Water Extracts Of Medicinal Plants Research Articles

Antifungal Activity of Selected Indigenous Medicinal Plants in Sri Lanka Against Candida Infections

Candida infections have been recorded as an emerging health concern among immune- compromised patients, infants and pregnant women in Asia, Africa and Europe. Skin diseases, genital infections, candidiasis and candidemia caused by overgrowth of symbiotic Candida species in the human body are treated by antifungal drugs. The common drugs viz., fluconazole, flucytosine, amphotericin B, nystatin, etc. are responsible for more side effects in the human body while Candida species are indicating a resistance towards them. Therefore, the continuous discovery of antifungal compounds against Candida infections is an essential process. Thus, the current study focused on the determination of the antifungal activity of water extracts of selected indigenous medicinal plants in Sri Lanka towards Candida infections. Three common indigenous medicinal plants; Cyperus rotundus (roots, tubers, leaves and flowers), Acalipha indica (roots, stem, leaves and flowers) and Aloe barbadensis Miller (gel and leaves) were collected and their water extracts (10 g/25 mL) were screened for the antifungal activity against two common Candida species; Candida glabrata and Candida parapsilosis using disk diffusion method. Briefly, the pathogenic bacterial lawns were prepared by spreading equalized solutions of C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis on Muller Hinton Agar supplemented with 2% glucose. Sterile paper disks soaked with 30 µL of water extracts of each plant part were placed on pathogen lawns. Sterile distilled water was used as the negative control. The plates were incubated at 37° C overnight and observed for clear zone formation. According to the results, the water extract of C. rotundus tubers indicated an inhibitory action by giving clear inhibition zones against both tested Candida species. All other water extracts of medicinal plants indicated negative inhibitory actions against tested Candida species. The results revealed that C. rotundus tubers consist of antifungal activity against C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis. Hence, C. rotundus tubers can be used as an effective treatment for infections caused by the tested Candida species.
 
 Keywords: Antifungal activity, Candida infections, Indigenous medicinal plants, Cyperusrotundus, Water extracts

비파엽 열수 추출물에서 분리한 Caffeoylquinic Acid 3 종의 Nitric Oxide 생성 억제 효과

Background: Research on hot water extracts of medicinal plants that are easily applicable in the clinical setting is essential. To confirm the anti-inflammatory-related active compounds present in the hot water extract of Eriobotrya japonica leaves, ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production was measured and active compounds isolated from the extract were analyzed.<BR>Methods and Results: Sovent fractionation by solvent was performed to identify the active compounds present in the hot water extract, and the ability of the extract and the fractions obtained to inhibit NO production was measured. Subsequently, based on the results of liquid chromatography (LC) profile analysis of the n-butanol fraction that had a relatively high inhibitory ability of NO production, six subfractions were separated around the main peak. Among the separated subfractions spectra from mass spectroscopy (MS) were analyzed and standard comparisons were performed on the compounds of the three main peaks on the chromatogram. NO production inhibitory activity of subfraction 2 identified as neochlorogenic acid was the highest with an IC<SUB>50</SUB> of 18.49 ㎍/㎖ followed by that of subfraction 5 identified as cryptochlorogenic acid with IC<SUB>50</SUB> of 25.82 ㎍/㎖.<BR>Conclusions: Our result, it was confirmed that several caffeoylquinic acids, including neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid present in the hot water extract of E. japonica leaves have an important role as compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory activity.

Chemical analysis and antibacterial activities of Calotropis procera and Clusia rosea leaves extracts

In this work, aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Calotropis procera and Clusia rosea leaves were evaluated for phytochemicals and antibacterial activities in an attempt to evaluate their medicinal potentials. The results of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, tannins, and phenolic compounds in the aqueous extracts of Calotropis procera (AqCp) and Clusia rosea (AqCr), and ethanolic extracts of Calotropis procera (EtCp) and Clusia rosea (EtCr). The concentrations of the bioactive constituents in the extracts were in order AqCp > EtCp > AqCr > EtCr. The antibacterial activities were evaluated against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and, Streptococcus pyrogenes with different concentration of the plant extracts. The results of the antibacterial evaluations indicate the plant extracts can be used to inhibit the growth of the bacteria with AqCp being more effective. The result of this study validates the use of the aqueous extract of plant extracts in ethnomedicine and this could provide a lead in the isolation of antibacterial agents from water extracts of medicinal plants.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity Analysis of Some Medicinal Plants of Bangladesh

