia striiformis populations in the bordering regions of Pakistan and China. To assess the relative diversity and divergence in these regions of Pakistan (Gilgit-Baltistan, Hazara and Azad Jammu Kashmir) and China (Xinjiang, Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan), a total of 1245 samples were genotyped using 17 microsatellite SSR markers. A clear divergence was observed between the bordering regions of Pakistan and China (FST = 0.28) without any resampling of genetic groups and multilocus genotypes across two sides of the Himalayan mountains. The closest subpopulations across the two countries were Xinjiang and Gilgit-Baltistan (Nei’s distance = 0.147), which were close geographically. A very high diversity and recombinant population structure was observed in both populations, though slightly higher in China (Genotypic diversity = 0.970; r¯d = 0.000) than in Pakistan (Genotypic diversity = 0.902; r¯d = 0.065). The distribution of genetic groups and resampling of MLGs revealed more gene flow across Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan regions in China, while between Hazara and Azad-Jammu Kashmir in Pakistan. The lack of gene flow between Pakistan and China populations is due to geographical barriers and a large patch of land without wheat. The information on the relative diversity and divergence in different geographical zones of the pathogen center of diversity and neighboring region should be considered in resistant wheat deployment while considering the invasion potential of the pathogen at regional and global contexts.

Phaeophyscia kashmirensis sp. nov. (Lecanorales, Physciaceae) from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

AbstractA new species in the genus Phaeophyscia is described from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, supported by nrITS sequences, morphology and chemistry. The taxon is characterized by a green to greyish green thallus, usually narrow (0.5–2 mm), flat to convex lobes with abundant marginal soralia, black, dense small rhizines, small Physcia-type ascospores 18–22 × 8–10 μm and an absence of pycnidia. Differences from related species are discussed.

Spatial density pattern of Himalayan Ibex (Capra sibirica) in Pakistan

Mountain ungulates perform a key role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems as they are the primary consumers of vegetation and prey for large predators. The mountain ranges of northern Pakistan are home to six species of mountain ungulates, and the Himalayan ibex (Capra sibirica), hereafter ibex, is the most abundant among them. This study was conducted in three administrative regions of northern Pakistan, viz. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), to generate a range-wide density pattern map of ibex. A double-observer survey was conducted in 25 study sites during 2018–2021 across the ibex distribution range, covering an area of about 35,307 km 2 , by walking transects totaling 1647 km. Within the ibex range where the survey was not conducted due to financial and logistical constraints, we obtained species population information from local wildlife departments’ most recent annual survey data. The aim was to generate a density map for the entire ibex range. Using the BBRecapture package in program R, we estimated an ibex population of 7639 (95 % CI) with a mean density of 0.21/km 2 in the surveyed area. Combining with the secondary data from un-surveyed areas, the total population estimate for the country came to 10,242 ibex. The largest population densities were observed in four valleys (Shimshal, Gulkin-Hussaini, Khyber, and Khunjerab) of the Karakoram-Pamir range, followed by the Hindu Kush range (Chitral Wildlife Division [WD]). The central and eastern parts of the Karakoram range had moderate to low densities, while the Himalayan range (e.g., Astore Valley) supported a small population. The mean herd size was 15 individuals (range: 5–41), and the average detection probability of observers A and B was 0.69 and 0.48, respectively. The average male and young ratios per 100 females were estimated to be 75 and 81, respectively. The range-wide density map developed during the study provided an evidence for the impact of trophy hunting programs and an objective tool for range-wide conservation planning of the species.

Medicinal plants used as therapeutic medicine in the Himalayan region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

• Medicinal plants have been playing an important role in traditional healing systems. • A total of 125 plant species used in herbal medicine were identified. • The herbaceous used life form is dominantly in herbal preparation. • The maximum ICF index value is calculated for liver and digestive problems. • Berberis lyceum and Thymus sarphylum (100% FL) are used for treating jaundice and joint pain respectively. The current research is the first quantitative ethno-botanical assessment of district Haveli in the Himalayan region, a remote and undiscovered territory of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). The people of the Himalayan region have a wealth of traditional knowledge that can be used to cure a variety of diseases. However, ethno-medicinal data must be recorded as soon as possible in order to preserve them and prevent extinction due to oral transmission, as well as to determine which remedies are still in use. Data was gathered from 70 informants (25 female and 45 male) through semi-structured interviews and group discussions. Informants were chosen at random or, in certain cases, using the snow-ball approach. To evaluate the gathered information, different ethnobotanical indices including UV, RFC, FL%, and ICF were used. Moreover, the information gathered in the current research work was contrasted with 22 different studies of aligned areas, including Pakistan. A total of 125 plant species used in herbal medicine were identified, which were distributed among 56 families and employed in 16 illness categories. Asteraceae (16 spp.) was the most used family in the area. The herbaceous life form was dominantly (66 spp., 53.65%) used in herbal preparation. The most commonly used part in herbal medicine was leaves (29.55%), and the most generally used method for preparing herbal recipes was extract (26.53%). The maximum ICF index value (0.92) was calculated for liver and digestive problems. The highest UV (0.92) was calculated for Berginia virgata. Olea ferruginea had the highest relative importance (100). Two plant species, Berberis lycium and Thymus surphylum, had 100% fidelity value. A high similarity was found with the study conducted on Devi Gali and Neelum valley with JI of 16.75 and 14.58. The plants with the highest levels of UV, RFC, RI, and FL would be examined for future pharmacological study in order to validate the findings and produce novel medications. Local residents have remained closer to nature due to their lack of communication with modern civilization. Despite the fact that they continued to employ medicinal plants in different herbal recipes, this tradition is on the verge of extinction since it is mostly retained by hakims, midwives, or the elderly people. The new generation is much less interested in traditional health practices due to advanced healthcare facilities and modern lifestyles.

Solar PV-Based Electric Vehicle Charging Station for Security Bikes: A Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more attractive for a variety of reasons. One of the major advantages of EVs is that they emit fewer polluted gases. Other factors that must be addressed include an increase in fuel prices and a decline in energy resources such as fossil fuels. These characteristics have a greater impact on Pakistan’s clean and green image. Electric vehicles are becoming an attractive option for reducing global fossil fuel usage, as well as CO2 emissions, from road transportation. The electricity required to charge an EV’s battery is commonly sourced from the power grid. When EVs are charged by the electrical grid, there are significant power constraints in the system. To promote renewable energy consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, specific solar system-based charging stations should be designed. Other benefits of renewable energy generation include increased grid flexibility and reduced grid congestion. Moreover, the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, has a huge potential for solar energy. This article investigates the possibility of designing a solar photovoltaic-based EV charging station for security bikes located in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Before installing a PV charging station, the charging station’s feasibility must be studied. The proposed study also analyzes the power reliability, energy cost, and CO2 emissions of a PV-powered charging station. The proposed system’s outcomes are compared to grid-based charging stations. In comparison to other existing approaches, there is a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including CO2, CO, SO2, and NOX. The proposed study anticipates the economic and environmental benefits of EV charging stations powered by renewable energy resources.

Determination of major, minor and trace elements in Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) used as medicine in Azad Jammu and Kashmir by using PIXE technique

Determination of major, minor and trace elements in Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) used as medicine in Azad Jammu and Kashmir by using PIXE technique

Analysis of antidiabetic, antiulcer and analgesic potential of traditional ethnomedicinal plant Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

In this research antidiabetic, analgesic and antiulcer potential of traditional ethnomedicinal plant: Emex spinosa (L.) Campd. (Family Polygonaceae) was evaluated by extracting its phytoconstituents using methanol (MeOH) solvent through maceration protocol. The quantitative phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed flavonoids were highest in leaf extract (15.63±0.93 mg/mL) and with (11.5±0.57 mg/mL) in stem. Alkaloids and tanins were also present in the samples in various conc. while saponins were absent. To confirm pharmaceutical potential of plant against ulcer, diabetes and analgesic infirmities, a model experimental animal wistar albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) were used. In antiulcer study, using hot plate method the maximum results were observed with 250 mg/kg in the 2.5 hours of study. The leaf extract showed a 40.41±2.73 latency time and the fruit with a 36.77±2.41, and the stem with a 27.85±3.09, which was comparable to the standard drug Aspirin, i.e., 47.5±0.57. For analysis of antiulcer potential of the plants parts doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg was applied to check the reclamation of ethanol-induced acute ulcer and of Aspirin-induced chronic ulcer of stomach. In order to confirm efficacy of the drug potential of plant following parameters like microscopic evaluation, gastric volume, total acidity, mucosa weight, ulcer index, pH and histopathology of stomach were analyzed. In antidiabetic analysis, in an acute study after a single dose of 500 mg/kg extract after 2hrs the blood glucose levels were 367±51.09958NS, 416±59.79548NS, 437.5±61.96437NS mg/dL for leaf, stem and fruit, respectively. After4hrs 351.75±88.27644NS mg/dl, 448.25±25.64948NS mg/dl, 445.25±27.07205NS mg/dl and after 6hrs 354.5±92.70428NS, 442±24.60691NS, a440±33.16625NS mg/dl, respectively. The analgesic activity was explored by applying hot plate, tail flick and formalin paw licking method. In hot plate method the maximum results were observed with 250mg/kg in the 2.5 hours of study. The leaf extract showed a 40.41±2.73 latency time and the fruit with a 36.77±2.41 and the stem with a 27.85±3.09, which was comparable to the standard drug Aspirin, i.e., 47.5±0.57. The respective plant extracts at 250mg/kg showed a gradual rise in latency time when compared to the control. It was concluded that all three components of E. spinosa perform proved to be significant as potential source of herbal medicines to cure different prevalently occurring diseases. Furthermore, it was confirmed through results analysis that plant t can be used to discover novel drug using dedicated high throughput techniques and ethnopharmacological approaches.