Plant Leaf Extracts Research Articles

Evaluation of in vivo Antidiabetic, Antidyslipidemic and in vitro Anti-Oxidant Activity of Extract and Solvent Fractions of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst Leaf in Mice: Normoglycemic and Streptozocin-Induced Model.

Diabetes mellitus has become a huge global public health and economic issue. The shortcomings of current medicines, as well as their serious side effects, prompted a focused quest for natural medicinal agents. In Ethiopia, the leaf of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst has been utilized in the traditional health system to treat diabetes. The goal of this study was to confirm the anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipidemia, and anti-oxidant activity of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst leaf in both in vitro and in vivo. In the normoglycemic, glucose-loaded, and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse models, the blood glucose-lowering effects of extract and solvent fractions of the leaf of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst were tested. The weight and lipid profile of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were assessed after treatment with leaf extract and solvent fractions for 14 days. The DPPH test was used to assess the antioxidant activity of the plant leaf extract. In the normoglycemic model and glucose loaded test, the leaf extract of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst demonstrated significant blood glucose decrease (34.1%, p<0.001) and 44.5%, p<0.001, respectively, when compared to the normal control. When compared to a diabetic control group, extract and solvent fractions significantly (p<0.001) reduced blood glucose levels on the 14th day in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic model. In addition, serum TC, STG, TG, LDL, and VLDL levels were reduced significantly (p<0.001). IC50 values of leaf extract and a standard medication (ascorbic acid) in the antioxidant activity test were 4.1g/mL and 10.23g/mL, respectively. The hydro-alcoholic leaf extract and solvent fractions of Discopodium penninervum Hoschst leaves have demonstrated blood glucose-lowering effect, which justify ethnobotanical use, and can therefore be used as a good insight for new anti-diabetic medication source with a call for additional studies.

Fabrication of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Passiflora edulis Extract for the Estimation of Antioxidant Potential and Photocatalytic Methylene Blue Dye Degradation

In the present work, copper oxide nanoparticles have been fabricated by using a biological method. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have received more attention than other metal oxides due to their distinctive properties and applications. Plant-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles has gained the attention of researchers because of its simple and ecologically sustainable approach. The biosynthesis of CuO NPs included the use of Passiflora edulis leaf extract that acts as a stabilizing and reducing agent. A non-toxic, cost-effective, and ecologically acceptable method was the use of plant leaf extract in the biogenesis of nanoscale materials. UV-vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD techniques were used to examine the biologically produced copper oxide nanoparticles. The findings of the SEM examination, which gives morphological information, demonstrate that the synthesized NPs have a spherical shape and have an average particle size of between 60 and 65 nm. CuO has been further investigated in the current study as a photo-catalyst in the methylene blue (MB) dye degradation and as an antioxidant in free radical scavenging activities. The decolorization efficiency was approximately 93% after 160 min. Furthermore, CuO nanoparticles were tested for antioxidant performance by scavenging 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate free radicals (DPPH) and evaluated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The result showed that biologically synthesized CuO NPs can be used as an effective antioxidant. The half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of copper oxide nanoparticles was found to be in the range of 0.13–0.20.

Synergetic antibacterial activity of Vernonia auriculifera Hiern and Buddleja polystachya Fresen on selected human pathogenic bacteria

