In vitro enzyme inhibition activities of crude ethanolic extracts derived from medicinal plants of Pakistan

Twenty two crude ethanolic extracts from 14 indigenous medicinal plants were subjected to enzyme inhibition screening against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and lipoxygenase enzymes (LO). Three extracts showed activity against AChE, nine extracts were found to be active against BChE and four extracts inhibited the enzyme LO. The most significant inhibition activities (> or =50%) were found in extracts derived from Aloe vera (leaves), Alpinia galanga (rhizome), Curcuma longa (rhizome), Cymbopogon citratus (leaves), Ocimum americanum (leaves), Ocimum americanum (stem) and Withania somnifera (roots).     

Measurement of soil radioactivity levels and radiation hazard assessment in mid Rechna interfluvial region,Pakistan

Radioactivity levels in soil samples, collected from mid Rechna interfluvial region, Pakistan have been estimated by using gamma ray spectrometric technique. ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, the primordial radionuclide ⁴⁰K and the artificial radionuclide ¹³⁷Cs have been measured in the soil of the study area. The mean radioactivity levels of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs were found to be 49.0 ± 1.6, 62.4 ± 3.2, 670.6 ± 33.9 and 3.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg⁻¹ respectively. The mean radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), outdoor radiation hazard index (H _out), indoor radiation hazard index (H _in) and terrestrial absorbed dose rate for the area under study were determined as 189.9 ± 8.8 Bq kg⁻¹, 0.51, 0.65 and 70.1 nGy h⁻¹ respectively. The annual effective dose to the public was estimated to be 0.43 mSv. The measured values are comparable with other global radioactivity measurements and are found to be safe for public and environment.