SYNTHESIS AND SCREENING OF SOME AZOMETHINES BEARING METHYL SALICYLATE MOIETY FOR ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES

In this study, the series of novel azomethines were synthesized from methyl salicylate and their structural determination was done by IR, NMR and mass spectral data. The screening of these synthesized compounds were done against some Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in DMF and DMSO solvents by agar disc method. It is observed that solvent and compound structure both affect the inhibition. DMF is found to be good solvent in the present study. Amongst all studied compounds, JB-4 showed maximum zone of inhibition against most of the studied bacterial strains while compound JB-2 is least effective. Thus, substitution affects inhibition and methyl salicylate moiety with cinnamaldehyde side chain is most effective. Further, virtual screening of these compounds was done to evaluate molecular properties and bioactive scores of these compounds.Keywords: azomethines, methyl salicylate, antibacterial activity, agar disc method, DMF, DMS

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL OF DIFFERENT SOLVENT EXTRACTS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS OF SEMI-ARID REGION

  Objective: Infections caused by microorganisms that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotics have become a major nuisance globally. The problem of microbial resistance is increasing rapidly, and therefore there is an urgent need to develop novel antimicrobial agents from a natural source. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different solvent extracts of aerial part of Alysicarpus procumbens, Fimbristylis dichotoma, Saccharum spontaneum, Suaeda nigra, and Typha angustifolia against pathogenic microorganisms.Methods: The extraction was done by individual cold percolation method using five solvents of different polarity, viz., petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, and water (aqueous). The antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion method against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.Results: All the plant solvent extracts showed varied level of antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms. All extracts of five plants showed better antibacterial activity than antifungal activity; Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: The polarity of solvent greatly influences extractive yield and antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants. The best activity was shown by solvent extracts of S. nigra. Hence, it can be considered as good source of antimicrobial agents

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND SYNERGISTIC ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate antibacterial and synergistic antimicrobial properties of leaf, stem and bark of Pterocarpus santalinus. Methods: The extraction was done by decoction method. The antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion assay and the synergistic antimicrobial activity was done by agar disc diffusion assay.  Results: The synergistic activity was studied with plant extracts plus antibiotics viz. Ampicillin , Polymyxin-B,  Clotrimazole and  Fluconazole.  Conclusions: Amongst the three parts, the best antimicrobial activity was shown by bark extract. All the three parts showed synergistic antimicrobial activity with antibiotics but their level varied.  The results suggest that all the three parts phytochemicals that enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of the antibiotics against some microorganisms and hence can be developed as a new therapeutic weapon against infectious diseases

EFFECT OF DECOCTION EXTRACTS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS ON CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALLIZATION

ABSTRACTObjective: To study the inhibitory effect of decoction extracts of some medicinal plants on the crystallization of calcium oxalate.Methods: The extraction was done by decoction method and in-vitro anti-urolithiatic activity was evaluated by the turbidometric method.Results: Terminalia species could be a promising source for curing urinary stone disease.Conclusion: Further, these in-vitro results should be confirmed by in-vivo studies to develop a potent antilithiatic agent from these plant species.Keywords: Terminalia species, Medicinal plants, Anti-urolithiatic activity, Nucleation, Calcium oxalate crystallization, Microscopy

Biological evaluation of some quinoline derivatives

ABSTRAC

Antioxidant and metal chelating activities of Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl peel, pulp and aerial parts in relation to their total phenol and flavonoid content

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total phenol and flavonoid content of different parts (peel, pulp and aerial parts) of Lagenaria siceraria. Method: Successive extraction was done by cold percolation method using solvents of different polarity viz. petroleum ether, toluene, ethyl acetate, acetone, water. Total phenol content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent method and flavonoid was determined by aluminium chloride colorimetric method. The antioxidant assays evaluated were 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, 2, 2'-Azino-bis-(3-ethyl) benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical cation scavenging activity and Ferric reducing antioxidant power. Results: L. siceraria peel possessed maximum phenol and flavonoid content in acetone and toluene extracts respectively. FRAP was maximum in acetone extract of peel. The peel extract demonstrated stronger DPPH activity with IC 50 value of 111 µg/ml followed by pulp extract. The same extract was effective in scavenging ABTS radical with an IC 50 value of 39 µg/ml while other parts were ineffective. Conclusion: This work demonstrated good antioxidant activity of L. siceraria vegetable cultivated in India and recommends that the peel of this vegetable may be of interest from a functional point of view as a major source of natural antioxidant

Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory screening of four indian medicinal plants

Inflammatory diseases including different types of rheumatic diseases are very common throughout the world. The greatest disadvantage in the presently available potent synthetic drugs lies in their side effects, toxicity and reappearance of the symptoms after discontinuation. Hence search for new antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents are needed. Antimicrobial study was done by agar disc diffusion method against 5 Gram positive, 7 Gram negative and 3 fungal strains and acute anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan induced paw edema in rats. Plants screened were Aristolochia indica, Argemone mexicana, Alpinia speciosa and Gymnema sylvestre. Methanolic extract of these plants were studied at 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose level. The results were compared with standard drug indomethacin. All the plant extracts showed better antibacterial activity than antifungal activity. The Gram positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram negative bacteria. Argemone mexicana gave more antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity than the other three plants.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Changes in cell wall polysaccharides during wheat grain development

Changes in low and high molecular weight xyloglucan and pectic polysaccharide content were estimated during grain development in wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivar Lok-1. Three grains differing in their final dry weight and position on the spike were selected for the investigation. The low molecular weight xyloglucan and high molecular weight xyloglucan were isolated by extracting in 4% KOH and 24% KOH, respectively. Changes in the xyloglucan content (low and high) showed an inverse correlation with water content. However, low molecular weight xyloglucan was more than high molecular weight xyloglucan at all stages of grain growth. Pectic polysaccharides also showed an inverse correlation, with highest content being in the smallest grain and vice versa. Increase in xyloglucan and pectic polysaccharide content coincided with termination of elongation growth thus suggesting its probable role in wall rigidity. It is suggested that cell wall is a dynamic compartment where reorganization occurs by turnover and alteration of wall polysaccharides