BackgroundMedicinal plants have been used as traditional treatments for various human diseases for many years and they are still widely practiced throughout the world. Due to the long history of the practice, medicinal plants have become an integral part of the Ethiopian culture. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of Vernonia auriculifera Hiern and Buddleja polystachya Fresen leaf extracts and their synergistic effect against some selected human pathogenic bacteria. MethodsEthanol, methanol, and n-hexane crude extracts of Vernonia auriculifera, Buddleja polystachya, and a mixture of the two-plant respective of each solvent were evaluated against tested pathogenic bacteria using the agar well diffusion method; the inhibition zones were recorded in millimeters. Gentamycin was used as a positive control, while dimethyl sulfoxide served as a negative control. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the plant extracts against test bacteria was evaluated using two-fold broth dilution methods and then Minimum bactericidal concentration was determined by sub-culturing the test dilutions from minimum inhibitory concentration tubes onto fresh Muller Hinton Agar plates incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. ResultsMaximum antibacterial inhibition zone was observed on methanol extracts of synergism against S. Typhimurium (ATCC 1333) (31.00 ± 1.73 mm) while, a minimum inhibition zone was observed on methanol extract of Buddleja polystachya, against E. coli (ATCC 35218) (5.67 ± 0.57). Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of the crude extracts of Vernonia auriculifera, Buddleja polystachya, and their mixture lies between (3.125%–12.5%) and (6.25%–25%) respectively. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software package version 20 for windows. ConclusionThe present study revealed that ethanol and methanol extracts of Vernonia auriculifera and Buddleja polystachya possess significant inhibitory effects against tested pathogens and the antibacterial activity of both plants leaf extracts was greater than the activity of currently used antibiotics (Gentamycin) against some selected organisms.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of newer herbal disinfectant formulations on hospital microbial flora

Background: The world is now focusing on use of herbals because they are eco-friendly and less toxic on human health and environment Objectives:To evaluate antimicrobial activity of newer herbal disinfectant formulations on hospital microbial flora Methods: Herbal disinfectants were prepared with medicinal plant leaf extracts of Tridax procumbens, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Costus igneus and Nepata cataria. Hospital microbial flora was isolated by rubbing and rotating sterile swabs from targeted spots. Extract formulations were tested for the antimicrobial activity against five isolatedbacterial strains i.e., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus using Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. Among the five different herbal disinfectants, Tinospora cordifolia showed good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter and Enterococcus faecalis with 27mm, 20mm and 14mm of zone of inhibition respectively. Costus igneus showed high antimicrobial activity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 22mm of zone of inhibition. The herbal disinfectant formulations in the present study were reported effective results against hospital microbial flora which cause nosocomial infections Conclusions: Herbal disinfectants Tinospora cordifolia, Costus igneus, Withania somnifera exhibits antimicrobial activities against MDR bacterial pathogens isolated from hospital wards.

Evaluation of the skin protective effects of niosomal-entrapped annona squamosa against UVA irradiation.

Annona squamosa is a medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine since antiquity. The goal of this study is to see how effective Annona squamosa leaf extract (A.S.L.E) or its niosomal-entrapped preparation is at protecting skin from UVA irradiation. The prepared niosomal-entrapped A.S.L.E has been characterized via spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy imaging. Furthermore, the entrapment efficiency and in vitro release of A.S.L.E were determined. In this study, ex vivo and freshly prepared samples from the dorsal region of the rats' skin were used as biological samples, which were divided into five groups: control UVA-unexposed, unprotected UVA-exposed, A.S.L.E-protected UVA-exposed, and niosomal-entrapped A.S.L.E UVA-exposed. UVA irradiation was performed by exposing the skin samples to a UVA-producing lamp for 4h. Samples from various groups were then examined using FTIR spectroscopy, histopathology, and protein electrophoresis methods. The results showed that A.S.L.E has a skin protective effect against UVA irradiation. The niosomal-entrapped A.S.L.E was more effective than the native plant leaf extract in protecting skin from the damaging effects of UVA. Therefore, the nanotechnologically formulated preparation, niosomal-entrapped A.S.L.E, can be used as an effective photoprotector (sunscreen) against the adverse effects of UVA radiation.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles by Using Thyme Plant Leaf Extract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated by using leaves extracted from the thyme plant by employing a green method. The influence of several calcination (annealing) temperatures on the characteristic properties of fabricated ZnO NPs and the optimum calcination temperature for growing ZnO NPs were studied and reported. The studied calcination temperatures were 150 °C, 250 °C, 350 °C, and 450 °C. Different characterization techniques were used to study and examine the properties of biosynthesized ZnO NPs by using thyme plant leaf extract. The results of each UV-Vis analysis and FTIR spectrum of the leaf extract of the thyme plant confirmed and suggested that the selected leaf extract of thyme is a practicable choice for green synthesis of ZnO NPs. The investigated UV-Vis spectra of plant leaf extract displayed two strong absorption peaks at 266 nm and 313 nm at ambient temperature. The results of FESEM images showed that the calcination temperature has a significant and large effect on the morphology, size, shape, and orientation of ZnO NPs, which have a spherical shape with an average size in the range of 39.4–51.86 nm. In addition, the XRD results confirm that the ZnO NPs formed are pure ZnO with wurtzite hexagonal structure with particle size along the (002) peak in the range of 35.20–243.3 nm. The results of UV-Vis of ZnO NPs displayed a strong peak for all ZnO NPs produced at different calcination temperatures, a high absorbance in the UV region below 400 nm, and a low absorbance rate in the visible range. The obtained energy band gap (Eg) was in the range of 2.645–2.7 eV. In addition, the results of the FTIR spectra of ZnO NPs at different calcination temperatures revealed there was no discernible peak in the monitoring range, which indicated the purity of the ZnO nanoparticles generated via using thyme leaf extract. In addition, from all obtained results of the fabricated ZnO NPs, the ZnO NPs synthesized at the calcination temperature of 450 °C showed a high quality and improvement compared to the ZnO NPs synthesized at other calcination temperatures.

