Effect Of Plant Extracts Research Articles

Discovery of key genes and plant extracts in Sjögren’s syndrome with yin deficiency syndrome based on female patients clinical data & molecular docking

Background: Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease, for which Traditional Chinese Medicine has shown significant therapeutic effects based on different syndrome types of Sjögren’s Syndrome. However, the research findings between it and related plant extracts are limited. Objective: To explore the symptoms of patients with yin deficiency syndrome and non-yin deficiency syndrome of Sjögren’s Syndrome and their relationship with plant extracts under the background of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods: Whole blood samples were collected from SS patients with yin deficiency syndrome (5), SS patients without yin deficiency syndrome (5), and healthy volunteers (5) for proteomic testing. Using healthy volunteers as the control group, the differential protein expression of SS with yin deficiency syndrome was screened for enrichment analysis and functional annotation; combining previous effective clinical cases and prescription drugs for data mining and network pharmacological analysis, potential effective plant extracts were screened and enriched. Finally, molecular docking was used to validate the results of network analysis, providing a highly probable new idea for the correlation between potential drug targets for SS patients with yin deficiency syndrome and potential effective plant extracts. Results: 1. By analyzing the proteomic data of clinical samples, the differential genes of healthy individuals versus Sjögren’s Syndrome with yin deficiency versus Sjögren’s Syndrome without yin deficiency were discovered. By overlapping the above data, it was found that the key target genes for treating Sjögren’s Syndrome are HBA1, MST1, PCSK9, and HBB. 2. Enrichment analysis of plant extracts (PE) through clinical data mining of effective cases revealed the tremendous potential of four Chinese botanical drug - β-sitosterol, quercetin, berberine, and kaempferol in treating Sjögren’s Syndrome patients with yin deficiency syndrome. 3. The pathogenesis and regulation of Sjögren’s Syndrome with yin deficiency syndrome may be related to interleukin-related pathways, DNA synthesis, and oxidative stress. 4. Molecular docking suggests that berberine has good binding activity with MST1. Conclusion: We believe that berberine and MST1 may have significant research value in the treatment of Sjögren’s Syndrome with Female Patients. This study provides valuable reference points for future research on Sjögren’s Syndrome with yin deficiency syndrome.

Evaluation of silver nanoformulated plant extracts against larvae of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), under laboratory and field conditions

AbstractThe fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a destructive pest of Zea mays (maize) and other agricultural crops. The synthetic insecticides predominantly used against this pest lead to pest resistance, environmental contamination and health hazards. This study evaluated nanoformulated aqueous extracts of some promising local plant species against third instar larvae of S. frugiperda under laboratory and field conditions. The initial screening bioassay showed highest larval mortality with a 20% extract of Nicotiana tabacum L. (66.67%), followed by Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (53.33%), Withania somnifera L. (46.67%), Melia azedarach L. (40%) and Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. (33.33%). The two most effective plant extracts (A. indica and N. tabacum) were further nanoformulated with silver nitrate (AgNO3) and bioassayed against S. frugiperda larvae using different concentrations. The results showed that these nanoformulated extracts caused significant larval mortality, with LC50 (lethal concentration that kills 50% of the population) and LT50 (lethal time to kill 50% of the population) values of 37.36 and 28.21% at 72 h, and 52.19 and 33.25 h at 80% concentration, respectively. Field experiments on Zea mays L. (maize) plants showed maximum larval reduction by nanoformulated A. indica extract (48%), followed by N. tabacum extract (36%), whereas 80% and 20% larval reduction was noted for the positive (SuperLock®, emamectin benzoate and tebufenozide) and the negative (water) controls, respectively. Furthermore, characterization of both silver nanoparticles‐based plant extract formulations was performed using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, which confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. It is concluded that nanoformulated plant extracts can be an effective alternative to synthetic pesticides in combatting S. frugiperda and other lepidopteran pests.

