Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Aqueous and Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Physalis alkekengi Fruit against Four Standard Strains in vitro

The acaricidal activity of Azadirachta indica (neem) aqueous fruit extracts was evaluated against Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis (mange mites) in an on-farm trial using grower pigs. Aqueous neem fruit extracts of three concentrations 5%, 10%, and 25% w/v and a commercial acaricide, 12.5% amitraz-based Triatix spray (positive control), were compared with pigs that received no treatment (negative control). Thirty grower pigs of the Dalland breed were allocated to the five treatments in a completely randomized experiment. Each experimental animal was sprayed on day 0 and again on day 7. Counts of mange mites, scoring of lesion index, and calculation of rubbing index were done weekly. Topical application of 25% aqueous neem fruit extract had a higher efficacy ratio (p< 0.05) than the other fruit extract concentrations, and performed similarly to an amitraz-based acaricide, suggesting a dose-dependent response. Amitraz (positive control) cured clinical mange on grower pigs after 5weeks and 25% aqueous neem fruit extract 6weeks post-treatment. The results indicated that aqueous neem fruit extracts have acaricidal effects against mange mites and can provide a cheaper, safer, and more eco-friendly alternative for the control of Sarcoptes mange in pigs.

Background Cancer is a dreadful disease caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. Annona muricata L, also known as soursop, is useful as an anticancer herbal medication since its leaves, seeds and fruits contain active compounds called annonaceous acetogenins. The objective of this study was to scientifically justify the traditional application of soursop for anticancer treatment in the community, by comparing the antiproliferative effect of Annona muricata L leaf, seed and fruit aqueous extracts on T47D breast cancer cells. Methods This study used an experimental post test trial with control group design. Infusions of soursop leaves, seeds, and fruits collected from Kaliurang, Sleman district, Yogyakarta were used for cytotoxicity tests on T47D cells, in comparison with tamoxifen as standard cancer therapy. Proliferative inhibition was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay. The parameter of proliferative inhibition was IC50 which is defined as 50% proliferative inhibition ability of soursop and tamoxifen. Significant differences between groups were determined at p<0.05 by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results The leaves, fruits, and seeds Annona muricata and tamoxifen were proven to be able to inhibit T47D cell proliferation. The IC50 of Annona muricata leaf, seed, fruit aqueous extracts and tamoxifen were 31,384.21 µg/ml; 1.528,800 µg/ml; 329,194.81 µg/ml and 114.52 µg/ml, respectively (p=0.016). The IC50 of Annona muricata aqueous extract was significantly different from that of tamoxifen. Conclusions The proliferative inhibition of soursop leaves against T47D breast cancer cells is higher than that of soursop fruits and seeds. Annona muricata fruit, seed, and leaf aqueous extracts were less toxic than tamoxifen

Present study aimed to evaluate the phytoconstituents of the aqueous extracts of stem and fruits of Olax psittacorum as well as the free radical scavenging and the antibacterial activity of the extracts. Free radical scavenging activities were evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS radical scavenging assay, phosphomolybdate radical scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide assay and reducing power assay using ascorbic acid as the standard. Well diffusion method was adopted for antibacterial activity evaluation of the aqueous extract of fruits and stem against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus stereothermophillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio cholera, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanii. Positive response to phytochemical screening of tannin, saponin, steroids and terpenoids showed in both aqueous extract of stem and fruit where as positive response to the presence of glycoside, flavonoids, carbohydrate and reducing sugar showed only by the aqueous extract of fruit. Total phenolic, tannin and saponin content in aqueous extract of fruit was more than that of aqueous extract of stem. Total flavonoid content of aqueous extract of fruit was found to be 279.33 mg quercetin equivalent per gram of dry extract. Variations in phytoconstituents and in vitro experimental data obtained through antioxidant as well as antimicrobial assay method indicates the existence of significant difference (p<0.05) between the antioxidant potency and zone of inhibition with S. aureus, V. cholerae, A. baumanii, which aqueous extract of stem failed to show at the same concentration (100 mg/ml), respectively and thus provided valid reasons to give superiority to aqueous extract of fruit as compared to aqueous extract of stem.

