Screening of successive extracts of Amorphophallus konjac for antibacterial activity

Amorphophallus is an Aroid family member, native to Asia. Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch ex N.E.Br. is also known as snake plant due to snake like outlines on its stem. In Mount Abu the plant is grown in wild and known for its toxic principles. In Traditional Chinese System of Medicine (TCM), it was mentioned that gel prepared from flour has been used in detoxification, tumor suppression, phlegm liquefaction and skin disorders. In the present research work, attempts were made to authenticate and validate the ethno-medicinal potentials of A. konjac antimicrobial activity which could be alternate for current synthetic antimicrobial agents. The plant was selected for screening of antimicrobial efficacy against eight selected bacterial strains viz. Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC- 2921), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700603), Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC 13047 ), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC  12453), Enterobacter cloacae (ATCC- 13047), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC 6305). The results of antimicrobial activity of crude dicholormethane (DCM), ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol were significant. DCM extract C (10 mg/disc) possess maximum efficacy against S. pneumoniae (IZ = 20 mm; AI = 1.25). The main cause of community acquired pneumonia and septicemia in HIV infected patients is caused by S. pneumoniae microorganism. Further, bioactivity guided fractionation of pure compounds from DCM extract of A. konjac can lead to work as novel antibiotic in future. Therefore, the extract can also be used for isolation of volatiles compounds with potentials so that the extract / active fraction / pure compounds can be used as nasal spray in future therapeutics.Key words: Amorphophallus konjac, antibacterial activity, antimicrobial agents, ethnomedicinal plant

Evaluation of actinomycetes isolated antimicrobial metabolites as potent inhibitor of multidrug resistant organisms

29-36With the increased metabolic diversity and adaptability, microorganisms are capable of living in diverse environmental conditions. Various microorganisms present in natural environment are resistant to some of the current antibiotics that has lead to discovery of new antibiotic compounds. Soil organisms have been paid a great attention and are recognized as a good source of antibiotic compounds. Actinomycetes are well known for their importance as bioactive metabolites in different sectors. Present study was carried out via isolation of actinomycetes from rhizospheric soil from four different locations of Rajasthan and the isolation was performed on Actinomycetes Isolation Agar (AIA) medium. In this study AIA10 isolate was screened for their antimicrobial potential against five selected microbial pathogens viz. Staphyloccocus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus subtilis. After Solvent extraction, crude extracts of benzene and ethyl acetate were tested for antibacterial activity. GC-MS technique identified the presence of major components like Heptadecane at retention time (RT) - 18.131 (5.07 %), Heneicosane at RT - 20.935 (14.63 %), Hexadecanoic acid, Butyl ester at RT - 25.611 (4.92 %), Eicosanoic acid, 2,3-Bis(Acetyloxy)Propyl ester at RT - 32.509 (8.15 %), 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, 2,3-Bis(Acetyloxy)Propyl ester at RT - 34.978 (34.32 %) in benzene crude extract. In ethyl acetate extract major compounds identified were, Pentadecanoic acid at RT - 6.25 (21.251 %), N-Hexadecanoic acid at RT - 22.527 (12.79 %), Eicosanoic acid at RT - 23.788 (14.18 %), Hexadecanoic acid, 2-Hydroxy-1-(Hydroxymethyl) Ethyl ester at RT - 29.593 (5.59 %), Octadecanoic acid, 2,3-Dihydroxypropyl ester at RT - 33.182 (3.50 %) and 5,11,17, 23-Tetratert Butyl pentacyclo [19.3.1.1~3,7~.1~9,13~.1~15,19~]Octacosa1(25),3(28),4,6,9(27),10,12,15(26),16,18,21, 23-Dodecaene-25,26,27,28 Tetrol at RT - 54.152 (9.92 %). Primary screening was tested and the activity was observed against S. aureus and P. vulgaris. In secondary screening, benzene and ethyl acetate extract was found active against S. aureus, at inhibition zone IZ = 10 and 20 mm, respectively. The study conducted proposes these actinomycetes as a potent source for antimicrobial metabolites

Verbesina encelioides: Perspective and potentials of a noxious weed

511-513Verbesina encelioides (Cav.) Benth. & Hook. Fil ex Gray (Asteraceae) regarded as a notorious weed and an ornamental garden plant has found various uses in folk medicine in different parts of the world. This plant possesses analgesic, emetic, febrifuge and insecticidal actions but is mildly toxic to small ruminants, which is attributed to the relative amount of galegine. V. encelioides also produces a number of metabolites like flavonoids, terpenoids, sesquiterpenes and essential oils, etc. in appreciable yields. Some of these compounds have exhibited significant antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumour, hypoglycaemic, antiimplantation and antiinflammatory activities. The paper is an overview of the potential utilization of V. encelioides, which is otherwise a well known weed

Search for macro- and microscopic markers from genuine fruits of piper species and its adulterants.

Medicinal plants play a very important role in the treatment of various diseases but usually their authenticity and standards are lacking, inspite of their prime importance to generate some microscopic markers which help in the identification, characterization, quality, efficacy and safety of the herbal drugs. Therefore, the present paper deals with pharmacognostic characters of Piper nigrum, Linn. and its adulterants-Carica papaya Linn.(Caricaceae), Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) and Embelia ribes Burm.( Myrsinaceae). Although macroscopically genuine samples and their adulterants are some how similar but peculiar pharmacognostic studies revealed that the microscopic markers are the best tools for accurate identification of P. nigrum from its adulterants even in powdered form. Keywords: Piper nigrum, Adulterants, Fruits, Pharmacognostic evaluation and MarkersNigerian Journal of Natural Products and Medicine Vol. 11 2007 pp. 15-2