In vitro inhibition of Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum, the causal agent of banana Xanthomonas Wilt, using medicinal plant extracts from North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Banana Wilt caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm), has emerged as a significant threat to food security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kivu). Currently, the only means of combatting this biotic constraint is through best agricultural practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of medicinal plants used in the Kivu provinces in inhibiting Xvm. Three in vitro experiments were conducted at laboratories of Uganda's National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in South Kivu. The bacterial samples were collected from infected field-grown banana plants in South Kivu and isolated on Yeast Extract Peptone Agar (YPGA). Pure Xvm colonies were used for identification via i) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with specific primers and, ii) greenhouse inoculation trials. A completely randomized design was used for the three inhibition tests (1) on Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) using disc diffusion with 10 plant extracts; (2) in liquid YPG Broth using 10 plant extracts; and (3) on MHA using disc diffusion with 19 plant extracts. The first two trials used plant extracts diluted in petroleum ether, while the third trial used 19 plant extracts diluted in methanol. After maceration, filtration, and solvent evaporation, 10 mg of extract was diluted in 80 µl of distilled water + 10 µl of Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Ten µl of this solution was impregnated on perforated discs of Whatman filter paper. Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Ricinus communis (castor) were the most effective plant extracts in suppressing Xvm. Of the thirteen plant species identified as effective against the pathogen, the Myrtaceae and Euphorbiaceae families were the most represented. Based on these results, evaluating the effectiveness of the most promising plant extracts in disinfecting the metal blades of garden tools is recommended. In addition, various phytochemical groups present in plant extracts could be evaluated for their effectiveness in suppressing Xvm, especially phenols and tannins.

Determination of insecticidal potential of selected plant extracts against fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) larvae

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a devastating pest that attacks a wide range of crops, including sugarcane, rice, and maize. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the toxicity potential of native plant extracts (Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Parthenium hysterophorus, Cannabis sativa, Citrullus colocynthis, Nicotiana tabacum) against S. frugiperda. Four different concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm) of the ethanolic plant extracts was evaluated against S. frugiperda third-instar larvae to determine their median lethal concentration (LC50). After 72 h of exposure, the LC50 values of A. indica, E. globulus, P. hysterophorus, C. sativa, C. colocynthis, N. tabacum, and positive control (Spinetoram) were 186.104, 518.438, 320.027, 334.259, 252.651, 720.980 and 189.369 ppm respectively. The maximum percent mortality was caused by the highest concentration (400 ppm) of A. indica (64 ± 0.18), E. globulus (48 ± 0.22), P. hysterophorus (56 ± 0.18), C. sativa (56 ± 0.18), C. colocynthis (60 ± 0.00), and N. tabacum (40 ± 0.28), after 72 h of treatment while Spinetoram induced 100 ± 0.00 percent mortality of S. frugiperda and only 4 ± 0.18 percent mortality was recorded in a control group. Results showed that all plant extracts were found to be effective against S. frugiperda. The compounds from the two most effective ethanolic plant extracts were identified by using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). The key compounds identified in neem leaf extract and kortuma fruit extract are predominantly biologically active molecules. Many of them were volatile compounds that belonged to different chemical categories, such as fatty acids, hydrocarbons, esters, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and amines. Terpenes exhibited a wide range of different biological activities, such as serving as insecticides and antifeedant. The presence of various functional groups in the plant extract was determined by conducting a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Farmers should employ these kinds of environmental friendly insecticides to lessen the impact of fall armyworm because these products are cheaper to use and better for the economy and the environment.

