Environmental Biotechnology

Project Description

Plants have been a valuable source of natural products for maintaining human health for a long period of time which has increased the exploitation of plant compounds for pharmaceutical purposes. In Pakistan and worldwide, the indigenous communities still give preference to herbal remedy over modern drugs for the treatment of diseases. Development of natural drugs from plants and plant parts has become a growing demand due to increasing microbial resistance to synthetic antibacterial drugs. Moreover, use of nanoparticles in combination with medicinal plant extractfor the inhibition of diseases is an emerging and efficient technique, is preferred over conventional biological processes and is safe human therapeutics. Silver nanoparticles possess their own antibacterial potential against different pathogens. The synergistic effect of plant based nanoparticles is expected to enhance the antimicrobial potential of plant extracts which contain biologically active compounds. However, the yield of these biological compounds is low to meet the growing public demand due to less accumulation in plant cells. The current study aims to identify antimicrobial potential of Bergeniaciliate wilton, Bergenia ciliate dixter, Bergeniastrachei, Paeoniaemodi and Rumexhaustatus, important medicinal plants of Pakistan against disease causing bacteria (E. coli, P. eeruginosa, K. pneumonia, S. dysenteriae, S. typhi and S. aureus) and fungal strain (A. niger, A. fumigatus, F. solani and C. albicans)in human beings. After preliminary evaluation, medicinal plant species showing huge antimicrobial will be selected for the identification and quantification of antimicrobial genes particularly  defensin and cystatin in these plants

Project Funding

Sr. No.Funding BodyFunds
1 COMSATS 0.3 Million Rupee

Members

  • Dr. Rafiq  Ahmad