International Journal of Phytomedicine
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Protective effects of Origanum majorana L. against Neurodegeneration: Fingerprinting, Isolation and In vivo Glycine Receptors Behavioral Model
No full textExtracts from Origanum majorana L. are used in Asia and Africa as sedatives and neurotonics. Few studies done to explore the active chemical constituents responsible for this apparent contrast. The inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) are key mediators of synaptic signaling in spinal cord, brain stem, and higher central nervous system regions. Neurodegeneration may cause alteration of the GlyRs causing strychnine-like convulsions and stiffness. Here, modulation of GlyRs in-vivo was studied in a mouse model of strychnine toxicity. Total phenolics in Egyptian marjoram (Mj-eg) and Lebanese marjoram(Mj-lb) were calculated and fingerprinted. The Mj-eg and Mj-lb ethanolic extracts revealed to be potent modulators to GlyR; with potential anticonvulsant properties in low doses. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), p-coumaric acid (pCA) and p-hydroxy benzoic acid (pHBA) were detected in the active fractions via column chromatography and RP-HPLC fractionation. The active fraction phenolics at harmless low doses, showed anticonvulsant activity by reversing strychnine toxicity in mice. By applying Berenbaum isoblographic method, we confirmed that at low concentrations the protective effects of CGA and pCA on strychnine toxicity are synergistic. It could be concluded that both marjoram and active phenolics could be used as sedatives in low doses and as neurotonics in high doses. In order to fight against neurodegenerative diseases is to improve body antioxidant, marjoram provided to be good sources for antioxidant potential. In brief, the marjoram phenolics, especially CGA, pCA and pHBA, suggested to be novel GlyR modulators, good phytotherapy, pharmacological tool and a dose sensitive drug to treat convulsions, stiffness and neurodegenerative disorders
Chemical composition and antimicrobial of essential oil from Artemisia Lehmanniana
No full textThe plants of A.Lehmanniana were gathered in May 2009 from the heights of 2300 m of Taftan Mountain located in Baluchestan. Its essential oil was extracted with an outcome of 1.34%w/w, using hydro distillation method. Then, using GC/MS technique, it was analyzed and 54components were recognized that constituted 96.61%of the whole essential oil. The components that had the highest percentage were as Follow: 1, 8- Cineole (22.06%), (z)-2-Nonenal (12.11%), Nonaconsane (8.97%), α-Terpineol (5.90%), 4-Terpineol (5.07%), Camphor (4.19%) and unknown compound (4. 41%). Antimicrobial effects of this essential oil were exactly estimated and examined in Laboratory. Its sensitiveness (Minimal inhibition Concentration) to mentioned-micro-organisms in the following: Staphylococcus aureus (4μg/ml), Salmonella typhi (32μg/ml), Escherichia coli (32μg/ml), Candida albicans (8μg/ml), Aspergillus Niger (4 μg/ml), showed that the highest was recognized by comparing with standard samples with the way of dilution and minimum controlling concentration was calculated. As the results revealed, the micro-organism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be controlled in higher concentrations
Pharmacognostical Evaluation and Comparative Phytochemical Screening of Rumex vesicarius L.
No full textPharmacognosy is a simple and reliable tool by which complete information of the crude drug can be obtained. Therefore in this context the detailed pharmacognostic study of various parts like leaf, stem, and root of Rumex vesicarius L. has been carried out with the aim to establish its pharmacognostical standards. The parameters selected were physicochemical, fluorescence analysis and preliminary phytochemical screening along with mineral analysis. In physico-chemical evaluation the ash values and extractive values were studied.. The powder of Rumex vesicarius.L was successively extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water by both cold maceration and hot soxhlet extraction for the identification of the best solvent and method. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out for all the extracts. Fluorescence analysis performed showed the wide range of fluorescence colours for the crude powder. The preliminary phytochemical screening shows maximum chemical constituents in the different extract obtained from cold maceration of different plant parts compared to extract obtained from hot soxhlet extraction. The principal constituents of Rumex vesicarius L. include phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, quinines, reducing sugars, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The inorganic elementary analysis performed revealed the presence of sodium, chloride and iron. The present study indicates the pharmacognostical and physicochemical characteristics and preliminary properties of the different parts of Rumex vesicarius.L for the identification of the drug in the dry form. Thus plays a crucial role in standardization of crude drug
Localisation and Isolation of Fungal Endophytes from Healthy Tissue of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.)