Comparative study of the anti-diabetic activity of insulin plant and cherry tree fresh leaf extracts in Albino Mice

Herbal medicine has become one of the considered alternatives in curing many diseases, including diabetes mellitus. It was found that Insulin Plant (Costus pictus) and Cherry Tree (Muntingia calabura) contain compounds that can help in treating diabetes. This study aims to investigate and compare the anti-diabetic activity of fresh leaf extracts of the Insulin plant […]

Developmentally related and drought-induced shifts in the kale metabolome limited Salmonella enterica association, providing novel insights to enhance food safety

Plants influence epiphytic bacterial associations but Salmonella enterica colonizes crop plants commensally, raising the possibility of human foodborne illness, but the factors that mediate human pathogen-plant associations remain understudied. We evaluated whether any changes in leaf tissue and surface metabolomes with kale (Brassica oleracea Acephala group) development and in response to drought modulated Salmonella leaf association. Untargeted phytochemical profiling (including primary and secondary metabolites) of kale leaf tissue extracts and leaf surface washes revealed distinct metabolite profiles that shifted with plant development. Metabolomes of juvenile plants also diverged in response to drought stress, an effect not noted in mature kale. Restricted watering in juvenile plants led to up-accumulation of 45 compounds in leaf tissue and 21 in leaf wash and the appearance of several unique peaks, with concomitant increases in phytochemical measurements. The antioxidant capacity and total flavonoid content were higher in mature than juvenile, regularly watered plant leaf extracts. Drought also elicited flavonoids and glucosinolates in juvenile plants. In mature plants, drought did not induce further prominent changes. Regularly watered juvenile kale provided a favorable substrate for inoculated Salmonella but the ability to support Salmonella declined with age and with drought stress. Salmonella growth was impaired in mature or water-stressed plant washes compared to controls and positive correlations were detected between Salmonella counts on leaves and in leaf washes. Moreover, Salmonella counts were inversely correlated with total flavonoids and phenolics in kale tissues from juvenile plants and regularly watered plants. Future studies should assess how changes in primary and secondary metabolites on the kale plant surface can modulate the Salmonella association. Regulated water restriction could be a strategy in controlled agriculture, with the dual purpose of enhancing health beneficial quality and food safety, especially when harvested at the baby kale stage.

Efficacy of methanolic extracts of some medicinal plants on wound healing in diabetic rats

BackgroundOne of the primary health concerns for diabetes individuals is wounds. The used drugs have several side effects, urging the need for new natural sources for therapeutics. Materials and methodsThis study was designed to estimate the wound healing potential of the methanolic extract of Globularia arabica and Malva sylvestris leaves and Rhus coriaria fruits. plant extracts were orally administered to the rats to determine their effect on the wound-healing process. ResultsPlant extracts significantly increased the contraction of the wound in non-diabetic and diabetic rats (P < 0.05) and increased the fibroblast's proliferation and migration resulting in a faster healing process. The plant extracts have no cytotoxic effects. The proliferation assay exhibited the lowest cell mortality after treatment with plant extract. ConclusionThese findings may indicate that the methanolic leaf extract of the above plants can be used as new therapeutics for wound healing in diabetic patients.

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Combined Extract of Guava (Psidium guajava) and Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) Leaves and Application in the Preparation of Nanobased Mouthwash

Abstract: In this study the combined plant leaf extract of P.guajava and F.benghalensis were used for the production of silver nanoparticles and the green synthesized silver nanoparticles were used to prepare the nanobased mouthwash and its antimicrobial activity was evaluated against the oral infection causing microorganisms . The UV-Visible spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles were demonstrated the C-H bond of the plant extracts. The FTIR results explained the presence of biomolecules and the intense peaks value demonstrated the linkages of biomolecules in the synthesized nanoparticles.

Influence of Schumann Range Electromagnetic Fields on Components of Plant Redox Metabolism in Wheat and Peas.

The Schumann Resonances (ScR) are Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) electromagnetic resonances in the Earth-ionosphere cavity excited by global lightning discharges. ScR are the part of electromagnetic field (EMF) of Earth. The influence of ScR on biological systems is still insufficiently understood. The purpose of the study is to characterize the possible role of the plant cell redox metabolism regulating system in the Schumann Resonances EMF perception. Activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, their isoenzyme structure, content of malondialdehyde, composition of polar lipids in leaf extracts of wheat and pea plants treated with short-time (30 min) and long-time (18 days) ELF EMF with a frequency of 7.8 Hz, 14.3 Hz, 20.8 Hz have been investigated. Short-time exposure ELF EMF caused more pronounced bio effects than long-time exposure. Wheat catalase turned out to be the most sensitive parameter to magnetic fields. It is assumed that the change in the activity of wheat catalase after a short-term ELF EMF may be associated with the ability of this enzyme to perceive the action of a weak EMF through calcium calmodulin and/or cryptochromic signaling systems.

Halimane Diterpenes in the Alpine Daisy Celmisia viscosa: Absolute Configuration, 2,6-Dideoxyhexopyran-3-ulosides, Conformational Flexibility, and Intraspecific Variation.

The methyl-migrated bicyclic skeleton of the halimane diterpenes has been found in a wide range of organisms, including flowering plants, liverworts, marine animals, and bacteria. The discovery of halima-1(10),14-dien-13-ol (3) from the Aotearoa New Zealand endemic alpine daisy Celmisia viscosa is now reported. The full configuration was assigned for the first time by X-ray crystallography, enantiomeric to that of a liverwort isolate. The absolute configuration at C-5 of the halimane is opposite to that at C-5 of the labdane epimanool (1) found in some C. viscosa specimens. Two new 2,6-dideoxyhexopyran-3-uloside halimane derivatives (4 and 5) were also found, and the absolute configuration of 5 was determined by 1H NMR analysis of the Mosher esters. Line broadening in the 13C NMR spectra of these halim-1(10)-enes was due to conformational exchange in the decalin ring A, as shown by molecular modeling and DFT calculations. 1H NMR and GC analyses of leaf extracts of individual plants from across the full geographic range of C. viscosa revealed intraspecific variation of diterpenes: 37 samples had halimadienol as the main diterpene in large amounts and 2 specimens had predominantly epimanool, again in large amounts. Three other viscid (sticky leaved) Celmisia species also contained diterpenes, but none was detectable in four nonviscid Celmisia species.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanoparticles Using Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) Aqueous Leaf Extract and Their Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory Activities.

Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit distinct features compared to traditional physico-chemical synthesis and they have many applications in a wide range of fields of life sciences such as surface coating agents, catalysts, food packaging, corrosion protection, environmental remediation, electronics, biomedical and antimicrobial. Green-synthesized metal NPs, mainly from plant sources, have gained a lot of attention due to their intrinsic characteristics like eco-friendliness, rapidity and cost-effectiveness. In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs have been synthesized employing an aqueous leaf extract of Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) as a reducing agent; subsequently, the biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Moreover, aqueous plant leaf extract was subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Antioxidant activity of ZnO NPs was assessed by DPPH assay, with varying concentrations of ZnO NPs, which revealed scavenging activity with IC50 = 28.11 μg mL−1. Furthermore, the anti-bacterial efficacy of the green synthesized ZnO NPs against four foodborne pathogenic bacterial strains was examined using the disk diffusion assay, and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 8095), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC10662) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) were found to be the most sensitive against biosynthesized ZnO NPs, whereas the least sensitivity was shown by Bacillus cereus (ATCC 13753). The anti-inflammatory effect was also evaluated for both ZnO NPs and the aqueous leaf extract of P. odoratissimum through the human red blood cells (HRBC) membrane stabilization method (MSM) in vitro models which includes hypotonicity-induced hemolysis. A maximum membrane stabilization of ZnO NPs was found to be 95.6% at a dose of 1000 μg mL−1 compared with the standard indomethacin. The results demonstrated that leaf extract of P. odoratissimum is suitable for synthesizing ZnO NPs, with antioxidant, antibacterial as well as superior anti-inflammatory activity by improving the membrane stability of lysosome cells, which have physiological properties similar to erythrocyte membrane cells and have no hemolytic activity. Overall, this study provides biosynthesized ZnO NPs that can be used as a safe alternative to synthetic substances as well as a potential candidate for antioxidants, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory uses in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis L.) Leaves Improve Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy via Nrf2 Activation.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by reduced muscle function and size. Oxidative stress contributes to muscle atrophy but can be treated with antioxidants. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of a castor oil plant leaf (Ricinus communis L.) extract (RC) and its effects on muscle atrophy. Rutin was identified as the major compound among the thirty compounds identified in RC via LC-MS/MS and was found to inhibit dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Rutin-rich RC showed DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and efficiently reduced the DEX-induced myotube atrophy and mitochondrial oxidative damage in C2C12 cells. RC supplementation prevented the loss of muscle function and muscle mass in DEX-administered mice and ameliorated DEX-induced oxidative stress via Nrf2 signaling. Taken together, both RC and rutin ameliorated muscle atrophy and helped in maintaining redox homeostasis; hence, rutin-rich RC could be a promising functional food that is beneficial for muscle health.

Impact of certain plant extracts on different larval and cocoon characters of silkworm bombyx mori linn

Silkworm Bombyx mori L. feeds on the leaves of mulberry tree which is only the host plant for silkworm. The improvement of larval feeding is enrichment of mulberry leaves with supplementary nutrients. The present study has been aimed at investigating various economic traits of the silkworm cocoon, when fed on mulberry leaves fortified with the effect of leaf extract of Ocimum sanctum (“Queen of Herb” Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem or Nim tree) and Vitex negunda (Nirgundi or Sindvar) medicinal leaf extract at different concentration viz., 0.1%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% on silkworm was studied. There was significant improvement in silk ratio % and filament length at 2.5% concentration of different medicinal plant leaf extract but the cocoon and shell weight decreased in comparison to control. In was significantly increased the larvae, economic traits like cocoon weight, shell weight, pupa weight, shell percentage, filament length, fibroin, sericin and denier of silk filament. Extract has growth promoting effect on silkworm, which helps to enhance the commercial qualities of silk and can be used in sericulture for yield improvement.

Screening and evaluation of potential bioactive compounds for antibacterial activity in Indian medicinal plants of Bacopa monnieri, Eclipta alba, Aegle marmelos and Centella asiatica

The study was focused to identify and screening the potential action (antimicrobial activity) of ethanolic extract of the selected Indian medicinal plant leaves of Bacopa monnieri, Eclipta alba, Aegle marmelos, Centella asiatica against the following bacteria pathogenic isolates (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus feceium , Enterobacter clocae , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and, Proteus mirabilis). Leaves of the above mentioned Indian medicinal plants were shade dried, powdered, and extracted using solvent ethanol. The potential ingredients present in these plants are associated to the bioactive components possessing antibacterial property. The analysis of antibiotic property was executed using disc diffusion method and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of the plant leaf extracts. The two methods used in this study was that in the (method-1 the, disc were dried with plant extract and in the method-2 the, disc were soaked in the plant extract). The plant leaf extracts with potential bioactive compounds were screened using wavelength scanning in the range of 200nm to 900nm by UV-VIS spectrophotometer and their characteristic peaks were detected. Among the two methods, method -1 was found to be the best antibiotic activity among the tested medicinal plants. The disc diffusion method revealed a high degree of activity against bacterial clinical isolates. The UV-VIS profile showed different peaks ranging from 270nm-740nm with different absorption. The spectral analysis of Eclipta alba, Bacopa monnieri, Aegle marmelos and Centella asiatica revealed the presence of bioactive components and were answerable for the antibiotic activity against selected pathogens. From the result Eclipta alba was observed to be the best antibiotic activity while compared to other three medicinal plants. The results confirmed that these plants extracts were potential as a source of drugs to combat infections caused by prone bacteria. Thus helps to further studies to identify functional bioactive compounds responsible for the in vivo antibacterial activity and possible mechanism of action of the extracts.

Genetic diversity of Prosopis juliflora in the state of Qatar and its valuable use against postharvest pathogen of mango fruits

Mango (Mangifera indica) is the second most internationally traded tropical fruit in the world. The fruit has high nutritional value. Its susceptibility to postharvest diseases and chill injuries increases its storage cost and put stress on exploring natural products that can increase its shelf-life. Our team has previously described Prosopis juliflora water-soluble leaf ethanolic (PJ-WS-LE) extract with fungicidal effectiveness against spoiling fungi. The present study explores P. juliflora genetic diversity in the state of Qatar and the antifungal effectiveness of the leaf extract of plants collected from different locations. The study also evaluates PJ-WS-LE extract efficacy against Alternaria. alternata and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides inoculated in mango samples and the power of the extract as coating material. P. juliflora samples collected from six different locations showed genetic and antimicrobial effectiveness similarities. They showed also similarity to the sequence representing P. juliflora 18S ribosomal RNA partial sequence, accession number JX139107.1 originated from India. PJ-WS-LE extract (8 mg/ml) has 80% efficacy in controlling A. alternata in mango and it lowers C. gloeosporioides disease severity by 53.4%. PJ-WS-LE extract (8 mg/ml) embedded in 1% chitosan maintained mango quality for 5 weeks. In vivo results of PJ-WS-LE extract highlights the potentials of the extract as chemical fungicides replacement.

Short Communication: Attractiveness of subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus to plant leaf extracts

Abstract. Indrayani Y, Muin M, Adilla C, Yoshimura T. 2018. Short Communication: Attractiveness of subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus to plant leaf extracts. Biodiversitas 19: 1176-1180. Plant-derived compounds have many potential uses. One such use is in agriculture for managing pests with less risk than with synthetic compounds that are toxicologically and environmentally undesirable. The current study focuses on the potential use of leaf extracts from five tropical plant species in attractant bait systems for controlling subterranean termites. Leaves from clove [Syzygium aromaticum (L.)], cajuput (Melaleuca leucadendra L.), cinnamon [Cinnamomum burmannii (Nees &amp; T. Nees) Blume], basil (Ocimum sanctum L.) and bay (Syzygium polyanthum Wight) were extracted with 70% ethanol solution. Each extract was evaluated for its attractant properties for Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki using olfactory and Y-line trail following tests, respectively. Extract solutions were diluted to 1% concentration based on their eugenol content. For each test, which was replicated 15 times, a single worker was introduced into the test unit. The results showed that M. leucadendra crude extract was the most attractive among the five plant crude extracts, and the S. aromaticum crude extract was attractive especially in the trail-following test. The attraction rates were 40.00%, 80.00%, 53.33%, 60.00% and 46.67% for the S. aromaticum, M. leucadendra, C. burmannii, O. sanctum and S. polyanthum extracts, respectively. The trail-following rates were 86.67% for the S. aromaticum extract, 66.67% for the M. leucadendra extract, 53.33% for the C. burmannii extract, 20% for the O. sanctum extract as well as 26.67% for the S. polyanthum extract.

