Aqueous Plant Extracts Research Articles

The Effect of An Aqueous Extract of Vitex Agnus-Castus Leaves on the Liver and Kidney in Female Rabbits

According to their accessibility and lower cost-effectiveness when compared to synthetic chemical treatments, medicinal wild plants and herbs have been used for ages as beneficial tools in the management of many diseases. The popular medicinal plant Vitex agnus-castus, which is indigenous to the Mediterranean region and widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, is used to treat a number of conditions and diseases, including premenstrual syndrome, mastalgia, infertility, and menstrual cycle management. The current study examined how the aqueous extract of the vitex plant compared to clomiphene citrate in female rabbits. In this experiment, nine female rabbits were divided into three equal groups. Aqueous vitex plant extract was administered to the first group for 15 days, clomiphene citrate was administered to the second group for 5 days as aspect of an approved course of treatment, and distilled water was administered to the third group for 15 days as a control. To determine the impact of the aqueous extract of Vitex agnus castus on the functions of the female rabbits' body organs, the complete blood count (CBC) and GLU, UREA and CREA were calculated. In addition, the analyses of blood picture showed a significant disparity, enzymes; even histopathology results in compare with control which showed a significant decreasing in WBC count has observed in the vitex extract (F) group that was 4.7 for WBC and 4.45 for RBC while 9.8 for HGB. On the other hands, decreasing of WBC count observed significantly in the clomiphene citrate (C) group that was 3.9 for WBC and 5.3 for RBC while HGB was 6.4mg.

Study of the antioxidant activity of plant extracts and their effect on the growth of lactic acid bacteria isolated from koumiss

This article describes the effect of plant extracts on the growth and reproduction of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus acidophilus 0015k-1 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus 018k-3, isolated from the traditional fermented milk drink, Koumiss. In this study, analyses were carried out on plant extracts of Rubus caesius L. (gray blackberry), Rubus idaeus L. (common raspberry) and Punica granatum (common pomegranate). The focus was on the antioxidant activity as measured by the electroanalytical technique, amperometry and the content of polyphenols as detected by photometry. Antioxidant activity was measured using amperometry - calibration standards of quercetin were used to construct a calibration curve with which the activity of the antioxidant analytes in the test samples could be analysed. It was determined that blackberries had the highest content of antioxidants at 3.30mg/g followed by pomegranates (2.40mg/g) and then raspberries (2.37mg/g). The total polyphenol content again demonstrated blackberries in the lead (8.20%) followed by raspberries (2.99%) and pomegranates (2.78%). To test the prebiotic activity of aqueous plant extracts, LAB were cultured in milk with and without plant components (10%, 15% and control samples) until a clot was formed. The CFU titer was determined for each sample. The results of the in-vitro test showed a significant growth of bacterial colonies in samples containing plant extracts (10%) compared to control samples. However, a slight inhibition of LAB

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potentials of some Indigenous Plants in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

Twenty four ethanol leaf and stem bark extracts of 17 indigenous plants were examined for their phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical compositions were analysed with GC-MS while antimicrobial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated by the agar well diffusion method. The antioxidant activities were determined with Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total phenolic content (TPC) and 2, 2,-dihenyl-1-picryhydazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. The antibacterial activity was more towards the gram positive S. aureus than the gram negative P. aeruginosa for all the plant extracts. A wide range of phenolic concentrations among the aqueous plant extracts which varied from 28.04 to 500.26mg GAE per gram were observed. Inhibition percentages of DPPH ranged from 19.13 to 95.77% showing effectiveness in radical scavenging. GC-MS characterization of the plant extracts showed a total of 18 components including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides. Irvingia gabonensis leaf (IGL) extract and Tamarind stem bark (TSB) exhibited excellent ferric reducing abilities of 2.11 and 1.56 respectively while Voucanga Africana leaf (VCA) extract indicated the lowest ferric reducing power of 0.50. Extracts of IGL and TSB exhibited the highest antioxidant capacities and therefore could be the main sources of natural antioxidant. An important relationship between total phenolic content was observed showing that the major contributor to the antioxidant properties were phenolic compounds.

Effects of Different Parts of the Okra Plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) on the Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Synthesis Conditions, Nonlinear Optical and Antibacterial Properties

In this work, stable and spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized in situ from silver salt (silver nitrate) using the aqueous extract of the okra plant (Abelmoschus esculentus) at room temperature and ambient pH conditions. The influences of different parts of the plant (such as the leaves, stems, and pods) on the chemical-reducing effectiveness of silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles were investigated. The aqueous extract of the leaves was found to be more effective in the chemical reduction of silver nanoparticles and in stabilizing them at the same time. The silver nanoparticles produced were stable and did not precipitate even after storage for 1 month. The extract of the stem was less effective in the reduction capacity followed by the extract of the pods. The results indicate that the different amounts of phytochemicals present in the leaves, stems, and pods of the okra plant are responsible for the chemical reduction and stabilizing effect. The silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 460 nm confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were spherical with an average size of 16 nm and polycrystalline with face-centered cubic (fcc) structures. The z-scan technique was used to study the nonlinear refraction and absorption coefficients of AgNPs at wavelengths of 488 and 514 nm under C.W. mode excitation. The nonlinear refraction index and nonlinear absorption coefficients were calculated in the theoretical equations in the experimental data. The antibacterial properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Anti-bacterial Effect and Characteristics of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNps) Formed with Vitex negundoPlant Extract.

Our current study reports the anti-bacterial activity of the gold nanoparticles (AuNps) synthesized by the green synthesis method using Vitex negundo plant leaves. The aqueous extract of Vitex negundo plant leaves are acting as the capping and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of AuNps. It is already evident from earlier studies that Vitex negundo is an abundant source of polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and many other biologically active compounds. The present study reveals the potential of biologically active compounds from the plant in the reduction reaction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) into gold nanoparticles. The green synthesis method is adapted instead of the chemical method, which is toxic and more expensive. The gold nanoparticles subjected to characterization with the help of UV-visible spectroscopy, FTIR to determine functional groups, light scattering to estimate size and uniformity, scanning emission microscopy with EDX for accurate size and shape of AuNps, and X-ray diffraction to reveal the crystalline structure. The characteristics of AuNps formed are UV reading at 520nm, FTIR showing the presence of phenols and alkenes, DLS, SEM, and XRD confirming the spherical shape with the size around 70-90nm. The anti-bacterial activity of the gold nanoparticles is evaluated against four different species of bacteria, each two gram-positive and gram-negative. The gold nanoparticles formed by Vitex negundo show good anti-bacterial activity against Salmonella typhi and M. luteus bacteria with a zone of inhibition of 6mm and 2mm respectively. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activities of the gold nanoparticles are yet to be known to their full extent.

Sustainable-Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Hyssopus officinalis and Calendula officinalis Extracts and Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized using aqueous medical plant extracts as reducing and capping agents show multiple applicability for bacterial problems. The aim of this study was to expand the boundaries on AgNPs using a novel, low-toxicity, and cost-effective alternative and green approach to the biosynthesis of metallic NPs using Calendula officinalis (Calendula) and Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssopus) aqueous extracts. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. The effectiveness of biosynthesized AgNPs in quenching free radicals and inhibiting the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms was supported by in vitro antioxidant activity assay methods and using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test, respectively. The elucidated antimicrobial and antioxidative activities of medical plant extracts were compared with data from the engineered biosynthetic AgNPs. The antimicrobial effect of engineered AgNPs against selected test cultures was found to be substantially stronger than for plant extracts used for their synthesis. The analysis of AgNPs by TEM revealed the presence of spherical-shaped nano-objects. The size distribution of AgNPs was found to be plant-type-dependent. The smaller AgNPs were obtained with Hyssopus extract (with a size range of 16.8 ± 5.8 nm compared to 35.7 ± 4.8 nm from Calendula AgNPs). The AgNPs' presumably inherited biological functions of Hyssopus and Calendula medical plants can provide a platform to combat pathogenic bacteria in the era of multi-drug resistance.

Free Radical Scavenging and Antinociceptive Activities of the Aqueous Extract from Matricaria chamomilla L. Flowers.

Background: Matricaria chamomilla L. (M. chamomilla) is a famous medicinal plant distributed worldwide. It is widely used in traditional medicine to treat all kinds of diseases, including infections, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and liver disorders. It is also used as a sedative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, and antiemetic. Our aims in this study was thus to quantify the phenolic, flavonoids contents in the flower of this plant, and also to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant potential and the in vivo analgesic activity. Methods: The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the plant aqueous extract (MCAqE) were estimated using the Folin–Ciocalteu and AlCl3 colorimetric methods, respectively. However, DPPH method was used to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity. Analgesic activity was tested by acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. Results: Quantitative determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids revealed that this extract contained 158.41±1.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g of dry extract and 37.06±0.56 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry extract, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the plant extract was important (IC50=3.08±0.25 mg/mL). MCAqE extract, at 400 mg/kg, showed analgesic activity (39.60±8.70%) against acetic acid induced pain in mice while the standard reference drug Diclofenac sodium exhibited 90.44±2.80% activity at 10 mg/kg dose.

