Abstract
New bioactive natural products, the phenolic composition and the biological activities of organic extracts from the needles of the Algerian Pinus coulteri were investigated. The analysis by HPLC-DAD of crude extract revealed the presence of 10 phenolic acids and nine flavonoids. In vitro anti-oxidant activities were performed using four different tests. The greatest antiradical activity was found in the ethyl acetate fraction (IC50 = 3.2 ± 0.3 µg/mL), whereas the diethyl ether fraction had the higher contents of total phenolics and flavonoids and exhibited a highest activity in reducing power and β-carotene–linoleic acid tests with EC50= 67.1 ± 0.4 μg/mL and 71.5 ± 0.2% of inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, a low to moderate antimicrobial activity according to all extracts was revealed against eight bacteria tested. The MIC value of chloroform fraction showed a strong degree of antibacterial activity (<0.09 mg/mL). The crude extract was found toxic with LC50 value of 15.2 μg/mL by brine shrimp toxicity assay. The needle extract of P. coulteri is rich in valuable biologically active compounds and could represent a new resource of anti-oxidant agents for the treatment of diseases.
 Video Clip of Methodology:
 Disc diffusion test: 6 min 41 sec Click to watch
Highlights
Plant products are the rich sources of a variety of biologically active compounds, mainly flavonoid and phenolic, those phytochemicals have been found to possess various biological properties (Kaneria et al, 2012)
The important phytochemical anthocyane, terpenes, steroids, tannins, O-heterosids, flavonoids and saponins were screened for their presence (Table I)
Whereas the total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC, total flavonoid contents (TFC)) show that P. coulteri extracts exhibited an important amount of polyphenol content followed by flavonoid
Summary
Plant products are the rich sources of a variety of biologically active compounds, mainly flavonoid and phenolic, those phytochemicals have been found to possess various biological properties (Kaneria et al, 2012). It has been reported that the use of natural anti-oxidants may protect the harmful effects of the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which are produced in biological systems and foods. They play an essential role in the prevention of human diseases such as diabetes, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases (Sun et al, 2002; Liu, 2003). The recent situation of antimicrobial resistance of human pathogens to current antimicrobial agents becomes serious medical and economical problems which are the necessity for novel antibiotic prototypes This need oblige scientists to investigate another source for antimicrobial such as plants. Where some research proves that higher plants may serve as promising sources of novel antibiotics prototypes as well (Chew et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
