Phytochemical characterization and antibacterial potential of Spirulina platensis

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The present study was carried out the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of the hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of leaves of Limonia acidissima. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against four Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris) and five Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) by agar well diffusion method. Methanol extract showed good antibacterial activity with the high inhibition zones while chloroform extract exhibited mild to moderate activity and hexane extract was found to be less active. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites like steroids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, tannins and triterpenoids. The results of the present study suggest that leaves of Limonia acidissima can be used to treating infectious diseases caused by E. coli, P. vulgarisand S. pneumoniae.

The present study was carried out the antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening of the hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of leaves of <i>Limonia acidissima</i>. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against four Gram-negative (<i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, <i>Proteus vulgaris</i>) and five Gram-positive bacteria (<i>Bacillus subtilis</i>, <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, <i>Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>) by agar well diffusion method. Methanol extract showed good antibacterial activity with the high inhibition zones while chloroform extract exhibited mild to moderate activity and hexane extract was found to be less active. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various secondary metabolites like steroids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, coumarins, saponins, tannins and triterpenoids. The results of the present study suggest that leaves of <i>Limonia acidissima </i>can be used to treating infectious diseases caused by <i>E. coli</i>,<i> P. vulgaris</i>and <i>S. pneumoniae</i>.

Effects of foliage extracts of goat weed, Ageratum conyzoides (Family: Asteraceae) on feeding, oviposition and egg hatchability of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella were assessed under standard laboratory conditions. Bioassays using aqueous, methanol and hexane crude extracts were conducted in no-choice and choice conditions. The larval feeding on 0.5% hexane extract treated leaf surface reduced to more than half relative to control in the choice condition; however, complete inhibition of feeding was recorded at 2% and higher concentration of extract. In no-choice bioassays, the larval feeding consistently decreased with increasing concentration of the hexane extract. Larval feeding on methanol extract treated leaves was also significantly reduced, although in the concentration dependent manner in both choice and no-choice bioassays. Likewise, the aqueous extract also reduced larval feeding at 3%, 4% and 5% concentrations of extracts in both no-choice and choice bioassays. The Antifeedant Index (AFI) for hexane extract was 100 at 2% concentration, while AFI values were 78.4 and 41.5 for 5% concentration of methanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. The egg laying on the leaf surface treated with hexane and methanol extracts was significantly reduced in the concentration dependent manner, as compared to the control in both choice and no-choice bioassays. However, the aqueous extract did not affect egg laying. The egg hatchability was completely inhibited at higher concentrations of the hexane extract, but not at any concentration of the methanol and aqueous extracts. The oviposition Deterrent Index values for the hexane and methanol extracts were statistically similar, however. These results indicate that the crude hexane and methanol extracts of A. conyzoides foliage could potentially be used for the management of diamondback moth.

The chemical composition and in vitro properties of hexane and methanol extract of Sesamum indicum seeds (SIS) obtained from Kogi State, Nigeria were evaluated. The proximate analysis of the ground seed showed the presence of moisture content (8.56 ± 0.02%), dry matter (91.44 ± 0.02%), ash content (5.70 ± 0.01%), crude protein (19.37 ± 0.08%), crude fiber (6.34 ± 0.03%), fat (52.77 ± 0.02%) and carbohydrates (7.26 ± 0.14%). Phytochemical analysis of both extracts showed the presence of oxalate, hydro cyanide, alkaloids, tannins, total flavonoids, phenol, steroids and terpenes. Flavonoids and phenol contents were higher in both extracts. The flavonoid and phenol concentrations of hexane and methanol extracts were 24.79 ± 0.01 and 25.27 ± 0.02 mg/100 g, 24.32 ± 0.02 mg/100 g and 18.66 ± 0.04 mg/100g, respectively. Hydrogen cyanide was found in lowest concentration in both extracts. Vitamins analysis showed that vitamin E had the highest composite for hexane and methanol extract. Vitamin E concentration was 3.44 ± 0.01 mg/100g and 2.95± 0.02mg/100g respectively while vitamin B6 (0.01 ± 0.00 mg/100g) and vitamin B1 (0.03 ± 0.00 mg/100g) were found in lowest concentration respectively. The mineral analysis showed that potassium (43.33 ± 0.04 and 27.46 ± 0.02 mg/100g) had the highest concentration for methanol and hexane extract, respectively. The results of the DPPH activity of methanol and hexane extract of S. indicum seeds indicated that the activity of the extract were all significantly (p<0.05) lower than the values for ascorbic acid (standard) across all concentrations. However, the DPPH activity of hexane extract indicated that there was no activity in the tested concentrations below100 µg/mL. The result of the FRAP of methanol and hexane extract of SIS showed that there was no activity at the concentrations of 100 µg/ml and 400 µg/ml respectively. However, the activity observed at concentrations above 100 µg/ml and 400 µg/ml were all significantly (p<0.05) lower than the same concentration in ascorbic acid. This result implies that hexane and methanol extract of S. indicum seeds possess nutritional and pharmacological value and can be a rich source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidative supplement.