Qualitative and Quantitative Assesment of Phytochemicals in Selected Medicinal Plants native to Shujabad, Punjab, Pakistan

The present study aimed at screening of phytochemicals qualitatively and quantitatively in six selected medicinal plants native to Shujabad, Multan, Pakistan. Screening of various phytochemicals (phenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, anthocayanins, phlobatannins, coumarins, triterpenoids, cardiac glycosides, sterols and alkaloids)was done by preparing plant leaf extracts in different solvents i.e., ethanol, methanol and water.&#x0D; Optical density of total phenolic and alkaloid compounds was measured via UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 640 nm and 470 nm respectively. Phenols and anthocayanins were found in all the six selected medicinal plants. Alkaloids were absent in O. corniculata. Flavonoids were absent in R. communis. Tannins were absent in O. corniculata and E. prostrata. Phlobatannins, coumarins and triterpenoids were absent in O. corniculata and R. communis. Terpenoids were absent in R. communis. Steroids were only present in O. corniculata, C. album and C. citratus. Sterols were absent in R. communis and saponins were only absent in O. corniculata. Glycosides were absent in C. album, M. pipperita and in C. citratus. Cardiac glycosides were only present in C. citratus. Phenolic content was found highest in R. communis while the highest alkaloid content in E. prostrate was found. It is evident from the study that C. citratusis of highest therapeutic efficacy possessing a majority of phytochemicals classes of compounds and R. communisis of lowest therapeutic potential due to the absence of the majority of phytoconstituents. Plants having these phytochemicals are considered important both medicinally and economically. There is a need to do further research on phytoconstituents of these plants and their role in mitigating the disease.

Effect of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles on the vegetative growth of Amaranthus cruentus plants

ZnO nanoparticles synthesis using Ocimum gratissimum and Vernonia amygdalina plant leaf extracts, their characterisation and use as nanofertilizer for growing black-seeded (BS) and pale-seeded (PS)Amaranthus cruentus plants is here presented. The nanoparticles (made possible by the flavones, phenols and flavonoids in the leaf extracts used) were of good crystalline structure, spherical in shape and in clusters. Their UV-vis peak absorbance occurred at 355 nm and 360 nm and their PL spectra showed a UV emission peak and a green emission peak. SEM images show nanoparticles sizes (which depended on the pH level of their synthesis solution and the type of plant leaf extract used) in the range 38 nm to 63 nm. When used as nanofertilizer for the Amaranthus cruentus growth, it was discovered that smaller nanoparticles produced taller plants and that both plant varieties tolerate nanofertilizer concentrations as high as 500 though nanofertilizer concentrations higher than this was detrimental to the plant growth. While the BS plants showed better shoot growth with broad leaves of area 60 , the PS plant variety had narrow and scanty leaves with leaf area as low as 4 The PS plants produced the highest yield of 60 % when treated with pH 10 500 Og-ZnO nanofertilizer but the lowest yield of 16 % when treated with pH 12 Og-ZnO nanofertilizer of concentration 500 . This work shows that these ZnO nanofertilizer enhanced the growth of the Amaranthus cruentus provided high concentrations of the fertilizers which could be toxic, are avoided.