ABSTRACT
Genus Kalanchoe comprises hundred species. Different extracts of these Kalanchoe species have been widely used in traditional medicine. Recently it has been reported that Kalanchoe extracts possess various biological activities viz. antiviral, sedative, antiulcer, immunomodulatory, antileishmanial, CNS depressant, anti-inflammatory, thyroid peroxidase inhibitor, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, analgesic, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, inhibition of B cell development, cardiovascular, antihyperglycemic, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, insecticidal and larvicidal activities. Earlier studies on different Kalanchoe species have reported the isolation of polysaccharides, flavonoids, sterols, ascorbic acid, trace elements, organic acids, hydrocarbons, triterpenoids, phenolic components and bufadenolides. This review presents the botany, chemistry, traditional uses and pharmacological data of genus Kalanchoe.
ABSTRACT
The synergistic effect of five potential essential oils from each of the following plant species: Thymus vulgaris, Lamiaceae, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Lauraceae, Eugenia aromatica, Myrtaceae, Eucalyptus globulus, Myrtaceae and Zingiber officinalis, Zingiberaceae was assessed in combination with the antifungal agent amphotericin B. The oils were analysed and their main components identified using GC/FID and GC/MS. The antifungal activities of the oils were investigated against two clinical isolates of the fungal species; Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the individual oils were evaluated using the agar disc diffusion assay while the synergetic effects between each of the oils and amphotericin B were evaluated using the agar dilution checkerboard micro titer test. The results indicated significant synergetic effects between thyme oil and amphotericin B against C. albicans and A. niger with FIC indices of 0.25 and 0.13 respectively. Moreover, cinnamon oil acted synergistically with amphotericin B against C. albicans with an FICI value of 0.28, however when tested against A. niger, an additive effect was observed (FICI = 1). The combination of thyme oil and to a less extent, cinnamon oil with amphotericin B is suggested for the treatment of infections caused by C. albicans and A. niger.
ABSTRACT
DNA profiling of two closely related ornamental plants belonging to family crassulaceae viz. Kalanchoe thrysiflora Harv. and Kalanchoe marmorata Baker were performed to establish genetic polymorphism. Biological guided fractionation of the two plant extracts to assess their cytotoxicity, had led to the isolation of one steroidal and one triterpenoidal compound from the most active dichloromethane fraction of Kalanchoe thrysiflora. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds were evaluated against normal (HFB4) and cancer (MCF7) cells. Compound 1 (3-oxo-olean-12-ene) and compound 2 (β-sitosterol) showed similar cytotoxic activity on MCF7 at IC50 17.4 and 17.6 μg/ml respectively while on HFB4, the compounds revealed cytotoxic activity at IC50 21.9 and 21.6 respectively.