Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of a novel Himalayan plant Reinwardtia indica dumort: Scientifically unexplored.

Reinwardtia indica (Lineceae) is a medicinal plant cultivated in the Himalayan region. It is effectively used in folk medicines for the treatment of various health complications. In the present study, the shade dried leaves and stem were extracted in three different solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethanol, and hydro-alcoholic. The antioxidant efficacy of these extracts was confirmed by using different in vitro assays: DPPH free radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation, metal ion chelating capability and reducing power determination. Total phenol content was maximum in hydro alcoholic extract of leaf (540.37 mg per g of gallic acid equivalents) and stem (330.51 mg per g of gallic acid equivalents) while flavonoid content was maximum in ethanolic extract of leaf (305 mg per gram of rutin equivalents) and ethyl acetate extract of stem (170.6 mg per gram of rutin equivalents). The antioxidant activity of these extracts was positively correlated with their total phenol and flavonoid content. Among all tested extracts, ethanolic extract of leaf exhibit maximum zone of inhibition against all tested clinical isolates of bacterial (E. coli 11.00 ±â€¯1.73 mm, P. aeurogenosa 11.67 ±â€¯0.58 mm and S. aureus 10.33 ±â€¯1.53 mm) and fungal (C. albicans 11.33 ±â€¯1.10 mm) pathogens, while ethyl acetate extracts of the leaf and stem showed minimum inhibitory concentration against all tested microorganisms. Thus, R. indica extracts can be used as potent natural antioxidant having antifungal and antibacterial action.

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized using flavonoid rich alcoholic leaves extract of Reinwardtia indica.

The present work discusses the establishment of a green route for the rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an alcoholic extract of Reinwardtia indica (AERI) leaves which act as a reducing as well as a capping agent. The change in color from yellowish green to dark brown confirmed the synthesis of AgNPs. A characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 436 nm advocated the presence of AgNPs. The synthesis process was optimized using one factor at a time approach where 1.0 mM AgNO3 concentration, 5 mL 0.4% (v/v) of AER inoculum dose and 30 min of sunlight exposure were found to be the optimum conditions. The synthesized AgNPs was characterized by several characterizing techniques such as HR- TEM, SAED, HR-SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR and AFM analysis. For evaluation and comparison of AgNPs with AERI used human pathogen E. coli, P. aeurogenosa, S. aeurus and C. albicans for antimicrobial, for cytotoxicity study SiHa cell line at concentration of (10, 50, 100, 250 and 500 µg mL-1) and for enzymatic assay superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase method were used. The size of nanoparticle in the range of 3-15 nm was confirmed TEM, spherical shape by SEM and crystal lattice nature by XRD. AFM results revealed the 2 D and 3 D pattern of particle scatter nature on the surface. This protocol as simple, rapid, one step, eco-friendly, nontoxic and AgNPs showed strong antimicrobial activity as well as cytotoxic potential in comparison to AERI.

Revalidation of the neuroprotective effects of a United States patented polyherbal formulation on scopolamine induced learning and memory impairment in rats.

OBJECTIVE: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia yet treatment options are extremely limited. The disease is associated with cognitive impairment as well as structural irregularities, accumulation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, diminished levels of acetylcholine, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the brain. We have previously reported on the positive effects of a united states patented (US 7,273,626 B2) poly herbal test formulation, consisting of Bacopa monnieri, Hippophae rhamnoides and Dioscorea bulbifera extracts, on cognitive deficits in AD patients. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism(s) of action of the formulation using scopolamine treated rats as an AD model. METHOD: The formulation was administered daily along with scopolamine for a period of 14days following which the elevated plus maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests were performed to assess learning and memory. Rats treated with scopolamine or vehicle only were also included in the experiment. Acetylcholine levels and activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-oxidant enzymes in the brain were also measured at the end of the treatment period. RESULTS: The study demonstrate that scopolamine treatment resulted in learning and memory deficits which were partially and significantly ameliorated by the formulation. The formulation also counteracted scopolamine-induced decreases in acetylcholine levels, increases in AChE activity, and decreases in activities of the antioxidant enzymes. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the ability of the test formulation to reverse scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits in rats which may at least partially be explained by the reversal of scopolamine-induced reductions in brain acetylcholine levels and antioxidant activities by the test formulation.