Cytotoxic Activity of Croton gibsonianus Nimm. Grah

The present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic activity ofmethanol extract of Croton gibsonianus Nimm. Grah (Euphorbiaceae) leavesby brine shrimp lethality bioassay. The powdered leaf material was extractedwith methanol. The cytotoxicity activity of methanol extract was tested usingbrine shrimp (Artemia nauplii) lethality assay. The mortality of shrimps weredetermined and LC50 was calculated. Cytotoxic activity, in terms of mortalityof brine shrimps, was dependent on concentration of the extract. Highestmortality (87%) was observed at extract concentration 1000ìg/ml. The LC50of methanol extract was found to be 109.48ìg/ml. The result of the studyindicated that the extract possesses cytotoxic property. Further studies onisolation of active constituents possessing cytotoxic activity their cytotoxicityon various cancer and tumor cell lines are under investigation

Anticaries Activity of Usnea pictoides G. Awasthi -A macrolichen from Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

The present study was conducted to determine anticaries activity of solvent extracts of a macrolichen Usnea pictoides G. Awasthi (Parmeliaceae)  collected at Mullayanagiri, Western Ghats of Chikmagalur district,  Karnataka, India. The lichen material was sequentially extracted using solvents viz., petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol in a soxhlet assembly. Anticaries activity of solvent extracts was determined against four clinical isolates of Streptococcus mutans (recovered from dental caries subjects) by Agar well diffusion assay. All solvent extracts were effective against the clinical isolates. High inhibitory potential was observed in case of chloroform extract. Thin layer chromatogram showed the presence of Usnic acid. Inhibitory effect could be ascribed to the bioactive secondary   metabolites, mainly Usnic acid present in the lichen. Purification of bioactive principles and determination of their anticaries activity are to be conducted

Inhibitory Effect of Cow Urine Extracts of Selected Plants against Pathogens Causing Rhizome Rot of Ginger

No Abstract

Elemental Analysis and Biological Activities of Chrysophyllum roxburghii G. Don (Sapotaceae) Leaves

The present study was performed to estimate elementals and to determine bioactivities namely anticariogenic, antioxidant, pancreatic lipase inhibitory and cytotoxic activity of Chrysophyllum roxburghii leaves. Elemental analysis revealed that calcium and manganese were present in high concentration among principal and trace elements respectively. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids and terpenoids in the extract. Total phenolic content was found to be 179.05mg Gallic acid equivalents/g of extract. The methanol extract caused a dose dependent inhibition of Streptomyces mutans isolates. All the isolates tested were found to be sensitive to extract. In DPPH assay, the extract exhibited marked dose dependent scavenging activity against DPPH free radical with an IC50 value of 3.54ìg/ml. In Ferric reducing assay, the absorbance of the reaction mixture was found to increase with the concentration of extract which is suggestive of reducing power. The activity of chicken pancreatic lipase was affected by the extract and the effect was concentration dependent. Higher inhibition of enzyme (>50%) was observed at extract concentration 50mg/ml. In cytotoxic study, the lethality was found to be directly proportional to extract concentration. Highest mortality (>80%) of shrimps was observed at extract concentration 1000µg/ml. LC50 of extract was 83.04µg/ml. The bioactivities of the extract could be attributed to the presence of secondary metabolites in the plant material. The plant material could be used as a source of important elements required for the body. In suitable form, the plant could be used in the prevention and treatment of dental caries, oxidative damage, obesity and cancer

Antibacterial, Insecticidal and Free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of Ziziphus rugosa Lam. (Rhamnaceae) fruit pericarp

Introduction: Ziziphus rugosa Lam. belongs to the family Rhamnaceae and is found chiefly in deciduous and semievergreen forest of Western Ghats. The present study was undertaken to determine antibacterial, insecticidal and free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of Ziziphus rugosa Lam. fruit pericarp. Methods: The powdered fruit pericarp of Z. rugosa was extracted with methanol. Antibacterial activity of methanol extract was determined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by Agar well diffusion method. Free radical scavenging activity was determined using DPPH assay. The insecticidal activity of extract was tested against second instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Results: The extract exhibited dose dependent inhibition of test bacteria. Among bacteria, E. coli was found to be more susceptible to extract than S. aureus. All the concentrations of extract produced over 50% mortality of larvae and the larvicidal effect was found to be dose dependent. The extract caused 100% mortality of larvae at concentration of 50 mg/ml. The extract exhibited concentration dependent radical scavenging activity with an IC 50 value of 61.88 µg/ml. The phytochemical analysis of extract showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids and glycosides. Conclusion: The extract, in suitable form, may be used to control bacterial diseases, free radical damage and arboviral diseases. The phytoconstituents present in the extract may be responsible for the tested biological efficacies of extract. Further studies on isolation of active constituents from the extract and their biological activity are under investigation

Radical Scavenging, Antimicrobial and Insecticidal Efficacy of Parmotrema cristiferum and Dirinaria applanata

Lichens are self-supporting symbiotic association of mycobiont and photobiont. The present study was conducted to investigate antimicrobial, insecticidal and radical scavenging potential of methanol extract of two macrolichens viz. Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale and Dirinaria applanata (Fée) D.D. Awasthi. Antibacterial activity was tested against a panel of 5 bacteria by Agar well diffusion assay. Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined against 2 bacteria by broth dilution method. Antifungal efficacy was determined against 5 molds by Poisoned food technique. Free radical scavenging activity was screened by DPPH radical scavenging assay. Total phenolic content was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent method. Insecticidal activity was determined against 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti Among lichen extracts, D. applanata exhibited stronger inhibition of bacteria as evidenced by wider zones of inhibition and low MIC values. Extract of D. applanata suppressed the mycelial growth of test fungi to higher extent when compared to extract of P. cristiferum The scavenging of DPPH radicals was also marked in case of D. applanta when compared to P. cristiferum. The content of total phenolics was also higher in D. applanata than that of P. cristiferum. Lichen extracts showed concentration dependent larvicidal effect. D. applanata exhibited stronger larvicidal effect than P. cristiferum. Overall, D. applanata displayed marked bioactivities when compared to P. cristiferum. This could be mainly due to high phenolic content. The macrolichens of this study appear to be promising sources of bioactive agents

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Fahrenheitia zeylanica (Thw.) Airy

Fahrenheitia zeylanica (Thw.) Airy is a lofty evergreen tree belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. The present study was conducted to evaluate antibacterial and antioxidant activity of solvent extracts of leaves of F. zeylanica. The powdered leaf material was sequentially extracted using ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol based on polarity. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau and Aluminiumchloride colorimetric estimation method respectively. Antibacterial activity of solvent extracts was assessed by agar well diffusion method against a panel of nine bacteria. Antioxidant efficacy of solvent extracts was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging and Ferric reducing assay. Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of bark and chloroform extract of leaf contained high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Solvent extracts of bark were more effective in inhibiting test bacteria than leaf extracts. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were inhibited to maximum extent among Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria respectively. Methanol extracts of leaf and bark scavenged DPPH (with IC50 value of 2.02 and 1.17ìg/ml respectively) and ABTS (with IC50 value of 20.89 and 3.42ìg/ml respectively) radicals to high extent followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. The reducing ability was recorded highest in methanol extracts followed by ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts. Bark extracts have shown stronger scavenging and reducing power than leaf extracts. A positive correlation was observed between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of extracts. The solvent extracts of bark and leaf of F. zeylanica have shown antibacterial and antioxidant activity which may be attributed to the phytochemicals present in them. The plant can be used as a remedy for treatment of infectious diseases and oxidative stress due to free radical formation. Further,  separation of bioactive compounds and determination of their biological activities are under progress

Phylogenetic Characterization of Six Full-Length HIV-1 Subtype C Molecular Clones from Three Patients: Identification of Rare Subtype C Strains Containing Two NF-κB Motifs in the Long Terminal Repeat

Molecular surveillance is the backbone of HIV-1 vaccinology. Full-length HIV-1 sequences are useful tools that can provide a better understanding of the epidemiology in a given region. A limited number of full-length HIV-1 sequences are available from India, where >95% of the HIV infections are due to HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C), which is distinct from the prototype African HIV-1C. In this study, we sequenced six full-length clones isolated from three patients. Extensive phylogenetic analyses of the full-length viral sequences using bioinformatic tools identified a separate cluster of Indian strains, thus confirming the distinct phylogenetic identity of the Indian HIV-1C. Notably, the long terminal repeat (LTR) of two of the six molecular clones contained only two NF-κB binding sites. The sequences also displayed features characteristic of HIV-1C including a Tat dicysteine motif, a shortened Rev open reading frame, and a predicted CCR5 coreceptor tropism for gp120 of three of the proviral sequences