In vitro study of antibacterial activity of Kanocha seeds (Phyllanthus maderaspatensis) against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains

320-326Kanocha is the dried seeds of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis of family Phyllanthaceae. It has been long utilising in Unani system of medicine to cure many ailments including genitourinary infectious diseases. In the current investigation, the aqueous, alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Kanocha seeds were screened for their antibacterial actions against both gram-positive (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Corynebacterium xerosis and Bacillus cereus) and gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) bacterial strains compared with the standard Drug: Ciprofloxacin (SD060) 5 µg/disk for gram-positive bacterial strains and Gentamicin (SD016) 10 µg/disk for gram-negative bacterial strains using Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) with the help of Agar well method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) & minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) with the help of Nutrient Broth method. The data was analysed using Gpad INSTAT programming, one-way ANOVA and post-test Bonferroni. Alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extract showed significant antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract but not up to the mark as compared to standard group indicating that the alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extract has the capability of extracting more phytochemicals than aqueous extract which are responsible for their antibacterial activity. It could be concluded that the present drug possesses antibacterial property

Antibacterial Screening of Aqueous, Alcoholic and Hydroalcoholic extracts of a Unani drug Abhal (Fruits of Juniperus communis)

Abhal is the dried ripe fruit of Juniperus communis Linn. It has long been using in Unani Medicine to treat many ailments including genitourinary infectious diseases. In the present study, the aqueous, alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extracts of Abhal berries were screened for their antimicrobial activity against both gram positive (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Corynebacterium xerosis and Bacillus cereus) and gram negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) bacterial strains compared with the standard Drug: Ciprofloxacin (SD060) 5µg/disk for gram positive bacterial strains and Gentamicin (SD016) 10µg/disk for gram negative bacterial strains using Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) with the help of Agar well method and  Minimum Inhibitory concentration (MIC) & Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) with the help of Nutrient Broth method. The data was analysed using Gpad INSTAT software, one way ANOVA and post-test named Bonferroni. Alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extract showed significant antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract but not up to the mark as compared to standard group indicating that the alcoholic and hydroalcoholic extract has the capability of extracting more phytochemicals than aqueous extract which are responsible for their antimicrobial activity. It could be concluded that the present drug possesses antimicrobial property.                           Keywords: Antimicrobial, Abhal, Juniperus communis, MIC, MBC

Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial and anticancer studies of new steroidal pyrazolines

A convenient synthesis of 2′-(2″,4″-dinitrophenyl)-5α-cholestano [5,7-c d] pyrazolines 4–6 from cholest-5-en-7-one 1–3 was performed and structural assignment of the products was confirmed on the basis of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS and analytical data. The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity against different strains during which compound 6 showed potent antimicrobial behaviour against Corynebacterium xerosis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The synthesized compounds were also screened for in vitro anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines during which compound 5 exhibited significant anticancer activity

Biogenic fabrication and characterization of silver nanoparticles using aqueous-ethanolic extract of lichen (Usnea longissima) and their antimicrobial activity

Abstract Background Biogenic fabrication of silver nanoparticles from naturally occurring biomaterials provides an alternative, eco-friendly and cost-effective means of obtaining nanoparticles. It is a favourite pursuit of all scientists and has gained popularity because it prevents the environment from pollution. Our main objective to take up this project is to fabricate silver nanoparticles from lichen, Usnea longissima and explore their properties. In the present study, we report a benign method of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous-ethanolic extract of Usnea longissima and their characterization by ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Silver nanoparticles thus obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. Results Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of an absorption band at 400 nm in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloidal solution containing both the nanoparticles and U. longissima extract. Poly(ethylene glycol) coated silver nanoparticles showed additional absorption peaks at 424 and 450 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the involvement of amines, usnic acids, phenols, aldehydes and ketones in the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. Morphological studies showed three types of nanoparticles with an abundance of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles of 9.40–11.23 nm. Their average hydrodynamic diameter is 437.1 nm. Results of in vitro antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuomoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) showed that it was effective against tested bacterial strains. However, S. mutans, C. diphtheriae and P. aeruginosa were resistant to silver nanoparticles. Conclusion Lichens are rarely exploited for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. In the present work the lichen acts as reducing as well as capping agent. They can therefore, be used to synthesize metal nanoparticles and their size may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of extract and metal ions. Since they are antibacterial they may be used for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animal. They can also be used in purification of water, in soaps and medicine. Their sustained release may be achieved by coating them with a suitable polymer. Silver nanoparticles fabricated from edible U. longissima are free from toxic chemicals and therefore they can be safely used in medicine and medical devices. These silver nanoparticles were stable for weeks therefore they can be stored for longer duration of time without decomposition