Application of Thymus Species as Natural Coagulant for Elimination of Turbidity of Water and Its Comparison with the Conventional Coagulant

Introduction: The most important pollutant in surface water sources is turbidity. The aim of the study is to determine the most effective thyme plant extract as a natural coagulant to remove water turbidity and compare it with alum as a chemical coagulant.. Materials and Methods: In this study, plant extracts obtained from Thymus vulgaris (Tv), Thymus kotschyanus (Tk), and Thymus eriocalyx (Te) were used as natural coagulants for elimination of water turbidity. Then, the best of plant extract was confirmed by ninhydrin and FTIR analyses and the effect of simultaneous use of plant extract with chemical coagulant of aluminum sulfate (alum) was investigated in the hybrid ratio of 1:1, 2:1, and 1:2. Then, the effect of parameters include of pH, coagulant dose, turbidity removal efficiency, and the most suitable solvent for coagulant extraction were studied. Results: The results of this study showed that among the natural coagulants, Tv had a higher efficiency in elimination of water turbidity, and the highest amounts of turbidity elimination for Tv, alum, and Tv/alum hybrid coagulants was 94, 90, and 96, respectively. According to the results of this study, the most effective solvent for preparing plant extracts was 1M KCl solvent. Conclusion: The natural coagulant removes more turbidity from water than the chemical coagulant, and the simultaneous use of natural and chemical coagulants with a 1:1 ratio was more effective.

Antibacterial Screening of Medicinal Plant Extracts against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Herbal remedies are crucial for treating bacterial infections due to antibiotic resistance, with numerous studies demonstrating their antibacterial properties against various harmful species. This study investigates the antibacterial properties of an aqueous extract from 40 medicinal plants in vitro, assessing their effectiveness against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The well diffusion method was employed to assess the antibacterial activity. Six plants exhibit antibacterial properties against the two bacterial strains among these extracts. Guava (Psidium guajava) and Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)cold water extracts were the most effective plant extracts against Escherichia coli, with inhibition zones of 6.2 mm and 5.2 mm, respectively. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) leaves and Sana makki (Cassia angustifolia) leaves cold water extracts were the most effective plant extracts against Staphylococcus aureus with an inhibitory effect with inhibition zones of 6.9 mm and 5.9 mm respectively. The plant extracts differ in antibacterial activities against S. aureus and E. coli. However, Extracts of Senna alata, Tamarindus indica, Psidium guajava, Syzygium aromaticum, and Cassia angustifolia showed inhibitory activity against both of the microorganisms tested. These potentially useful plant extracts can be utilized as natural alternatives to preventive measures for food poisoning and preservation, thereby avoiding the health risks associated with chemically antibacterial agents. These antibacterial properties encourage future research into new chemical compositions that can help treat or cure some diseases.

Explicating Botanical Bactericides as an Intervention Tool towards Citrus Canker

Recent research efforts were made to investigate botanical bactericides as an intervention tool for citrus canker. Five botanical extracts (Eruca vesicaria, Eucalyptus globulus, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Nigella sativa, and Citrullus colocynthis) were evaluated at three different concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) against Xanthomonas citri pv. citri under in vitro conditions. Among all treatments, two effective plant extracts, alone and in combinations, were assessed at three different time points (7 days, 14 days, 21 days) under greenhouse conditions. In vitro and greenhouse experiments were conducted under a Completely Randomized Design. Results showed that C. colocynthis expressed the maximum inhibition zone (3.22 mm), followed by N. sativa (2.82 mm), T. foenum-graecum (2.68 mm), E. globulus (1.64 mm), and E. vesicaria (1.31 mm) compared to the control. Effective extracts of C. colocynthis and N. sativa were assessed under greenhouse conditions, both alone and in combination, against citrus canker. The minimum disease incidence (18.74%) was exhibited by the combination of C. colocynthis and N. sativa, followed by C. colocynthis (22.59%) and N. sativa (23.27%) compared to the control. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the application of botanical extracts is a reliable strategy for managing citrus canker.

