Effect of plant eztracts and essential oils on root-knot nematode

The nematicidal activity of methanolic extracts (20 µg ml-1) from twenty Jordanian plant species against two species of root-knot nematodes in vitro was evaluated. Whole-plant extract of Hypericum androsaemum showed the highest activity (11% mortality) against Meloidogyne javanica after 24 h of incubation. However, leaf extract of Origanum syriacum also increased M. javanica mortality markedly a day later, reaching 59 and 82% after 48 and 72 h of exposure respectively. Against M. incognita the response of leaf extracts was somewhat different, with leaf extract of Artemisia herba alba the most effective causing 22, 51, 54% mortality after 24, 48 and 72 h of exposure respectively. With a tenfold concentration (200 µg ml-1) of those plant extracts thought to contain volatile oils, the secondstage juveniles (J2) mortality of both nematodes increased after 24 and 72 h of incubation. Nematicidal tests of some volatile oils that are active ingredients of the plants tested revealed that geraniol, thymol, and camphor were the most effective against M. javanica J2s, with 91, 60, 56% mortality respectively after 72 h of exposure. Cineole, menthol, and pinene were not effective against this nematode. Against M. incognita J2s, the most effective oil components were carvacol, thymol, and geraniol, with mortalities of 100, 90, and 74% respectively after 72 h of exposure. Cineole was the least effective against M. incognita

Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants in malaysia, the kangkar pulai region

The medicinal plants play an important role in rural health care system throughout the world in remedying and preventing various kinds of diseases. This study documented the use of plants as traditional herbal medicine in the Kangkar Pulai region Johor, Malaysia. It also identified the homogeneity of informant knowledge on medicinal plants suitable for different ailments and types of plants most favored for the treatment of each ailment in the study. The information was gathered through semi-structured interviews, discussions with key informants and informal conversations with local people and herbal practitioners. The data was calculated based on informant consensus factor (Fie) and use value (UV). Information on 40 medicinal plants species from 29 taxonomic plant families used for traditional treatment of different diseases/ailments was documented. The informant consensus factor values (Fie) showed that the local people tend to agree more with each other in terms of the plants used to treat sexual weakness (0.95), blood pressure (0.94), diabetes (0.93), delivery and female problems (0.90), hair problems and dandruff (0.87), respiratory disorder (0.86) and kidney problems (0.85). By contrast, digestive problems (0.76) and skin problems (0.71) and inflammation pain (0.70) were found to have low Fie values. Calculated values of the UV and Fie indicate that this community is knowledgeable on healing and treatment using traditional herbal medicines. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Isolation, synthesis, and antiplatelet aggregation activity of resveratrol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and related compounds

Resveratrol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) has been isolated from the seeds of Erythrophleum lasianthum (Caesalpinioidae, Leguminosae), a South African plant used in traditional medicine, and has shown antiplatelet aggregation activity. The synthesis of 1, related hydroxystilbenes, and their glucosides has been undertaken to provide larger quantities, for further biological evaluation, and has been accomplished via Wittig reactions followed by glucosylation under phase transfer catalysis

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of essential oil of Ammi visnaga L. (Apiaceae) from Constantine, Algeria.

Abstract: Essential oil extracted from fresh aerial parts of Athamanta sicula L. (syn. Tingara sicula) was analysed by gas phase chomatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents were: germacrene B (88.5%) and apiol (4.9%). Comparing with the tested bacteria, the growth of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains was more inhibited by the essential oil of A. sicula

Antibacterial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil of Athamanta sicula L. (Apiaceae) from Algeria

Essential oil extracted from fresh aerial parts of Athamanta sicula L. (syn. Tingara sicula) was analysed by gas phase chomatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents were: germacrene B (88.5%) and apiol (4.9%). Comparing with the tested bacteria, the growth of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains was more inhibited by the essential oil of A. sicula

Chemical and pharmacological characterization of Erythrophleum lasianthum alkaloids

Two alkaloids 1 and 2 were isolated from the seeds of Erythrophleum lasianthum. Their structures were assigned by spectroscopic and chemical means as 3 beta-hydroxynorerythrosuamine (1) and its 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2). In spontaneously beating atria, both compounds 1 and 2 showed a marked and concentration-dependent positive inotropic activity and a weak negative chronotropic activity. The positive inotropic effect induced by 1 and 2 was not modified by propranolol, prazosin, carbachol, and ranitidine plus pyrilamine. Both 1 and 2 were very active in inhibiting the Na+/K+-ATPase isolated from bovine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles