Antibacterial and antifungal activities of andrachne cordifolia muell

The crude methanolic extract of Andrachne cordifolia Muell. (Euphorbiaceae) and its various fractions in different solvent systems (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n- butanol) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities against the tested pathogens. Highest antibacterial activity was displayed by both chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions (100%) followed by the crude extract (68%) against Salmonella typhi. Similarly, crude extract and its subsequent fractions showed mild to excellent activities in antifungal bioassay with maximum (76%) antifungal activity against Microsporum canis by the chloroform fraction followed by the crude extract (65%).     

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of andrachne cordifolia muell

The crude methanolic extract of Andrachne cordifolia Muell. (Euphorbiaceae) and its various fractions in different solvent systems (chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities against the tested pathogens. Highest antibacterial activity was displayed by both chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions (100%) followed by the crude extract (68%) against Salmonella typhi. Similarly, crude extract and its subsequent fractions showed mild to excellent activities in antifungal bioassay with maximum (76%) antifungal activity against Microsporum canis by the chloroform fraction followed by the crude extract (65%).     

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of teucrium royleanum (Labiatea)

The crude methanolic extract and subsequent fractions of Teucrium royleanum (Labiatea) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Against tested pathogens, crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities. Highest antibacterial activity was displayed by the ethyl acetate fraction against S. typhi (100%), against E.coli (76.7%) and against P. aerugenosa (70.8%) followed by the chloroform fraction against S. typhi (85.7%). Similarly, the crude extract and its subsequent fractions showed mild to excellent activities in the antifungal bioassay with maximum antifungal activity against M. canis (87%) by the chloroform fraction followed by the ethyl acetate (71%) and n-butanol (70%) fractions.     

Antimicrobial activities of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) extracts

The methanol extract of the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Excellent antifungal sensitivity was expressed by the n-butanol fraction against Candida albicans and Candida glaberata (up to 90%) and against Trichophyton longifusus (78%) followed by the chloroform fraction against Microsporum canis (80%). In the antibacterial bioassay, the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate antibacterial activities. Chloroform fraction displayed highest antibacterial sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureous (88%) followed by the crude extract (59%). The total phenol content of the crude extract and fractions of the plant expressed no significant correlation with the antimicrobial activities.     

Antimicrobial activities of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) extracts

The methanol extract of the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Excellent antifungal sensitivity was expressed by the n-butanol fraction against Candida albicans and Candida glaberata (up to 90%) and against Trichophyton longifusus (78%) followed by the chloroform fraction against Microsporum canis (80%). In the antibacterial bioassay, the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate antibacterial activities. Chloroform fraction displayed highest antibacterial sensitivity against Staphylococcus aureous (88%) followed by the crude extract (59%). The total phenol content of the crude extract and fractions of the plant expressed no significant correlation with the antimicrobial activities.     

Antimicrobial bioassay of colchicum luteum baker

The methanolic extract of the corms of Colchicum luteum Baker (Liliaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The crude extract and all the fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antifungal activities against tested pathogens in antifungal bioassay. Excellent antifungal activity was shown against trichophyton longifusus, up to 75%, and microsporum canis, up to 85%, while the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate activities in an antibacterial bioassay with maximum antibacterial activity 58% against Bacillus subtilis.     

Enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities of aerial parts of Paeonia emodi Wall. (Paeoniaceae)

The ethanolic extract derived from aerial parts of an indigenous medicinal plant Paeonia emodi was screened for enzyme inhibition activities against Urease (jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii) and α-Chymotrypsin. The extract was also investigated for its radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. The crude extract was found to possess significant enzyme inhibition activities against jack bean (74%) and Bacillus pasteurii (80%) urease and a moderate activity (54%) against α-Chymotrypsin. The extract also displayed excellent (83%) radical scavenging activity. On the basis of these results, the crude extract was subsequently fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions and tested independently for the aforesaid activities. Significant inhibitory activity against urease enzyme was observed for the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions while the n-hexane and chloroform fractions were devoid of any such activity. In the α-Chymotrypsin enzyme inhibition studies the activity was concentrated into the ethyl acetate fraction. All the fractions displayed potent radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions thereof were also subjected to total phenolic content determination. A correlation between radical scavenging capacities of extracts and total phenolic content was observed in the majority of cases.     