Objective Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, age-related, and neurodegenerative disease characterized by mental decline. The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unclear, but cholinergic dysfunction, protein accumulation, and oxidative stress are among the most important hypotheses. The main purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract combination of these two medicinal plants, black pepper and cumin (as a related formulation in traditional Persian medicine), on memory and learning of an immobilized stress animal model. Methods In this study, hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of cumin and black pepper fruits were prepared. Six groups of mice were treated orally for 2 weeks: control group, immobility stress, and stress-induced immobility mice received different doses of the hydroalcoholic extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) and aqueous extract (100 and 200 mg/kg). The shuttle box, novel object detection, and rotarod test were used to evaluate memory and learning. The activities of acetylcholinesterase, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the brain tissue. Results Immobility stress significantly reduced learning and motor coordination. Furthermore, MDA levels and acetylcholinesterase activity were significantly increased, while CAT and SOD activities were significantly reduced in the brain of immobility-induced stress mice. Other findings indicated that hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) of cumin and black pepper fruits have an improving effect on animal motor coordination and learning ability, GSH content, and CAT, SOD, and acetylcholinesterase enzyme function in comparison with stress groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion The hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of cumin and black pepper fruits have protective effects against stress-induced memory deficit and oxidative stress and may have beneficial therapeutic effect in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Comparative determination of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity from leaf and fruit of Sapindus mukorrossi Gaertn. – A valuable medicinal tree

Solanum incanum Linn. (Solanaceae) is a perennial bushy herb or shrub used to stained teeth among the Kanuri women and in making vegetable soups. The objectives of the present study were to determine proximate and elemental contents, the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activities of the Solanum incanum Linn. fruit extracts. The proximate and elemental analyses were done using a standard methods. Extraction was done by cold maceration method using distilled water and ethanol. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screenings were done on the aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts. Also in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by determination of free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power and total antioxidant activity. The proximate analyses of the plant showed the presence of crude fibre, carbonhydrate, and crude protein while the elemental analyses revealed the presence of magnesium, calcium and sodium. The extracts were also found to contain a variety of phytochemicals like saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardenolite, glycosides, reducing sugars, phenolics content and flavonoids content. The results of antioxidant showed that the DPPH free radicals were scavenged by plant extracts in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the EC50 values for DPPH radicals with aqueous and ethanol fruit extracts of the S. incanum Linn. were found to be 0.02488 and 0.1000 mg/ml, respectively. Thus, this indicates that aqueous fruit extract was a more potent scavenger of free radicals than ethanol extracts. In conclusion, this results suggested that aqueous extract of S. incanum Linn might contain more potential antioxidant compounds than ethanol extract.

The Momordica charantia (MC) fruit has been documented to possess antidiabetic properties. However, these studies were not without controversy surrounding the blood glucose-lowering ability and the mechanism of action in diabetes therapy. In an effort to evaluate such claims in the Jamaican MC species known as cerasee, aqueous extracts of the unripe fruit were studied in normal and diabetic rats. Normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into groups (n = 6) orally administered distilled water, 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution, the aqueous extract (400 mg/kg body weight) and glibenclamide (15 mg/kg body weight), respectively prior to assessment of fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentration. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was conducted in normoglycaemic rats orally administered distilled water, 10% DMSO solution, glibenclamide (15 mg/kg body weight) or aqueous extracts of the fruit (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). Blood glucose concentration was also monitored in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats administered the aqueous extract (250 mg/kg body weight) or water vehicle after an overnight fast. The aqueous extracts showed no hypoglycaemic or antidiabetic activity. However, the administration of the aqueous extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) resulted in significant improvement in glucose tolerance of glucose-primed normoglycaemic rats during the OGTT. These data suggest that the glucose-lowering mechanism of the Jamaican MC fruit species likely involves altered glucose absorption across the gastrointestinal tract.