No full textEndophytes arethe microorganisms living inside the plant tissue without causing any harm tothe host. For past few decades, research community has keen interest inendophyte research as endophytes are able to produce secondary metabolitessimilar to the one produced by host plant, which can be used as potentialtherapeutics against several diseases. Steviarebaudiana (Bert.) is known as a sweetener plant, but besides as sweeteningagent it has many other therapeutic potential and can be used asantihypertensive, anti-tumour, vasodilator and neuroprotective drug. Researchefforts have been made to isolate and identify fungal endophytes from Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) but no effortshave been taken to study the potential of endophytes for steviol glycosidesproduction. So the present study includes histological studies, isolation andpurification of fungal endophytes from different parts of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) plant. Maximum localisation of endophyteswas observed in phloem tissue of stem. Two colonies were purified, each fromstem and leaf tissues showing cream and white morphology respectively. Microscopicstudies revealed long, branched and septate hyphae with club shaped sporangium
Comparison of the antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey and native honey against methicillin resistant staphylococci from asymptomatic healthcare workers.
No full textAsymptomatically colonized healthcare workers are the major source of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the hospital environment and serve as links in the transmission of MRSA among patients. Honey is known for antimicrobial properties due to various factors including phytochemical components eg: methyl glyoxal (MGO). Hence, the present study was designed to compare the antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey with native honey against methicillin resistant staphylococci from asymptomatic health care workers. Nasal swabs were collected from anterior nares of 100 healthcare workers from the hospital set up and a total of 36 isolates of staphylococci (36%) were obtained. The study has shown 7% carriage rate of MRSA and 9% MRCoNS among the healthcare workers. Initial screening with agar well diffusion method with Manuka honey showed higher inhibitory activity against all the methicillin resistant staphylococcal isolates giving a zone size of ≥ 30 mm at 50%( v/v) compared to native honey which gave zone size of 12 mm for 50% (v/v). Lower MIC of methicillin resistant staphylococci was seen for Manuka honey (6.3% to 12.5%), while the MIC of the native honey was found to be 50% in our study. The present study shows higher efficacy of Manuka honey compared to native honey against both MRSA and MRCoNS. Manuka honey shows promise as an antibacterial agent for methicillin resistant staphylococcus
Evaluation of wound healing potential of Jatropha gossypifolia Linn. root extracts in normal and diabetic rats
No full textJatropha gossypifolia Linn. is used in Indian folk medicine for treatment of cuts and wounds. Root extract is used to promote wound and fracture healing in animals. Present study was conducted to assess wound healing potential of ointments prepared using successive extracts of roots of the plant. Incision and excision wounds were inflicted upon normal and nicotinamide streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, respectively. Animals were treated topically with ointments containing 5% and 10% w/w petroleum ether (60-80°C), chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts. Percentage of wound contraction, epithelization time, tensile strength, hydroxyproline content and histopathology of regenerated skin were evaluated in comparison with reference nitrofurazone (0.2% w/w) ointment. Breaking strength of incision wounds in 5% and 10% w/w methanolic extract ointment treated groups significantly (P < 0.01) increased to 695.75 and 759.50 g, respectively, as compared to standard (653.92g). In diabetic rats, apart from methanol extract, aqueous extract also exhibited extraordinary wound healing capacity and elevated hydroxyproline content. Measurement of hydroxyproline, the product of collagen breakdown, is used as an index of collagen turnover. Elevated hydroxyproline content in diabetic animals signify the increased collagen deposition in wounded tissues as evident from histopathology. There is also an increase in the tensile strength of incision wounds in rats. The experimental study confirms the folk medicinal use of the plant
Natural anti–malarials: A bright hope
No full textMalaria is still an ever–continuing epidemic that claims a large number of lives in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. The alarming rate at which the parasite, Plasmodium has developed resistance to currently used anti–malarial drugs makes it imperative to search for newer and more effective therapeutic agents. In this context, during last few decades several fundamental researches have been conducted to explore novel anti–malarial formulations. However, recent scientific evidences have indeed demonstrated that a variety of plant compounds may check the survival of Plasmodium both in vitro and in vivo. But, there is a need to evaluate and advocate their efficiency in a proper way, because reliable data on the clinical pharmacology and safety of such formulae are extremely scarce, preventing a responsible consideration of their potential benefits. Conclusively, after reviewing literatures it is very clear that plants with anti–malarial activity do not have fully defined this therapeutic property. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, mostly those related to natural products enabling the discovery of new and appropriate anti–malarial pharmaceuticals
Preliminary phytochemical screening and Bioactivity of selected Indian Medicinal plants
No full textThe methanolic crude extracts of Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon), Chilocarpus malabaricus Bedd Madhuka longifolia (Koenig) J.F.Macbr, Pittosporum neelgherrense Wightt, Raphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott, Fagraea ceilanica Thunb and Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. were screened for the presence of phytoconstituents and their ability to possess antimicrobial and free radical scavenging ability using Chloramphenicol, The methanolic crude extracts of Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon) Alston, Chilocarpus malabaricus Bedd., Madhuka longifolia (Koenig) J.F.Macbr., Pittosporum neelgherrense Wightt., Raphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott., Fagraea ceilanica Thunb., and Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., were screened for the presence of phyto-constituents and their ability to possess antimicrobial and free radical scavenging ability using chloramphenicol, cephoperazone and ascorbic acid as respective standards. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and reducing power assay. Pittosporum neelgherrense showed better overall antimicrobial activity and Madhuka longifolia proved better antioxidant ability possessing low IC50 valueof30 µg/ml compared to the other selected medicinal plants. The highest total phenol content was found to be in Chonemorpha fragrans with the value 88±0.121mg/g. The present study reveals that the selected plants serve as a source of antimicrobial and antioxidant drugs in future and thus, can find applications in food and pharmaceutical industries
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial activities of Endophytic Fungi isolated from Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers.
No full textTwenty eight different endophytic fungi were isolated from Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. These endophytic fungal extracts were prepared, using ethyl acetate and evaluated for their phytochemical constituents in vitro. The antibacterial activity of crude extract was done by using broth microdilution and exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against an array of plant pathogenic bacteria included Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines, Xanthomonas campestris pv.campestris and Acidovorax avenae subsp. Avenae range from 125-2000 μg/mL. The total antioxidant capacity was evaluated by using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay ranged from 2.10 x 10-3 to 4.84 x 108 µg /mg extract. The total phenolic content of the fungal extracts was determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu procedures which ranged from 0 to 1730.78 µg gallic acid/mg extract. This is the first report of Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. producing endophytes which have antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This investigation reveals that the metabolites produced by a variety of endophytic fungi from Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. can be a potential source of novel natural antimicrobials and antioxidants agents
Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants against some pathogenic microbial strains
No full textMethanol extracts of ten plant species have been screened for their antimicrobial potential against fungal pathogens namely Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans and bacterial strains Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Extracts of all the plant species taken for the present study except Cucumis anguri showed fungicidal activity against both the fungal pathogens used. Leaves extract of Withania somniferaexhibited maximum 80-95% inhibition against both of the fungal pathogens, while extract of Azadirachta indica showed 88% growth inhibition against C. albicans. Acacia nilotica and Withania somnifera have shown inhibition zones of 17 and 19mm respectively against E. coli and B. subtilis. All the plant species have shown significant antibacterial potential in the range of 1-18mm against B. subtilis. Azadirachta indica, Cucumis anguri, Emblica officinalis and Solanum nigrum did not exhibit any antibacterial activity against E. coli. The identification of these potential herbs as antimicrobial agents will be helpful in replacing some commercially synthesized antimicrobial drugs