Simple and selective spectrophotometric assay of diethylcarbamazine citrate using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone and 2,4-dinitro phenol

Two simple, rapid and inexpensive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) in bulk drug and formulations. The methods are based on the charge-transfer (CT) complexation reaction involving DEC as the n- donor and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone DDQ] (method A) and 2,4-dinitro phenol DNP] (method B) as pi-acceptors in chloroform. The absorbance of CT complexes was measured at 480 nm for method A, and 420 nm for method B. Under optimum conditions, Beer's law was obeyed over the concentration ranges 4-90 and 4-100 mu g mL(-1) for methods A and B, respectively

Genetic diversity and antifungal activity of species of Pestalotiopsis isolated as endophytes from medicinal plants

The genetic diversity of fungal endophytes in root, bark and twigs of four medicinally important plants, Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Terminalia arjuna and T. chebula were examined. Thirty isolates of Pestalotiopsis and two isolates of Bartalinia rohillardoides were genotypically compared by RAPD techniques and 241 reproducible polymorphic bands were obtained using 23 random primers. The data was subjected to unweighted pair-group (UPGMA) cluster analysis. The isolates grouped into four main clusters and subgroups, group I contained 12 isolates, group II contained 3 isolates of P. virgatula, group III contained 10 isolates including P. microspora, B. robillardoides, P. theae and Pestalotiopsis spp., group IV contained five isolates of P. microspora and finally one Pestalotiopsis spp. did not fall into any group. The ethyl acetate extracts of isolates from Terminalia arjuna showed greater antifungal activity than those from other medicinal trees against six test organisms viz., Alternaria carthami, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium verticilloides Macrophomina phaseolina, Phoma sorghina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, with the zone of inhibition ranging from 4 to 25 mm. in diameter. The results indicate that RAPD can be employed for detecting genetic diversity of Pestalotiopsis species from medicinal plants and for pre-selection of these isolates for bioactive screening programme

Fungal endophyte assemblages from ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal trees

Endophytic fungi represent an interesting group of microorganisms associated with the healthy tissues of terrestrial plants. They represent a large reservoir of genetic diversity. Fungal endophytes were isolated from the inner bark segments of ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal tree species, namely Terminalia arjuna, Crataeva magna, Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Terminalia chebula, and Butea monosperma (11 individual trees), growing in different regions of southern India. Forty-eight fungal species were recovered from 2200 bark segments. Mitosporic fungi represented a major group (61%), with ascomycetes (21%) and sterile mycelia (18%) the next major groups. Species of Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Verticillium, and Chaetomium were frequently isolated. Exclusive fungal taxa were recovered from five of the six plant species considered for the study of endophytic fungi. Rarefaction indices for species richness indicated the highest expected number of species for bark segments were isolated from T arjuna and A. indica (20 species each) and from C. magna (18 species)

Antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antibacterial properties of endophytic Pestalotiopsis species from medicinal plants

Pestalotiopsis species were most dominant endophytic species isolated from four medicinal plants including Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia chebula, Azadirachta indica, and Holarrhena antidysenterica. Thirty Pestalotiopsis species isolated from different parts of the medicinal plants were selected for the study. The antioxidant and antihypertensive properties of Pestalotiopsis isolates were determined by measuring 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitory activity, lipid peroxidation, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition activity. Pestalotiopsis isolates of T. arjuna origin exhibited maximum radical scavenging activity compared with the others. The IC50 values of Pestalotiopsis extracts for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity ranged from 14 to 27 μg/mL compared with 15 and 6 μg/mL for butylated hydroxytoluene and ascorbic acid, respectively. The DNA damage study was also done for three isolates, TC-315, TA-37, and TA-60; TA-37 gave 80% protection. The IC50 values of Pestalotiopsis extracts for lipid peroxidation ranged between 30 and 35.5 μg/mL, while for the positive control butylated hydroxytoluene, it was 26 μg/mL. Out of 32 fungal extracts screened for antihypertensive assay, five (TA-37, TA-60, TA-102, TA-103, and TC-320) showed >60% inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme. The IC50 values for five extracts ranged from 21 to 37 μg/mL and was 20 μg/mL for captopril used as a positive control. The antibacterial activity was measured by the microplate-based turbidity measurement method. Four Pestalotiopsis extracts (TA-04, TA-37, TA-60, and TA-102) showed >75% inhibition against five bacterial strains including Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum, and Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antihypertensive activities demonstrated the potential of Pestalotiopsis extracts as therapeutic targets

Phylogenetic analysis of endophytic pestalotiopsis species from ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal trees

The phylogenetic diversity in 30 endophytic Pestalotiopsis strains and two Bartalinia robillardoides strains isolated from the medicinal plants Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Terminalia arjuna and T. chebula were analyzed using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) restriction fragment length polymorphism (ITS-RFLP) and sequence analysis of the ITS region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The amplified rDNA fragment length ranged from 548-607 bp. rDNA ITS sequence analysis provided greater resolution for distinguishing isolates of Pestalotiopsis than ITS-RFLP analysis with five restriction enzymes Alu I, Hae III, Ava II, Hpa II and Taq I. The ITS-RFLP profiles were highly distinctive for P. virgatula and P. theae and also exhibited a high level of intraspecific polymorphism in strains of P. microspora. Endophytic and pathogenic Pestalotiopsis species clustered into distinct groups based oil analysis of ITS sequences. The clusters grouped irrespective of the host or parts of the trees or locations (Mysore, Srirangapatna, Nanjungud, Gopalswamy hills and Sullia) from which they were isolated. Further Studies on Pestaliotiopsis endophytes and the naming of species are suggested

Microwave-assisted synthesis of n-alkylated bibenzoimidazolyl derivatives: antimicrobial studies

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of newly synthesized bibenzoimidazolyl derivatives 2(a-i) as antimicrobials. These molecules are obtained by the reaction of different pharmaceutically important bioactive aralkyl halides with 1, 7'-dimethyl-2'-propyl-1H, 3'H-2,5']bibenzoimidazole in presence of powdered potassium carbonate in DMF solvent under both conventional and microwave methods. The microwave method offers the products 2(a-i) in higher yields compared to conventional method. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, H-1 NMR and elemental analysis and evaluated their efficacy as antimicrobials. We observed the significant differences between the antimicrobial activities of the newly synthesized compounds based on their various substituents present at N1 position. Compounds 2h, 2a, 2c, 2e and 2f showed potent antimicrobial activity compared to standard drugs

Development of gut mycobiome in infants and young children:a prospective cohort study

Abstract Background: The composition of the gut fungal microbiome, mycobiome, is likely associated with human health. Yet, the development of gut mycobiome is poorly understood in infants and children. Here we investigate how perinatal events influence the development of gut mycobiome. Methods: In this prospective cohort study of 140 infants, we used ITS gene sequencing of fecal samples from birth to the age of 18 months. We compared gut mycobiome composition according to delivery mode and exposure to intrapartum antibiotics during vaginal delivery. Results: At birth, gut mycobiome were dominated by the genus Candida, at 6-month stool samples by Malassezia and Cystofilobasidium, and the 18-month stool samples by Trichosporon and unidentified fungi. Perinatal factors altered mycobiome. At 18 months, gut mycobiome of infants born vaginally consisted mostly of Trichosporon (32%) and unidentified fungi (31%), while those born via Cesarean section delivery samples had mycobiome dominated by Saccharomyces (50%). At the age of 18 months, those exposed to intrapartum antibiotics had mycobiome dominated by Trichosporon (66%) not seen in those unexposed to antibiotics. Conclusions: Delivery mode and exposure to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were markedly associated with gut mycobiome composition from birth to 18 months of age. Impact: ● The composition of the gut mycobiome is likely associated with human health. Yet, the development of gut mycobiome is poorly understood in infants and children. ● In this prospective cohort study, delivery mode and exposure to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis were markedly associated with gut mycobiome composition from birth to 18 months of age. ● The impact of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis on fungal microbiome in vaginally born infants, previously shown to influence gut bacteriome composition, may be explained by the interaction between bacteria and fungi. ● Gut mycobiome composition likely deserves further investigation in relation to gut microbiome and health in children

Endophytic mycoflora of inner bark of Azadirachta indica A. Juss

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