Using of Essential Oils and Plant Extracts against Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens on Soybean.

The bacteria Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. glycinea (Coerper, 1919; Gardan et al., 1992) (Psg) and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Hedges 1922) (Cff) are harmful pathogens of soybean (Glycine max). Presently, there are several strategies to control these bacteria, and the usage of environmentally friendly approaches is encouraged. In this work, purified essential oils (EOs) from 19 plant species and total aqueous and ethanolic plant extracts (PEs) from 19 plant species were tested in vitro to observe their antimicrobial activity against Psg and Cff (by agar diffusion and broth microdilution method). Tested EOs and PEs produced significant bacterial growth inhibition with technologically acceptable MIC and MBC values. Non-phytotoxic concentrations for Chinese cinnamon and Oregano essential oils and leather bergenia ethanolic extract, which previously showed the lowest MBC values, were determined. Testing of these substances with artificial infection of soybean plants has shown that the essential oils of Chinese cinnamon and oregano have the maximum efficiency against Psg and Cff. Treatment of leaves and seeds previously infected with phytopathogens with these essential oils showed that the biological effectiveness of leaf treatments was 80.6-77.5% and 86.9-54.6%, respectively, for Psg and Cff. GC-MS and GC-FID analyzes showed that the major compounds were 5-Methyl-3-methylenedihydro-2(3H)-furanone (20.32%) in leather bergenia ethanolic extract, cinnamaldehyde (84.25%) in Chinese cinnamon essential oil and carvacrol (62.32%) in oregano essential oil.

Coloration and multi-functionalization of cotton fabrics using different combinations of aqueous natural plant extracts of onion peel, turmeric root, and pomegranate rind

Increasing popular interest in health and hygiene has amplified the demand for natural plant-based extracts in textile applications. To enable functionalization, aqueous extracts of natural plant parts, specifically onion peel, turmeric root, and pomegranate rind in combination, were applied to cotton fabric by exhaustion, and their antimicrobial activity, UV blocking properties, antioxidant activity, and color properties were investigated. UV–visible spectroscopy was performed to confirm the presence of polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, curcumin, and tannins in onion peel, turmeric root, and pomegranate rind extracts, respectively. The functional properties of the extracts differed owing to their different chemical structures and bioactivities. A synergistic effect of the pomegranate rind extract with onion peel and turmeric root on antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, and UV protection performance was observed. The relatively poor color properties of the pomegranate rind and onion peel extracts were considerably enhanced by the addition of turmeric root extract primarily containing an intense yellow colorant, curcumin. All treated fabrics had yellow hues, and their color fastness ranged from moderate to excellent. The aqueous natural plant extract combinations of onion peel, turmeric root, and pomegranate rind could be an innovative approach to improve dyeing and functional properties in sustainable textile applications.

Green and reusable Ag/AgCl-TiO2 nanocomposites for visible light-triggered dye degradation

• Ag/AgCl-TiO 2 nanocomposites are synthesized in a green, single-step process. • Satureja khuzistanica extract acts as a reducing agent and nanocomposite stabilizer. • More than 99% methyl orange is degraded under visible light irradiation. • High-efficiency TiO 2 -based photocatalysts developed for engineering and environmental applications. Ag/AgCl-TiO 2 plasmonic nanocomposites (NCs) are endowed with excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity. However, only a few studies investigated environmentally friendly approaches to their synthesis. In this work, Ag/AgCl-TiO 2 NCs at five different compositions were prepared in a single-step process by a green and cost-effective route, using Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad aqueous extract. The role of the aqueous plant extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent, and the formation of the NCs were evidenced by several techniques, including FT-IR, EDS, SEM, HRTEM, elemental mapping, and XRD. The morphological analysis demonstrated that the NCs formed nanoaggregates with an average size of 30 nm. The synthesized Ag/AgCl-TiO 2 NCs displayed a remarkable photoactivity in the visible light region, as confirmed by the significantly higher degradation rates of methyl orange (MO) compared to TiO 2 . In particular, the 15% Ag/TiO 2 molar ratio sample revealed a MO degradation efficiency higher than 99% under visible light, and retained high photocatalytic activity even after several degradations runs. Overall, the green, cost-effective, and scalable synthesis of Ag/AgCl-TiO 2 NCs herein reported provides a novel, more sustainable strategy for the high-efficiency modification of TiO 2 photocatalyst in engineering and other environmental applications.

