High Amounts Of Alkaloids Research Articles

Evaluation of the Phytochemistry of Aqueous, Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Twig

Aim: The aim of this study was to phytochemically analyze the aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic twig extracts of the species Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf.
 Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Plant Anatomy and Physiology Research Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, between July, 2018 and November, 2018.
 Methodology: Morus mesozygia linn twigs were collected and washed with distilled water, air dried for seven days and milled into fine powder. Maceration method was used to extract the powdered twig into a brownish paste using three different solvents; distilled water, ethanol and methanol. The different plant extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins and anthraquinones. Quantitative phytochemical analysis was done using a Gas chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy machine.
 Results: The results of this study showed that the powdered Morus mesozygia linn twigs contained flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, tannins, but not anthraquinones. The methanolic and aqueous twig extracts contained high amounts of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and tannins, while the ethanolic extract also contained high amounts of the aforementioned phytochemicals in the same proportion, but had saponins in moderate amounts. It also showed that the methanolic twig extract had more carbohydrate than the other two extracts. The result of the GC-MS analysis showed that the three extracts contained complex compounds in varying amounts.
 Conclusion: The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses test results of Morus mesozygia Linn Stapf. revealed the presence of the substances like alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, oils, phenolic compounds, tannins and some complex compounds discovered using GC-MS technique, in their varying concentrations for the three different extracts.

Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Screening of Azadirachta indica Juss. Plant Parts

Azadirachta indica which is commonly known as neem plant has one of the most promising medicinal properties having a wide spectrum of biological activity. Fresh matured leaves, stem-bark and seeds of A. indica (neem) were collected, air dried and aqueous-extract was used to screen for some active chemical constituents. Phytochemicals of neem plant parts were extracted and screened both qualitatively and quantitatively. The screening of A. indica was carried out at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Paklihawa Campus, Rupandehi in a quest to evaluate the phytochemicals. Among the qualitative tests done for the presence of secondary metabolites; alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids were found to present in all of the tested parts whereas steroids, polyphenols and tannins were present only in leaves and stem-bark. Glycosides and coumarins are absent in all of the tested parts. Quantitative screening was also done by using gravimetric method. Alkaloids were found in all the parts of A. indica with the highest amount of alkaloids were obtained in stem-bark (12.8%) and lowest in leaves (10.67%). Highest flavonoids percentage was revealed in leaves (13.8%) and lowest flavonoids in stem-bark (12.8%). Similarly, seeds (2.53%) contained saponins % while it was lowest in stem-bark (2.50 %). Terpenoids % were similar in both i.e. leaves and stem-bark (13.13%), whereas lowest in seeds (12.77%). More research on secondary metabolites will be helpful to the chemical industries to produce plant-based chemicals and minimize the environment degradation from different synthetic chemicals.
 Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 9(2): 122-127.

Pyrrolizidine-Derived Alkaloids: Highly Toxic Components in the Seeds of Crotalaria cleomifolia Used in Popular Beverages in Madagascar.

Seeds of Crotalaria cleomifolia (Fabaceae) are consumed in Madagascar in preparation of popular beverages. The investigation of extracts from the seeds of this species revealed the presence of high amounts of alkaloids from which two pyrrolizidine-derived alkaloids were isolated. One of them was fully characterized by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, which was found to be usaramine. Owing to the high toxicity of these alkaloids, issuing a strong warning among populations consuming the seeds of Crotalaria cleomifolia must be considered.

Phytochemical Screening of Aqueous, Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Morus mesozygia Linn. Stapf., Leaves

Aim: This study focused on the phytochemical screening of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic leaf extracts on the species Morus mesozygia linn.
 Study Design: This study was a cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Plant Anatomy and Physiology Research Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt, between July, 2018 and November, 2018.
 Methodology: Morus mesozygia linn leaves were collected and washed with distilled water, air dried for seven days and milled into fine powder. Maceration method was use to extract the powdered leaf into a brownish paste using three different solvents; distilled water, ethanol and methanol. The different plant extracts were subjected to qualitative phytochemical screening for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins and anthraquinones. Quantitative phytochemical analysis was done using a Gas chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy machine.
 Results: Results showed that the powdered Morus mesozygia linn leaves contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates, tannins, but not anthraquinones. The methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts contained high amounts of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and tannins, while the ethanolic extract also contained high amounts of the aforementioned phytochemicals in the same proportion, but had saponins in moderate amounts. The result of the GC-MS analysis showed that the three extracts contained complex compounds in varying amounts.
 Conclusion: Phytochemical screening test of Morus mesozygia has revealed the presence of the substances like alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, oils, phenolic compounds, tannins and some complex compounds discovered using GC-MS technique.

COMPARATIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTY OF BARK, FLOWERS AND LEAVES EXTRACTS OF SIMAROUBA GLAUCA

Objective: The current study was to evaluate and compare the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of bark, flowers and leaves of the tree Simarouba glauca. 
 Methods: The solvent extraction of phytochemicals was carried out using Soxhlet apparatus with ethanol, chloroform, methanol, and water. The antioxidant property was determined by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging, reducing power assay, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay using gallic acid and ascorbic acid as the standards.
 Results: The extraction yield was found maximum in the water extract of flower (3.7% w/w). Qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytoconstituents showed that the highest amount of alkaloids and flavonoid content (2.1% w/w) and (3.9% w/w), respectively, was in the chloroform extract of the flower. Phenol and carbohydrate constituent was found to be highest in the methanol extract of leaves 2.5% w/w and 2.2% w/w, respectively. The antioxidant assays showed that the bark possessed maximum antioxidant activity. The water extracts of S. glauca bark exhibited scavenging property (90%) with an IC50 value 39.63 μg/ml, and the least activity (56%) was observed in the methanol extracts of leaves with an IC50 value of 62.96 μg/ml of S. glauca. 
 Conclusion: The study concluded that the water extract of the bark is a potent antioxidant compared to leaves and flowers. Further, in vivo studies are essential to enumerate its medicinal use and prove its efficacy in therapeutic applications.

Microbial, phytochemical, toxicity analyses and antibacterial activity against multidrug resistant bacteria of some traditional remedies sold in Buea Southwest Cameroon

BackgroundTraditional medicine remedies are commonly used for treatment of diverse ailments including bacterial infections. The activity against resistant bacteria and safety of some remedies sold as anti-infective treatments in market places in Buea, Southwest Cameroon were investigated as potential alternative treatment to counter increasing antibiotic resistance.MethodsTen remedies were purchased, their components documented and microbial load estimated. Methanol extracts of the remedies were tested for antibacterial activity by disc diffusion and microdilution. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on monkey kidney epithelial cells (LLC-MK2) while acute oral toxicity was done in BALB/c mice for the bactericidal extract. Extracts were further analysed using phytochemical tests.ResultsAll the remedies had microbial loads above the acceptable limit of 105 CFU/g. The highest activity was produced by extracts of four remedies (TP 1, 2, 4, 6a, 6b) against all clinical isolates among which three were active against four control strains. Zones of inhibition ranged from 8 to 27 mm. Two of the four extracts produced zones ≥20 mm against multidrug resistant clinical isolates of Citrobacter freundii and Escherichia coli but were less active compared to Gentamycin positive control (P < 0.0001–0.0014). The most active extracts also recorded minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1 to 4 mg/mL. One of them (TP2) was bactericidal against a clinical isolate of methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 8 mg/mL. Extracts of six remedies did not show cytotoxicity and no mortality or adverse effect was recorded in the acute oral toxicity test. Phytochemical screening showed the most active extracts contained relatively high amounts of alkaloids and flavonoids.ConclusionOnly four of the eight remedies tested showed activity against multidrug resistant bacteria suggesting some of these remedies may not be effective against bacterial infections. Production and handling methods should be improved and the product quality controlled to ensure biosecurity. The remedies which were both active and non-toxic should be further investigated including in vivo experiments to assess their efficacy.

Two Lycopodium alkaloids from the aerial parts of Huperzia phlegmaria

Background: Huperzia phlegmaria has been used to enhancing memory and alleviate brain disorders. It contains high amount of alkaloids, which are potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. Materials and Methods: Lycopodium alkaloids from aerial parts of H. phlegmaria were isolated by chromatographic methods. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. AChE inhibitory effect of isolated compounds in vitro was evaluated using Ellman's assay. Results: These compounds were identified as fawcettidine and 12-epilycodoline N-oxide. Two compounds showed moderately AChE inhibitory effects with IC50values of 33.11 μg/mL and 64.56 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion:These isolated compounds could be promising drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

