ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ISOLATED FROM MEDICINAL PLANT-A PROMISING SOURCE OF POTENTIAL BIOACTIVE METABOLITES.

Objective: Medicinal plants are gaining worldwide attention owing to the fact that the herbal drugs are cost effective, easily available and with negligible side effects. Medicinal plants harbour endophytic microflora and they are valuable source of Bioprospecting endophytes. Endophytes are the microorganisms that inhabit interior of plant tissues that shows no apparent harm to host. Endophytic fungi from medicinal plants are known as Promising Source†of bioactive novel metabolites which has significant role in pharmacology, agriculture and in industries. Methods: In our present research work, endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of medicinal plant Cardiospermum halicacabum. The frequency of the presence of endophytic fungi was studied based on seasonal variation. Seven endophytic fungi were isolated, of which two isolates were sporulating and identified based on colony morphology, sporulating structures and taken for further studies. The ethyl acetate extract of the isolates were screened for phytochemical studies and also assayed for invitro antibacterial activity. Further, the fungal isolates were checked for their ability to produce extracellular enzymes by qualitative assay and were used to study the presence of chitosan on their cell wall. Results: The isolates were also screened for extracellular biosynthesis of Silver nanoparticles for which UV-VIS absorption was recorded. FT-IR analysis was also performed to confirm the presence of various functional groups. Conclusion: The endophytes from Cardiospermum halicacabum can be a potent natural source of bioactive compounds which can be considered to be prolific resource for drugs and as Bioprotectants. Further investigation will focus on the strain improvement and genomic variation among these isolates

A STUDY ON THE BIOACTIVE POTENTIAL OF FRESH AND DRIED SPROUTS OF COCOS NUCIFERA L.–AN IN VITRO AND IN-SILICO APPROACH

Objective: The main objective of the study is to analyze the medicinal properties, by giving scientific validation to the existing bioactive compounds present in the coconut sprouts and recommending the coconut sprouts as a natural product for the treatment of bacterial infection leading to inflammations.Methods: Phytochemical screening by qualitative and quantitative analysis of the primary and secondary constituents were carried out in aqueous and methanol extracts of the coconut sprouts (fresh and dried) using standard procedures. The phytochemicals were characterized using FT-IR, TLC and GC-MS analysis. Antibacterial activity was studied against several human pathogens by agar well diffusion method. Antioxidant activity using Reducing power, Hydrogen peroxide scavenging and DPPH radical scavenging methods and Anti-inflammatory activity through protein denaturation method were carried out. Further confirmation of the functional role of the phytoconstituent through in-silico docking was studied.Results: The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of essential phytoconstituents. The quantitative analysis revealed the presence of maximum Carbohydrates (0.60±0.1 mg/g), Proteins (39±0.8 mg/ml), Flavonoids (0.28±0.1 mg QE/g) and Terpenoids (95±1.2 mg/g) in methanolic fresh coconut sprout extract with respective standards. Maximum zone of inhibitions were shown by Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory studies proved the presence of therapeutic bioactive potential in the sample. Through in-silico analysis, docking studies were performed to confirm the functional role of the specific therapeutic phytochemical.Conclusion: The fresh coconut sprouts are natural, economically potent food source for human health and can be a nutrient supplement with cost effective approach. The dried sprouts can also be recommended to the food industry for the large-scale production of nutrient-based foods with a quality check

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VITRO STUDIES ON ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES USING CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA BARK EXTRACTS

Objective: Casuarina equisetifolia is an important multipurpose exotic forest tree species widely cultivated in the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu that serves as a warehouse of essential secondary metabolites. Identification of these bioactive compounds in this forest tree species might lead to the discovery and development of a new drug to treat various diseases. Methods: The present study was carried out with an objective to analyse the phytochemicals qualitatively and quantitatively. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was performed to evaluate the presence of various volatile compounds. An in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous and organic solvents of C. equisetifolia bark was studied.Results: The preliminary qualitative screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, proteins, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and tannins. The quantitative analysis revealed the presence of maximum phenols (71.2±0.51 mg/g), flavonoids (35.12±0.34 mg/g), tannins (77.59±0.21) and terpenoids (6%) in methanolic root extract with respective standards. Several peaks were obtained in the GC-MS analysis which indicates the presence of different secondary metabolites. Antibacterial activity showed a maximum zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli (23±0.24 mm) and Proteus vulgaris (23±0.32 mm). The antioxidant potential of various extracts was compared with the standard ascorbic acid. Anti-inflammatory activity was compared with standard diclofenac sodium and the extract showed activities significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: From this study, it is revealed that C. equisetifolia bark extract possesses efficient antibacterial property, the potential in scavenging free radical, effective antioxidant, powerful anti-inflammatory source that can be employed in the development of a novel drug to treat various diseases

Sprouts as functional food- an approach towards the identification of natural antibiotic resistance breakers

Antibiotics are medicines used to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. Investigation studies related to discovery of novel antibiotics to deal with antibacterial resistance from natural edible food products have been one of the significant research interests in recent years. The main objective of the study is to identify the bioactive compounds having the natural antibiotic resistance breaking property, by giving scientific validation to the existing bioactive compounds present in the sprouts and recommending the horse gram and mixed sprouts as a natural dietary supplement, a measure for the management of the disease, Shigellosis. Qualitative screening of the phytoconstituents (using different solvent extracts) and quantitative analysis of the primary and secondary phytoconstituents were carried out in methanol and aqueous extracts of the horse gram and mixed sprouts (fresh and dried) using standard protocols in two different samples- horse gram sprouts (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) and mixed sprouts of combination (Cicer arietinum L. (Chick pea), Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc. (horse gram) and Vigna radiata (L.). Antibacterial activity of both the samples against human pathogens namely Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella flexneri were studied. In horse gram and mixed sprouts, maximum zone of inhibitions were shown by Shigella flexneri, a food and water borne pathogen leading to outbreaks of Shigellosis, a major public health concern. Ciprofloxacin is a broad spectrum of antimicrobial carboxyfluoroquinolones. The bactericidal action of Ciprofloxacin is by inhibiting DNA gyrase, a type II topoisomerase and topoisomerase IV, which are required for bacterial DNA replication. Phytochemical characterization (FTIR and GC-MS) and antibacterial studies proved the presence of essential phytoconstituents like terpenoids, fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. Several bioactive compounds obtained from GC-MS analysis were screened for Ciprofloxacin antibiotic resistance. The specific phytoconstituents, DL-Proline from horse gram sprouts and Geranyl geraniol from mixed sprouts was tend to act as novel antibiotic resistance breakers which was proved through in silico docking.  &nbsp

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES: ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIOXIDANT, AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFICACY OF CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA ROOT EXTRACTS

Objective: The current study was aimed to investigate the potential phytoconstituents from Casuarina equisetifolia root extract. Qualitative, quantitative and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of C. equisetifolia using various solvents of root extract was also carried out to characterize the presence of various bioactive compounds in the root. The research work was also targeted to reveal the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory potential of the root extract of C. equisetifolia.Methods: Root samples of C. equisetifolia were collected from Nimilenchery village, Pondicherry Union territory. The qualitative screening of the root extracts was carried out to check the presence of various phytoconstituents which was then followed by the quantitative analysis of phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Further, the phytochemicals in the root extract were evaluated using GC-MS studies. In vitro antibacterial activity was performed by the agar well diffusion method using aqueous and organic solvent-based root extract against four different bacterial pathogens. In vitro antioxidant assay of different solvent extracts was elucidated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay, and reducing power assay. Anti-inflammatory potential was also studied using protein denaturation of albumin.Results: The qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various phytoconstituents which is of greater biological importance. Gallic acid equivalent (GAE) phenolic compound content (68.64±0.25 mg GAE/g of extract), quercetin equivalent flavonoid content (29.09±0.14 mg of QUE/g of extract), tannic acid equivalent (TAE) tannin content (51±0.42 mg TAE/g of extract), and terpenoid content (5.2%) were found to be significant in the methanol root extract of C. equisetifolia when compared with other solvents. GC-MS analysis revealed different peaks indicating the presence of different secondary metabolites. Prominent antibacterial activity was observed in methanol extract of root, with maximum zone of inhibition exhibited against Proteus vulgaris (23.45±0.28 mm). The methanol root extract was most effective with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 52.74±0.65 μg/ml for DPPH and 64.94±0.24 μg/ml for hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity. Maximum absorbance was observed by 80 μg/ml (IC50 51.79±0.26 μg/ml) of methanol root extract with respect to reducing power assay. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity had maximum inhibition of 84.6±0.26 with IC50 value of 33.6±0.23 μg/ml at 80 μg/ml.Conclusion: From this study, it is revealed that the species of C. equisetifolia is a source of potential phytoconstituents exhibiting significantly various biological activities leading to the development of novel drug