Aims: Determination of antibacterial efficacy of aqueous, methanol, dichloromethane, and hexane extracts from Jeffreycia zeylanica leaves against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
 Methodology: Completely ballooned leaves of J. zeylanica were gathered, air-dried, and milled into fine powder. Then macerated in all four selected solvents for about 1-2 weeks, the extracts were obtained by vacuum evaporation under reduced pressure. Antibacterial activity was performed against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) using the agar well diffusion method and disc diffusion method. The positive control utilized was Gentamicin. The inhibitory zone's diameter (in mm) was measured and noted. The entire experiment was done in triplicates.
 Results: Findings from the study indicated that methanolic leaves extract (EC50 39.03mg/mL) had the highest effectiveness and potency against S. aureus using agar well diffusion method and, methanolic leaves extract (EC50 2.301mg/mL) had the highest effectiveness and potency against S. aureus using agar disc diffusion method.
 Conclusion: This study designates that, leaves of J. zeylanica have potential antibacterial activity using aqueous, methanol, Dichloromethane(DCM), and hexane extracts. Among them methanolic extract showed the highest activity indicating the highest inhibition zones and the most susceptible organism is S. aureus. Additional study is required to understand the mechanism and active ingredients behind the antibacterial activity of further plant sections.

Acmella uliginosa, an edible herb belonging to Asteraceae family, was collected from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, India. Methanol and hexane extracts of the whole plant were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. The GC-MS analysis of plant extracts identifies 22 and 35 major compounds of methanol and hexane extracts which comprises of 74.21% and 73.20% of the total composition of extracts, respectively. The major compound in hexane was 2, 4-heptadienal (7.99%) whereas trans, trans-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid propyl ester (16.96%) was major compound in methanol extract. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methanol extract showed higher free radical scavenging and reducing power activities with IC50 value 153.82±1.69 μg/mL and RP50 value of 152.28±0.41 μg/mL, respectively. The metal chelating activity was higher in hexane extract as compared to methanol extract i.e., 62.08±0.25 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity assessed by its ability to inhibit denaturation was higher in methanol having IB50 value 87.33±0.15 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and ortho-dihydric phenol content (ODP) of methanol and hexane extracts were also evaluated. TPC, TFC and ODP was higher in methanol extract having value of 122.23±0.22, 35.01±0.29 and 8±0.86 mg/mL, respectively. Acmella uliginosa, might be considered as a natural source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The bio-constituents of medicinal plants are greatly influenced by the environmental conditions and growing seasons. This study aimed to uncover the presence of different metabolites and to investigate the biological properties of the leaves of Mangifera indica during summer and winter seasons. The extract of M. indica leaves for summer and winter using different solvent extracts (hexane, chloroform, and methanol) showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, phytosterol, saponins, steroids, and carbohydrates. Antibacterial activity of the methanolic leaf extracts for summer and winter were evaluated against the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 43300) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). For S. aureus (ATTC 43300), the summer crude extract displayed lower antibacterial activity than the control streptomycin, with zones of inhibition of 14.17 and 16.67 mm, respectively. Winter extracts had a zone of inhibition of 12 mm, while streptomycin had a 13.67 mm zone of inhibition. For E. coli (ATCC 25922), the summer crude extract displayed higher antibacterial activity than the control gentamycin, with zones of inhibition of 18.05 and 17.5 mm, respectively. The winter extracts had a zone of inhibition of 8.5 mm, while gentamycin had a 14.5 mm zone of inhibition. Antibacterial screening showed positive results for both seasons; however, summer extracts showed a more potent effect. The antioxidant screening was conducted using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay. Potent radical scavenging activity was exhibited for both summer and winter seasons with hexane and methanolic extracts for summer (IC50 of 19.53 μg/mL and 12.71 μg/mL, respectively) and winter (22.32 μg/mL and 14.35 μg/mL, respectively) in comparison to the control ascorbic acid, which produced an IC50 of 3.20 μg/mL. The summer leaf extracts had better radical scavenging IC50 capacity than winter extracts. In conclusion, hexane and methanolic extracts had significant antioxidant activity, while methanolic extracts exhibited antibacterial activity. Further studies are required against more strains of bacteria and cancer cell lines to test for potency.