ECONOMIC MAXIMIZATION OF ALFALFA ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY USING STRESSFUL FACTORS

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The present study addresses the effect of water deficit stress on the antimicrobial capacity of alfalfa (&lt;em&gt;Medicago sativa&lt;/em&gt;) plants. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Methanolic extracts of alfalfa plants grown in different soil types, varying in sand proportion, either alone or combined with various levels of water regimes were assessed for antibacterial and antifungal activities following cup plate method. The phytochemical profiles of plant extracts were also qualitatively screened using appropriate chemical reagents. Moreover, data were intensively processed &lt;em&gt;via&lt;/em&gt; two different statistical designs. &lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Increasing sand amount induced the inhibitory effect of plant extracts on &lt;em&gt;Escherichia&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;coli&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Klebsiella pneumonia&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Proteus&lt;/em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;vulgaris&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Salmonella typhi&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Mucor circinelloides&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Rhizopus azygosporus&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;R. microsporus&lt;/em&gt; with less pronounced action on &lt;em&gt;Shigella flexneri&lt;/em&gt;,&lt;em&gt; Staphylococcus epidermidis&lt;/em&gt;,&lt;em&gt; Candida albicans&lt;/em&gt; and&lt;em&gt; Emericella quadrillineata&lt;/em&gt;;&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;as well as a reversed influence on &lt;em&gt;Pseudomonas aerugenosa&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;Streptococcus pyrogenes&lt;/em&gt;. Furthermore, withholding irrigation water enhanced the plant suppressive action on &lt;em&gt;E. coli, &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Salmonella typhi&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;Staphylococcus epidermidis&lt;/em&gt;,&lt;em&gt; Candida albicans&lt;/em&gt; and &lt;em&gt;R. microsporus&lt;/em&gt; with less marked or reversed influence on the other tested microbes. However, &lt;em&gt;Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea&lt;/em&gt;, two species of &lt;em&gt;Penicillium&lt;/em&gt; and five of &lt;em&gt;Aspergillus&lt;/em&gt; could resist the studied plant extracts. The results also revealed that the extracts of water-unsatisfied plants generally contained higher amounts of alkaloids, amino acids, flavonoids, glycosides, phytosterols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids and reducing sugars.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;The employed biological evaluations point out to promising antimicrobial efficiency of alfalfa plants particularly when stressed.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of media and carbon sources on growth and canthin-6-ones accumulation in hairy root cultures of Eurycoma harmadiana

Eurycoma harmandiana Pierre belongs to Simaroubaceae family which is a Thai traditional medicinal plant used for intermittent fever (Malaria). The major bioactive compounds of the these plants are quassinoids and canthin-6-one alkaloids which possessed cytotoxic, antimalarial, and aphrodiasiac[1 – 2]. In this study, the effects of various basal media and carbon sources on growth and canthinone alkaloids production in hairy root cultures of E. harmadiana was investigated. The effect of basal media on the hairy root biomass was no significantly different, while the highest amount of alkaloids, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (5.75 mg/g dry weight) and 9-methoxycanthin-6-one (5.87 mg/g dry weight), could be obtained in B5 liquid medium. At fructose of 3% (w/v), the production of 9-methoxycanthin-6-one (5.74 mg/g dry weight) is promoted to gain the highest yield, while 3% (w/v) mannitol gave the highest amount of 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one (4.94 mg/g dry weight), compared to other carbon sources tested. This study suggests that the successful production of 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one and 9-methoxycanthin-6-one in vitro cultures has a potential in large-scale production using bioreactor technology.

ChemInform Abstract: Recent Developments of Chiral Induction in the Syntheses of Biologically Important Alkaloids

Alkaloids are interesting groups of natural products with important biological properties, but naturally available alkaloids are insufficient for biological studies. Therefore, the demand for higher amounts of alkaloids made research community to synthesize alkaloids by innovative techniques. The importance of asymmetric reactions for scientific community to obtain enantiomerically pure compounds with good yield and diastereomeric excess (de) or enantiomeric excess (ee) by different strategies of asymmetric induction is emphasized in this review. In addition, importance have been given to discuss on biologically important alkaloids, their skeleton synthesis, intermediates and total synthesis with different strategies mainly based on chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents and chiral metal ligand based catalysts.

Recent Developments of Chiral Induction in the Syntheses of Biologically Important Alkaloids

Alkaloids are interesting groups of natural products with important biological properties, but naturally available alkaloids are insufficient for biological studies. Therefore, the demand for higher amounts of alkaloids made research community to synthesize alkaloids by innovative techniques. The importance of asymmetric reactions for scientific community to obtain enantiomerically pure compounds with good yield and diastereomeric excess (de) or enantiomeric excess (ee) by different strategies of asymmetric induction is emphasized in this review. In addition, importance have been given to discuss on biologically important alkaloids, their skeleton synthesis, intermediates and total synthesis with different strategies mainly based on chiral auxiliaries, chiral reagents and chiral metal ligand based catalysts.

