Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), a medicinal plant of family Cannabaceae, growing wildly in most of the rainfed areas of Punjab, Pakistan. In this study, phytochemical profile of methanolic extract of root was assessed through GC-MS analysis and various biologically active compounds were identified through literature survey. There were 14 compounds in the root extract. The most abundant compounds were γ-sitosterol (27.08%) and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (24.09%) and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (21.81%). Other identified compounds were methyl stearate (5.51%), stigmasterol (5.12%), campesterol (4.19%), phenol, 2,2'-methylenebis[6-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-(2.52%), 11-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (2.10%), squalene (1.89%), β-amyrin (1.88%), eicosanoic acid, methyl ester (0.85%), tetracosanoic acid, methyl ester (0.88%), dronabinol (1.02%) and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (0.96%). Most of the identified compounds possess one or more biological activities viz. antitumor, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and/or analgesic.

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Calotropis procera is a medicinal weed of family Asclepiadaceae. This study was carried out to explore the biochemical profile of C. procera flowers collected from Southern Punjab region of Pakistan. Methanolic flower extract of C. procera was subjected to GC-MS analysis. There were 30 compounds identified in this extract. The predominant compound was γ-sitosterol with 15.39% peak area. Other abundantly occurring compounds included stigmasterol (9.22%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (9.01%), campesterol (8.63%), α-amyrin acetate (8.25%), β-amyrin (8.09%), hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (7.91%), 11-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (6.15%), and 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (5.66%). Moderately abundant compounds included nonacos-1-ene (2.83%), methyl stearate (1.57%), pentacosane (1.44%), phytol (1.33%), heptacos-1-ene (1.20%), heneicosane (1.19%), and 1-hexacosene (1.09%). The remaining less abundant compounds were present with peak areas less than 1%. Literature survey showed that the major compounds identified in the flower extract of C. procera possess various bioactivities including antidiabetic, anticancer, antihyperglycemic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflamatory.

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., commonly known as creeping thistle, is a weed of Asteraceae. This study was undertaken to explore various phytoconstituents present in flower of this weed. To achieve this goal, the dried flowers of this weed were soaked in methanol for one week and filtered. This methanolic extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis and 7 compounds were identified. These included olean-12-en-3-ol, acetate, (3β)- (63.87%), lanosta-8,24-dien-3-ol, acetate, (3β)- (12.12%), β-amyrin (6.19%), γ-sitosterol (6.09%), α-amyrin (5.24%), stigmasterol (3.29%) and carbonic acid, 2-ethylhexyl heptadecyl ester (3.16%). Literature survey showed that these compounds possess anti-inflamatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant and/or anticancer activities.

Salinity is challenging threats to the agricultural system and leading cause of crop loss. Salicylic acid (SA) is an important endogenous signal molecule, which by regulating growth and physiological processes improves the plant ability to tolerate salt stress. Considering the prime importance of Gladiolus grandiflorus (L.) in the world’s cut-flower market, the research work was undertaken to elucidate salinity tolerance in G. grandiflorus by exogenous application of SA irrigated with saline water. Results revealed that increasing salinity (EC: 2, 4 and 6 dS m–1) considerably altered morpho-growth indices (corm morphology and plant biomass) in plants through increasing key antioxidants including proline content and enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase), while negatively affected the total phenolic along with activity of defense-related enzymes (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and polyphenol oxidase activity). SA application (50–200 ppm) in non-saline control or saline conditions improved morpho-physiological traits in concentration-dependent manners. In saline conditions, SA minimized salt-stress by enhancing chlorophyll content, accumulating organic osmolytes (glycine betaine and proline content), total phenolic, and boosting activity of antioxidant and defense-related enzymes. Principle component analysis based on all 16 morphological and physiological variables generated useful information regarding the classification of salt tolerant treatment according to their response to SA. These results suggest SA (100 or 150 ppm) could be used as an effective, economic, easily available and safe phenolic agent against salinity stress in G. grandiflorus.

Celosia argentea var. cristata is an edible plant mainly cultivated as an ornament for its spectacular flowering and is highly appreciated by horticulturists for its originality, unique appearance of flower and better vase life. Utilisation of plant growth regulator [salicylic acid (SA)] and mineral nutrition [zinc (Zn)] is a sustainable approach to ameliorate crop health and yield. A field experiment was performed on a randomised complete block design with 12 treatments in 36 blocks to investigate the effectiveness of the combined application of SA (50 ppm and 100 ppm) and Zn (ZnSO4: 0.5 ppm, 1.5 ppm and 2.5 ppm) as well as when each one is applied separately on vegetative, reproductive, physiochemical attributes in C. argentea var. cristata. Results analysed through Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) test, biplot and heat map indicated a significantly greater improvement up to 2.5 folds in the growth attributes when plants received foliar application of 100 ppm of SA combined with 2.5 ppm of Zn as compared to control group. All treatments modified the physiobiochemical responses of plants by lowering catalase (CAT) activity significantly, and enhancing photosynthetic pigments, total protein content and peroxidase (POX) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities as compared to the control group. It was concluded that foliar application of SA (100 ppm) + Zn (2.5 ppm) at pre-flowering stage could be applied to obtain better growth and flower quality in cockscomb.

Bergenia ciliata is a weed of hilly areas of Pakistan that generally grows in rock crevices. In the present study, flowers of this weeds were collected from Murree. The dried flowers were extracted in methanol and subjected to GC-MS analysis that showed 7 compounds in it. The predominant compound was hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (48.88%) followed by γ-sitosterol (22.56%). Moderately occurring compound was cyclohexane, 1,3,5-triphenyl- (12.87%). The remaining compounds namely n-hexadecanoic acid (4.97%), pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester (3.77%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z)-  (2.94%) and 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z,Z)- (2.92%) were categorized as less abundant compounds. Literature survey indicated that these compounds possess antimicrobial, larvicidal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and/or antidiabetic properties.