Methanolic Leaf Extract Research Articles

Nutritional Profile, GC-MS Analysis and In-silico Anti-diabetic Phytocompounds Candidature of Jatropha gossypifolia Leaf Extracts.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder known to impair many physiological functions via reactive oxygen species (ROS). Aldose reductase, sorbitol dehydrogenase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, α-amylase and α-glucosidase are pharmacotherapeutic protein targets in type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Inhibitors of these enzymes constitute a new class of drugs used in the management and treatment of T2DM. Some reports have claimed that medicinal plant extracts that serves as food (and as an antioxidant source) can reduce these alterations by eliminating ROS caused by DM. Ethnobotanical survey claims Jatropha gossypifolia commonly called "fignut" and "Lapa-lapa" in the Yoruba land of South-western Nigeria, to be used for the treatment and management of diabetes, in addition to its nutritive value. The nutritional composition and in-silico antidiabetic potential of the bioactive constituents of J. gossypifolia leaf extracts were investigated. Proximate, minerals and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis were carried out using standard procedures. Phytocompounds present in J. gossypifolia methanol (JGM) and ethyl acetate (JGE) leaf extracts were tested as potential antagonists of selected protein targets via in-silico techniques. Drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity of the promising docked ligands were also predicted. The proximate and mineral analysis revealed good nutritional composition and mineral content. Additionally, cyclo-pentadecane and dibutyl phthalate from methanol extract, and benzene- 1,2,4,5-tetramethyl, benzene-1,2,3,5-tetramethyl, and benzene-1,3-dimethyl-5-(1-methylethyl) from ethyl acetate extract were present in J. gossypifolia leaf which exhibited a better binding affinity than the clinically prescribed standard, metformin. Benzene-1,2,4,5-tetramethyl from JGE extracts exhibited the most promising antidiabetic potential in-silico, suggesting its candidature as diabetes-target-protein inhibitor which may be developed for the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus.

In-Vivo Anti-Malarial Activity of 80% Methanol Leaf Extract of Croton Dichogamus Pax and Ehretia Cymosa Thonn in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice.

Malaria is causing high mortality and morbidity due to Plasmodium's resistance to currently available anti-malarial drugs and mosquito's resistance to insecticides. Thus, there is a critical need to search for novel anti-malarial drugs from natural sources. Therefore, this study investigated in vivo antimalarial activities of two Ethiopian medicinal plants, Croton dichogamus Pax and Ehretia cymosa Thonn, in Plasmodium berghei infected Swiss albino mice. Soxhlet extraction method using 80% methanol as a solvent was used to prepare crude extracts of the two plants. Acute oral toxicity and 4-day suppressive in vivo antimalarial activity tests were performed on healthy female mice and P. berghei infected male mice, respectively. Antimalarial activity of the crude extracts at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg and the standard drug, chloroquine were used to assesse in Plasmodium berghei infected Swiss albino mice. Parasitemia level, packed cell volume, body weight, and rectal temperature of the mice were determined before infection (day 0) and after treatment (day 4). Survival time was determined by recording the date on which the mice died, considering the date of infection as day 0. The recorded data were analyzed using ANOVA and SPSS version 24. The result of the acute toxicity study revealed that the crude extracts were non-toxic at doses up to 2 g/kg. The extract of E. cymosa suppressed parasitemia level by 66.28, 63.44 and 63.14% at 400, 200, and 100mg/kg, levels while C. dichogamus extract suppressed parasitemia level by 45.29% at a dose of 400mg/kg. The remaining two dose levels of C.dichogamus extract suppressed parasitemia level by < 30%. C. dichogamus and E. cymosa showed anti-plasmodial activities. E. cymosa exhibited a more pronounced anti-plasmodial effect than C. dichogamus. The activities of both plants observed in this study support their traditional use as antimalarial drugs. Further studies on these plants using solvent fractions are required to identify their active ingredients.