Evaluation of the Most Effective Plant Extracts, Bioagents and Chemical Fungicides In vitro against Powdery Mildew of Pea

The present investigation was carried during 2022-23 at Plant Pathology Section, College of Agriculture, Pune-05 with the objectives of evaluation of the most effective plant extracts, bioagents and chemical fungicides in vitro. Effect of six plant extracts, bioagents and chemical fungicides were studied in vitro by hanging drop method where the study revealed that garlic (Allium sativum), followed by neem (Azadiracta indica) showed highest inhibition of spore germination for powdery mildew. After 48 hours of incubation, the spore germination rate ranged from 3.15 % to 34.45 %, where garlic showed the highest inhibition at 95.30 %, followed by neem at 91.03 %. The efficacy of bioagents was evaluated by preparing the bacterial and fungal culture filtrates where Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens were found to be the most effective with tune of 56.86% and 50.72% of efficacy respectively against Erysiphe pisi. Among all chemical fungicides, hexaconazole (0.05 %) resulted as the most effective chemical fungicide against powdery mildew of pea. These findings can be useful in developing safer and more eco-friendly methods to control powdery mildew and protect crops.

Comparative evaluation of anti-biofilm and anti- adherence potential of plant extracts against Streptococcus mutans: A therapeutic approach for oral health

Dental caries predominantly attributed to the cariogenic nature of Streptococcus mutans, continue to pose a substantial global challenge to oral health. In response to this challenge, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of leaf extracts (LEs) and essential oils (EOs) derived from different medicinal plants in inhibiting the growth of Streptococcus mutans biofilm. In vitro and in silico approaches were employed to identify active compounds and assess their inhibitory effects on S. mutans. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were measured to determine the anti-biofilm and anti-adherence activity against S. mutans. Biofilm viability (CFU/mL) and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration were quantified. GC-MS analysis was utilized to identify active compounds in the most effective plant extracts exhibiting anti-S. mutans activity. A high-throughput screening focused on the interaction between these compounds and the target enzyme SortaseA (SrtA) using molecular docking was performed. Results indicated that Cymbopogon citratus displayed the highest efficacy in reducing S. mutans biofilm formation and adhesion activity, achieving 90 % inhibition at an MIC value of 12 μg/mL. Among the 12 bioactive compounds identified, trans-Carvyl acetate exhibited the lowest binding energy with SrtA (-6.0 Kcal/mole). Trans-Carvyl acetate also displayed favorable pharmacokinetic properties. This study provides novel insights into the anti-S. mutans properties of C. citratus and suggests its potential as a therapeutic approach for oral health. Further research is needed to explore the combined effect of plant extracts for enhanced protection against dental caries.

Antimicrobial Effects of Medicinal Plant Species on Salmonella typhimurium Strains Isolated from Poultry Feces Samples

Background: It has been proven that plant extracts show great promise in fighting pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of 20 strains of Salmonella typhimurium extracted from poultry feces against conventional antibiotics and the antibacterial activity of 10 medicinal plant extracts, including Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Capparis spinosa L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Eryngium planum L., Rumex acetosa L., Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand, Psidium guajava L., Malva sylvestris L., Urtica dioica L., and Alcea setosa Alef., against the extracted strains. Methods: The susceptibility of S. typhimurium strains against tested antibiotics was determined using disk diffusion, and the antibacterial activity of medicinal plant extracts was evaluated using well diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Results: The extracted S. typhimurium strains showed high resistance to cephalosporin (100%) and gentamicin (40%); however, all plant extracts examined in this study were influential in inhibiting the growth of the tested strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of tested plant extracts ranged from 6.25 to 25 mg/mL and 12.5 to 50 mg/mL, respectively. The most effective plant extracts in inhibiting bacterial growth in the agar well diffusion method were P. guajava, H. sabdariffa, and A. setosa; nevertheless, the most potent bactericidal activity was recorded for M. sylvestris and A. setosa in the broth microdilution method. The examined strains showed 80% and 85% sensitivity to the MBC of alcoholic extracts of M. sylvestris and A. setosa (50 mg/mL), respectively, which is worthy of further exploration by scientists. Conclusions: The results of this study represent the high potency of M. sylvestris and A. setosa extracts as appropriate medicinal and/or food supplements to replace ineffective antibiotics in bird breeding.

