Protocatechuic acid and saponin mixture from Steganotaenia araliacea stem bark

Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst (Apiaceae / Umbelliferae) is used in East and West African ethnomedicine for treating gastro-intestinal disorders, peptic ulcer, rheumatism and various diseases of microbial origin. The plant was therefore investigated for its chemical constituents while testing for possible antimicrobial, antioxidant, spasmolytic and anti-inflammatory activities. Through bioactivity-driven fractionation, protocatechuic acid was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction as the main antimicrobial (agar diffusion) and antioxidant (radical scavenging-DPPH) principle. The crude extract exhibited spasmolytic activity, which was found to reside exclusively in the aqueous fraction. Further fractionation of the aqueous fraction yielded a saponin mixture. The observed spasmolytic effect was found to be antihistaminic rather than anticholinergic. The saponin mixture also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity. At a dose of 1 mg/kg i.p. it gave a 77.7% inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat-paw oedema. Key words: Steganotaenia araliacea; Saponins; Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Spasmolytic; Antiinflammatory Nig. J. Pharm. Res. 3(1) 2004: 9-1

Antibacterial phenolics from boswellia dalzielii

No Abstract.Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 10 () 2006: pp.108-11

ANTIMICROBIAL CONSTITUENTS OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM ALBIDUM SEED COTYLEDONS

Cotyledons from the seeds of Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don-Holl. (Sapotaceae), are used in ointments in the treatment of vaginal and dermatological infections in Western Nigeria. Activity directed chemical analysis of the methanolic extract of the cotyledons from the seeds of Chrysophyllum albidum led to the isolation and characterisation of eleagnine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-methyl-β-carboline), tetrahydro-2-methylharman (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1, 2 -dimethyl-β-carboline) and skatole (3-methylindole). Eleagnine was the main antimicrobial compound with activity against Candida albicans (MIC 1250μg/ml) and Candida pseudotropicalis (MIC 250mg/ml). It was also active against Escherichia coli (MIC 500mg/ml), Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 62.5μg/ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC 500μg/ml) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC 250μg/ml). 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1, 2 -dimethyl-β-carboline also showed activity against these organisms while skatole had little activity. Key Words: Chrysophyllum albidum; Sapotaceae; eleagnine; tetrahydro-2-methylharman; skatole; antimicrobial activity. Nigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol.7 2003: 33-3

ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES ON NIGERIAN HIGHER FUNGI

The 18 fungi fruit bodies showed varied antibacterial activity. None of the fungi showed anticandidal activity. Key Words: Nigerian fungi, antimicrobial activity, Pyonoporus sanguineus Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.3 1999: 64-6

Atividade antibacteriana de óleos essenciais em cepas isoladas de infecção urinária Antibacterial activity of essential oils on microorganisms isolated from urinary tract infection

A análise da atividade antibacteriana de óleos essenciais de ervas medicinais (Ocimum gratissimum, L., Cybopogum citratus (DC) Stapf. e Salvia officinalis, L.) foi verificada frente a 100 cepas de bactérias isoladas de indivíduos da comunidade com diagnóstico de infecção urinária. Os microrganismos foram semeados em ágar Muller Hinton e os extratos aplicados com replicador de Steers e incubados a 37&deg;C por 24 horas. Verificou-se que Salvia officinalis, L. apresentou ação inibitória superior às outras ervas, tendo eficácia de 100% quando testadas em espécies de Klebsiella e Enterobacter, 96% em Escherichia coli, 83% contra Proteus mirabilis e 75% contra Morganella morganii.<br>The antibacterial activity of essential oils extracted from medicinal plants (Ocimum gratissimum, L., Cybopogum citratus (DC) Stapf., and Salvia officinalis, L.) was assessed on bacterial strains derived from 100 urine samples. Samples were taken from subjects diagnosed with urinary tract infection living in the community. Microorganisms were plated on Müller Hinton agar. Plant extracts were applied using a Steers replicator and petri dishes were incubated at 37&deg;C for 24 hours. Salvia officinalis, L. showed enhanced inhibitory activity compared to the other two herbs, with 100% efficiency against Klebsiella and Enterobacter species, 96% against Escherichia coli, 83% against Proteus mirabilis, and 75% against Morganella morganii

In vitro effects of citral on Trypanosoma cruzi metacyclogenesis

Citral, the main constituent of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil, was added to Trypanosoma cruzi cultures grown in TAU3AAG medium to observe the effect on the epimastigote-to-trypomastigote differentiation process (metacyclogenesis). Our results showed that citral (20 μg/mL) did not affect epimastigote viability or inhibit the differentiation process. Concentrations higher than 60 μg/mL, however, led to 100% cell death (both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms). Although epimastigotes incubated with 30 μg/mL citral were viable and able to adhere to the substrate, we observed around 50% inhibition in metacyclogenesis, with a calculated concentration that inhibited metacyclogenesis by 50% after 24 h (IC50/24 h) of about 31 μg/mL. Treatment with 30 μg/mL citral did not hinder epimastigote multiplication because epimastigote growth resumed when treated cells were transferred to a drug-free liver infusion tryptose culture medium. Metacyclogenesis was almost totally abolished at 40 μg/mL after 24 h of incubation. Furthermore, the metacyclic trypomastigotes obtained in vitro were similarly susceptible to citral, with an IC50/24 h, concentration that killed 50% of the cells after 24 h, of about 24.5 μg/mL. Therefore, citral appears to be a good candidate as an inhibitory drug for further studies analyzing the T. cruzi metacyclogenesis process