Antifungal effect of the bark and root extracts of Punica granatum on oral Candida isolates.

The aqueous, hexane, acetone, and methanol extracts of the stem bark of Anthocleista vogelii. Planch. (Loganiaceae) were screened for antiulcerogenic activity using HCl/ethanol gastric necrotizing solution. The methanol extract showed 100% inhibition at a dose of 500 mg/kg compared with the aqueous, hexane, and acetone extracts, which produced 87.91%, 61.39%, and 76.89%, respectively. The methanol and aqueous extracts were further tested against ulceration induced by indomethacin (30 mg/kg) and pylorus ligation at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg. The aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg/kg significantly (p ≤ 0.01) reduced indomethacin-induced gastric lesions by 78.62% while the methanol extract at the same dose completely inhibited the action of indomethacin. The aqueous extract of A. vogelii. at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg induced a decrease of about 15% and 40%, respectively, of the surface area in the pylorus-ligated rats. Similarly, the methanol extract at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg produced a decrease of almost 25% and 70%, respectively. The gastric juice secretion increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) at a dose of 500 mg/kg in the aqueous extract while the gastric acidity significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased at doses of 125 and 500 mg/kg in aqueous and methanol extracts as compared with the control group. These findings show that the aqueous and organic extracts of the stem bark of Anthocleista vogelii. possess potent antiulcer properties thereby lending support to the ethnomedical uses of the plant in the treatment of stomachache.

The present study aims to explore the chemical constituents and antioxidant potential of Pinus wallichiana essential oil and extracts. Chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by GC-MS and result showed that the oil contain three major monoterpene compounds viz. α-pinene (48.6%), β-pinene (45.6%) and limonene (5.6%). Antioxidant potential of Pinus wallichiana was analyzed by three basic methods; DPPH radical scavenging method, FRAP assay and Fe2+ ion chelating activity. Among leaf and bark extracts, best radical scavenging, activity was determined by aqueous extract (IC50 values 20.83±0.8µg/ml) of bark followed by its methanol extract (IC50 value 25.9±1.6µg/ml). The aqueous extract of bark also exhibited better reducing and chelating activity than leaf extracts. Essential oil showed moderate radical scavenging and chelating activity but negligible reducing activity. Phytochemical analysis of extracts determined that the aqueous and methanol extracts of bark contain rich amount of poly phenol and flavonoids, in comparison to the leaf extracts. A significant correlation between the antioxidant activity and these phytoconstituents of the extracts has been observed. The results of the present study concluded that the bark of Pinus wallichiana is a potential source of active antioxidant constituents that could be further explored and exploited for numerous commercial applications.

Studies on the antibacterial activity of Khaya senegalensis [(Desr.) A. Juss)] stem bark extract on Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi [(ex Kauffmann and Edwards) Le Minor and Popoff

The in vitro antitrypanosomal activity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of stem bark of Ximenia americana was evaluated on Trypanosoma congolense. Blood obtained from a highly infected mice with T. congolense (107) was incubated with methanolic and aqueous extract at 20, 10 and 5mg/ml and DiminalR (diminazene aceturate) at 200, 100 and 50 ug/ml in a 96 well micro titer plate. The results revealed that methanolic and aqueous extracts had activity at 20 and 10 mg/ml however, the methanolic extracts were more active than aqueous extract at 10 and 5 mg/ml. Phytochemical screening of the methanolic and aqueous extract of the bark showed that they both had flavonoids, anthraquinone, saponnin, terpenes and tannin. The aqueous and methanolic extract appears to show some potential activity against T. congolense. Keyword: Ximenia americana, trypanocidal, Trypanosoma congolense

Background. In this study antimicrobial effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Juglans regia bark in Iran was evaluated on four different oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus sanguis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Juglans regia bark were prepared by using disk diffusion technique and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) methods. Tetracycline 30 μg and Erythromycin 15 μg were used as positive control and water as negative control in disk diffusion and MIC methods. Data were analyzed by ANOVA test. Results. The results showed that S. sanguis and S. mutans were the most sensitive and the most resistant bacteria against ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Ethanolic extract had significant antibacterial effect against all tested bacteria. Aqueous extract did not show antibacterial effect on S. mutans, in contrast to ethanolic extract. Aqueous extract had significantly antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, S. salivarius, and S. sanguis compared to control (P < 0.0001), but it did not show effect on S. mutans when compared with Erythromycin. According to the obtained MIC values, ethanol extract of Juglans regia bark had the lowest rate. Conclusion. The results may provide the basis for using natural antimicrobial substance for oral hygiene prophylaxis purposes.