Peculiarities of the postnatal physical development of the offspring of rats treated with aqueous plant extracts as an additional load

Rats are attractive for various kinds of experiments aimed at studying the effect of substances on metabolism and other components of homeostasis. The use of biologically active substances of natural origin offers great opportunities for modulation of physiological processes in the body, increases the body's resistance, facilitates the clinical course of many environmentally caused diseases and has virtually no negative side effects. Purpose of the study: to study the peculiarities of postnatal physical development of the offspring of rats receiving intragastric aqueous plant extracts as an additional load. The experiment was carried out on sexually mature rats (50 females and 15 males), which were divided into 5 groups of 13 rats each. The groups received various compositions of aqueous plant extracts daily for 30 days at a dose of 30 mg/100 g of animal body weight. The animals were then mated, and the offspring were obtained and subjected to examination. Conclusion: loading rats with aqueous plant extracts promotes intensification of the postnatal physical development of the offspring, and the greatest efficiency is observed when using a mixture of aqueous extracts of Centella asiatica and Ginkgo biloba, rather than when using them separately.

Simple preparation of broadband UV filters based on TiO2 coated with aqueous extracts of native trees from the Chaco region of Argentina.

The nativeforest of northwestern Argentina,as part of the Chaco region, is a rich andunexploited source of phytochemical compounds for medicinal/cosmetic applications. In the present study, fruit, leaf, branch, and bark organs of the native trees Sarcomphalus mistol (Mistol, M) and Schinopsis lorentzii (Quebracho Colorado santiagueño, QC) were harvested, and aqueous plant extracts (PE) were prepared. The spectroscopic (UV-Vis absorbance, diffuse reflectance, ATR-FTIR) and antioxidant (TEAC, Folin-Ciocalteu) properties of PE were characterized and used as TiO2 coating material to obtain a series of TiO2@PE nanocomposites. These materials showed almost null photocatalytic activity compared to aqueous suspensions of bare TiO2, displaying yellowish to brownish coloration and high long-term stability in both freshwater and seawater model solutions. The loss of photocatalytic activity in TiO2@PE was associated with the combination of the internal filter effect and the antioxidant/radical capacity exerted by the phytochemicals of the PE coating,with higher broadband photoprotection for the nanocomposites prepared with QC extracts. Thus, this study shows the potential capacity of the forest resources of the Chaco region of Argentina for the development of new cosmetic and/or sun protection formulations.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Martynia annua and its antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities

ABSTRACT The aim of present study, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was synthesized from silver ions using aqueous extract of the whole plant of Martynia annua and its Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic activities. The extraction is made by non-polar to polar solvent using Soxhlet apparatus. Initially, the aqueous (water) extract was analysed the primary phytochemical test and used for the synthesis of Ag NPs. The obtained Ag NPs were characterized using UV-vis. spectroscopy, XRD analysis, FTIR spectrum and HRTEM. The UV-vis spectroscopy surface Plasmon resonance centre at 443nm was confirmed the formation of Ag NPs. XRD analysis and SAED pattern was determining the crystalline nature of metallic silver. HRTEM image shows the morphology of Ag NPs contains spherical shapes with sizes 10-25nm. The extract and green synthesized Ag NPs have significant antimicrobial activity against both bacteria and fungi and also have good cytotoxicity against human lung cancer cell line A549 .

Evaluation of Biofilm Inhibitory Efficacy of Bacopa monnieri, Acalypha indica and Calotropis gigantea Extracts and their Combination Against Wound Colonizing Bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus Aureus