Assessment of Phytoextracts and Synthetic Chemicals for Controlling Leaf Blight of Syzygium Cumini

Jamun (Syzygium cumini) is a distinguished source of protein, fat, minerals (Iron, Calcium, and Potassium), fiber, carbohydrates, phosphorous, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Leaf blight of S. cumini, caused by Pestalotiopsis spp., poses a potential threat to the successful production of Jamun fruit. The appearance of small, round, dark, and sunken spots on the fruit diminishes its quality and results in yield losses of 10 to 20%. Fungicides and plant extracts were employed to address this fungal problem under laboratory and greenhouse conditions using a Completely Randomized Design whereas field trials were performed using a Randomized Complete Block Design. In vitro experiments revealed that among the fungicides, minimum fungal growth was observed with Score (12.5 mm), followed by Topsin M (16.89 mm), Fossil (18.37 mm), Excel (23.17 mm), Evito (27.56 mm), and Bloom (32.32 mm), as compared to the control (55.56 mm). Among the phytoextracts, Moringa extracts showed the least fungal growth (15.7 mm), followed by Neem (18.76 mm), Eucalyptus (19 mm), Garlic (22.72 mm), Ginger (27.57 mm), and Cinnamomum verum (Dar Cheni) (31 mm), in comparison to the control (53.17 mm). The most effective fungicides and plant extracts determined in the laboratory experiments were further evaluated in greenhouse and field conditions, both alone and in combinations. In the greenhouse evaluation, the combination of Moringa + Score exhibited the lowest disease incidence (23.63%), followed by Score (28.12%) and Moringa (29.56%), in contrast to the control (52.9%). Under field conditions, among all treatments, Moringa + Score exhibited the least disease incidence of 17.44%. These findings confirm that leaf blight of S. cumini can be managed by using Score fungicide and Moringa oleifera extract.

Efficiency of using larch bark extract as a feed additive for calves

Relevance. In recent years, the search and synthesis of new more effective plant extracts have been intensively conducted, which also require extensive scientific and industrial tests. These include the search for local resources and the simplest methods of biotechnology and harvesting plant extracts, including feed additives. In this regard, the study of the use of a plant extract based on larch bark is of great importance and is an urgent area of research. The aim of the work is to determine the effectiveness of the use of larch bark extract as a feed additive to increase the natural resistance and intensity of growth of live weight of cattle calves.Methods. For the study, we used: larch bark extract and raido remedy in a dosage of 5 g per calfʼs head for 10 days. Hematological studies were carried out on a Beckman Coulter LH-500 analyzer using the Culture method. The activity of blood serum was determined by the methods of V.G. Dorofeichuk, O.V. Smirnova and G.A. Kuzmina.Results. Studies have found that in order to stimulate the intensity of growth of live weight of cattle in the early dairy period of cultivation, it is recommended to use a plant extract from the bark of larch, which allows to increase the intensity of growth and get an additional increase in live weight by 9.0% compared with calves of the control group. The use of the extract stimulates the formation of nonspecific resistance, which is manifested in an increase in phagocytic (by 8.5%), bactericidal (by 8.9%), lysozyme (by 6.6%) activity of the blood serum of calves compared with the control group

The Investigation of the Antibacterial Activity of Eryngium caucasicum trautv, Saponaria officinalis, Froriepia subpinnata, Malva sylvestris, and Urtica dioica

