In-Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal Activity of Vitex nigundo (Verbenaceae)

Vitex negundo belongs to the family Verbenaceae. It is a large aromatic shrub distributed throughout the greater part of India up to an altitude of 1500 m in the outer Himalayas. It is widely planted as a hedge plant along the roads and between the roads. Traditionally it is having the flok claims like useful in treatment of rheumatism, insecticidal, antimicrobial, anticancer, tranquillizer, tonic, febrifuge, expectorant and diuretic properties. In the present study an attempt had been made to evaluate comparative antibacterial and antifungal principles from Vitex nigundo with some therapeutically used antibiotics. Different extracts of Vitex negundo leaves were investigated for its anti microbial and antifungal activity on five bacterial species and three fungal species these are Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, E.coli, Pseudomonas aerugenosa and Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavon, Candida albicans respectively. Among all extracts waterethanol (50:50) extract showed maximum anti microbial and water extract showed maximum antifungal activity against all tested species

The Antioxidant Activity of the Leaves of Barleria grandiflora Dalz. (Acanthaceae)

Aqueous and hydro alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Barleria grandiflora Dalz. were evaluated for the antioxidant activity by the FTC and TBA methods. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the leaves of Barleria grandiflora are potential source of natural antioxidants. Initial phytochemical screenings of the extracts have shown the presence of flavanoids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates and aminoacid

Pharmacognostical and phytochemical studies on roots of Bombax ceiba Linn. [Estudios farmacognóstico y fitoquímico de las raíces de Bombax ceiba Linn.]

Abstract Resumen Context: Bombax ceiba Linn. (Bombacaceae) is a well-known plant for its antihypertensive, antioxidant, antidiabetic, aphrodisiac and uterine tonicity properties. Aims: To study pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemically the roots of this plant. Methods: Pharmacognostical study included the macroscopic characters like size, color, surface characteristics, texture, fracture characteristics and odor of the roots. The intact root as well as powdered drug were studied under a microscope to analyze the cellular characteristics of the drug. Physicochemical parameter like extractive values, loss on drying (LOD), total ash, water-soluble and acid insoluble ash, foaming index and hemolytic index of Bombax ceiba root powder were determined as per WHO guidelines. Preliminary phytochemical screening and qualitative chemical examination studies have been carried out for the various phytoconstituents. HPTLC have also carried out using cyclohexane: diethyl ether: ethyl acetate as mobile phase. Results: Chemical evaluation and TLC studies shown presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins and tannins. The microscopic characters have shown presence of cork, cambium, xylem vessels, stone cells, starch grains, calcium oxalate crystals and phloem fibers. Microscopy analysis of the powder included the cork cells, fibers, calcium oxalate crystals and vessel. The presence of steroids was confirmed in HPTLC fingerprinting studies. Conclusions: Pharmacognostical and preliminary phytochemical screening of Bombax ceiba roots will be useful in order to authenticate, standardize and avoid any adulteration in the raw material. The diagnostic microscopic characters and physicochemical data will be helpful in the development of a monograph. The chromatographic fingerprinting profile can be used to standardize extracts and formulations containing Bombax ceiba roots. Contexto: Bombax ceiba Linn. (Bombacaceae) es una planta conocida por sus propiedades anti-hipertensiva, antioxidante, antidiabética, afrodisíaca y tónica uterina. Objetivos: Estudiar farmacognóstica, fisicoquímica y fitoquímicamente las raíces de esta planta. Métodos: El estudio farmacognóstico incluyó los caracteres macroscópicos como tamaño, color, características de la superficie, textura, características de fractura y el olor de las raíces. La raíz intacta y la droga en polvo se estudiaron bajo el microscopio para analizar las características celulares de la droga. Los parámetros fisicoquímicos como valores extractivos, pérdida por desecación (LOD), cenizas totales, índice de formación de espuma soluble en agua y cenizas insolubles en ácido, y el índice hemolítico del polvo de raíz de Bombax ceiba se determinaron según directrices de la OMS. Se realizaron estudios de tamizaje fitoquímico preliminar y examen químico cualitativo para los distintos fitoconstituyentes. También se realizó el estudio por HPTLC usando como fase móvil ciclohexano: éter dietílico: acetato de etilo. Resultados: La evaluación química y los estudios de TLC mostraron presencia de alcaloides, glucósidos, flavonoides, esteroides, saponinas y taninos. Los caracteres microscópicos han demostrado la presencia de corcho, cambium, vasos del xilema, células pétreas, granos de almidón, cristales de oxalato de calcio y fibras del floema. El análisis microscópico del polvo incluyó las células de corcho, fibras, cristales de oxalato de calcio y vaso. La presencia de esteroides se confirmó en estudios de huellas por HPTLC. Conclusiones: El tamizaje farmacognóstico y fitoquímico preliminar de las raíces de Bombax ceiba será útil para autenticar, estandarizar y evitar cualquier adulteración en la materia prima. Los caracteres microscópicos de diagnóstico y los datos fisicoquímicos serán útiles en el desarrollo de una monografía. El perfil cromatográfico de huellas (fingerprinting) puede utilizarse para estandarizar extractos y formulaciones que contengan raíces de Bombax ceiba

IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY AND QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF PHENOLIC CONTENT OF LAGENARIA SICERARIA

ABSTRACT The plant, Lagenaria siceraria (Family: Cucurbitaceae), known as bottle gourd, Calabash, Doodhi, and Lauki, is a common fruit vegetable used throughout the India. The antioxidant activities of different concentrations of ethanol extracts of fruits of Lagenaria siceraria the were determined by the four assay techniques i.e. DPPH radical scavenging assay, Reducing power ability, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay and thiocyanate method. Ethanol extract of fruits of Lagenaria siceraria has shown effective antioxidant activity in all assay techniques. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the fruits of Lagenaria siceraria are a potential source of natural antioxidants

<i>In vitro </i>anthelmintic studies of<i> Chlorophytum borivilianum</i> Sant. & Fernandez tubers

53-56The present communication deals with the laboratory studies carried out to ascertain the anthelmintic properties of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant. &Fernandez saponin extracts against Pheretima posthuma and Ascardia galli. Methanolic extract (ME), crude saponin extract (CSE) and purified saponin fractions (PSF) were used as test solutions. Piperazine citrate was included as standard drug and distilled water as control. Study involved the determination of time of paralysis and time of death of the worm. The anthelmintic activity of saponin extracts of C. borivilianum root tubers has therefore been demonstrated for the first tim

Hepatoprotective Activity of Ficus carica Leaf Extract on Rifampicin-Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats

Shade dried leaves of Ficus carica were extracted using petroleum ether (60-80°) and tested for antihepatotoxic activity on rats treated with 50 mg/kg of rifampicin orally. The parameters assessed were serum levels of glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, bilirubin and histological changes in liver. Liver weights and pentobarbitione sleeping time as a functional parameter were also monitored. There was significant reversal of biochemical, histological and functional changes induced by rifampicin treatment in rats by petroleum ether extract treatment, indicating promising hepatoprotective activity

Synthesis and Evaluation of Some New Thiazolidin-4-One Derivatives as Potential Antimicrobial Agents

A new series of N-{4-methyl-5-[4-(4-oxo-2-phenyl(1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)]-5-sulfanyl(1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl }acetamide (7a-l) was synthesized in order to determine their antimicrobial activity and feasible structure–activity relationships. The compounds were synthesized in good yield and the structures of all newly synthesized compounds were established on the basis of their IR, 1HNMR, and elemental analysis. The synthesized compounds were tested in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans by measuring the zone of inhibition in mm