Aim:This study was conducted to determine the anthelmintic activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Paraserianthes falcataria bark against Haemonchus contortus.Materials and Methods:Ethanol extract of bark (E.E.B.) waste and aqueous extract of bark (A.E.B.) waste of P. falcataria (at concentrations 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, 1, 2.5, and 5%) and albendazole (2 mg/ml) as the positive control were placed in separate Petri dishes (50 mm). Twenty H. contortus worms were placed in Petri dishes and incubated at 37°C for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12 h. Mortality of each worm was ensured by pressing the body of the worm with a pair of tweezers and keeping it in lukewarm water for 5 min before declaring it dead. Mortality is defined as amount of death individuals and time of mortality of each worm was recorded. The parasites were then observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at an accelerating voltage of 15 Kv. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 software, two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test to detect significant differences (p<0.05). The result was expressed as the mean ± standard deviation.Results:The E.E.B. and A.E.B. of P. falcataria contained active compounds, such as tannin, alkaloid, flavonoid, saponin, steroid, and triterpenoid. E.E.B. had a higher content of phenol, while A.E.B. had a higher content of flavonoid. In this study, P. falcataria showed a significant effect (p=0.00) on H. contortus in vitro. E.E.B. (0.8%) was able to exterminate H. contortus completely after 6 h, more effective than A.E.B. (5%) while the positive control requires (2 mg/ml) after 2 h. SEM analysis of the worm treated with E.E.B. and A.E.B. showed damaged cuticle structure.Conclusion:The aqueous and ethanol extracts of P. falcataria bark waste demonstrated anthelmintic activity against H. contortus.

BackgroundGastric peptic ulcer is one of the common disorders of gastrointestinal tract, which occur due to an imbalance between the offensive and defensive factors. It is an illness that affects a considerable number of people worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the antiulcerogenic and antiulcer effects and recognize the basic mechanism of action of Piptadeniastrum africanum stem bark extracts.MethodsThe aqueous and methanol extracts of Piptadeniastrum africanum were administered at the doses 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg to evaluate their effects on gastric ulcer induced by the HCl/ethanol mixture, indomethacin and acetic acid in Wistar strain male adult rats, aged between 12 and 16 weeks and weighing between 180 and 220 g. Ranitidine, Maalox and Misoprostol were used as standard drugs. Histopathological examination and nitric oxide level were performed to evaluate the basic mechanism of action of Piptadeniastrum africanum. Phytochemical screening was carried out to identify known phytochemicals present in these extracts.ResultsThe aqueous and methanol extracts of stem bark of Piptadeniastrum africanum significantly inhibited (p < 0.01) gastric ulceration induced by HCl/ethanol to the percentages of inhibition of 81.38; 98.75 and 100 % for the aqueous extract and then 75.83, 89.76 and 96.52 % for the methanol extract, and with the Indomethacin-induced ulcers, aqueous and methanol extracts of bark of Piptadeniastrum africanum reduce significantly (p < 0.01) induced gastric lesions in rats, with percentage of cure 35.75; 52.33 and 98.58 % for the aqueous extract, and 33.7; 51.97; and 65.93 to the methanol extract. The results revealed a significant reduction of ulcerated surface in both extracts and increase of nitric oxide (NO) level with methanol extract. When compared to methanol extract, aqueous extract showed more pronounced effects, corresponding to percentages of healing of 59. 92; 84.12 and 59.65 % for the aqueous extract; and 70.43; 55.49 and 57.59 % for the methanol extract in the ulcer induced by acetic acid, all at the respective doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg. Histopathological observations also demonstrated curative effect. As such, both extracts were found to exhibit preventive and curative effects through the release of NO and growth factors. This could also be due to the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and saponins which act as antisecretory agents.ConclusionsPiptadeniastrum africanum stem bark extracts thus have gastroprotective and ulcer healing effects, which could result from their activities by stimulating important cellular mechanisms such as migration and proliferation of epithelial cells that may have a cytoprotective effect by stimulating the release of prostaglandins. These results are required to confirm the ethnopharmacological use of Piptadeniastrum africanum stem bark in the treatment of ulcer.

