Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities for different extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia.

BACKGROUND: Casuarina equisetifolia belongs to the Casuarina species with the most extensive natural distribution, which contain various phytochemicals with potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and biological activities of different extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia. METHODS: The n-hexane extract was analyzed for its unsaponifiable and fatty acid methyl esters fractions, while chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts were studied for their phenolic components. Six different extracts of C. equisetifolia needles were evaluated for their total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. RESULTS: The n-hexane extract contained mainly hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters, while ten phenolic compounds were isolated and identified in the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content, highest antioxidant activity, and most potent cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate extract showed the most significant inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. CONCLUSION: Casuarina equisetifolia extracts showed promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. Overall, Casuarina equisetifolia is a versatile tree with a variety of uses, and its plant material can be used for many different purposes.

Antiprotozoal potential of Vismia species (Hypericaceae), medicinal plants used to fight cutaneous leishmaniasis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Species of Vismia (Hypericaceae), known in Brazil as "lacre", are commonly used in traditional Amazonian medicine for the treatment of skin lesions, including those caused by Leishmania infection. AIM OF THE STUDY: Hexane extracts from the leaves of Vismia cayennensis, V. gracilis, V. sandwithii and V. guianensis, as well as from the fruits of the latter, in addition to the anthraquinones vismiaquinone, physcion and chrysophanol isolated from these species were explored for their anti-promastigote and anti-amastigote activity on Leishmania amazonensis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts were prepared by static maceration with n-hexane. The compounds, isolated by chromatographic techniques, were identified by spectroscopic methods (1H and 13C NMR). Promastigotes of L.amazonensis were incubated with hexane extracts (1-50 µg/mL) or anthraquinones (1-50 µM) and the parasite survival analyzed. The action of compounds on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential, and membrane integrity of promastigotes were evaluated by flow cytometer, and the cytotoxicity on mammalian cells using MTT assay. Furthermore, the activity of compounds against amastigotes and nitric oxide production were also investigated. RESULTS: Vismiaquinone and physcion were obtained from the leaves of V. guianensis. Physcion, as well as chrysophanol, were isolated from V. sandwithii. Vismia cayennensis and V. gracilis also showed vismiaquinone, compound detected in lower quantity in the fruits of V. guianensis. All extracts were active against the parasite, corroborating the popular use. The greatest activity against promastigotes was achieved with V. guianensis extract (IC50 4.3 µg/mL), precisely the most used Vismia species for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis. Vismiaquinone and physcion exhibited relevant activity with IC50 12.6 and 2.6 µM, respectively. Moreover, all extracts and anthraquinones tested induced ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane disruption and were able to kill intracellular amastigote forms, being worthy of further in vivo studies as potential antileishmanial drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The overall data achieved in the current investigation scientifically validate the traditional use of Vismia species, mainly V. guianensis, as an anti-Leishmania agent. Furthermore, the promising results presented here indicate species of Vismia as potentially useful resources of Brazilian flora for the discovery of therapeutic solutions for neglected diseases.

Analyzing the Antioxidant Activity and Fatty Acid Composition of Monofloral Mullein (Verbascum sp.) Pollen Oil obtained via Various Extraction Techniques.

This study focused on characterizing fatty acids and evaluating the antioxidant properties in oils extracted from mullein (Verbascum sp.) bee-collected pollen, utilizing soxhlet and ultrasound-assisted methods with acetone and hexane solvents. Soxhlet extraction demonstrated high efficiency in mullein bee pollen oil extraction. The highest levels of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), DPPH⋅, and ABTS⋅+ activities (41.07±1.43 mg GAE/g extract; 1.86±0.01 mg QE/g extract; 16.23±0.68 mg TE/g extract; 56.88±0.43 mg TE/g extract, respectively) were observed in oil extracted using the soxhlet method with acetone solvent. Conversely, ultrasound-assisted extraction with hexane yielded oils rich in saturated fatty acids, while acetone extraction contained higher monounsaturated fatty acids. Palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acids were predominant in the extracted oils. This study introduces, for the first time, the identification of fatty acids found in mullein bee pollen oil, along with an examination of their antioxidant properties. The choice of solvent was found to significantly influence compound extraction compared to the extraction method.

Phytochemical and Micro-Morphological Characterization of Atraphaxis pyrifolia Bunge Growing in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Atraphaxis pyrifolia is a native species of Central Asia, known for curing several disorders. The species has little knowledges about its chemical composition and any information about its morphological characteristics despite its importance in traditional Asian medicine. This is one of the first approaches to the phytochemical and morphological characterization of this species. Micro-morphology was performed on the stem, and leaf parts of this plant to profile the morpho-anatomical characters using brightfield, fluorescence, polarized and scanning electron microscopy. Leaves were extracted with hexane and methanol. The hexane extract was analyzed using GC-MS analysis revealing the major presence of γ-sitosterol and nonacosane. The methanolic extract was submitted to Vacuum Liquid Chromatography and Sephadex LH-20. HPTLC, HR-ESI-MS and NMR techniques were used to identify the main compounds. Four glycosylated flavonoids were isolated: 8-O-acetyl-7-O-methyl-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosylgossypetin (Compound 1), and 7-O-methyl-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosylgossypetin (Compound 3), and two other compounds reported for the first time in the literature (Compounds 2 and 4). The findings presented herein furnish pertinent information essential for the identification and authentication of this medicinal plant. Such insights are invaluable for facilitating robust quality control measures and serve as a foundational framework for subsequent endeavours in metabolic, pharmacological, and taxonomical analyses.

Chemical Characterization, Phenolic Compounds Quantification, and Assessment of Antioxidant and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activities of Byrsonima sericea DC fruits.

Byrsonima sericea is a species native to Brazil that is widely used in traditional medicine. The seed ethanol extract (SEE) had the highest content of total phenols (179.35 mg GAE g-1 extract) and flavonoids (10.42 mg QE g-1 extract) and was the most active in relation to antioxidant activity (DPPH: IC50 =4.25 µg mL-1 and ABTS: IC50 =4.82 µg mL-1 ). The peel/pulp ethanol extract (PEE) had the best anticholinesterase activity (IC50 =6.02 µg mL-1 ). Chromatographic investigation identified gallic acid, isoquercitrin, quercetin and amentoflavone in SEE, and gallic acid, isoquercitrin, quercetin and rutin in PEE. Six fatty acid methyl esters and seven triterpenes were identified, highlighting oleic acid in the seed hexane extract (61.85 %) and in the peel/pulp hexane extract (52.61 %), and betulin in the peel/pulp hexane extract (5.25 %). The substances and biological activities identified in B. sericea characterize this fruit as a functional food for future studies.

Cyperus rotundus L.: Invasive weed plant with insecticidal potential against Aphis craccivora Koch and Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell).

Cyperus rotundus L. is a widely distributed invasive weed plant with vast traditional medicinal uses. Herein, the methanolic root extract of C. rotundus and its fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and aqueous) were evaluated for insecticidal activity against nymphs of Aphis craccivora Koch and crawlers of Planococcus lilacinus (Cockerell) to find promising lead (s). In contact topical assay, among extract/fractions, n-hexane fraction exhibited more toxicity against A. craccivora (LD50 = 1.12 µg/insect) and P. lilacinus (LD50 = 0.94 µg/insect). The chemical analysis of n-hexane fraction revealed a volatile composition similar to that of the essential oil (EO) of C. rotundus roots. Hence, EO was extracted using water and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as cosolvent, which revealed enhancement in EO yield (from 0.28 to 0.46% w/w) on implementing DESs. A total of 35 diverse volatile metabolites were identified in all EO samples, accounting for 85.0 to 91.8% of chemical composition, having cyperotundone, cyperene mustakone, isolongifolen-5-one, boronia butenal as major constituents. The EO obtained with DES-7 [choline chloride: ethylene glycol (1:4)] and DES-6 [choline chloride: lactic acid (1:3)] were found effective against A. craccivora (LD50 = 0.62-0.87 µg/insect) and P. lilacinus (LD50= 0.59-0.67 µg/insect) after 96 h. NMR analysis of EO revealed cyperotundone as a major compound, which was isolated along with cyperene and cyperene epoxide. All the molecules were found effective against P. lilacinus, whereas against A. craccivora cyperotundone, cyperene and cyperene epoxide showed promising toxicity (LD50 = 0.74-0.86 µg/insect). Extract/fractions, EO, and isolated molecules showed a significant reproductive inhibition rate of A. craccivora at higher concentrations. All the tested concentrations of cyperotundone showed significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in A. craccivora and P. lilacinus. Based upon the present study, C. rotundus can be recommended to control targeted insects in the greenhouse/field conditions after performing bio-efficacy and phytotoxicity studies.

Identification of compounds present in lipophilic extracts from Brachystola magna (Girard): substances with potential healing properties.

Insects from the Orthoptera order possess important biological activities such as wound healing and represent a therapeutic resource in traditional medicine worldwide. Hence, this study addressed the characterisation of lipophilic extracts from Brachystola magna (Girard), identifying compounds with potential healing properties. For that, four extracts were obtained from sample 1 (head-legs) and sample 2 (abdomen): extract A (hexane/sample 1), extract B (hexane/sample 2), extract C (ethyl acetate/sample 1) and extract D (ethyl acetate/sample 2). All extracts were analysed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Compounds identified were squalene, cholesterol and fatty acids, having a higher concentration of linolenic acid in extracts A and B, while extracts C and D had a higher content of palmitic acid. Additionally, FTIR detected characteristic peaks of lipids and triglycerides. Components of the lipophilic extracts suggested that this product could be used for skin illnesses treatment.

Bioactive Analysis of Antibacterial Efficacy and Antioxidant Potential of Aloe barbadensis Miller Leaf Extracts and Exploration of Secondary Metabolites Using GC-MS Profiling.

Aloe barbadensis Miller (ABM) is a traditional medicinal plant all over the world. Numerous studies were conducted to exhibit its medicinal properties and most of them were concentrated on its metabolites against human pathogens. The current research work evaluates the attributes of different polar-based extracts (ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, acetone, hexane, and petroleum ether) of dried Aloe barbadensis leaf (ABL) to investigate its phytochemical constituents, antioxidant potential (DPPH, ABTS), phenolic, tannin, flavonoid contents, identification of bioactive compounds, and functional groups by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) respectively, and comparing antibacterial efficacy against human pathogens, aquatic bacterial pathogens, and zoonotic bacteria associated with fish and human. The present results showed that the methanolic extract of ABL showed higher antioxidant activity (DPPH-59.73 ± 2.01%; ABTS-74.1 ± 1.29%), total phenolic (10.660 ± 1.242 mg GAE/g), tannin (7.158 ± 0.668 mg TAE/g), and flavonoid content (49.545 ± 1.928 µg QE/g) than that of other solvent extracts. Non-polar solvents hexane and petroleum ether exhibited lesser activity among the extracts. In the case of antibacterial activity, higher inhibition zone was recorded in methanol extract of ABL (25.00 ± 0.70 mm) against Aeromonas salmonicida. Variations in antibacterial activity were observed depending on solvents and extracts. In the current study, polar solvents revealed higher antibacterial activity when compared to the non-polar and the mid-polar solvents. Diverse crucial bioactive compounds were detected in GC-MS analysis. The vital compounds were hexadecanoic acid (30.69%) and 2-pentanone, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl (23.77%) which are responsible for higher antioxidant and antibacterial activity. Similar functional groups were identified in all the solvent extracts of ABL with slight variations in the FT-IR analysis. Polar-based solvent extraction influenced the elution of phytocompounds more than that of the other solvents used in this study. The obtained results suggested that the ABM could be an excellent source for antioxidant and antibacterial activities and can also serve as a potential source of effective bioactive compounds to combat human as well as aquatic pathogens.

Assessing the Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Pentapleura subulifera and Cyclotrichium glabrescens Extracts.

