Phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant screening of Artemisia santolinifolia various parts

The current study was carried out to explore the phytochemical, antioxidant potential and antibacterial activities of the crude methanolic extract of A. santolinifolia Turcz. Ex Besser. The antioxidant activity was carried out by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay, while methanolic extract displayed the highest scavenging activity (DPPH) was 61.31µg/ml on Artemisia santolinifolia root and the lowest (51.05µg/ml) was record for their leaves. Similarly, in (ABTS) the highest activity (89.16µg/ml) was recorded for roots of A. santolinifolia followed by leaves (68.14µg/ml). In low inhibitory concentration assay, the crude methanolic extracts showed significant inhibition against all tested microbes on different concentrations like 25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, and 100 µg/ml. The leaves extract of A. santolinifolia AsL showed MIC of 12.5µg/ml for B. subtilis, a gram-positive bacterium, 50µg/ml for gram positive bacteria S. aureus and 37.5 µg/ml for gram negative bacteria P. aeruginosa that is almost equal to the response of standard ciprofloxacin. Our current study revealed that Artemisia santolinifolia root (AsR) exhibited a significant antioxidant potential while AsL showed good antibacterial effect which is suggested to be used for treatment and management of different infectious diseases.

Cardiovascular effects of Juniperus excelsa are mediated through multiple pathways.

Juniperus excelsa Bieb. is used in folk medicine for lowering blood pressure (BP). Its BP-lowering effect, endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilator effects, and cardio-modulatory effect are reported here. The crude extract of J. excelsa (Je.Cr) which tested positive for the presence of anthraquinone, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, terpenes, and tannins induced a dose-dependent (10-300 mg/kg) fall in the arterial BP of anesthetized rats. In isolated rabbit aorta, Je.Cr (0.01-5.0 mg/mL) inhibited high K(+) (80 mM)- and phenylephrine (1 µM)-induced contractions, like that caused by verapamil and papaverine. In endothelium-intact rat aortic preparations, N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-sensitive vasodilator activity was noted from Je.Cr, which also relaxed the endothelium-denuded aorta tissues. In guinea pig atria, Je.Cr initially caused mild cardiac stimulation, followed by inhibition, like that exhibited by papaverine. Je.Cr prolonged the R-R interval in electrocardiogram of rats under anesthesia. These results reveal that cardiovascular effects of J. excelsa are mediated possibly through a combination of Ca(++) antagonism, nitric oxide-modulating mechanism, and phosphodiesterase inhibitory mechanism, which explain its medicinal use in hypertension.