Aims: To evaluate antibacterial activity of aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane, and hexane extracts of Artocarpus nobilis Thw. leaves and stem bark against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using agar well diffusion method.&#x0D; Methodology: Matured fully expanded leaves and stem bark parts of Artocarpus nobilis were collected, air-dried, and grounded. The extraction was obtained using a decoction extraction method. Antibacterial activity was performed against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC® 25923TM) and Escherichia coli (ATCC® 25922TM) using agar well diffusion method and gentamicin was used as a positive control. The whole experiment was done in triplicates and the diameter of the inhibition zone (in mm) was measured and recorded.&#x0D; Results: Results showed that aqueous bark extract (EC50 4.286 mg/mL) showed the highest efficacy and potency against E. coli while methanol bark extract (EC50 4.427 mg/mL) showed the highest efficacy and potency against S. aureus. R² and P values for aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane, and hexane extracts indicated that there was a strong, statistically significant correlation (P ≤ 0.05) between concentration and zone of inhibition for all extracts of A. nobilis against E. coli and S. aureus.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study showed that aqueous and methanol bark extracts of Artocarpus nobilis have marked in vitro dose-dependent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus respectively. Further studies are necessary to ascertain the mechanism and the active constituents responsible for the antibacterial activity of the of plant parts of Artocarpus nobilis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with ethanolic and aqueous extracts from the bark of the stem of Guazuma ulmifolia in mice submitted to a high-fat diet as well as to evaluate the chemical composition of these extracts. The chemical composition and antioxidant potential was evaluated in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark. The in vivo test consisted of evaluating the effects of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem bark on C57BL/6 mice receiving a high-fat diet. The animals were evaluated for weight gain, feed consumption, visceral adiposity, serum, and inflammatory and hormonal parameters. The results of the chemical analyses corroborate those obtained by the literature, which reported gallocatechin, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin gallate. Compared with the ethanolic extract, the aqueous extract showed greater antioxidant capacity. Both extracts resulted in lower feed consumption in the animals, but they did not influence weight gain or visceral adiposity and resulted in varied changes in the lipid profile. In addition, they did not influence glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, or fasting blood glucose. Furthermore, the leptin levels increased, which may have contributed to satiety, but this was shown to have a negative impact on other inflammatory and hormonal parameters. Therefore, under the conditions of this study, the biologically active compounds present in the plant species Guazuma ulmifolia were not able to contribute to the treatment of metabolic changes related to the consumption of a high-fat diet.

The study comprises the results of phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial evaluation of extracts from bark and leaf of Quassia indica (Gaertn). Nooteb. – a medicinal plant used in traditional healing owing to its analgestic, antiinflammatory, antifeedant and antimicrobial properties. A preliminary qualitative analysis was carried out successively in five different solvents with increasing order of polarity-Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Methanol and Water to document the nature and yield of phytochemicals. The extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial effect using two strains of bacteria – Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and fungi – Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Among solvents methanol and water were found as effective extractants in which most of the secondary metabolites - alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins, phytosterols were released. Quantitative analysis of the methanolic and aqueous extracts was carried out to estimate the quantity (mg/g tissue) of the phytoconstituents. The alkaloid content was much higher in leaf extract (5.7 mg/g) than in bark (3.5 mg/g). The phenolic content expressed as mg/ g GAE was determined in the methanolic extract, bark (24.38) &gt; leaf (10.44) and the aqueous extract does not show much phenolic content. Flavonoid were maximum in methanolic leaf extract (1.085 mg/g) and minimum in aqueous bark extract (0.305 mg/g) and the terpenoid content was detected in methanolic extracts of leaf (0.4016 mg/g) and bark (0.4224 mg/g). The leaf extract indicated more tannin content (1.536 mg/g) than bark (1.328 mg/g). Evaluation of antimicrobial activity suggested leaf extract as an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent at a concentration of 1000 g/ml with inhibition zones- 24 mm (S.aureus), 22 mm (E.coli) and 14 mm (A.niger), 14 mm(C. albicans). The bark extract was comparatively lesser efficient in resisting microbial growth (E. coli – 20 mm; S. aureus – 22 mm; A. niger – 12 mm; C. albicans – 10 mm).

It is both interesting and necessary to identify and develop nontoxic radioprotective compounds. Bleomycin (BLM), a known radiomimetic drug was used as a clastogen in the present study. The possible protective effects against BLM (15 μg/ml) induced clastogenicity by aqueous and methanolic extracts from Alstonia scholaris bark, stem and leaves were compared. The treatment of bark extracts significantly (p < 0.01) reduced total chromosomal aberrations. Such a reduction was not seen in case of stem and leaf treatments. The dose of 50 μg/ml was fixed for all extracts throughout the study. To understand the mechanism involved with the protective property of bark extracts, sensitive G2 assay was performed. Lymphocyte cultures from 12 healthy volunteers were exposed to aqueous (50 μg/ml) and methanolic (50 μg/ml) extracts of A. scholaris bark alone as well as in combination with Bleomycin under two different growth phases, G0 and G2. There was a statistically significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the total chromatid breaks in all cultures which were exposed at G2 phase as compared to respective cultures exposed at G0 phase. The highest level (p < 0.0001) of reduction in total chromatid breaks was observed in cultures treated with aqueous bark extracts at G2 phase than those at G0 phase. This indicated that there could be certain compound(s) present in aqueous bark extracts which enhance DNA repair capacity. Therefore, the bark of A. scholaris could be further utilized to identify and bring out front line radio protective agents in the market with effective formulations.