Key factors in compromised wound healing primarily include bacterial colonization and infection. Extensive use of systemic antibiotics, preferred choice of treatment for clinically infected wounds, is often accompanied with emergence of bacterial resistance. Quorum sensing (QS), density dependent chemical communication, is emerging as a promising area of research since most infectious microorganisms operate this mechanism to realize their pathogenic potential. Foregoing research indicates the potential of studying medicinal plant extracts/components and their combinations as vital inhibitors of QS regulated virulence factors’ production. Our study aims to understand the potential of three plant extracts and their combinations as vital inhibitors of QS regulated virulence factor’s production by two wound pathogens and to achieve this our objectives are to perform their violacein inhibitory (on C. violaceum) and biofilm inhibitory properties (on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous plant extracts against P aeruginosa and S aureus was performed (two-fold serial microdilution). Violacein inhibition was assayed using agar well diffusion while biofilm inhibition by crystal violet method. Organisms presented 5mg/ml (Bacopa monnieri ), 2.5mg/ml (Acalypha indica), and 2.5mg/ml (Calotropis gigantea) as MIC. Three sets of individual extract concentrations (sub-MIC in μg/ml) and their corresponding combinations were used for this study. Extracts exhibited more significant (P<0.0001) violacein inhibition in combination than individually. Biofilm inhibition by extracts' combination was also significantly (P<0.001) higher than that of individual extracts indicating a possible positive herb-herb interaction of phytoconstituents (synergistic or complementary). The relative decrease in response to individual extracts in higher concentrations (set 'c') by both organisms point to possible recalcitrance behavior generally exhibited by bacteria on exposure to higher antibacterial agents. The improved antibiofilm efficacy exhibited by this novel combination may serve as an alternative approach in managing wound colonization by biofilm-producing bacteria and hence faster-wound healing.

Study of the Effect of Epipremnum Aureum Extracts and Tribulus Terrestris L. as a Natural Alternative for the use of Industrial Antioxidants

In this study, two types of local plants were chosen, the first is the plant golden pothos Epipremnum aureum and the second is the Iraqi Sheikh's chin plant Tribulus terrestris L, for the purpose of making a comparison between them in terms of their possession of chemical groups with antioxidant activity in order to use them as a natural alternative to using antioxidants Industrial that cause negative effects on human health, the samples were prepared using the method of water and alcohol extraction (ethanol 70%) for both plants. It revealed the presence of a number of chemical groups (tannins, carbohydrates, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids) for both plants, the aqueous and alcoholic extracts. Coumarins are only found in the sheikh's chin plant, while steroids are only found in the pothos plant. It was found that the alcoholic extract of the Sheikh's chin plant was best than aqueous extract in terms of antioxidant activity using the DPPH method, as the concentration of 20 mg / ml achieved an effectiveness of 91.2, which is close to control (BHT) 92.3, while the opposite was recorded in the pothos plant as the aqueous extract was better than the alcoholic extract. As the concentration of 20 mg / ml recorded an activity of 89.22, while the alcoholic extract had a significant difference of 65.9, with a significant difference on the level of probability P˂0.01, and for the purpose of demonstrating the efficiency of the process of capturing free radicals of plant extracts, the effective concentration was determined (EC50) and found that the best concentration was achieved to capture 50% of The DPPH complex had an aqueous extract of pothos at 0.5 mg / mL which is very close to the EC50 value for control (vitamin C) followed by the alcoholic extract at 7.75 mg / mL. The Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to find the total content of phenols, it was found that the aqueous extract of the pothos plant had the highest content of phenols as it recorded the highest concentration of 49.33 compared to the alcohol extract 38.05. In contrast to the result of the Sheikh' chin plant, the alcoholic extract recorded the most phenol content at a concentration of 65.11 compared to the aqueous extract which recorded a concentration of 42.15.

Antioxidant activity and antimicrobial evaluation of iron nanoparticles prepared by the plant mediated biosynthesis involving root extract of Picrorhiza kurroa

Green protocol of synthesizing nanoparticles has emerged as an optional way to overcome the limitation of the conventional physical and chemical methods. In the present paper, we wish to report a green synthesis of iron nanoparticles employing the aqueous root extract of Picrorhiza kurroa plant as an effective reducing and stabilizing agent. The green nanoparticles thus prepared are characterised using UV–Visible, FTIR, XRD and FESEM techniques. The average particle size of biosynthesised iron nanoparticles was found to be 26 nm. The antioxidant activity of these nanoparticles was determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical method. It was found to have IC50 value comparable with that of standard ascorbic acid. The in-vitro antibacterial activity of biosynthesised iron nanoparticles was evaluated using an agar disc-diffusion method against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and has displayed their potential efficacy.

Competition induces negative conspecific allelopathic effects on seedling recruitment.