Enzyme inhibition activities of the extracts from rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae)

An alcoholic extract obtained from the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) was screened for enzyme inhibition activities. The crude extract and its subsequent fractions including chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous were screened against lipoxygenase, actylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and urease. An outstanding inhibition on lipoxygenase was observed. The highest enzyme inhibition potency was expressed by the chloroform fraction (90%) among the tested fractions on lipoxygenase. Overall 67– 90% inhibition was found for lipoxygenase, 46-69% for acetylcholinesterase and 10–33% for butyrylcholinesterase, while urease was not inhibited.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of the medicinal plant Primula macrophylla

Primula macrophylla (Primulaceae) is reported as to be useful in asthma, restlessness, insomnia and fish poisoning. Antifungal and toxic activities of crude extract, fractions and a pure isolated compound exhibited statistically significant activities. Excellent antifungal activity was found in the crude extract, benzene and ethyl acetate fractions against T. longifusis and against M. canis with different MIC values. Antileishmanial activity (IC₅₀ = 50ug/mL) was observed as compared to standard drug Amphotericin B, and cytotoxic activity (LD₅₀ = 47.919μg/mL) was also found in the chloroform fraction. While pure compound 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) isolated from the chloroform fraction showed good activity (IC₅₀ = 25μg/mL) against Leishmania and cytotoxicity (LD₅₀ = 2.0116 μg/mL) in Brine Shrimp experiments. From antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity it can be concluded that 2-phenylchromone is the major compound responsible for these activities.     

Antimicrobial bioassay of Colchicum luteum Baker

The methanolic extract of the corms of Colchicum luteum Baker (Liliaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The crude extract and all the fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antifungal activities against tested pathogens in antifungal bioassay. Excellent antifungal activity was shown against trichophyton longifusus, up to 75%, and microsporum canis, up to 85%, while the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate activities in an antibacterial bioassay with maximum antibacterial activity 58% against Bacillus subtilis.     

Enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities of aerial parts of Paeonia emodi Wall (Paeoniaceae)

The ethanolic extract derived from aerial parts of an indigenous medicinal plant Paeonia emodi was screened for enzyme inhibition activities against Urease (jack bean and Bacillus pasteurii) and alpha-Chymotrypsin. The extract was also investigated for its radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay. The crude extract was found to possess significant enzyme inhibition activities against jack bean (74%) and Bacillus pasteurii (80%) urease and a moderate activity (54%) against alpha-Chymotrypsin. The extract also displayed excellent (83%) radical scavenging activity. On the basis of these results, the crude extract was subsequently fractionated into n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions and tested independently for the aforesaid activities. Significant inhibitory activity against urease enzyme was observed for the ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions while the n-hexane and chloroform fractions were devoid of any such activity. In the alpha-Chymotrypsin enzyme inhibition studies the activity was concentrated into the ethyl acetate fraction. All the fractions displayed potent radical scavenging activity. The crude extract and fractions thereof were also subjected to total phenolic content determination. A correlation between radical scavenging capacities of extracts and total phenolic content was observed in the majority of cases.     

Inhibition activities of colchicum luteum baker on lipoxygenase and other enzymes

In vitro enzymes inhibition activities of the crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Colchicum luteum Baker (Liliaceae) including chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous were carried out against actylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease enzymes. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (89%) is shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against lipoxygenase, while low to significant activity (32–75%) was evident against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated low activity (29–61%) against acetylcholinesterase and no activity against urease.     

Enzyme inhibition activities of teucrium royleanum

The crude methanolic extract and chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Teucrium royleanum were examined as inhibitors of actylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (52–83%) was shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against acetylcholinesterase, while low to outstanding enzyme inhibitory activity was shown (19–93%) against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated low activity against lipoxygenase and inactive against urease.     