The Lamiaceae family, encompassing diverse plant species, holds significant value in food, medicine, and cosmetics. Within this family, Pentapleura subulifera and Cyclotrichium glabrescens, relatively unexplored species, were investigated for their chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and enzyme-inhibiting effects. The chemical composition of hexane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts from P. subulifera and C. glabrescens were analyzed using LC-ESI-MS/MS and the non-polar hexane fraction was investigated via GC-MS. The antioxidant potential of the extracts was determined through radical scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating assays. Additionally, inhibitory activity against six enzymes - acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), tyrosinase, amylase, and glucosidase - was examined. The aqueous extract of P. subulifera and the methanolic extract of C. glabrescens exhibited elevated phenolic content at 129.47 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g and 55.97 mg GAE/g, respectively. Chemical profiling of the constituents of the two plant species resulted in the identification of a total of twenty compounds. The majority of which belonged to flavonoids and quinic acid derivatives, primarily concentrated in the methanol and aqueous extracts. Among all antioxidant assays, the aqueous extracts of P. subulifera demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, with the highest recorded activity of 404.93 mg trolox equivalent (TE)/g in the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) test. Meanwhile, the hexane extract of C. glabrescens exhibited the highest AChE inhibitory activity at 2.71 mg galanthamine equivalent (GALAE)/g, followed by the methanol extract of P. subulifera at 2.41 mg GALAE/g. These findings unequivocally establish the notable antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity of P. subulifera and C. glabrescens extracts, underscoring their potential as a source of valuable natural antioxidants.

Modulation of quorum sensing and biofilm of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens by Cinnamomum zeylanicum L.

The development of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens has become a global health threat and a major concern in modern medicine. The problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has majorly arisen due to sub-judicious use of antibiotics in health care and livestock industry. A slow progress has been made in last two decades in discovery of new antibiotics. A new strategy in combatting AMR is to modulate or disarm the microbes for their virulence and pathogenicity. Plants are considered as promising source for new drugs against AMR pathogens. In this study, fraction-based screening of the Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract was performed followed by detailed investigation of antiquorum sensing and antibiofilm activities of the most active fraction that is, C. zeylanicum hexane fraction (CZHF). More than 75% reduction in violacein pigment of C. violaceum 12472 was overserved. CZHF successfully modulated the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by 60.46%-78.35%. A similar effect was recorded against Serratia marcescens MTCC 97. A broad-spectrum inhibition of biofilm development was found in presence of sub-MICs of CZHF. The colonization of bacteria onto the glass coverslips was remarkably reduced apart from the reduction in exopolymeric substances. Alkaloids and terpenoids were found in CZHF. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of cinnamaldehyde dimethyl acetal, 2-propenal, coumarin, and α-copaene as major phytocompounds. This study provides enough evidence to support potency of C. zeylanicum extract in targeting the virulence of Gram -ve pathogenic bacteria. The plant extract or active compounds can be developed as successful drugs after careful in vivo examination to target microbial infections. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Hexane fraction of Cinnamomum zeylanicum is active against QS and biofilms. The broad-spectrum antibiofilm activity was further confirmed by microscopic analysis. Dimethyl acetal, 2-propenal, coumarin, α-copaene, and so forth are major phytocompounds.

Exploring the bioactive potential leaves of Sphaeranthus indicus: Targeting immature stages of Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito vectors through bioassay-guided screening and fraction isolation.

Mosquito control is vital for combating mosquito-borne diseases, but concerns exist regarding the use of synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to explore eco-friendly alternatives derived from natural sources. The larvicidal, pupicidal, and ovicidal activities of various fractions obtained from the hexane leaf extract of Sphaeranthus indicus were investigated against two important mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. S. indicus leaves were extracted with hexane and column chromatography was performed with hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and their mixtures as eluents. Among the ten fractions (F1-F10) evaluated, fraction 'F-4' exhibited significant activity against third instar larvae, pupae, and eggs of both mosquito species, closely followed by 'F-5' . At a concentration of 10 ppm, 'F-4' achieved 100% mortality in larvae and displayed LC50 values of 5.08 ppm and 5.03 ppm for Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae, respectively. The LC50 values for pupae were 6.12 ppm and 5.83 ppm for Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. Regarding ovicidal activity, 'F-4' demonstrated percentages ranging from 63.2% to 64.8% against Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus eggs, respectively. These findings underscore the potent larvicidal, pupicidal, and ovicidal effects of fraction 'F-4' from S. indicus against the targeted mosquito species. Further research is warranted to identify the active compounds responsible for these effects and explore practical applications for sustainable mosquito control strategies.

Assessment of Drimia delagoensis (Jessop) Baker Total Phenol, Flavonoids Content and Antioxidant Activity of Both Bulb and Leaves.

Drimia delagoensis has been utilized for its medicinal properties since antiquity. The bulb and leaves are predominantly composed of secondary metabolites that exhibit biological activity. The quantification of total phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as the assessment of antioxidant activity was conducted using the Folin-Ciocalteus method, coulometric analysis, DPPH and the FRAP assays. The ethyl acetate, aqueous, and hexane extracts of the bulb exhibited significantly high total phenolic contents (167.9000±0.3376 µg GAE/mg, 56.2500±0.0043 µg GAE/mg, and 26.4000±0.0198 µg GAE/mg, respectively) compared to the ethyl acetate (49.4400±0.1341 µg QE/mg), aqueous (9.5200±0.1274 µg QE/mg), and hexane leaf extracts (1.8091±0.0049 µg QE/mg). On the other hand, the ethyl acetate leaf extract exhibited the highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate extract of D. delagoensis, was identified as a significant source of natural antioxidants, and its use in the management of diabetic foot ulcers linked with oxidative stress is supported.

Multiple liquid-liquid extraction of dissolved compounds in immortelle hydrosol with four different solvents.

Immortelle, a revered Mediterranean medicinal plant, is celebrated for its potent essential oil renowned in the cosmetic industry for its skin-enhancing properties. Yet, immortelle hydrosol, an often-overlooked byproduct, holds promise in cosmetics due to its compatibility with polar active ingredients. This study investigates the chemical composition of immortelle hydrosol by employing liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) to transfer volatile organic components into nonpolar solvents. Four solvents - chloroform, dichloromethane, hexane, and benzene - were assessed through ten consecutive extractions from industrially produced immortelle hydrosol. Quantification was achieved using GC analysis with tetradecane as an internal standard. Chloroform emerged as the most efficient solvent, yielding 2447.0 mg/L of volatile compounds, surpassing dichloromethane, hexane, and benzene. Key compounds in immortelle hydrosol included 3-pentanone, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and γ-terpineol. Importantly, the study revealed that a portion of essential oil compounds persists in the hydrosol even after ten LLE cycles, with optimal results achievable in five extractions (~92 % in most cases).

Probing Antibacterial and Anticancer Potential of Selenicereus undatus, Pistacia vera L. and Olea europaea L. against Uropathogens, MCF-7 and A2780 Cancer Cells.

Urinary tract infection is an infectious disease that requires immediate treatment. It can occur in any age group and involves both genders equally. The present study was to check the resistance of some antibiotics and to assess the antibacterial potential of three extracts of three plants against notorious bacteria involved in urinary tract infections. Along with assessing the antibacterial activity of plant extracts, we checked for the anticancer potential of these extracts against the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and A2780. Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in developed countries. Determinations of total flavonoid content, total phenolic content, total alkaloid content, total tannin content, total carotenoid content, and total steroid content were performed. The disk diffusion method was used to analyze the antibacterial activity of plant extracts. Ethanolic extract of Selenicereus undatus showed sensitivity (25-28 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance against all bacteria except Staphylococcus (25 mm). Ethanolic extract of Pistacia vera L. showed sensitivity (22-25 mm) against bacteria, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Ethanolic extract of Olea europaea L. showed sensitivity (8-16 mm) against all bacteria except Staphylococcus, whereas chloroform and hexane extracts showed resistance. Positive controls showed variable zones of inhibition (2-60 mm), and negative control showed 0-1 mm. The antibiotic resistance was much more prominent in the case of hexane and chloroform extracts of all plants, whereas ethanolic extract showed a sensitivity of bacteria against extracts. Both cell lines, MCF-7 and A2780, displayed decreased live cells when treated with plant extracts.

Anxiolytic interventions of extracts and pure compounds from Adenanthera pavonina and Peltophorum pterocarpum leaves to treat acute anxiety and depression symptoms in mice.