The present study deals with exploration of various beneficial potential of Emblica officinalis and Terminalia bellirica fruit extracts which includes phytochemical analysis and evaluation of total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antimicrobial activity. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was examined using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), TPC and TFC assay. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated by agar well diffusion assay. Although, the extracts prevented the growth of both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The EOA and EOM extracts both exhibit tannins, saponins, phenols and carbohydrates whereas, alkaloids and flavonoids are found only in EOM, and glycosides showed their presence in aqueous extract only. In contrast, TBA and TBM extracts, both contains alkaloids, tannins, coumarins, flavonoids and phenols. While carbohydrates are present barely in TBM, and TBA extract showed the presence of saponins and glycosides. The TPC results show that EOM (528±.013) has highest phenolic content in it followed by EOA (509±.003), TBM (284±.06) and TBA (280±.036). In TFC analysis too EOM (154±0) showed a higher concentration range of flavonoids followed by EOA (142±0),TBM (126±.017) and TBA (119±.007). In DPPH scavenging assay EOM (86.88±.310) showed maximum % inhibition followed by EOA (85.32±.414), TBM (80.57±.569) and TBA (75.55±.362) respectively. Antibacterial assay showed varying results for different bacterial strains such as, for EOA (10±1) demonstrated highest inhibition against E. coli, EOM (11.5±0.5) exhibited maximum inhibition against S. aureus, for K. pneumoniae EOA (13±2) displayed maximum inhibition and in case P. aeruginosa too EOA (12.5±0.5) showed maximum inhibition while TBM and TBA too showed significant amount of inhibition against test bacterial strains. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the extracts were found to be positively associated with the total phenolic and flavonoid content of the extracts. This study was conducted to identify the phytochemical composition of the fruit extracts of the two plants, their antioxidant and antibacterial potential, alongwith their neuroprotective and nootropic role. In order to establish their neuroprotective role, acute toxicity study was conducted on wistar rats to establish the safety of the extracts. The current study demonstrates and compares the antioxidant, antibacterial activities of the fruit extracts of Terminalia bellirica and Emblica officinalis and acute toxicity study further demonstrates that the extracts used are safe to conduct neuroprotective studies. Keywords: TPC(Total phenolic content), TFC(Total flavonoids content), EOM (Emblica officinalis Methanolic fruit extract), EOA(Emblica officinalis aqueous fruit extract) TBM (Terminalia bellirica Methanolic fruit extract) and TBA (Terminalia bellirica aqueous fruit extract).

Antioxidant, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic activity of green synthesized ZnO-NPs from Myrica esculenta fruits extract

The effect of aqueous and alcohol extracts of the fruits and leaves of Pongamia pinnata (Linn.) Merr. (Syn. Pongamia glabra Vent, leguminosae) on the spontaneous movements of both the whole worm and the nerve-muscle preparation of Setaria cervi and on the survival of micro fi lariae in vitro was studied. The aqueous and alcohol extracts of fruits and the alcohol extract of leaves caused an inhibition of spontaneous movements of the whole worm and the nerve-muscle preparation of S. cervi. The initial stimulatory effect was not observed with the aqueous extract of fruits on the nerve-muscle preparation. The concentration required to inhibit the movements of the whole worm preparation was 250 micro g/mL for aqueous, 120 micro g/mL for alcohol extract of fruits and 270 microgram/mL for alcohol extracts of the leaves. The concentrations of P. pinnata extracts required to produce an equivalent effect on the nerve-muscle preparation were 25 micro g/mL, 5 micro g/mL and 20 micro g/mL, respectively, suggesting a cuticular permeability barrier.

