Herbal cure for poisons and poisonous bites from Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Objective: To conduct ethnopharmacobotanical field explorations in rural areas of five districts of Uttar Pradesh, India with regard to the folk herbal formulations associated with the management of poisons and poisonous bites. Methods: Local traditional healers known as “Vaidya” and “Hakeems” in the study area were interviewed to gather ethnopharmacobotanical information using a questionnaire attending various medical practices. Results: Information on 49 herbal formulations prepared from 39 plant species belonging to 28 plant families in the treatment of poisons and poisonous bites is presented in this scientific communication. Conclusion: Present communication revealed that study area is rich in its ethnopharmacobotanical knowledge. The plant species discussed here also encompasses new reports on C. album, S. xanthocarpum, S. melongena, S. indicum, C. procera, C. sativum, C. dactylon, B. campestris, T. aestivum, V. vinifera, S. vulgare and N. indicum. This study further concludes that their lies a lot of potential in the Indian herbal repository which should be explored systematically and later subjected to thorough study under the light of latest available scientific investigations for the drug standardization and pharmaco-toxicological studies with respect to make cheaper and safer drugs for the benefit of ailing humanity encountered with poisons and poisonous bites

Antioxidant potential of different extracts and fractions of Catharanthus roseus shoots

Antioxidant effectiveness of indigenous medicinal plant C. roseus shoots extracts and fractions with solvents of different polarity (n–hexane, ethylacetate, methanol, chloroform) was assessed for total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging activity and % inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The C. roseus extracts and fractions contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents 3.2 to 8.5 GAE (g/100g per dry matter) and total flavonoid contents 1.8 to 5.4 CE (g/100 of per dry matter). The C. roseus shoots extracts and fractions also exhibited good DPPH radical IC50, 28.2 to 119 µg/ml and Inhibition of Peroxidation in Linoleic Acid (38.4 to75.1%) respectively. Of the C. roseus shoots extracts and fractions tested, 100% methanolic extract exhibited the maximum antioxidant activity, the results of the present investigation demonstrated significant (p<0.05) variations in the antioxidant activity. The results of the present comprehensive analysis demonstrated that C. roseus extracts and fractions are a viable source of natural antioxidants and might be exploited for functional foods and nutraceutical applications

In vitro antibacterial efficacy of some important traditional medicinal plants in India against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains

Historically, bacteria have been the cause of some of the most deadly diseases and widespread epidemics of human civilization. Many plants are known for their ethno- medicinally importance in the region of western Uttar Pradesh, India but their sensitivity against hospital isolated Escherichia coli(E.coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) human pathogenic bacterial strains has not been examined properly.E. coli and S. aureus are the two most common bacteria responsible for chronic infections among patients across the world. Hence, this communication emphasized upon the sensitivity of methanol (MeOH) and aqueous (AQ) extracts of 24 plant species against S. aureus ATCC 25953, E. coli MTCC 739 and four clinical isolates including S. aureus (Sa1),S. aureus (Sa2),E. coli(Ec1) and E. coli (Ec2)using disc diffusion and agar dilution method. Methanol extracts of the plants exhibited potent antibacterial activity against organisms taken into consideration. The results also support ethno-medicinal use of plants reported earlier. Present study revealed that studied plant extracts could be efficacious remedial herbal antibiotics, particularly both in controlling Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens

Antibacterial activity of cycas rumphii miq. leaves extracts against some tropical human pathogenic bacteria

Aim of the present study was to explore antibacterial potential of the leaves of Cycas rumphii Miq. The leaves were separately macerated with methanol and double distilled water at room temperature to obtain methanol and aqueous (AQ) extracts. The methanol extract was further successively extracted with light petroleum ether (LPE), benzene (BZ), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) on hot water bath to get respective extracts. These extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy at six different concentrations (500 g, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg ml-1) against seven G+ve and eleven G–ve hospital isolated bacterial strains causing several tropical diseases using disc diffusion method. EtOAc and MeOH extracts showed maximum antibacterial activity against most of the bacteria taken into account. Present findings are suggestive of antibacterial agents in the leaves of C. rumphii which can be used in future for formulation of broad spectrum herbal antibacterial products. Results of present study also support various traditional uses associated with this plant which were suggestive of possible antibacterial potential of this plant. Hence, EtOAc and MeOH extracts of the leaves of C. rumphii deserve further investigations. Keywords: Cycas rumphii, crude extracts, successive extraction, antibacterial activity, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteri

Antibacterial activity of leaves extracts of Trifolium alexandrinum Linn. against pathogenic bacteria causing tropical diseases

Objective: To investigate antibacterial potential of Trifolium alexandrinum Linn. (Fabaceae, Egyptian clover) against seven G+ve and eleven G– ve hospitals isolated human pathogenic bacterial strains responsible for many tropical diseases. Methods: Non-polar and polar extracts of the leaves of T. alexandrinum i.e., hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and aqueous (AQ) extracts at five different concentrations (1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 mg/ml) were prepared to evaluate their antibacterial value. NCCL standards were strictly followed to perform antimicrobial disc susceptibility test using disc diffusion method. Results: Polar extracts demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against tested pathogens. EtOAc and MeOH extracts showed maximum antibacterial activity with higher inhibition zone and were found effective against seventeen of the tested pathogens. While AQ plant extract inhibited the growth of sixteen of the test strains. EtOAc and MeOH plant extracts inhibited the growth of all seven G+ve and ten of the G-ve bacterial strains. Conclusion: Present study strongly confirms the effectiveness of crude leaves extracts against tested human pathogenic bacterial strains causing several tropical diseases. Since Egyptian clover is used as a fodder plant, it could be helpful in controlling various infectious diseases associated with cattle’s as well

Antibacterial efficacy of Bacopa monnieri leaf extracts against pathogenic bacteria

Background: Bacopa monnieri (Linn) Pennell (Scrophulariaceae) is widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia, and used in the treatment of cough or as an antiseptic. The traditional use of this plant suggests its possible antibacterial properties, but its efficacy has not been examined yet. Objective: Evaluate the antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria using the disk diffusion method. Materials and methods: Five different concentrations (500 μg, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15 mg/mL) of crude leaf extracts of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell were tested for antibacterial efficacy against seven Gram-positive and 11 Gramnegative bacteria. The sensitivity of plant fractions was tested using the disk diffusion method. Results: Maximum activity was revealed by ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, followed by aqueous, benzene, and petrol extracts. Phyto-chemical analysis of the plant leaf showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins. Conclusion: This plant may be effective for treatment of different pathogenic diseases. Keywords: Antibacterial efficacy, Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, crude extracts, traditional us

In vitro antibacterial efficacy of leucas cephalotes (roth) spreng. (lamiaceae) against some gram positive and gram negative human pathogens

Leucas cephalotes (Roth.) Spreng (family: Lamiaceae) is a rainy season weed widely distributed in tropical regions of Asia at elevation up to 1,700 m, medicinally employed for the treatment of skin diseases, fever, hepatic disorders, urinary complaints cough and cold. The traditional uses of this plant strongly suggest its possible antibacterial properties, but its efficacy has not been examined in broad scenes, in present communication, its antibacterial efficacy has been explored. Polar and non-polar extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, aqueous, benzene, and petroleum ether) at five different concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10 mg/mL) were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy against seven G+ and eleven G– hospital isolated bacteria. Disc diffusion method was followed to determine antibacterial activity. Phytochemical analysis of plant revealed presence of tannins, glycosides, saponins, steroids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids as secondary metabolites. Maximum antibacterial activity was demonstrated by ethyl acetate and methanol extracts at a minimum concentration (0.5 mg/mL/disc). Extracts were effective on both types of test pathogens. From the present findings, it may be concluded that the plant could be formulated in broad spectrum antibiotic and confirms the traditional uses in pathogenic diseases. Keywords: Leucas cephalotes (Roth) Spreng, Antibacterial efficacy, crude extracts, traditional use