Phagodeterrence and insecticidal activity of Hyptis suaveolens (Poit.) against four important lepidopteran pests

This study was carried out to evaluate the antifeedant and larvicidal activities of Hyptis suaveolens Poit. (Lamiaceae) leaves crude extracts and their fractions against four lepidopteran pests namely Helicoverpa armigera (Hbn.), Spodoptera litura (Fab.), Earias vittella (Fab.) and Leucinodes orbonalis (G.). Hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts were tested by leaf disc and fruit disc no-choice methods at 1% and 1,000?ppm concentrations for crude and fractions, respectively. Ethyl acetate extract of H. suaveolens exhibited the maximum antifeedant and insecticidal activity at 1% concentration against all the tested insects. It was subjected to fractionation using silica column chromatography with different combinations of hexane and ethyl acetate used as mobile phase. Among the 15 fractions obtained, fraction 2 showed the maximum antifeedant and insecticidal activity against all tested insects at 1000?ppm concentration. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of fraction 2 showed the presence of terpenoids and alkaloids. H. suaveolens could be considered as a safe and eco-friendly insecticide for lepidopteron pest management.     

Enzyme inhibition activities of the extracts from rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae)

An alcoholic extract obtained from the rhizomes of Gloriosa superba Linn (Colchicaceae) was screened for enzyme inhibition activities. The crude extract and its subsequent fractions including chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous were screened against lipoxygenase, actylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and urease. An outstanding inhibition on lipoxygenase was observed. The highest enzyme inhibition potency was expressed by the chloroform fraction (90%) among the tested fractions on lipoxygenase. Overall 67-90% inhibition was found for lipoxygenase, 46-69% for acetylcholinesterase and 10-33% for butyrylcholinesterase, while urease was not inhibited.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of the medicinal plant Primula macrophylla

Primula macrophylla (Primulaceae) is reported as to be useful in asthma, restlessness, insomnia and fish poisoning. Antifungal and toxic activities of crude extract, fractions and a pure isolated compound exhibited statistically significant activities. Excellent antifungal activity was found in the crude extract, benzene and ethyl acetate fractions against T. longifusis and against M. canis with different MIC values. Antileishmanial activity (IC(50) = 50ug/mL) was observed as compared to standard drug Amphotericin B, and cytotoxic activity (LD(50) = 47.919microg/mL) was also found in the chloroform fraction. While pure compound 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) isolated from the chloroform fraction showed good activity (IC(50) = 25microg/mL) against Leishmania and cytotoxicity (LD(50) = 2.0116 microg/mL) in Brine Shrimp experiments. From antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity it can be concluded that 2-phenylchromone is the major compound responsible for these activities.     

Antibacterial,antifungal, insecticidal,cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity studies on Indigofera gerardiana

The antibacterial, antifungal, acute cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity and insecticidal profile of the crude extract and various fractions of Indigofera gerardiana have been studied. Six bacterial and fungal strains were used, of which Samonella typhi and Microsporum canis were the most susceptible strains with MICs 0.37 mg/mL and 0.09 mg/mL, respectively. The crude extract and the fractions showed low insecticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica and Callosbruchus analis but no activity against Tribolium castaneum. The brine shrimp lethality assay showed absence of any measurable cytotoxicity of the crude extract and fractions, showing a good safety profile at a preliminary level. All the fractions except crude extract revealed profound and highly significant herbicidal activity against Lemna minor at the concentration of 1000 μg/mL. Indigofera gerardiana was shown by in-vitro assays to be a potential source for natural antifungal, antibacterial and herbicidal agents.     

Biological effects of active fraction isolated from Hydnocarpus pentandra (Bunch. –Ham.) Oken seeds against Helicoverpa armigera (Hub.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Hydnocarpus pentandra (Flacourtiaceae) seeds were tested for antifeedant, larvicidal, pupal mortality and adult deformations activities against Helicoverpa armigera. Crude extracts were screened at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% concentrations. Bioassay-guided fractionation method was followed to isolate the active fraction from the crude extract. Active fraction was analysed by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and GC-MS. Hexane extract presented the highest antifeedant (87.89%), pupal mortality (41.67%) and adult malformation activities at 2% concentration. Seven different fractions were isolated from hexane extract, among which fraction-2 showed the highest antifeedant (81.43%) activity and recorded the lowest LC₅₀ of 792.07 ppm. The fraction-2 contained two cyclopentenyl carboxylic acids, such as hydnocarpic acid (1) and chaulmoogric acid (2) in the ratio of 2:1. These compounds were major constituents in the active fraction of hexane extract of H. pentandra seeds. Fraction-2 can be used for agricultural pest management.     

In vitro antimicrobial activity of ethanolic fractions of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Following claims that some plants have antimicrobial activities against infectious microbes, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of different solvent fractions of ethanolic extract of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta were evaluated against eight standard bacteria and clinical isolates. METHODS: The solvent partitioning protocol involving ethanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water, was used to extract various fractions of dried pulverized Cryptolepis sanguinolenta roots. Qualitative phyto-constituents screening was performed on the ethanol extract, chloroform fraction and the water fraction. The Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method was employed to ascertain the antibiogram of the test organisms while the agar diffusion method was used to investigate the antimicrobial properties of the crude plant extracts. The microplate dilution method aided in finding the MICs while the MBCs were obtained by the method of Nester and friends. The SPSS 16.0 version was used to analyze the percentages of inhibitions and bactericidal activities. RESULTS: The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, reducing sugars, polyuronides, anthocyanosides and triterpenes. The ethanol extract inhibited 5 out of 8 (62.5%) of the standard organisms and 6 out of 8 (75%) clinical isolates. The petroleum ether fraction inhibited 4 out of 8 (50%) of the standard microbes and 1 out of 8 (12.5%) clinical isolates. It was also observed that the chloroform fraction inhibited the growth of all the organisms (100%). Average inhibition zones of 14.0 +/- 1.0 mm to 24.67 +/- 0.58 mm was seen in the ethyl acetate fraction which halted the growth of 3 (37.5%) of the standard organisms. Inhibition of 7 (87.5%) of standard strains and 6 (75%) of clinical isolates were observed in the water fraction. The chloroform fraction exhibited bactericidal activity against all the test organisms while the remaining fractions showed varying degrees of bacteriostatic activity. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that fractions of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta have antimicrobial activity. The chloroform fraction had the highest activity, followed by water, ethanol, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate respectively. Only the chloroform fraction exhibited bactericidal activity and further investigations are needed to ascertain its safety and prospects of drug development.     

The first bioactivity studies of Acantholimon lycopodioides from high altitude Karakoram-Himalayan desert

Couple of ethnopharmacological surveys in the Indian Ladakh and Pakistani Shigar valleys has reported the medicinal use of Acantholimon lycopodioides against cardiac and gastric disorders that however, remains without scientific rationale or experimental validations. Here, we assess the in vitro bio/therapeutic activities of A. lycopodioides extracts as well as chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions. The in vitro β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching and DPPH radical scavenging methods demonstrated a very high anti-oxidative property of chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions compared to others. Cell viability assay (MTT) on human cervical (HeLa), breast (MDA-MB321) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells revealed their differential cytotoxicity, except the chloroform fraction. Of these, the precipitate exerted highest cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells followed by aqueous fraction on MDA-MB321 cells. Notably, the non-cytotoxicity of chloroform fraction coincided with its highest anti-oxidative activity. Further, the chloroform fraction showed marked hepatoprotection (up to 84%) against 3′7′dichlorofluorescin triggered free radicals induced oxidative damage. Also, the hepatoprotective chloroform fraction mildly activated CYP3A4 in HepG2 cells (dual-luciferase assay). Moreover, the A. lycopodioides extracts and fractions showed differential anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. Of these, while S. aureus was more sensitive to the water-insoluble extract, ethyl acetate fraction showed moderate activity against E. coli and C. albicans. On the other hand, the chloroform fraction showed promising activity against S. Aureus, C. albicans, P. vulgaris and E. faecalis. In conclusion, our data for the first time, demonstrated promising anti-oxidative, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-microbial and CYP3A4 activating salutations of A. lycopodioides. This warrants further studies towards isolation and identification of its therapeutically active principles.