This research was carried out to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the genotoxic potential of ethanolic and aqueous (cold and hot) fruit extracts of Capparis spinosa L. (C. spinosa) plant against different types of bacterial strains. The antimicrobial effect of these extracts against the tested bacteria was investigated using broth microdilution method. The potential genotoxic effect was evaluated by ERIC-PCR technique. Results of the current study revealed that the MIC values of ethanolic fruit extract against the tested bacterial had a range of 12.5 mg/ml to 25 mg/ml. However, aqueous fruit extracts had an MIC with a range of 50 mg/ml to 100 mg/mL. The potential genotoxic activity of cold aqueous extract was determined according to the changes in ERIC-PCR profile of E. coli strain treated with extract in comparison to that untreated (negative control). Results of this study suggest the genotoxic effect of aqueous fruit extract on E. coli. Further research is required to assess and identify the biological molecules and their mechanisms in the context of the genotoxicity. In vivo genotoxicity assessment or with the presence of liver extract is recommended to evaluate the safety of using fruits for therapeutic purposes and a valuable nutrient source.

The aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from some lichens species were evaluated for antibacterial activity against six standard strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) and two environmental strains (Aeromonas) that were isolated from different lakes. The aqueous and ethanol extracts showed a variable range of antibacterial activity to both standard strains and environmental strains. Ethanol extracts showed better antibacterial activity than aqueus extracts. It was found that the inhibition zone of tested bacteria against extracts have changed between 07 - 15 mm (diameter of inhibition zone). Some lichen extracts have moderate antibacterial effect. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts have inhibited the growth of three bacteria. Neither aqueous extracts nor ethanol extracts were inhibited the growth of five bacteria. The aqueous extract of Peltigera polydactyla and the ethanol extract of the Ramalina farinacea exhibited potent antibacterial activities.

Aims: Phoenix dactylifera fruit, grown majorly in northern part of Nigeria is acclaimed to possess numerous nutritional and medicinal properties. The study was carried out to investigate the nutritional/chemical constituents and the free radical scavenging potentials of the aqueous extract of Phoenix dactylifera fruit. Methods: The aqueous extract of the fruit was subjected to standard analytical test to assay for the amino acids, phytochemicals and free radical scavenging potentials: Phytochemicals and amino acids screening was carried out via High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry analyses. The antioxidant effects of the extract on free radicals were determined on radicals 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) , 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl , Nitric oxide and Hydroxyl radical. Results: Results revealed the presence of seven secondary metabolites with a high steroid and flavonoid content and low Coumarins, Glycosides, Alkaloids, Saponin, and Terpenoid concentration. The HPLC analysis of the phytochemical showed that it contained fifteen phytocompounds, seventeen amino acids while GCMS analysis reveals eleven fatty acids. For the free radical scavenging activity, it was able to inhibit ABTS, DPPH, NO, and OH-, in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusions: The results indicate that the fruit possess good nutritional properties and abundant secondary plant metabolites constituents and this might provide evidence which corroborates with the free radical scavenging potentials of the fruit.

The growing need for safe and accessible drugs for various ailments in the third world countries have drawn scientific minds to evaluating scientific bases of the use of some plant materials in traditional medicines. Food substances are chief among these plant materials owing to their safety and nutritional benefits aside the purported medicinal claims. The main objectives of this study were to determine the proximate nutritional composition and the antidiarrheal activity of aqueous fruit extract of Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm). Methods: Antidiarrheal activity of the Phoenix dactylifera aqueous fruit extract was evaluated on castor oil induced diarrhea in male wistar rats using Loperamide (standard drug) as control. The proximate nutritional composition of the fruit was determined standard laboratory methods and the antinutritional factors in the fruit were determined using standard Spectrophotometric method. Result: The result of the nutritional analysis revealed that the date fruit contain high carbohydrate content and relatively high crude ash content and low antinutrients concentration. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous fruit extract revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and alkaloids. The acute toxicity test showed that the extract is practically non toxic. The antidiarrheal activity of the aqueous fruit extract was found significant (P < 0.05) at 1000mg/Kg and 2000mg/Kg body weight. Conclusion : The result of this research showed that Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) fruit can be used as an effective nutraceutical in the management and treatment of diarrhea especially in the third world countries. Key word : Phoenix dactylifera, Diarrhea, Loperamide, Antidiarrheal activity

Comparison of the effects of an aqueous extract of Physalis alkekengi fruits and/or various doses of 17-β-estradiol on rat estrous cycle and uterine glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity