A study on the antibacterial effect of selected medicinal plants of Western Ghats against dental caries bacteria

This study was conducted to reveal the antibacterial effect of selected medicinal plants from Western Ghats against dental caries bacteria and aware the populace about the importance of using phytomedicines. In this study, the antibacterial effects of nine well known medicinal plants were checked against the dental caries bacteria using well diffusion method. The highest zonation was reported in acetone and methanol extracts. The Chloroform and ethanol extracts revealed sensible activity and water extracts were produced least inhibitory activity. Acetone extract of Eucalyptus gained high inhibitory activity against Bacillus megaterium. While Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed resistance to all the extracts of Syzygium aromaticum

PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE AND ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA FROM WESTERN GHATS

ABSTRACT In this study the antibacterial activity of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) and Andrographis paniculata collected from Western Ghats, Kanyakumari district, South India was made against common bacterial pathogens by filter paper disc-agar diffusion procedure. Both the plants showed considerable levels of antibacterial activity. Hexane extract of Gymnema sylvestre showed maximum inhibition against Serratia marcescens MTCC 86 and the Andrographis paniculata was effective against penicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 87. Phytochemical study revealed the presence of steroids/ terpenoids and coumarins in the extracts of both the plants. The bio-active compounds in the medicinal plants were extracted with Hexane and Chloroform (99 %) and further resolved by thin layer chromatography. Hexane extract of Gymnema sylvestre (Retz.) have 15 compounds and in its chloroform extract 25 compounds whereas 19 compounds in Chloroform extract and five compounds with Hexane extract was found in Andrographis paniculata. Further research is needed to characterize the compounds obtained and their mechanism of action on the bacterial pathogens

Health Effects of Psidium guajava L. Leaves: An Overview of the Last Decade

Today, there is increasing interest in discovering new bioactive compounds derived from ethnomedicine. Preparations of guava (Psidium guajava L.) leaves have traditionally been used to manage several diseases. The pharmacological research in vitro as well as in vivo has been widely used to demonstrate the potential of the extracts from the leaves for the co-treatment of different ailments with high prevalence worldwide, upholding the traditional medicine in cases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and parasitic infections. Moreover, the biological activity has been attributed to the bioactive composition of the leaves, to some specific phytochemical subclasses, or even to individual compounds. Phenolic compounds in guava leaves have been credited with regulating blood-glucose levels. Thus, the aim of the present review was to compile results from in vitro and in vivo studies carried out with guava leaves over the last decade, relating the effects to their clinical applications in order to focus further research for finding individual bioactive compounds. Some food applications (guava tea and supplementary feed for aquaculture) and some clinical, in vitro, and in vivo outcomes are also included.The author Vito Verardo thanks the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) for “Ramón y Cajal” post-doctoral contract