Background: Regarding the increasing resistance of bacteria against antibiotics and the existence of antibacterial compounds in plants, we here investigated the antimicrobial effects of the methanolic extracts of several plants on pathogenic bacteria. Methods: Ten grams of the dry ingredients of Eryngium caucasicum trautv (leaf), Saponaria officinalis (flower), Froriepia subpinnata (leaf), Malva sylvestris (leaf), and Urtica dioica (leaf) was poured in 100 mL of methanol and shaken for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the extracts were strained and dried in the oven, and their antimicrobial activity at the 100 mg/mL concentration was evaluated against the mentioned bacteria using the sinkhole method. Results: The plant extracts inhibited the growth of all bacteria in various degrees. Among all the plant extracts used, that of F. subpinnata delivered the largest diameter of growth inhibition zone (6 mm) against S. dysenteriae, and the extracts of E. caucasicum and F. subpinnata showed the largest diameter of inhibition zone against Xanthomonas translucens. Also, the extract of M. sylvestris delivered the largest inhibition zone diameter (8 mm) against E. coli. Conclusions: Our results showed that the methanolic extract of E. caucasicum was the most effective plant extract against S. dysenteriae, Rathayibacter tritici, and L. monocytogenes, but M. sylvestris extract revealed the greatest impact on E. coli. It is recommended to further investigate the antibacterial compounds of these plants as potential treatments for bacterial infections.

Identification of effective plant extracts against candidiasis: an in silico and in vitro approach

BackgroundGlobally, millions of people suffer from repeated fungal infections affecting the skin, keratinized tissues, and mucosal membranes. Approximately 1.7 million cases result in death with an elevated incidence rate among immunocompromised people that may later result in severe infections. Among the causative agents, Candida albicans are the most prevalent fungi inducing subcutaneous to invasive candidiasis. Although they are commensals in human body alteration in gut or prolonged treatments results in candidiasis. Several virulence proteins of C. albicans are involved in infections and secreted aspartic proteases2 (SAP2) plays an important role among them by causing damage to the reconstituted human epithelium. In the present study, phytochemicals from Heliotropium indicum, Grona triflora, Ziziphus mauritiana, Atalantia racemosa, Coccinia grandis, Caryota urens, Aristolochia bracteolata, Evolvulus alsinoides, Pyrus communis and Commelina benghalensis were studied against SAP2 with the help of bioinformatic tools to understand their binding efficiency.ResultsThe phytochemical structures were retrieved from PubChem database and the target protein structure was retrieved from PDB database with ID:3PVK. ADME profiling for phytochemicals was performed with Qikprop module, followed by docking with protein using Schrodinger software. Docking studies showed that Indicine-N-Oxide from H. indicum scored the significant glide score of − 5.54 kcal/mol. Finally, antifungal studies against C. albicans were conducted using several extracts of plants containing phytochemicals with considerable glide scores on docking studies. The Ethyl acetate leaf extract of H. indicum prominently inhibited the fungal growth when compared with the control.ConclusionIdentification of effective therapeutic candidates for the treatment of fungal infection is facilitated by the potential of H. indicum to hinder fungal growth and the interaction of their phytocompounds with fungal targets paves a way for developing a novel drug.

Development of more potent anti-microbial drugs from extracts of five medicinal plants resistant to S. aureus in human fluids: an ex vivo and in vivo analysis

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections are a serious public health concern worldwide, especially in our region, due to the unavailability of accurate therapeutics. The aim of this study was to determine the resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical and asymptomatic specimens and to identify antimicrobial agents against methicillin resistant S. aureus strains. 47 samples (pus, urine, blood, nose and milk) together from diverse healthcare hospitals in Faisalabad for location of S. strains. Aureus by biochemical examination. The results of these biochemical tests showed that 21 of 47 samples were positive for S. aureus. A resistance study found that 10 of 21 S. aureus isolates were resistant to oxacillin. Twenty-five medicinal plants were collected from different parts of Saudi Arabia, air-dried and extracted with methanol. These plant extracts were then screened for potential against oxacillin-resistant S. aureus. In addition, the semi-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of effective medicinal plant extracts was measured using the micro-dilution method. Methanol extracts from five plants (Centratherum antherminticum, Eucalyptus globulus, Lawsonia inermis, Punica granatum and Rubia cordifolia) have been shown to have anti-bacterial activity against clinically isolated S. oxacillin resistant strains. It was done. The IC50 for these methanol extracts of S. aureus ranged from 0.250 to 4.30 mg/mL. Our results suggest that various medicinal plants contain potential anti-bacterial agents against S. aureus, which may contribute to the development of more effective agents against multidrug resistant S. aureus infections. It might help.

