Antifungal activity of Parmotrema tinctorum (Delise ex Nyl.) hale and Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) hale against seed mycoflora - A comparative study

Lichens are composite organisms comprising of a photobiont and a mycobiont. Studies have shown that extracts and secondary metabolites from lichens exhibit various bioactivities. The present study evaluates antifungal potential of crude methanolic extract of two corticolous Parmotrema species viz. Parmotrema tinctorum (Delise ex Nyl.) Hale and Parmotrema cristiferum (Taylor) Hale against a panel of fungi isolated from seeds of maize and groundnut. Extraction of powdered lichens was carried out by maceration process using methanol. Antifungal activity was evaluated by poisoned food technique. Both extracts were effective in causing dose dependent inhibition of radial growth of test fungi in poisoned plates. Among lichens, marked inhibitory activity was shown by P. cristiferum. At 1mg/ml concentration, P. cristiferum displayed an inhibition of >50% of all test fungi. The antifungal activity of two Parmotrema species against seed mycoflora could be ascribed to the presence of secondary metabolites in extracts

Ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities of Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker Gawl. (Convolvulaceae) – A review.

Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker Gawl. is a sub-erect silky shrub and belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. An updated information on ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities of A. cuneata is presented in this review. The plant finds traditional uses as a remedy for human and veterinary ailments. The plant is used to treat diabetes, helminthic infections, skin cuts, to initiate labor pain and to ease delivery. As an ethnoveterinary practice, the plant is used against retention of fetal membrane, anorexia and swelling of throat. The plant is reported to contain phytochemicals such as alkaloids and flavonoids. The plant is shown to exhibit some pharmacological activities viz. analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, wound healing, antipyretic, anthelmintic and antidiabetic activities. Keywords: Argyreia cuneata (Willd.) Ker Gawl., Ethnobotanical, Traditional uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological activitie

Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of Lophopetalum wightianum Arn. (Celastraceae)

Objectives: Lophopetalum wightianum Arn. (Celastraceae) is a lofty evergreen tree reaching around 40m in height. The present study was carried out to investigate antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of leaf and bark extract of L. wightianum. Methods: The shade dried and powdered leaf and bark were extracted by maceration process using methanol. Extracts were screened for phytoconstituents present by standard protocols. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of extracts was evaluated by agar well diffusion and poisoned food technique respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing assays. Results: Phytochemicals viz. alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, saponins and triterpenoids were detected in both leaf and bark extracts. Inhibitory activity against test bacteria of bark extract was marked than leaf extract. Bark extract displayed more or less similar activity against test bacteria while leaf extract was more effective against Escherichia coli. In antifungal activity, leaf extract showed highest inhibitory against Bipolaris sp. than A. niger. Bark extract showed more or less similar antifungal activity against A. niger and Bipolaris sp. Bark extract scavenged DPPH radicals more efficiently with IC50 value 7.03µg/ml than leaf extract which scavenged radicals with IC50 value of 24.64µg/ml. Reducing potential exhibited by bark extract was higher when compared to leaf extract. Conclusion: Overall, bark extract displayed marked antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The plant is shown to contain bioactive principles with activity against pathogenic microorganisms and free radicals that cause oxidative damage. Keywords: Lophopetalum wightianum, Maceration, Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, Antioxidan

A report on some macrolichens new to Karnataka, India

This paper reports six new records of lichen species to Western Ghats of Karnataka. The sampling was carried out from August 2007 to April 2010 in Malnad regions of Karnataka. Lichens were identified by studying their external and internal morphology and chemical tests. Heterodermia albidiflava, H. microphylla, Ramalina cfr. taitensis, Usnea aciculifera, U. eumitrioides and U. sinensis are described as new to Western Ghats of Karnataka. The specimens are housed at the herbarium of the Department of Botany, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shimoga, Karnataka

EVALUATION OF ANTHELMINTIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF EPIPRINUS MALLOTIFORMIS LEAF EXTRACTS

Objective: Development of anthelmintic resistance and high cost of conventional anthelmintic drugs led to the evaluation of medicinal plants as an alternative source of anthelmintics. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anthelmintic activity and antioxidant activity of the leaves of Epiprinus mallotiformis extract using adult earthworm, Pheritima posthuma. Methods: The leaves extracts of Epiprinus mallotiformis at different concentrations of 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL, 60 mg/mL, 80 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL were tested, which involve determination of paralysis time and death time. Results: It was found that the extract exhibited significant dose dependent anthelmintic activity. Piperazine citrate 10 mg/ml as standard reference. Whereas antioxidant activity of the extracts were performed by four method, DPPH  free radical scavenging activity, H2O2 scavenging activity, Reducing power assay and Metal chelating activity using ascorbic acid as a standard. The antioxidant activity was found more in the methanol extracts show comparable activity with ascorbic acid. In the metal chelating activity the petroleum ether show maximum activity when compare with chloroform and methanol. Conclusion: The leaves extracts of Epiprinus mallotiformis possess antioxidant and anthelminthic property. Further investigations on in vivo antioxidant activity need to be carried out to unmask its mode of action. Keywords: Epiprinus mallotiformis; anthelmintic; antioxidant; leaf extracts

Traditional utilization and phytochemical analysis of medicinal herb Exacum Linn. from central Western Ghats

In the present study, we focused on the traditional utilization and phytochemical screening of Exacum Linn., a traditional medicinal herb in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. There are five species of Exacum viz., E. bicolor, E. pedunculatum, E. lawii, E. carniatum and E. pluminum reported from Western Ghats of Karnataka. Exacum species were used to treat fever, dysentery, sore throat in addition to treat cough, body pain and eye diseases. Analysis of methanol and aqueous extracts showed the presence of phytochemicals such as flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids

Antimicrobial activity of selected corticolous macrolichens

The present study was conducted to screen antimicrobial activity of three foliose macrolichens viz., Parmotrema reticulatum (Taylor) M. Choisy (Parmeliaceae), Heterodermia  obscurata (Nyl.) Trevis (Physciaceae) and Dirinaria consimilis (Stirt.) D.D. Awasthi (Physciaceae) and two fruticose macrolichens viz., Ramalina pacifica Asahina (Ramalinaceae), and Ramalina hossei H. Magn & G. Awasthi (Ramalinaceae) growing on barks of areca trees. The lichens were identified on the basis of morphological, anatomical and color tests and the secondary metabolites (lichen substances) were identified by thin layer chromatography. Antibacterial activity of lichen extracts was evaluated against three Gram positive and five Gram negative bacteria by Agar well diffusion assay. The lichen extracts were effective in inhibiting all test bacteria. Overall, extract of D. consimilis and P. reticulatum displayed marked and least antibacterial efficacy. Marked inhibitory activity was observed against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antifungal effect of lichen extracts was determined against four molds by Poisoned food technique. Among fungi, the growth of Colletrotrichum capsici was suppressed to higher extent by lichen extracts. The observed inhibitory activity of lichens could be ascribed to the presence of lichen substances.Keywords: Lichens, Antimicrobial, Agar well diffusion, Poisoned food technique