The utilization of medicinal plants in therapy has gained popularity due to increased trust in herbal medicine, attributed to properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antipyretic effects conferred by phytochemicals present in them. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Daniella oliveri stem bark against clinical isolates. The sample was air dry at room temperature for 7 days. Exactly 400 g of the air dried samples was weighed and soaked in 1000 mL each of ethanol and water respectively for 72 hours and were extracted using decoction method. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of the bark of the Daniella oliveri was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Klebsiella pneumonia and Planococcus glaciei isolates. The ethanol extract of the bark was inhibitory against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp. and Klebsiella pneumonia with the highest zone of inhibition of 14±0.00 mm, 17±10.6 mm and 25±10.5 respectively, while the aqueous extracts of bark was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp. and Klebsiella pneumonia with zone of inhibition of 14±0.00 mm, 13±10.4 mm and 25±0.00 respectively. MICs ranged from 50 mg/mL to 25 mg/mL for ethanol and 100 mg/mL to 25 mg/mL for aqueous extracts, with no activity observed at 200 mg/mL. MBC results were observed at 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL for ethanol and aqueous extracts respectively. The study concluded that Daniella oliveri possesses significant antibacterial activities, supporting its traditional use. Further research is warranted to purify and utilize the active inhibitory substance as an alternative treatment for infections associated with the test organisms.

The anthelmintic potential of methanol and aqueous extracts of G. senegalensis in vitro against the egg hatch and larval development of C. elegans Bristol N2 (susceptible to ivermectin) and C. elegans DA1316 (ivermectin resistant strain) was evaluated.. The eggs and larvae were incubated in aqueous and methanol extracts of the stem bark of G. senegalensis with the serial concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/ml. Methanol extracts of G. senegalensis which inhibited above 80% egg hatch in both strains of C. elegans were moderately effective whereas the aqueous extracts were ineffective. Both aqueous and methanol extracts which recorded up to 90% inhibition of larval development against C. elegans DA1316, as well as C. elegans Bristol N2, were considered effective. However, methanol extract proved more efficient than the aqueous extract against larval development as well as egg hatch in both strains of C. elegans (P 0.05). Therefore, extract from G. senegalensis can be use against ivermectin resistant parasitic nematodes. Guiera senegalensis may be used as a natural source of lead compounds to produce anthelmintic drugs. Cytotoxicity test should be conducted before the extracts are tested in vivo on the infected ruminant animals. Keywords: Activity, anthelminitic, Caenorhabditis elegans , egg hatch, G. senegalensis , larval development

Qualitative phytochemical and anti-trypanosomal properties of the petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts, obtained by cold extraction from the leaves, stem bark and roots of Prosopis africana were evaluated. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of the stem bark and leaves of the plant contained alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. Anthraquinone was present in the stem bark methanolic extract and in the methanolic and aqueous extracts of the root as well as the aqueous extract of the leaves. Resins was present in the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of the stem bark and leaves, while tannins was detected in the methanol and aqueous extracts of the stem bark and leaves of the plant in addition to the petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of the root bark. All the solvent extracts showed strong in vitro anti-trypanosomal activity and 2 and 4 mg/ml, but in vivo only the methanolic extract of the leaves displayed the most promising anti-trypanosomal effect at 200 mg/kg dose. Hence, Prosopis africana extracts possess significant anti-trypanosomal activity to warrant bioassay-guided evaluation and identification of the active principle.

Different extraction media applied on the pulverized leaves of Neem plant (Azadirachta indica) were analyzed for its proximate, phytochemical, and micronutrient compositions, predominantly using the gas chromatographic technique. The results showed that the ethanol extract contained the highest amounts of carbohydrates and fibre. No significant difference (p&gt;0.05) was recorded for the protein and ash content of both ethanol and methanol extracts, while the moisture and fat contents occurred highest in aqueous and methanol extracts respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the absence of glycosides in all the extracts while steroids were found only in methanol and ethanol extracts. The aqueous extracts contained greater amounts of epicate chin (13.42%), lunamarine (5.81%), tannin (19.18%) and phytates (0.27%), but lacked anthocyanin, phenol and kaempferol, while rutin (77.54%), ribalinidine (2.06%), oxalate (1.23%), anthocyanin (1.16%), and sparteine (0.05%) occurred highest in the ethanol extract. Only sparteine was lacking in the methanol extract. No significant difference was recorded between the aqueous and ethanol extracts for the vitamin A, D, C, and B2­ contents, while except for vitamin B3 (0.22mg/100g) and vitamin K (0.08mg/100g), 08mg/100g), the methanol extracts contained the least amounts of the vitamins evaluated. Manganese, zinc, copper, calcium and lead contents of the methanol extract were significantly higher than those of the other extracts while the aqueous extract contained the highest amount of sodium. This study has provided the scientific backing for the application of a specific extraction medium during the exploitation of distinct phytochemicals, while water, ethanol, and methanol should be the preferred extraction media for vitamins, proximate and dietary mineral contents respectively.