The biomass production from Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (family Fabaceae) is a valuable source for chemical biorefinery. The bioactive molecules from the methanol extracts (MEs) from various parts of L. leucocephala grown in Egypt were evaluated. The antibacterial activity against the growth of Erwinia amylovora, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and Staphylococcus aureus was determined by the inhibition zones (IZs) and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The antifungal activity against the growth of Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, and Alternaria solani was recorded by measuring the fungal growth inhibition (FGI %) and MICs. The phytochemical compounds in the MEs were identified by HPLC–DAD, where the higher compounds identified (mg/kg ME) in seeds were benzoic acid (1520.44), myricetin (848.73), and rosmarinic acid (792.46); in roots, were benzoic acid (554.04), naringenin (419.99), and myricetin (205.51); in leaves were rosmarinic acid (4768.16), resveratrol (2983.99), quercetin (2052.43), myricetin (1432.63), and naringenin (1182.39); in branches, were rosmarinic acid (2230.26), resveratrol (1605.3), o-coumaric acid (691.16), and myricetin (681.93); in fruits were rosmarinic acid (431.43) and resveratrol (261.07); in stem-wood, were ellagic acid (1319.75), p-coumaric acid (1051.59), and ferulic acid (512.45); and in stem-bark, were resveratrol (1079.01), benzoic acid (1071.11), and catechol (305.51). The MEs at the concentration of 4000 mg/L from stem-wood, leaves, and stem-bark, the higher IZs against the growth of E. amylovora, A. tumefaciens, and S. aureus with values of 4.06 cm, 2.5 cm, and 2.63 cm, respectively, were found. The range of MICs values of MEs was 75–500 mg/L, 75–125 mg/L, and 75–125 mg/L, against the growth of A. tumefaciens, E. amylovora, and S. aureus, respectively. MEs prepared from seeds, fruits (pod), and stem-bark at 4000 mg/L showed the higher FGI (100%) against the growth of A. solani; MEs from seeds and branches observed the higher FGI values of 63.83% and 63.6%, respectively, against the growth of F. solani, and all MEs showed potent antifungal activity (FGI 100%) against R. solani except for leaf ME (88.06%). MICs were in the range of 250–500, 250–500, and 500–1000 mg/L against A. solani, F. solani, and R. solani, respectively. At 500 mg/L, the roots ME showed the highest total antioxidant activity (94.30%) compared to vitamin C (VC) (98.30%) at 100 mg/L. The EC50 values of the MEs from seeds, fruits, stem-bark, branches, stem-wood, leaves, and roots were 424.24 mg/L, 131.40 mg/L, 341.78 mg/L, 380.50 mg/L, 153.59 mg/L, 153.59 mg/L, and 129.89 mg/L compared with VC (6.88 mg/L). In conclusion, the botanical parts of L. leucocephala have several bioactive compounds, which can act as promising antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Anticandidal, antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Calendula arvensis flowers

Background: Vitex pinnata is a popular ethnomedicinal plant but scientific studies to validate its pharmacological properties are lacking for this plant. This study aims to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial and wound healing properties of the methanolic extract of the leaves and the hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions. Methods: The leaves ofVitex pinnata underwent methanol extraction and the methanol extract was fractionated with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate solvents. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by disc diffusion assay againstStaphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli andPseudomonas aeruginosa. For the wound healing studies, the methanolic extracts ofV. pinnata were used to prepare ointments with compositions of 10% (w/w) and 50% (w/w), which were evaluated for wound healing activity in an excision wound model in Wistar rats.Results: All the extracts showed antioxidant activities, with the ethyl acetate extract having the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, followed by the methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts. Similarly, their quercetin equivalent concentrations were 33.1, 31, 20.3 and 4.5 mg/mL, respectively. Except for the methanol extract, the disc diffusion assay showed that the extracts demonstrated species-specific antibacterial activities, with the ethyl acetate extract showing antibacterial activities against all four tested strains. The wound healing activity of the high dose treated group (50% [w/w]) shows significant increase of wound contraction when compared to the control group.Conclusion: In the current study, the ethyl acetate extract showed activity for all tested bacteria and also had the highest DPPH activity. The methanolic extracts ofV. pinnata leaves show modest wound healing activity in an excision wound model.