Differences in Fruit Size, Postharvest Pathology and Phytochemicals between Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Irvingia &lt;/em&gt;(bush mango) species are economically important trees, but studies aimed at their prospect for domestication did not take into account the potential differences between members of the Genus. Hence fruit size, postharvest pathology and phytochemicals of &lt;em&gt;I. gabonensis &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;I. wombolu&lt;/em&gt; were studied. Results showed that whilst the mean weight, length, width and thickness of fruits of &lt;em&gt;I. gabonensis &lt;/em&gt;were 125.08g, 60.85mm, 62.66mm and 56.78mm, respectively, those obtained from &lt;em&gt;I. wombolu &lt;/em&gt;were 86.08g, 54.23mm, 54.09mm and 50.97mm, respectively. Difference in brownish-black rot fruit disease between the two &lt;em&gt;Irvingia&lt;/em&gt; species was not significant (&lt;em&gt;P=0.05&lt;/em&gt;), but disease severity increased correspondingly with increase in storage days. Four genera of fungi (&lt;em&gt;Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;Mucor&lt;/em&gt;)&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;were isolated from fruits of both &lt;em&gt;Irvingia &lt;/em&gt;species, and &lt;em&gt;I. wombolu &lt;/em&gt;was found to sustain a significantly lower fungal population (7.76E+07 cfu) than &lt;em&gt;I. gabonensis &lt;/em&gt;(1.05E+08 cfu)&lt;em&gt;. &lt;/em&gt;High fungal population led to a correspondingly high severity of brownish-black rot disease. Fruits of both&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;Irvingia &lt;/em&gt;species&lt;em&gt; &lt;/em&gt;possessed all five phytochemicals (alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and glucosides). However, whilst both species had the same amounts of flavonoids and glycosides, &lt;em&gt;I. wombolu&lt;/em&gt; possessed relatively higher amounts of alkaloids, saponins and tannins than &lt;em&gt;I. gabonensis&lt;/em&gt;. &lt;em&gt;I. wombolu &lt;/em&gt;may be the preferred choice if domestication would be based on phytochemicals. In like manner, &lt;em&gt;I. gabonensis &lt;/em&gt;may be the preferred choice for domestication if taste, weight and size of fruits were the parameters of interest.&lt;/p&gt;

Effects of Medium Constituents on Growth and Canthinone Accumulation in Cell Suspension Cultures of Eurycoma longifolia Jack

The effect of various macronutrients, micronutrients and sucrose on growth and canthinone alkaloid production in cell suspension cultures of Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) was investigated. The optimum macronutrients and micronutrients content for the high alkaloid production of E. longifolia Jack was different to that found in the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The highest amount of alkaloids, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one and 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, could be obtained from E. longifolia Jack cells cultured in modified MS liquid medium that containing macronutrients: 21.50 mM NH 4 NO 3 , 14.25 mM KNO 3 , 7.50 mM CaCl 2 •2H 2 O, 2.50 mM MgSO 4 •7H 2 O, 1.45 mM KH 2 PO 4 , while content of micronutrients was 0.233 mM FeNa-EDTA, 0.215 mM MnSO 4 •4H 2 O and without CuSO 4 •5H 2 O. Increased sucrose concentration to 4.00% (w/v) in modified MS liquid medium could increase total of two-alkaloid. The modification of macronutrients and micronutrients concentration based the optimum production of biomass was obtained MSBs medium that producing high biomass but also increasing the production of 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one. The modification of macronutrients or macronutrients and micronutrients based the optimum total of two-alkaloid was obtained MSC and MSD medium that producing low fresh weight but producing the high 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one. Key words: Pasak Bumi, 9-hydroxycanthin-6-one, 9-methoxycanthin-6-one, macronutrients, micronutrients, sucrose

Galanthamine pattern in Narcissus confusus plants.

Galanthamine is an Amaryllidaceae-type alkaloid with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The distribution of galanthamine and four other alkaloids in different organs of Narcissus confusus plants, as well as the variations occurring during the ontogenic cycle of this plant species, was studied. The five alkaloids were found to be present in all the organs at every stage, with the exception of haemanthamine in senescent flowers. The highest amount of alkaloids occurred in the bulb at the emerging stage, galanthamine being the most abundant, reaching a concentration of up to 2.5 % referred to dry weight.

Relationship between theClavicepsLife Cycle and Productivity of Ergot Alkaloids

AbstractThe morphology, biochemistry, and physiology studies during development of Claviceps purpurea fungi clearly demonstrate that alkaloid synthesis is linked to a specific stage of the fungal life cycle. In nature, ergot alkaloids are synthesized in the course of developing sclerotia, while in submerged cultures, lacking sexual reproduction, alkaloid synthesis proceeds in sclerotia-like cells. Highly active submerged strains could be obtained by combination of mutagens with a different mode of action as well as by somatic hyphal anastomoses or efficient protoplast fusions to obtain the parasexual cycle. Fused strains not only retained the biosynthetic activity of parent strains but produced even much higher amounts of alkaloids. In our strains, the appropriate morphology always corresponded to high productivity. Furthermore, the form of cell differentiation was typical for each particular strain. When comparing active and inactive strains, measurements of qualitative and quantitative changes in myceli...