The In Vitro Anticoccidial Activity of Some Herbal Extracts against Eimeria spp. Oocysts Isolated from Piglets

Coccidiosis in pigs seldom results in important economic losses. However, it can influence growth rates in weaners and it is an important hygiene indicator in swine farms. Certain herbs, along with their extracts, have been used over the course of history in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anticoccidial effects of Allium sativum L. (garlic), Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood), Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander), Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin), Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory), and Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) against Eimeria suis and Eimeria debliecki oocysts. The stock solution of oocysts (58% E. suis + 42% E. debliecki) was incubated for three days, before adding the tested solutions. The unsporulated Eimeria spp. oocysts were then placed in a 3 mL well plate and incubated for 96 h at 27 °C, in a suspension containing serial dilutions of alcoholic plant extracts (5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625%, and 0.312%). The percentage of sporulated and destroyed oocysts was recorded every 24 h for 96 h. All extracts had a good in vitro anticoccidial effect against oocysts of Eimeria spp. compared with the control groups. Oocyst sporulation was significantly (p = 0.05) inhibited by the 5% marigold extract (3.6% sporulated oocysts). The same extract had the highest lytic effect on oocysts (65.2% destroyed oocysts). Our results prove that the most effective alcoholic plant extract is the marigold extract, followed, in order of efficiency, by the wormwood, coriander, garlic, pumpkin, and summer savory extracts. This study represents a preliminary contribution for establishing a new generation of natural disinfectants aimed at destroying Eimeria oocysts in the context of swine contamination.

The toxic effect of some traditional herbs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against Aedes aegypti larvae as a safety method for control

Mosquitoes are effective disease vectors for human and veterinary health because they share a close environment with humans and represent a major public health problem. Saudi Arabia is home to the endemic dengue fever disease, carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Conventional insecticides based on organophosphates and insect growth regulators are the most effective short-term control methods for this vector. However, these insecticides are toxic to non-target organisms, the environment, and humans. Eight plant extracts (Ilex paraguariensis, Camellia sinensis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Elettaria cardamomum, Matricaria chamomilla, Allium sativum, Coffea arabica, and Piper nigrum) were assayed as insecticides against the 3rd and 4th larval stage of Ae. aegypti (L.), after 24 and 48 h of exposure. After 24 h, E. cardamomum and M. chamomilla showed the highest mortality rate (60%). C. zeylanicum was the most effective plant extract (LC50 = 1.12%), and I. paraguariensis had the lowest toxicity (LC50 = 7.14%). Further investigation is needed to purify the active ingredients responsible for their toxicity to mosquito larvae and to investigate the mechanisms of action of plant extracts in water and other solvents.

Antioxidant Potential of Ethiopian Medicinal Plants and Their Phytochemicals: A Review of Pharmacological Evaluation.

Free radicals are very reactive molecules produced during oxidation events that in turn initiate a chain reaction resulting in cellular damage. Many degenerative diseases in humans, including cancer and central nervous system damage, are caused by free radicals. Scientific evidence indicates that active compounds from natural products can protect cells from free radical damage. As a result, the aim of this review is to provide evidence of the use of diverse Ethiopian medicinal plants with antioxidant properties that have been scientifically validated in order to draw attention and foster further investigations in this area. The keywords antioxidant, radical scavenging activities, reactive oxygen species, natural product, Ethiopian Medicinal plants, and 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH) were used to identify relevant data in the major electronic scientific databases, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Medline, and Science domain. All articles with descriptions that were accessed until November 2022 were included in the search strategy. A total of 54 plant species from 33 families were identified, along with 46 compounds isolated. More scientific studies have been conducted on plant species from the Brassicaceae (19%), Asphodelaceae (12%), and Asteraceae (12%) families. The most used solvent and extraction method for plant samples are methanol (68%) and maceration (88%). The most examined plant parts were the leaves (42%). Plant extracts (56%) as well as isolated compounds (61%) exhibited significant antioxidant potential. The most effective plant extracts from Ethiopian flora were Bersama abyssinica, Solanecio gigas, Echinops kebericho, Verbascum sinaiticum, Apium leptophyllum, and Crinum abyssinicum. The best oxidative phytochemicals were Rutin (7), Flavan-3-ol-7-O-glucoside (8), Myricitrin (13), Myricetin-3-O-arabinopyranoside (14), 7-O-Methylaloeresin A (15), 3-Hydroxyisoagatholactone (17), β-Sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (22), Microdontin A/B (24), and Caffeic acid (39). Many crude extracts and compounds exhibited significant antioxidant activity, making them excellent candidates for the development of novel drugs. However, there is a paucity of research into the mechanisms of action as well as clinical evidence supporting some of these isolated compounds. To fully authenticate and then commercialize, further investigation and systematic analysis of these antioxidant-rich species are required.