The antimicrobial potential of eight selected medicinal plants was evaluated against medically important thirteen pathogenic bacteria and three pathogenic fungi by using disc diffusion method. Moreover, the free radical scavenging activity was investigated for the development of anti-aging ingredient as a raw product for the cosmetic and other industries. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, butanol, n-hexane water extracts of medicinal plants were used for antimicrobial and anti-oxidant investigation. The rapid evaluation of antioxidant activity of different crude extracts of Pouzolzia zeylanica, Equisetum debile, Memecylon umbellatum, Datura metel, Cauroupeta guianensis, Andrographis paniculata were determined by using DPPH free radical method. The microbial inhibition zone ranged from 7-15 mm for different extracts of Andrographis paniculata where ethyl acetate extract showed highest microbial inhibition. The petroleum ether extract of D. metel gave 9-10 mm microbial inhibition except Pseudomonas aureus. Aloe vera gave 7-9 mm inhibition against microorganism by ethyl acetate extract. The methanol extract of A. paniculata showed inhibition only against two gram-positive and five gram-negative bacteria. The methanol extract of P. zeylanica, M. umbellatum and butanol (n-BuOH) extract of A. vasica also showed different range of antimicrobial activity. The N-hexane extract of A. vera and A. vasica and methanol extract of Equisetum debile did not show any antimicrobial activity. These extracts resulted in a rapid increase and decrease of the absorbance and showed different hydrogen-donating capacity towards the 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. A lot of differences found and showing anti-oxidant activity of different solvent extracts of different plant species. Among the species, ethyl acetate extract of E. debile, M. umbellatum, methanol extract of M. umbellatum, C. guianensis and n-BuOH extract of M. umbellatum, C. guianensis showed the maximum scavenging capacity of over 80.

The flavonoid myricetin reduces nocturnal melatonin levels in the blood through the inhibition of serotonin N-acetyltransferase

Melatonin is secreted during the hours of darkness and is thought to influence the circadian and seasonal timing of a variety of physiological processes. AANAT, which is expressed in the pineal gland, retina, and various other tissues, catalyzes the conversion of serotonin to N-acetylserotonin and is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of melatonin. The compounds that modulate the activity of AANAT can be used to treat patients with circadian rhythm disorders that are associated with specific circadian rhythm alterations, such as shift work disorder. In the present study, we screened modulators of AANAT activity from the water extracts of medicinal plants. Among the 267 tested medicinal plant extracts, Myricae Cortex (Myrica rubra), Perillae Herba (Perilla sikokiana), and Eriobotryae Folium (Eriobotrya japonica) showed potent inhibition of AANAT activity. Myricetin (5,7,3′,4′,5′-pentahydroxyflavonol), a main component of the Myricae Cortex, strongly inhibited the activity of AANAT and probably block the access to the substrate by docking to the catalytic residues that are important for AANAT activity. Myricetin significantly decreased the nocturnal serum melatonin levels in rats. In addition, the locomotor activity of rats treated with myricetin decreased during the nighttime and slightly increased throughout the day. These results suggest that myricetin could be used as a therapy to increase nighttime alertness by changing the circadian rhythm of serum melatonin and locomotor activity.

Efficacy of chloroform, ethanol and water extracts of medicinal plants, Malva sylvestris and Malva neglecta on some bacterial and fungal contaminants of wound infections

In this study, the efficacy of chloroform, ethanol and water extracts of Malva neglecta andMalva sylvestris on some bacterial and fungal contaminants of wound infections were investigated. The results showed an acceptable efficacy of chloroform, water and ethanol extracts of these medicinal plants (M. neglecta and M. sylvestris) on some bacterial and fungal contaminants of wound infections. Among all obtained extracts, ethanol extracts of both species especially that of M. sylvestris, showed the best activity against bacteria, followed by aqueous extracts. The best of antibacterial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values was 0.4 mg/ml obtained with Streptococcus pyogenes cultures. All extracts were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris. Aqueous and chloroform extracts had better antifungal activity. The best of antifungal MIC values was 0.6 mg/ml for M. sylvestris aqueous extract against Aspergillus niger cultures. All extracts had activity against A. niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Our results showed that all extracts are active against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and P. vulgaris which have been reported to be troublesome bacteria in wound infections, especially in the aspect of antibiotic resistance as multi-resistant microorganisms. The ethanol extracts had the highest antibacterial activity than all other solvents. Anthocyanin ofM. neglecta has approved bacteriostatic activity. This water soluble pigment can be responsible for acceptable antibacterial effects of aqueous extracts of this plant. Our results add more reasons to the clinical application of these extracts in the prophylaxis and treatment of wound infections. The wide range of the efficacy of these extracts: A. niger, A. fumigatus and C. albicans on different bacterial and fungal agents, and the healing acceleration obtained by these extracts makes them acceptable candidates for the promotion of healing in wound infections. Key words: Malva sylvestris, Malva neglecta, extracts, contamination, antimicrobial agent.

