Anti-inflammatory activity of a HPLC-fingerprinted aqueous infusion of aerial part of Bidens tripartita L.

The anti-inflammatory potential of three doses of an aqueous infusion of aerial parts Bidens tripartita L. against carrageenan-induced acute paw edema in rats was investigated. A phytochemical study and qualitative-quantitative analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, phenols, amino acids, ascorbic acid, organic acids and polyacetylenes. Infusion doses of 20ml/kgbody wt. exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in rats, as compared with indomethacin. In addition, the infusion showed analgesic properties in a hot-plate test and antipyretic properties in carrageenan-induced local hyperthermia, both in rats. The effects were dose-dependent. Our results provide evidence for the potential usefulness of B. tripartita infusion in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

[Antibacterial activity of aspen bark extracts against some pneumotropic microorganisms].

Extractive substances obtained from the bark of aspen (Populus tremula L.) with the use of petroleum ether (lipids I) and diethyl ether (lipids II) have exhibited high antibacterial activity with respect to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, causing 100% cell destruction. The minimum inhibiting concentration for S. pneumoniae has been found to be 0.5 - 50 mg/ml for lipids I and 0.0005 - 0.5 mg/ ml for lipids II, depending on the strain of bacteria. The antibacterial activity of rhytidome extracts is somewhat higher than that of phloem extracts. To suppress the growth of H. influenzae, more concentrated solutions of these extracts from 30 to 50 mg/ml are needed. Staphylococcus aureus was resistent in lipids. The action of temperature, mineral acids and alkali on lipids, as well as prolonged storage of strains in a refrigerator decreases the antibacterial activity of extracts under study.