B-HEMATIN INHIBITION ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT AND RESIDUAL AQUEOUS FRACTION OF FICUS ASPERIFOLIA

Chemotherapy is still regarded as the major intervention in fighting the malaria scourge despite the recent introduction of malaria vaccine. Screening of medicinal plants provides opportunities for the discovery of the potential drug molecules. Ficus asperifolia (Miq) family Moraceae has been traditionally employed in the treatment of many diseases including pain, fever and malaria. The aim of this study was to examine the anitmalarial activity of both the methanol leaf extract (MEFA) and residual aqueous fraction of Ficus asperifolia (RAF) through the determination of their heme polymerization inhibition ability. The powdered leaf was extracted using 70%

Evaluation of In vitro anti-inflammatory activity and In-silico pharmacokinetics and molecular docking study of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi

Background: Phytochemicals are still a valuable source to develop clinically important drugs in treating chronic and acute diseases. Inflammation is a response to an injurious stimulus of the body and novel therapeutic agents are needed to alleviate the condition with minimum side effects. Aims and Objectives: To investigate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of methanol and aqueous leaf, bark, and combination extracts of plant Horsfieldia iryaghedhi by heat-induced egg albumin denaturation method and to analyze the phytochemicals of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi for their anti-inflammatory potential against cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) using molecular docking. Methodology: Matured and fully expanded fresh leaves and barks of H. iryaghedhi were collected, and the extractions were obtained cold maceration using 99.9% methanol and distilled water as solvents. A concentration series was then developed, and the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated against Diclofenac sodium as the positive control, using the heat-induced egg albumin denaturation method. Further, selected phytochemicals were tested against COX-2 enzyme (PDB ID: 5IKR) using site-specific molecular docking with autodock vina and the binding energies and pharmacokinetic and toxicity parameters were evaluated. Results: The methanol and aqueous extracts have shown a moderate to strong concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory activity with reference to standard Diclofenac sodium (IC50 116.4 μg/ml) and Methanol bark extract exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity compared to other extracts (IC50 293 μg/ml). Further, Methanol and aqueous extracts showed a statistically significant correlation between concentration and percentage inhibition (p&lt;0.05, R2 ≈1). The molecular docking results suggest that the phytochemicals available on the plant have possible COX-2 inhibitory activity and the compounds selected (Methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate and N, N-Dimethyl-5-methoxy tryptamine) even got favourable toxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters confirming their drugability. Conclusion: Methanol bark extract of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi have marked in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The results indicate a solid possibility of lead discovery of anti- inflammatory agents from the bark and leaves of Horsfieldia iryaghedhi. However, further molecular dynamics studies and in vivo tests may be required to confirm the findings.

Methanolic Leaf Extract of Andrographis paniculata Mitigates Aspirin Induced Ulcerogenic and Biochemical Changes in Wistar Rats

This study was aimed at evaluating the ameliorative effect of methanol extract of Andrographis paniculata by aspirin induced ulcerogenic and biochemical changes in wistar albino rats. This study was measured by the following parameters; Total protein, Total Bilirubin, Albumin and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). Fifty rats (weighing about 150-250g) were evenly distributed into 5 groups of 10 rats each. Group 1 (Normal control) and group 2 (Positive control) received normal saline (10ml/kg), group 3 and 4 received 200mg/kg body weight and 400mg/kg body weight of the extract respectively and group 5 (standard) received 30mg/kg body weight omeprazole orally for 7 days. On day 7, groups 2,3,4 and 5 were fasted for 24 hours and on the 8th day the animal were induced with 200mg/kg body weight of aspirin orally. The animals were euthanized on the 9th day using chloroform anaesthesia. Blood was collected by puncturing the heart to perform a liver function assay. A portion of the liver and gastrointestinal tract of the rats were removed and preserved in 10% formalin for histological studies. The liver was also homogenised to conduct a lipid peroxidation assay. The study discovered that serum total protein, serum albumin and SOD activities in the positive control were significantly decreased (p&lt;0.05) and total bilirubin was significantly increased when compared to normal control. However, pretreatment with Andrographis paniculata (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) in groups 3 and 4 respectively, significantly increased the levels of SOD activities, serum total protein, albumin and significantly decreased the level of total bilirubin compared to the positive control group. Treatment with omeprazole at dose 30mg/kg body weight also caused a significant decrease (p&lt;0.05) in total bilirubin level and an increase in total protein, albumin and SOD compared to the positive control. These findings are confirmed by the histopathological results obtained. The results of the present study indic

Quantitative and Qualitative Determination of Polyphenolic Compounds in Castanea sativa Leaves and Evaluation of Their Biological Activities

The aim of the study was to evaluate the polyphenol profile of Castanea sativa leaf methanolic extract and further evaluate its biological activities in vitro. After purification with an RP-18 resin, the extract was assessed for its polyphenol profile by UPLC-PDA-MS/MS, as well as for the antioxidant potential (ABTS, CUPRAC, ChA, ROS scavenging methods), anticancer, antiobesity, antidiabetic and antimicrobial potential. Eighteen polyphenols were identified and the dominant compounds were chestatin followed by quercetin 3-O-glucoside. The total phenolic content of the extract showed a value of 1426.55 mg/100 g d.w. The obtained preparation showed the ability to scavenge O2•− (0.067 mg/mL) and OH• (0.207 mg/mL) radicals and had a stronger anti-obesity than anti-diabetic effect. Additionally, this extract exhibited a strong anticancer activity against the Caco-2 line (153.54 µg/mL), with anti-migratory and anti-proliferative activity. In turn, among the tested strains, the highest activity was demonstrated against Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the effects demonstrated were strongly dependent on the content of polyphenols. In conclusion, C. sativa is a promising source of natural antioxidant, antibacterial, antiobesity, antidiabetic and chemopreventive compounds for food-pharma industry; however, further experimental studies are needed to validate its pharmacological properties.

Antibacterial, Phytochemical and Toxicological Activities of Garcinia kola Extracts against Multidrug Resistant Clinical Bacteria

Objective: The rise in multiple antibiotic resistant microorganisms has led to a decline in the efficacy of many antibiotics, prompting the investigation of alternative solutions such as medicinal plants. To tackle this concerning issue, this study was undertaken to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antibacterial activity, and toxicological characteristics of Garcinia kola extracts against multidrug-resistant bacteria commonly found in clinical settings. Material-Method: The cold maceration technique was employed to extract the root and leaf of Garcinia kola using water and methanol. The extracts were then subjected to phytochemical screening. To evaluate the extracts' potential to inhibit bacterial growth, five multidrug-resistant isolates were utilized in this study. Agar well assay was used to determine the zones of inhibition. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined using the broth macro dilution technique. Additionally, Brine shrimp lethality assay was conducted to determine the lethal concentration (LC50) of the extracts. The extracts were also combined for synergism. Results: The investigation found that the root extract in methanol had the highest yield at 25.58%. All four extracts contained ten out of the fourteen tested phytochemicals. The methanol leaf and root extracts exhibited the highest and lowest inhibition zones of 20mm and 9mm against Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The MIC values ranged from 250 to 600 mg/ml, indicating broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. The cytotoxicity test showed a range of 33.03 to 126.3µg/mL for the aqueous and methanol extracts. Conclusion: Although Garcinia kola shows potential as a source of antibacterial compounds, caution should be exercised due to its toxic effects.

Ethnobotany and Phytochemical Composition of Alchornea Cordifolia in Abia State Nigeria

Alchornea cordifolia is one of the medicinal plants used in treatment of several medical challenges in Nigeria. The study was carried out to document the medicinal values of different parts of A. cordifolia in Ekebedi Oboro ancient Kingdom, and profile its bioactive constituents. The ethno-botanical survey involved oral interview of 81 randomly selected traditional medicine doctors and natives on medicinal values of A. cordifolia. The survey showed that A cordifolia is a major herb used in the treatment of various diseases in the ancient Kingdom and it is prescribed in different treatment regimens; coughs, bronchitis, post-partum bleeding, lacerations, wounds, vaginitis, diarrhea, sickle cell anaemia, venereal diseases including gonorhhea, and syphilis, and prostatitis. GC-MS fingerprinting was adopted to determine the bioactive constituents of methanol leaf extract of the plant. Phytochemical fingerprinting revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds as the major active ingredients of the plant. A total of 27 fatty acids and volatile hydrocarbons were detected in the leaf extract of the plant with 9, 12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- methyl ester (18.42%), 9-Octadecanoic acid methyl ester (19.93%), Dodecanoic acid 1,2,3-propanetrieyl (15.87%) as most abundant ingredients. These phytochemical compounds of A. cordifolia possibly underscored its antimicrobial and therapeutic action and explains why natives use them in traditional medicine.

