Petroleum Ether Extract Of Plant Research Articles

Investigation of antiplasmodial efficacy of lupeol and ursolic acid isolated from Ficus benjamina leaves extract

This study emphasizes on the investigation of antiplasmodial activity of triterpenoids isolated from Ficus benjamina leaves. An unsaponified fraction of petroleum ether extract of plant leaves was subjected to silica gel column chromatography which led to the isolation of two known triterpenoids; namely ursolic acid and lupeol. These compounds were evaluated for antiplasmodial activity by schizont maturation inhibition assay using 3D7 Plasmodium strains. Both, ursolic acid and lupeol were found to exhibit significant antiplasmodial effect with an IC50 value of 18 µg/ml and 3.8 µg/ml, respectively. This study further confirms the traditional role of Ficus benjamina plant in the treatment of malaria which may be attributed to ursolic acid and lupeol.

Evaluation of hair growth promoting activity of Phyllanthus niruri.

This study was designed to investigate the potential Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri ) extracts in promotion of hair growth. Here, we studied the hair growth promoting activity of petroleum ether extract of P. niruri following its topical administration. Alopecia was induced in albino rats by subcutaneous administration of testosterone for 21 days. Evaluation of hair loss inhibition was done by concurrent administration of extract and monitoring parameters like follicular density, anagen/telogen (A/T) ratio and histological observation of animal skin sections. Finasteride solution was applied topically as standard. In vitro experiments were also performed to study the effect of extract on the activity of 5α-reductase enzyme. Groups treated with petroleum ether extract of plant showed hair re-growth as reflected by follicular density, A/T ratio and skin sections. Histopathology and morphologic observations of hair re-growth at shaved sites showed active follicular proliferation. In vitro experiments results showed inhibitory activity of petroleum ether extract on type-2 5α-reductase enzyme and an increase in the amount of testosterone with increasing concentrations. It could be concluded that petroleum ether extracts of P. niruri might be useful in the treatment of testosterone-induced alopecia in the experimental animal by inhibiting 5α-reductase enzyme.

Development of validated HPTLC method for quantification of stigmasterol from leaf and stem of Bryophyllum pinnatum

This study presents the report of TLC densitometric method, which has been developed and validated for quantification of stigmasterol from petroleum ether extract of leaves and stems of Bryophyllum pinnatum. The separation was performed on TLC aluminum plates precoated with silica gel 60 F254. Good separation was achieved in mobile phase using Chloroform:Ethanol (9.8:0.2v/v). Determination and quantitation were performed by densitometric scanning at 490nm in reflection/absorbance mode. This method gave compact spots at Rf 0.45 corresponding to stigmasterol. The method was validated using ICH guidelines in terms of precision, repeatability and accuracy. Linearity range for stigmasterol was 50–300ng/spot with correlation coefficient R2±SD=0.990±5.05% in the concentration range 50–300ng/spot. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 15 and 45ng, respectively. The contents in crude extract obtained from leaf and stem were found to be 0.1545±0.005% w/w and 0.1383±0.002% w/w respectively. HPTLC method was found to be simple, precise, accurate and convenient method for rapid screening of active constituents present in petroleum ether extracts of plant and can be used for analysis and routine quality control of herbal material and formulations containing B. pinnatum.

In vitro antimicrobial and brine shrimp lethality of Allophylus cobbe L.

Plants are rich source of pharmacologically active agents, which could be explored in disease management. Methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether extracts of the whole plant of Allophylus cobbe L. were evaluated for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. In vitro antimicrobial sensitivity by disk diffusion method was conducted against four Gram-positive and seven Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and seven fungi. In the antibacterial and antifungal sensitivity tests, growth inhibition was found to be within the range of 10.0–17.67 mm. Strong zone of inhibition by the ethanol extract of A. cobbe (EEAC) was found against Trichophyton spp. With some exceptions, a mild to strong antimicrobial activity was observed in this study. Significant minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; 15.625 μg/ml) was found against Trichophyton spp. Other detected MICs were within the range of 31.25–125 μg/ml. The petroleum ether extract of the plant exhibited strong cytotoxicity in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay test.

Neuropharmacological activity of Lippia nodiflora Linn.

Introduction:In the recent years, plants containing flavonoids have gained much more interest in research area, as they are found to be specific ligands for benzodiazepine receptors.Material and Methods:In our investigation, we evaluated the neuropharmacological profile of petroleum, chloroform and ethanolic extracts of aerial part of Lippia nodiflora Linn. With experimental models using test such as potentiation of diazepam-induced sleeping time, locomotor activity, motor coordination, exploratory behavior pattern, elevated plus maze and maximal electroshock convulsions. Diazepam at doses of 5, 4, and 1 mg/kg served as standard.Results:Results showed that the ethanolic extract of L. nodifl ora at both doses (250 and 500 mg/kg p.o.) and its chloroform extract at a higher dose of 500 mg/kg produced central inhibitory (sedative) effects, anticonvulsant effect and anxiolytic effect in mice. Values were statistically significant (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) when compared to the control group. The petroleum ether extract of plant at both dose levels (250 and 500 mg/kg p.o.) did not produce any central effects.Conclusion:In conclusion, we can say that the ethanolic and chloroform extracts showed the central inhibitory activity due to the presence of fl avonoids and this fact was also supported by the finding that the petroleum ether extract did not show any central effect and flavonoids were not found in it.