Anxiolytic effect of ethanol, hexane extracts and pure compounds ß- sito sterol glucoside and bergenin isolated from Adenanthera pavonina AP (Fabaceae) and Peltophorum pterocarpum PP (Fabaceae) leaves were monitored in this study. Mice were treated with dose of 125mg/kg body weight of ethanol and hexane leaves extracts of both tested plants while, 5mg/kg body weight of ß-sito sterol glucoside and 25mg/kg body weight of bergenin. The effect was monitored by hole board test, forced swimming test, open field apparatus and stationary rod test. Results from neuropharmacological effects revealed that ethanol extract of AP leaves and hexane extract of PP leaves had significant anxiolytic (forced swimming test) exploratory (head dip and open field test) and neuro activator activity (stationary rod test) at tested dose. The greatest anti-depressant and anxiolytic effect was found in ethanol extract of AP leaves when compared to all treated drugs. A part from memory enhancing effects, diazepam treated mice also exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant effects and found comparable with ethanol extract of AP. These findings may clarify the impact of ethanol, hexane extracts and pure substances ß-sitosterol glucoside and bergenin at tested concentrations, as well as their potential to treat the Parkinson's and related disorders as an alternative therapy.

Chemical Characterization of Corydalis chaerophylla D.C. Extracts and Preliminary Evaluation of Their in Vitro and in Vivo Biological Properties.

Genus Corydalis is a rich source of isoquinoline alkaloids reported to having potential bioactivities. Corydalis chaerophylla collected from Nepal at an altitude of 2400-4800 m was extracted using hexane, methanol and chloroform as solvents. The resulting hexane, methanol and chloroform extracts were subjected to LC-DAD-MSn analysis to yield fifteen different alkaloids. To assess any potential pharmacological properties, antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive, two Gram-negative bacterial strains and one fungal strain was assessed, revealing significant inhibitive action of the methanol and chloroform extracts. Of the extracts obtained using chloroform contained the highest content of phenolic compounds at 113 mg GAE/g, while the highest total flavonoid content was found for the hexane extract with a value of 46.45 mg QE/g. The chloroform extract also exhibited a considerable antioxidant activity at IC50 value, 261.5±3 µg/mL, for the DPPH assay. Conversely, the methanol extract exhibited the highest LC50 value for Brine Shrimp cytotoxicity at 196±3 µg/mL being least potential for the test. The methanol extract was found to be the most active against α-amylase inhibition with an IC50 of 51.52±2 µg/mL. In an in vivo acute oral toxicity study against mice, methanol and chloroform extracts presented harmful effects with 1000.36 mg/kg BW and 515 mg/kg BW for LD50 , respectively. By analyzing all the results of the solvents used, the chloroform extract was found to be the most active, a feature that will be used in future isolation procedures and other pharmacological tests.

Mosquito larvicidal, pupicidal and ovicidal effects of the extracts of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowers on Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus.

Mosquitoes are the vectors of several diseases like dengue, chikungunya, malaria etc. The three important mosquito species in India are Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus and Anopheles stephensi. Several plant extracts have been tested for their anti-mosquito activity. In this dissertation, the larvicidal, pupicidal and ovicidal activities of the successive hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of Peltophorum pterocarpum (Fabaceae) on mosquitoes are reported. The larvicidal activity of those extracts on both Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes was found to be in a decreasing order of hexane, methanol and chloroform - the LC50 values for these extracts were 111.81 and 104.84 ppm, 121.92 and 121.56 ppm, 357.2 and 352.0 ppm respectively. Their pupicidal activity on both mosquitoes was found in the order of methanol, chloroform and hexane - the LC50 values for these extracts being 172.8 and 162.35 ppm, 425.8 respectively. Their ovicidal activity on both mosquitoes was found to be very low, even at the higher concentration of 500 ppm. This is the first report on the effect of the extracts of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowers on the two mosquito species of Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus. In the present work, the results showed that the hexane extract had the highest larvicidal activity, while methanol showed the highest pupicidal activity besides larvicidal activity. Hence, the methanol extract holds promise to be used as mosquitocidal agent against the above two vectors.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Efficacy of the Lipophilic Extract of Cirsium vulgare.

The aim of this study was to investigate the compounds in the hexane extract of Cirsium vulgare (Savi.) Ten. and to determine the antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities of different extracts. The Cirsium vulgare (NGBB 7229) plant was collected from Turkey's Trakya region. Crude extracts were obtained using different solvents. The chemical composition of Cirsium vulgare was determined in hexane extract using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), the ß-carotene bleaching method, and the determination of superoxide anion scavenging activities. The antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Salmonella typhimurium, whereas the antifungal activity was tested against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Aspergillus fumigatus by applying microdilution methods. A total of 41 bioactive compounds were identified using the GC-MS library. Terpenoids were found to be dominant (52.89%), and lup-20(29)-en-3-yl-acetate and lupeol were the most abundant terpenoids. The highest total flavonoid content (25.73 mg catechin/g) and antioxidant capacity were found in the methanolic extract. The highest antibacterial activity was detected against Bacillus subtilis in the ethyl acetate extract, and the highest antifungal activity was found against Candida krusei and Aspergillus fumigatus in the hexane extract. The observed antioxidant characteristics of the C. vulgare extracts could be attributed to the presence of flavonoids. The high antifungal activity of the hexane extract against all fungal strains can be attributed to its constituents, i.e., terpenoids. This study discloses the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, including some bioactive components, of Cirsium vulgare and implies that Cirsium vulgare holds possible applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent.

Solvent based fractional biosynthesis, phytochemical analysis, and biological activity of silver nanoparticles obtained from the extract of Salvia moorcroftiana.

Multi-drug resistant bacteria sometimes known as "superbugs" developed through overuse and misuse of antibiotics are determined to be sensitive to small concentrations of silver nanoparticles. Various methods and sources are under investigation for the safe and efficient synthesis of silver nanoparticles having effective antibacterial activity even at low concentrations. We used a medicinal plant named Salvia moorcroftiana to extract phytochemicals with antibacterial, antioxidant, and reducing properties. Three types of solvents; from polar to nonpolar, i.e., water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and hexane, were used to extract the plant as a whole and as well as in fractions. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles in all extracts (except hexane-based extract) were spherical, smaller than 20 nm, polydispersed (PDI ranging between 0.2 and 0.5), and stable with repulsive force of action (average zeta value = -18.55±1.17). The tested bacterial strains i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis were found to be sensitive to even small concentrations of Ag-NPs, especially P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial effect of these Ag-NPs was associated with their ability to generate reactive oxygen species. DMSO (in fraction) could efficiently extract antibacterial phytochemicals and showed activity against MDR bacteria (inhibition zone = 11-12 mm). Thus, the antibacterial activity of fractionated DMSO extract was comparable to that of Ag-NPs because it contained phytochemicals having solid antibacterial potential. Furthermore, Ag-NPs synthesized from this extract owned superior antibacterial activity. However, whole aqueous extract-based Ag-NPs MIC was least (7-32 µg/mL) as compared to others.

Study on Phenolic and Organic Acid Compositions and Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Activities of Agaricomycetes Mushroom Species from Turkey.

Mushrooms stand out as one of nature's best gifts among the natural product sources with their diversity, therapeutic values and increasing popularity. In this study, antioxidant (ABTS·+ scavenging, ß-carotene-bleaching, cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), DPPH· scavenging, and metal chelating assays), and enzyme (buty-rylcholinesterase (BChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibition activities of the extracts obtained from Coprinus comatus (O.F. Müll.) Pers., Cerrena unicolor (Bull.) Murrill, Inocutis rheades (Pers.) Fiasson & Niemela and Leptoporus mollis (Pers.) Quél. mushroom species were investigated. The presence of phenolic and organic acid compounds associated with the bioactive properties of the mushroom species was determined by HPLC-DAD. Fumaric acid was found to be prominent compound in C. comatus (43.90 µg/g dw) and C. unicolor (659.9 µg/g dw), vanillin in L. mollis (19.48 µg/g dw), and p-coumaric acid in I. rheades (21.32 µg/g dw). L. mollis methanol extract, as well as higher antioxidant activity than the standards in CUPRAC and ß-carotene-bleaching assays, was noted as superior antioxidant active in all assays (except metal chelating). C. comatus possessed the highest inhibition activity on α-amylase (IC50: 0.23 mg/mL for methanol extract), AChE (IC50: 125.50 µg/mL for hexane extract), and BChE (IC50: 61.03 µg/mL for methanol extract). Also, C. comatus methanol (IC50: 0.09 mg/mL) and L. mollis hexane (IC50 : 0.11 mg/ mL) extracts were better α-glucosidase inhibition active than the acarbose (IC50: 0.37 mg/mL). Our study ascertained that the studied mushroom species are particularly sources of biochemically active compounds with therapeutic potential.