Evaluation of nephrotoxicity effects of the methanol leaf extract of A. angustifolia in Wistar rats

Background: Agave angustifolia is a common traditional remedy in localities for disease treatment. This study focussed on evaluating the nephrotoxicity activity of the methanol extract of A. angustifolia leaf. Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats of both sex were randomly shared into five groups. Group 1 received 10 mL/kg distilled water, group 2 gentamicin 80mg/kg, extract groups (3, 4 and 5) were placed on 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of A. angustifolia leaf extract administered orally through an orogastric tube for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed using chloroform, and their kidneys were harvested, weighed and immediately fixed in 10% buffered formalin for histological analysis and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical and haematological analysis. Results: Results showed there was no marked difference in the levels of the packed cell volume (PCV) in all the concentrations of the extract as well as the controls. The gentamicin group showed a remarkable rise in the serum urea and creatinine level when compared to both the control and extract groups. Similar effects were observed in the 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of the extract. However, severe kidney injury was observed in the group treated with 400 mg/kg of the extract. Conclusions: Despite the beneficial potential of A. angustifolia, it also exhibited toxic effects on the kidney thereby causing significant damage to the kidney morphology at higher doses. The damages inflicted in these tissues are dose-dependent. Therefore A. angustifolia should be taken in low doses within shortest period of time.

Phytochemical Contents, GC-MS Analysis and Hepatoprotective Effect of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Camelliasinensis (L.) Kuntze on Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: _Camellia sinensis_ is a tree popularly called green tea used as a strong antioxidant and for treating diseases such as cancer. This present study was aimed at assessing the phytochemicals and evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of leaf extract in Wistar rats. METHODS: The phytochemical screening was performed by standard methods, GC-MS analysis was carried out in Agilent 7890 A GC coupled to a MS detector, acute toxicity study was evaluated by the OECD guidelines, and hepatoprotective activity were evaluated in randomly groups of five rats of six rats in paracetamol-induced liver toxicity, while liver biomarkers were evaluated using automated methods. RESULTS: The phytochemical screening of leaf extract revealed the presence of major metabolites. The GC-MS analysis showed 18 bioactive compounds which are mainly fatty acids with retention times between 7.436 and 18.462 min. A high total phenolic content (TPC) of 1425.22 mg GAE/g and a total flavonoid content (TFC) of 802.01 mg QE/g were obtained. The acute toxicity did not produce any sign of toxicity at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg of extract. The extract produced a dose-dependent activity on the liver. These protections were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) when compared to the standard drug silymarin. There were no elevated values in liver function biomarkers in all the animal groups as well as histopathological damages to the liver after eight weeks of treatment at 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of extract doses. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the study showed that _C. sinensis_ methanol leaf extract contains important phytochemicals that are protective against paracetamol-induced liver injuries, thus, the plant was considered safe for use as ethnomedicinal remedies for liver disease in traditional medicine.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Profiling of the Bioactive Compounds Present in Methanol Leaf Extract of Solanum Aethiopicum from Imo State, Nigeria

The study aimed to access the bioactive compounds and functional groups present in Solanum aethiopicum using the Gas Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GCMS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The GCMS showed Solanum aethiopicum showed a total of thirty-seven bioactive compound with the highest abundance being Squalene (21.13%), Palmitoleic acid (16.63%), 13-Octadecenal (16.63%) and 9-Octadecenoic acid (17.62%). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of Solanum aethiopicum showed the presence of functional groups which include alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, primary (10) and secondary (20) amines, amides, imino, epoxy, peroxides, carboxylic esters, ethers, primary (10), secondary (20) and Tertiary (30) alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, thiols, cyanate, isocyanates and alkyl halides. These bioactive compounds with reference to literature revealed a variety of biological functions spanning across antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, analgesic, antimalarial, antifungal, anti-tumour, neuroprotective, anti-tumour, anti-cancer, anti-seizure, anti-allergy, anti beta-amyloid protein aggregation.

“GC-MS profiling, sub-acute toxicity study and total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis of methanolic leaf extract of Schima wallichii (D.C.) Korth-a traditional antidiabetic medicinal plant”

Ethnopharmacological relevanceSchima wallichii (D.C.) Korth is traditionally used in Manipur, India for treatment of diabetes and hypertension. However, there is no data reported regarding safety profile of this medicinal plant upon repeated per oral administration over a period of time. Aim of the studyIn the current study phytochemical profile, toxicological profile and total phenolic and flavonoid compound content of Schima wallichii leaves extract were evaluated. Materials and methodsGas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was performed for chemical profiling by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), Shimadzu, TQ8040 system. A 28 days sub-acute toxicity study was carried out using albino Wistar rats by administering 3 different doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight per oral) of methanol leaves extract. Changes in body weights were recorded weekly. Serum biochemical parameters were estimated as well as blood-cell count was done to check the effect of extract on haematopoietic system. Histopathology of vital organs viz. kidney, heart, brain, liver was performed to find any pathological indications. Since, liver is main the site for xenobiotic metabolism, estimation of the level of glutathione, catalase and lipid peroxidation were done. Further, total phenolic and flavonoid compound content estimation was performed for the leaves extract. ResultsGC-MS revealed 14 major compounds with area percentage >1% of which quinic acid, n-Hexadecanoic acid, 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, (Z,Z,Z)-, Octatriacontyl trifluoroacetate, are three major compounds. No mortality was observed after the treatment with extract. Blood-cell count and biochemical parameters didn't show significant deviation as compared to control group. Histopathology study of vital organs viz. (liver, kidney, heart and brain) showed normal cellular construction comparing to control group. There was no sign of membrane lipid peroxidation, depletion of catalase level and glutathione level in liver. The result demonstrates that NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect levels) in the sub-acute toxicity was above 800 mg/kg. The leaves extract showed significant total phenol and flavonoid content. ConclusionThe present study revealed that Schima wallichii possessed important bioactive compounds with therapeutic values. The plant was safe for consumption after repeated high doses administration in rats and possesses significant amount of total phenol and flavonoid content.

Safety, Analgesic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Aqueous and Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Hypericum revolutum subsp. keniense

In light of the enduring obstacles encountered in analgesia and anti-inflammatory therapeutics despite the strides made in contemporary medical sciences, the quest for alternative efficacious strategies is an imperative pursuit. Thus, this study investigated the safety profiles, as well as the analgesic and anti-inflammatory attributes, of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts derived from Hypericum revolutum subsp. keniense—a botanical entity entrenched in historical ethnomedicinal practices in the Kenyan context. The assessment of acute oral toxicity of these extracts was conducted in accordance with the Up- and-Down method advocated by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), utilizing Swiss albino mice as the experimental subjects. Subsequent investigation entailed the evaluation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties employing the acetic acid-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced paw oedema methodologies, respectively, in the same murine model. The findings of this study evince the safety of both aqueous and methanolic extracts, with LD50 values surpassing 2000 mg/kg body weight and the absence of discernible signs of toxicity. Furthermore, a notable dose-dependent (P&lt;0.05) manifestation of analgesic effects was observed for both extracts, with the aqueous variant demonstrating heightened potency compared to its methanolic counterpart (P&lt;0.05). Moreover, the anti-inflammatory efficacy escalated significantly with escalating extract doses and prolonged treatment duration (P&lt;0.05), wherein the aqueous extract showcased superior effectiveness vis- à-vis the methanolic extract across all dosage regimens and temporal checkpoints (P&lt;0.05). Therefore, this investigation underscores the latent promise of the examined extracts as reservoirs of safe and efficacious analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents, thereby meriting further meticulous exploration. Subsequent research endeavours ought to pivot towards elucidating the phytochemical constituents underpinning the observed effects, alongside unravelling their mechanistic underpinnings across a spectrum of animal models and clinical milieus.

Phytochemical profiling and GC-MS analysis of methanolic leaf extract of Persicaria hydropiper (L.) H. Gross: An important ethnomedicinal plant

Medicinal plants are the best source of alternative medicine and are acquiring recognition in the area of pharmacological research for the production of plant-based medicines with improved efficacy. Persicaria hydropiper (L.) H-Gross is known worldwide for its use in traditional medicine systems. It possesses numerous therapeutic properties. The present endeavor was taken up to analyze the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity by DPPH assay of various extracts of Persicaria hydropiper leaves. The preliminary phytochemical screening of acetone, methanol, and aqueous extract of P. hydropiper leaves showed the presence of important phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The quantitative estimation revealed elevated amounts of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and total alkaloid content. The antioxidant activity also revealed higher radical scavenging activity by the extracts. The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometry assay of methanol extract of P. hydropiper leaves detected and identified altogether 54 phytocompounds including 7 major compounds displaying higher peaks such as Andrographolide, 1H-cyclopropa[a] naphthalene, 1a,2,3,5.6,7a7b-octahydro-1,1,7,7a-tetramethyl-[1aR-(1a?,7?,7a?,7b?)-, Cis-Z alpha bisabolene epoxide, 1,8-cyclopentadecadiyne, Aromadendrene oxide (2), Bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-3-cyclopropyl 7-hydroxymethyl, (cis) and Alpha-guanine. The concentration of phenols, flavonoids, and tannins revealed in the phytochemical profiling of three extracts might be responsible for the strong antioxidant activity of the extracts and the bioactive compounds identified in the GC-MS investigation exhibit important therapeutic properties required for the treatment of various human diseases. Thus, the medicinal use and properties of Persicaria hydropiper may be attributed to the presence of these phytochemical constituents. Further study of the compounds may provide scope for the production of novel drugs with increased efficacy and potency with the ability to cure harmful human diseases.

Effect of Methanol and Ethyl Acetate Leaf Extracts of Osbeckia octandra L. (Heen Bovitiya) on the Apoptosis and Migration of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

Effect of Methanol and Ethyl Acetate Leaf Extracts of Osbeckia octandra L. (Heen Bovitiya) on the Apoptosis and Migration of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

Antimalarial potential of Kerala Ayurvedic Water "Pathimugam".

The persistent threat of drug resistant malaria demands new cures. Low prevalence of malaria in the Indian state of Kerala compared with other proximal states led us to explore if there is any traditional practice in Kerala which may confer protection against malaria. In this context, our attention was drawn to "Pathimugam" i.e., Ceasalpinia sappan whose heartwood is used to prepare a red aqueous extract which is a uniquely popular drink all over Kerala. Aqueous and methanolic extracts of various organs of C. sappan were prepared and tested against Plasmodium falciparum grown in vitro culture using SYBR Green-I assay. The cytotoxicity of active extracts/fractions was studied using mammalian HeLa cell line. In vivo efficacy was determined using Plasmodium berghei ANKA infected mice. The highest antiplasmodial activities in the alcoholic and aqueous extracts were observed in leaf methanolic extract (IC 2 μg/ml) and heartwood aqueous extract (IC 12.5 μg/ml). C. sappan extracts were equipotent against both chloroquine sensitive Pf3D7 and resistant Pf INDO strains and showed suppression of % parasitemia in P. berghei infected mice. Activity guided chromatographic fractionation of aqueous wood extract led to the fortification of antiplasmodial activity (IC 5 μg/ml). Our results establish the antiplasmodial potential of C. sappan and suggest that its regular use might have prophylactic or curative actions that may assist in keeping check on malaria in the Indian state of Kerala.

The use of Phytochemical, GC-MS Analysis and Hepatoprotective Effect of the Methanol Leaf Extract of Camellia Sinensis (L.) Kuntze on Paracetamol-Induced Liver Injury in Wistar Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Camellia sinensis is a tree popularly called green tea used as a strong antioxidant and for treating diseases such as cancer. This present study was aimed at assessing the phytochemicals and evaluating the hepatoprotective activity of leaf extract in Wistar rats. METHODS: The phytochemical screening was performed by standard methods, acute toxicity study and hepatoprotective activity were evaluated in randomly groups of five rats or six rats in paracetamol-induced liver toxicity. RESULTS: The phytochemical screening of leaf extract revealed the presence of major metabolites. The GC-MS analysis showed 18 bioactive compounds which are mainly fatty acids with retention times between 7.436 and 18.462 min. A high total phenolic content (TPC) of 1425.22 mg GAE/g and a total flavonoid content (TFC) of 802.01 mg QE/g were obtained. The acute toxicity did not produce any sign of toxicity at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg of extract. The extract produced a dose-dependent activity on the liver. These protections were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) when compared to the standard drug silymarin. There were no elevated values in liver function biomarkers in all the animal groups as well as histopathological damages to the liver after eight weeks of treatment at 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of extract doses. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the study showed that C. sinensis methanol leaf extract contains important phytochemicals that are protective against paracetamol-induced liver injuries, thus, the plant was considered safe for use as ethnomedicinal remedies for liver disease in traditional medicine.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and bioactive compound analysis of Verbascum thapsus L. A folklore medicinal plant

BackgroundThe prevalence of microbial infectious diseases is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality on a global scale due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes, despite the fact that many new antibiotics have been introduced for several decades. In present scenario, the potential utilization of natural plant derived extracts for medicinal and therapeutic purposes has increased remarkably due to adverse effects of synthetic drugs and resistance among pathogenic microbes. Aim of the studyVerbascum thapsus L. (Common mullein) has been traditionally used as a medicine for lung, skin and throat and many other disorders since time immemorial, therefore, the current study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and root extracts of Verbascum thapsus against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains and its phytochemical composition by spectral studies. MethodsSoxhlet extraction method was employed for extraction process by using varying polarity solvents like hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol. Phytochemical analysis of methanol extract was determined by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by determining the MIC and MBC/MFC of each extract by broth dilution method. ResultsThe antimicrobial competence of each extract sample was evaluated against six pathogenic bacterial strains and three fungal strains. Methanolic extract of leaves and the ethyl acetate extract of roots of Verbascum thapsus exhibited significant zones of inhibition against all the tested microorganisms. The highest inhibition zone was observed against the bacterial strain Bacillus subtilis (24.1±0.18 mm) followed by Streptococcus pyogenes (22.9±0.64 mm) and the fungal strain Aspergillus niger (22.8±0.55 mm) at a concentration of 500 μg/ml. Methanolic leaf extract strongly inhibited the growth of tested microbial strains with MIC ranged from 15.625 to 125 μg/ml. The FTIR and GCMS analysis confirms the presence of bioactive compound, possessing broad range of therapeutic activities. ConclusionThis Presence of various important phytoconstituents and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity points Verbascum thapsus as a promising source for the isolations of molecules responsible for antimicrobial activities.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Tiliroside Derived from Cordia macleodii against Klebsiella pneumoniae

Antibiotic resistance is a global healthcare threat that has limited the effective life span of commercial medications. Medicinal plants are the reservoir of bioactive compounds that have antibacterial and antibiofilm activities and are potent source of new antimicrobial agents Therefore, the screening of plant derived phytochemicals has been increased significantly to access the hidden treasure to combat microbial infections. In the current study, preliminary analysis of methanolic extract of Cordia macleodii leaf revealed the existence of various flavonoids including tiliroside. In vitro antimicrobial assay of methanolic extract and bioactive compound (Tiliroside) showed antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against MDR pathogen. The MIC value of methanolic leaf extract and tiliroside was found to be 5 percent and 50mM respectively. Methanolic extract of Cordia macleodii leaf as well as tiliroside at sub-MIC value significantly mitigated the biofilm formation. In silico molecular docking analysis of tiliroside against the targeted protein was also determined to predict the possible binding site. Transcriptomic analysis determined the significance of tiliroside in the reduced expression of certain genes (bssS and metE), which are involved in biofilm formation in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Overall, the methanolic extract of C. macleodii leaf with varying degree of antimicrobial potency might be used as potent alternative to conventional antibiotics to combat MDR mediated infections.

Studies on Anticancer Effect of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Justicia gendarussa on Lung Cancer Cell Line

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of study’s goal was to look into the anticancer efficacy of a methanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa against a lung cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Cell viability assays and cell and nuclear morphology examinations were used to evaluate the anticancer efficacy against methanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa on lung cancer cell lines. The IC50 doses were calculated using different concentrations of Justicia gendarussa extract (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80 μg/mL). Results: The results of MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay revealed that the percentage of viability in treated cells was significantly lower as compared with untreated control groups, which represented as 100%, and an inhibitory concentration of 40 μg/mL was observed. Under a phase-contrast microscope, morphological changes revealed cell shrinkage and cytoplasmic membrane blebbing. The apoptotic nuclei (intensely colored, broken nuclei, and compacted chromatin) were examined under a fluorescence microscope. Conclusions: The outcome of the research work on Justicia gendarussa was investigated for anticancer properties. The results revealed the proapoptotic and cytotoxic effects of Justicia gendarussa extract on lung cancer cell lines. From the above results and findings, it could be concluded that the Justicia gendarussa methanolic leaf extract exhibited potent anticancer activity against a lung cancer cell line. Further study needs to be conducted to investigate the active chemicals in the extract as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer benefits.