Some plant species suppress competitors through release of chemical compounds into the environment. As the production of allelochemicals may be costly, it would be beneficial if their production would only be induced when plants experience competition. We tested whether two plant species that frequently co-occur show evidence for induced allelopathy in response to intra- and interspecific competition. We used the annual forb Crepidiastrum sonchifolium and the perennial forb Achyranthes bidentata, which are native to China and predominantly occur in ruderal communities, as focal species. We first grew the species without competition, with intraspecific competition and in competition with each other. We chemically analysed aqueous extracts made from these plants to test for evidence that the competition treatments affected the metabolomic profiles of the species. We then tested the effects of the aqueous extracts on seed germination and seedling growth of both plant species. Metabolomic analysis revealed that competition treatments modified the chemical profiles of the two study species. The root lengths of A. bidentata and C. sonchifolium seedlings were reduced by the aqueous plant extracts. For seedling root length of A. bidentata, heterospecific allelopathy was more negative than conspecific allelopathy, but for germination of C. sonchifolium seeds, the reverse was true. Moreover, conspecific allelopathic effects on germination of A. bidentata seeds and on seedling root length of both species were most negative when the aqueous extracts were made from plants that had experienced competition. In the case of seedling root length of A. bidentata, this effect was most negative when the plants had experienced interspecific instead of intraspecific competition. We showed that plants change their metabolomic profiles in response to competition, and that this correlated with allelopathic inhibition of conspecific seed germination and seedling growth. We suggest that autoallelopathy for seed germination could function as a mechanism to avoid strong competition by keeping the seeds in a dormant state.

Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of Five Medicinal Plants on the in vitro Growth of a Multi-resistant Strain of Candida Albicans

This study was conducted to determine the antifungal potential of plants traditionally used in the treatment of infections. Five (5) plants were collected. The anti-candida albicans activity was evaluated by the double dilution method in tilted tubes with the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of the different plants. The results showed that the 70% ethanolic extracts were more active than the aqueous extracts for all plants. The 70% ethanolic extract of T. ivorensis (FMC = 1.56 mg/ml) was the most active on the tested strain. It was followed by T. superba (MFC = 3.125 mg/ml) D. benthamianus (MFC = 50 mg/mL), G. arborea (MFC= 50 mg/mL) and J. secunda (MFC ˃ 50 mg/mL). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of seven major groups of compounds, among which saponins and catechins are the most abundant in the aqueous extracts. Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Polyterpenes and Sterols as well as Tannins are equally present in the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the different plants at variable levels. These compounds could justify its activity and its traditional use.

Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Andrographis alata: Characterization, optimization and assessment of their antibacterial, antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer's properties

Recently, great attention was paid on the synthesis of nano particles via green protocols, explicitly using plant materials. In view of this, currently, zinc oxide nano particles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized with the aid of an aqueous extract of whole plants of Andrographis alata. As a part of extensive characterisation, the UV–Vis spectrum manifested absorption maxim at 372 nm, characteristic for bio-reduced ZnO NPs. The XRD study demonstrated the hexagonal wurtzite structures for ZnO NPs which is consistent with the JCPDS card no: 01–089–1397. FTIR analysis has assured the role of phytoconstituents of A.alata in reduction and capping of ZnO NPs by disclosing absorptions for O ̶ H, N ̶ H, C=O, C=C, C ̶ O, C ̶ N stretching vibrations. Morphological studies via EDS, DLS, SEM and HR-TEM analysis illustrated crystalline flower shaped flakes like structures for ZnO NPs with size in the range of 35–53 nm. The photosynthesized ZnO NPs displayed strong anti-bacterial activities against various pathogenic bacterial strains. Moreover, bio-reduced ZnO NPs also had strong anti-oxidant, anti-Alzheimer and anti-diabetic potencies with IC50 values in micro gram ranges. All in all, the ZnO NPs synthesized using A.alata has substantial efficacy for further use in biomedical, pharmaceutical and food processing industries.

Antifungal Activity of Some Plant Extracts against Fungus Fusarium Oxysporum

In vitro, study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of leaves extracts for each of Nerium oleander , Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Myrtus communis at concentrations (0, 20, 30, and 50 )% on the growth and sporulation of Fusarium oxysporum . In addition to the control, the experiment included three concentration levels for each aqueous plant extract: 20%, 30%, and 50%. When compared to the control, all plant extracts inhibited fungal growth in (Fusarium oxysporum). The greatest inhibitory effect was found to be 31.158 percent. Azadirachta indica has proven to be the most effective in reducing fungal growth