Fluorescent pigment and phenol glucosides from the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium.

The fluorescence shown by extracts of the heartwood of Pterocarpus marsupium is attributed to salts of the new compound 1, whose structure was elaborated using detailed spectroscopic/spectrometric studies. The plant material also contains the nonfluorescent compounds 2 and 3. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined by experimental and theoretically calculated electronic CD spectra, while that of 3 was deduced from ECD comparison with reported results in the α-hydroxydihydrochalcone series.

Isolation of pure compound R/J/3 from Pluchea indica (L.) Less. and its anti-amoebic activities against Entamoeba histolytica.

The plant Pluchea indica is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-pyretic, hypoglycemic, diuretic and anti-microbial activities besides many other pharmacological activities. We have isolated and purified seven compounds from the methanolic root extract of this plant by column chromatography. The compounds were identified by spectroscopic analyses. The anti-amoebic activities of the pure compound R/J/3 was investigated against the HM1 strain of Entamoeba histolytica. The compound, R/J/3 showed the most pronounced anti-proliferative activity at a dose of 50 microg/ml. It also showed a marked activity on cell lysis of trophozoites, 4h after administration. The cell lytic activity was compared with metronidazole (5 microg/ml) as positive control.

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial action of tea: the commonest beverage of Asia.

The methanolic extract of leaves of Camellia sinensis (L) O. KUNTZE was screened for antimicrobial property against 111 bacteria comprising 2 genera of Gram positive and 7 genera of Gram negative bacteria. Most of these strains were inhibited by the compound at 10-50 microg/ml level and few strains were sensitive even at lower concentrations (5 microg/ml). The bacteria could be arranged in the decreasing order of sensitivity towards the compound in the following manner: Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Bacillus spp., Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antibacterial activity of compound could also be confirmed in vivo. When it was given to Swiss strain of white mice at different dosages (30, 60 microg/mouse), it could significantly protect the animals challenged with 50 MLD of Salmonella typhimurium NCTC 74. According to Chi square test the in vivo data were highly significant (p<0.001).