Background: Indiscriminate use of conventional antibiotics has become a major factor responsible for the emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant strains of microorganisms. In this regard, we analyzed the plant extracts as an alternative solution for the inhibition of the resistant bugs. Methodology: This study was planned to investigate the antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol extracts of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. Soxhlet apparatus was used to prepare different extracts of the whole plant using hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol. The antifungal and antibacterial activity was analyzed with the help of a good diffusion technique using different concentrations of plant extracts. The anti-inflammatory activity was also checked by observing the inhibition of albumin denaturation. Results: Maximum antifungal activity was observed by hexane, methanol, and chloroform extracts, and maximum antibacterial activity showed by the methanol extract. The most sensitive fungi found were Mucor, Aspergillus flavus, Saccharomyces, and Candida. Trichophyton mentagrophytes were found resistant to all the extracts. The most sensitive bacterial isolates found were Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Citrobacter freundii. The most resistant organisms were Streptococcus fecalis and Shigella dysenteriae. Methanol and chloroform extracts produced observable anti-inflammatory potential by inhibiting albumin denaturation. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS version 23.0. Conclusion: The plant extracts showed significant antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity. These findings may support using the Arthrocnemum macrostachyum whole plant as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and traditional antifungal plant. Our results demonstrate that this plant has considerable therapeutic effects on potential infectious agents and can be used to alternative conventional medicines.

Macroalgae are currently being explored as novel and sustainable sources of bioactive compounds. Ulva prolifera is a major member of the green algae, as it includes various bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, fucoidans, and phlorotannins, with various biological activities in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and functional foods industries. In the current work, the rbcL gene products were utilized in identifying U. prolifera molecularly. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of U. prolifera were carried out In vitro. The total antioxidant capacity method was utilized in assessing the antioxidant activity. Estimation of nutritional value of U. prolifera showed 5.4±0.04%, 1.7±0.04% and 43±0.5% dry weight for total proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity of algal hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extract was 0.97±0.09, 1.23±0.04 and 1.63±0.09 mg equivalent ascorbic acid/gdw, respectively. Investigation of the antibacterial activity of U. prolifera against Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas hydrophila showed that the recorded diameter of the inhibition zones for the methanolic extract was 1.1cm. The antibacterial effect of hexane extract against Edwardsiella tarda was high which had a diameter of 1.5cm. Of interest, the ethyl acetate extract of U. prolifera showed potent antibacterial activity against the three bacteria, including Vibrio anguillarum, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Edwardsiella tarda. These results indicate that macroalgae U. prolifera contain bioactive substances with potential antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Passiflora suberosa L. belonging to the family Passifloraceae is an important medicinal plant used in traditional medicinal system in Sri Lanka to treat diabetes, hypertension and skin diseases. We extracted P. suberosa leaves under reflux conditions using different solvents (hexane, chloroform, methanol and water), then subjected to phytochemical screening. Alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins and saponins and anthraquinones were present in hexane and chloroform extracts. Alkaloids, unsaturated sterols, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids and tannins were observed in both methanol and aqueous extracts. Proanthocyanidins were observed only in the aqueous extract. Hence, aqueous and methanol extracts with most classes of phytochemicals present were subjected to antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihaemolytic activities and Brine shrimp lethality studies. Antibacterial activity and minimum inhibition concentrations were evaluated using three Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium) and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudumonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimuriam and Escherichia coli). The results indicated that only the methanol extract of P. suberosa exhibited antibacterial activities against all the strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial with stronger activity against Gram-negative bacteria. DPHH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy) scavenging assay was adopted to evaluate antioxidant properties while antihaemolytic and toxic activities were studied respectively using cow blood and Brine shrimp lethality assay. The IC50 values of the aqueous extract in both antioxidant and antihaemolytic assays were significantly lower than the standard ascorbic acid. Similar results were observed in the Brine shrimp lethality assay. In conclusion both aqueous and methanol extracts of P. suberosa leaves showed the presence of majority of phytochemicals including proanthocyanidins. Antibacterial activity was obtained only for methanol extract with better activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The aqueous extract showed better antioxidant, antihaemolytic and toxic activities than the methanol extract and their respective standards. Further investigations on the chemical composition and possible isolation of active ingredients is warranted.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of some plants used for medicinal purposes in Kenya