Tridax procumbens L. Extracts: Ethnomedicinal Wound Healing Investigation

This research aims to assess the wound healing activity and antimicrobial potential of various extracts (Methanol, Ethanol, n-Hexane, Chloroform, and Aqueous) derived from Tridax procumbens, a plant traditionally used in wound treatment by tribal communities. The study includes evaluating the antimicrobial activity of the extracts using the agar well diffusion method and preparing plant extract-infused gauze and ointment. Different solvents were used to extract the plant compounds using the Soxhlet apparatus. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against microorganisms isolated from infected wound samples, cultivated on various media (Nutrient agar, Cetrimide agar, Blood agar, MacConkey agar, and MRSA). Minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using the agar well diffusion method, identifying the antimicrobial efficacy of the plant extracts. The ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, among other test organisms (Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Proteus sp.,) isolated from the infected wound samples. Phytochemical tests were conducted to identify bioactive compounds responsible for wound healing, which were subsequently isolated using column chromatography and purified via thin layer chromatography. FTIR analysis was performed to determine the functional groups present, and HPLC was conducted for further characterization. The presence of flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids in the plant extracts was identified as the active ingredients responsible for wound healing. Furthermore, a gauze infused with plant extracts was prepared to facilitate wound healing and an ointment was formulated using the ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens and an ointment base. &nbsp

Response of PGPR and AM fungi toward growth and secondary metabolite production in medicinal and aromatic plants

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) are a group of naturally occurring beneficial soil bacteria that colonize with the plant root system and promote growth by triggering the production of growth-regulating substances and facilitate the plants in the uptake of essential nutrients from the surrounding environments. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi also enhanced the growth, water and nutrient uptake, and especially available phosphate through their specialized hyphae. In addition, PGPR and AM fungi are known to stimulate the accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants. For several years, they are commonly employed to increase the plant yield and productivity especially in agricultural practices. The medicinal and aromatic plants are gaining popularity worldwide due to high therapeutic properties with negligible toxic side effects. To fulfill the global demand and supply gap for medicinal and aromatic plants and their products, farmers are encouraged to cultivate these plants on a large scale. However, there is a need to understand and implement a better cultivation practices in order to improve the quality of medicinal and aromatic plants. In this regard, the utilization of PGPRs and AM fungi as biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers could be a promising approach to the development of medicinal and aromatic plants under the sustainable production system. The aim of this chapter is to describe the potentiality of PGPRs and AM fungi to improve growth and development of medicinal and aromatic plants and accumulation of secondary metabolites having high therapeutic worth and also pave a way in the development of new biotechnological products as biofertilizers