Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric characterization of Curcuma longa: protection against pathogenic microbes and lipid peroxidation in rat's tissue homogenate

The present study was designed to investigate the mineral content and antimicrobial activity of Curcuma Longa extracts and its essential oil. We also determined the lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of the ethanolic extract against sodium nitroprusside [SNP] induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species [TBARS] formation in rat's brain, kidney and liver homogenates. Major constituents of essential oil identified by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry [GCMS] were beta-sesquiphellandrene [38.69%], alpha-curcumene [18.44%] and p-mentha-1,4 [8]-diene [16.29%]. Atomic absorption spectroscopy [AAS] was used for the quantitative estimation of Calcium [Ca], Magnesium [Mg], Iron [Fe], Copper [Cu], Zinc [Zn], Chromium [Cr], Nickel [Ni] and Manganese [Mn]. The extract showed highest Mg [49.4mg/l] concentration followed by Ca [35.42mg/l] and Fe [1.27mg/l]. Our data revealed that the ethanolic extract of Curcuma Longa at 1-10 mg/kg significantly inhibited TBARS production in all tested homogenates. Crude extracts and essential oil were tested against three gram positive bacteria i.e. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus atrophoeus, Staphylococcus aureus, six gram negative bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonias, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Erwinia carotovora, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and one fungal strain namely Candida albicans by disc diffusion assay. Essential oil showed highest anti-microbial activity as compared to the crude extracts. The present study confirms the significant antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of the studied plant, which can be considered as a diet supplement for a variety of oxidative stress induced or infectious diseases

Antimicrobial activity of different tea varieties available in Pakistan

In this antimicrobial study, various extracts of Green and Black tea [Camellia sinensis] and Lemon grass [Cymbopogon citrates] were evaluated for antimicrobial activities against six bacterial strains including both human pathogenic bacteria [Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi] and plant pathogenic bacteria [Erwinia carotovora, Agro bacterium tumifaciens] and one fungal strain Candida albicans by disc diffusion susceptibility method. Of human pathogens, P. aeruginosa was most susceptible to all three different tea varieties; though rest of the strains also demonstrated prominent sensitivity. In comparison, black tea extracts were less activities than green tea and lemon grass. However, all the three tea varieties illustrated profound activity against plant pathogenic bacteria. Similarly, when extracts of tea were tested against C. albicans, green tea and lemon grass exhibited significant activity while black tea was mostly inactive

In vitro larvicidal potential against Anopheles stephensi and antioxidative enzyme activities of Ginkgo biloba, Stevia rebaudiana and Parthenium hysterophorous

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate in vitro larvicidal and antioxidant enzymes potential of the medicinal plants Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba), Stevia rebaudiana (S. rebaudiana) and Parthenium hysterophorous (P. hysterophorous) against Anopheles stephensi (An. stephensi) 4th instars larvae.@*METHODS@#For evaluation of larvicidal potential, the ethanolic, methanolic and dichloromethane leaves extracts of three different plants were used in dose-dependent experiments in two media, while the antioxidant enzymes activities were investigated using four different methods viz., superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, ascorbate and catalase.@*RESULTS@#An. stephensi has developed resistance to various synthetic insecticides, making its control increasingly difficult. The comparative performance of ethanolic extracts (65%-90%) was found better than the methanolic extract (70%-87%) and dichloromethane extract (60%-70%). Among the three plants extracts tested in two media, S. rebaudiana exhibited higher larvicidal activity with LC(50) (24 h) in methanolic extract than P. hysterophorous and G. biloba. G. biloba and P. hysterophorous exhibited the strongest antioxidative enzymes activity and S. rebaudiana were less active and no significant difference was observed.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These three plants exhibit larvicidal potential and can be further used for vector control alternative to synthetic insecticide due to eco-friendly and diseases control, furthermore these plant species have potent antioxidative enzyme activities, therefore, making them strong natural candidate particularly for diseases which are caused due to free radicals.

Dengue fever treatment with Carica papaya leaves extracts

The main objective of the current study is to investigate the potential of Carica papaya leaves extracts against Dengue fever in 45 year old patient bitten by carrier mosquitoes. For the treatment of Dengue fever the extract was prepared in water. 25 mL of aqueous extract of C. papaya leaves was administered to patient infected with Dengue fever twice daily i.e. morning and evening for five consecutive days. Before the extract administration the blood samples from patient were analyzed. Platelets count (PLT), White Blood Cells (WBC) and Neutrophils (NEUT) decreased from 176×10(3)/µL, 8.10×10(3)/µL, 84.0% to 55×10(3)/µL, 3.7×10(3)/µL and 46.0%. Subsequently, the blood samples were rechecked after the administration of leaves extract. It was observed that the PLT count increased from 55×10(3)/µL to 168×10(3)/µL, WBC from 3.7×10(3)/µL to 7.7×10(3)/µL and NEUT from 46.0% to 78.3%. From the patient feelings and blood reports it showed that Carica papaya leaves aqueous extract exhibited potential activity against Dengue fever. Furthermore, the different parts of this valuable specie can be further used as a strong natural candidate against viral diseases.