Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants against oral flora

The present study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical and antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants against five microbial strains causing oral infections. The phytochemical analysis carried out revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, reducing sugar and steroids in most of the medicinal plants. The antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of medicinal plants were evaluated using well diffusion method against Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus ,Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Ethanolic extracts of Aloe barbadensis,Cinnamum zeylanicum and Tinospora coridfolia, were not effective against Streptococcus mutansand Enterococcus faecalis respectively. However, Azadirachta indica, Centella asiatica, Zingiber officinale were showing week and the extract of Allium sativum, Curcuma longa, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ocimum sanctum, Piper nigrum, displaying strong antimicrobial activity against most of the test species. The ethanol extract of Syzygium aromaticum showing strong antimicrobial activity against all test species. The results provide justification for the use of the medicinal plants to treat various oral infections. 

Fine tuning of auxin signaling by miRNAs

microRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a major class of endogenous non-coding regulatory small RNAs. They are present in a variety of organisms from algae to plants and play an important role in gene regulation. The miRNAs are involved in various biological processes, including differentiation, organ development, phase change, signaling, disease resistance and response to environmental stresses. This review provides a general background on the discovery, history, biogenesis and function of miRNAs. However, the focus is on the role for miRNA in controlling auxin signaling to regulate plant growth and development