Studies on the water extracts of medicinal plants grown in copper mining areas and their antioxidant effects

High copper (Cu) accumulation in medicinal plants might favor lipid peroxidation and hence affect antioxidant responses. This effect was studied by determining antioxidant activities in the water extracts of medicinal plants from Cu mining impact site and compared with control samples. Antioxidant activities of the extracted medicinal plants were assayed by measuring (1) total phenolic and flavonoid contents, (2) diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)• free radical scavenging activity, and (3) inhibition capacities of lipid peroxidation. The total phenolic as well as total flavonoid contents of the mining impact samples and control samples are not significantly different. However, inhibition of lipid peroxidation capacities was significantly less (12–60%) for mining impact samples as reflected by the IC50 values. These anomalies were attributed to high concentrations of Cu (2–4-fold higher) in mining impact samples as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A positive correlation was observed between Cu levels and IC50 values for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation for mining impact samples.

Evaluation studies of some medicinal plant extracts and fungicides against &lt;i&gt;Alternaria solani&lt;/i&gt;.

Alternaria is a polyphagus fungus that occurs frequently on dead and decaying organic material and is responsible for causing leaf spot disease. In Indian subcontinent, there are different varieties of plants showing antimicrobial and other medicinal properties which can be employed in plant disease management to reduce the chemical load from the environment. The present investigation has been taken to evaluate the effect of medicinal plant (leaf) extracts and their combination with fungicides (Carbendazim) against radial growth of Alternaria solani.. The fungus was collected from infected leaf spots of potato plant and grown in PDA (potato dextrose agar) media. The water extracts of medicinal plants viz. Azadirachata indica (3%), Calotropis procera (3%), Nerium oleander (3%), Ocimum sanctum (3%) fungicide, carbendazim (1%) and their combinations were prepared. On the basis of results, the medicinal plant extracts Neem (3%), Nerium (3%) added with carbendazim (1%) showed maximum inhibition of fungus (Alternaria solani).African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 9 (1) 2008: pp. 19-25

Cytological effects of water extracts of medicinal plants in Egypt. Mitotic disturbances induced by water extract of Cymbopogon proximus (Halfa barr) on vicia faba.

The present investigation concerns the influence of the water extract of Cymbopogon proximus (Halfa barr) on the mitosis in roots of Vicia faba. All the used concentrations caused mitotic delay, the action of the long durations was significant. The extract also brought about significant percentage of abnormal dividing cells.The effect of the extract may be determined as pre-prophasic. The number of prophases decreased while metaphase and ana- and telophase increased. The extract induced a number of chromosomal irregularities such as stickiness, disturbacny, lagging chromosomes and bridges.

Cytological effects of water extracts of medicinal plants. I. Influence of Ammi majus extract on root tip of Vicia faba.

The effect of water extract of Ammi magus on the mitosis of Vicia faba was studied in direct and recovery experiments. The results revealed that the extract caused a delay in the completion of the mitotic cycle. The interphase stages G1, S and G2 were not affected. The phophase and metaphase were the most influenced by the extract. The dominant abnormalities were: Stickiness, irregular prophase, bridges and with low frequcncy lagging, prophasemetaphase and despiralization.

Cytological effects of water extracts of medicinal plants. II. Influence of Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga extracts on meiosis of Vicia faba.

The effect of water extract of two medicinal plants, Ammi majus and Ammi visnaga on meiosis, pollen length and pollen viability were studied. Most of the treatments gave high percentage of abnormalities. The percentage of anomalies in the 1st division was higher than those in the 2nd division. The induced irregularities were: Stickiness, bridges, spindle disturbance, lagging chromosome, breaks and fragments and multinucleate cell.The two plants extracts caused a decrease in the pollen grain length and gave mild increase in the pollen viability.