Antifungal Potential of Canarian Plant Extracts against High-Risk Phytopathogens.

Phytopathogens are responsible for great losses in agriculture. In particular, Fusarium, Alternaria and Botrytis are fungal diseases that affect crops worldwide. In the search for eco-friendly solutions to pest control, plants and their chemo-biodiversity are promising sources of biopesticides for integrated pest management. The aim of the present study is to report the evaluation of sixteen plant species from the Canary Islands Archipelago against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum, and Alternaria alternata. The plants were selected on the basis of their traditional uses in medicine and/or pest control, as well as on scientific studies reporting their uses in crop protection. Their growth inhibition (% I), in an in vitro test-assay on mycelium, was used to identify six ethanolic plant extracts displaying activity (% I > 30% at 1 mg/mL) against at least one of the assayed fungi. The most effective plant extracts were further fractionated by liquid-liquid partition, using solvents of increasing polarity. This procedure led to an improvement of the bioactivity against the phytopathogens, even affecting the hexane fraction from S. canariensis and achieving an 83.93% of growth inhibition at 0.5 mg/mL on B. cinerea. These findings identified five plant-derived extracts as potential candidates for the future development of new biofungicides, which could be applied in integrated pest management.

Chemical profiling of Dizygostemon riparius (Plantaginaceae) plant extracts and its application against larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (diptera: culicidae)

Dengue fever is a reemerging disease of global concern among health authorities due to its high rate of proliferation. In 2019, Brazil registered its second-highest dengue mortality rate since 1998, with approximately 754 deaths and 1.5 million probable cases. Brazilian Ministry of Health prevention and control strategies for Aedes include insecticides, eradication of breeding sites, and awareness campaigns. However, as new mosquito variants resistant to conventional insecticides emerge, there is an increasing demand for effective environment-friendly plant extracts and natural substances against adult mosquitos and/or larvae of Aedes aegypti L. with no negative impacts on human health. This study aimed to investigate the larvicidal activity of Dizygostemon riparius extracts and analyze its chemical profile for the first time. Dizygostemon is a Plantaginaceae bytipic genus and D. riparius is an aromatic plant recently identified in Maranhão, Brazil. The essential oil from its lilac morphotype already exhibited larvicidal potential against Aedes albopictus, but the still limited data on this new plant species require further chemical and biological studies on other species, such as Aedes aegypti. Ethyl acetate and methanol crude leaf extracts yielded, respectively, 17.60 and 25.96%. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-UV-ESI-IT/MS) analyses confirmed the presence of polymethoxyflavones and coumarins, such as isorhamnetin 3-galactoside-7-rhamnoside, 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-methoxy-4-benzopyrone and 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′,6,7-trimethoxyflavone. Ethyl acetate extract presented the best performance in larvicide bioassays (LC50 = 542.2 ± 11.5 µg.mL−1). Our results highlight the chemical and biological potential of this new species found in the cerrado of eastern Maranhão and open perspectives for future studies focusing on isolating and identifying other active secondary metabolites of Dizygostemon riparius.