ABSTRACT
Turmeric, a recognized spice, is known for miscellaneous health benefits in addition to culinary uses. In this study, in vitro evaluation of turmeric ethanol, methanol and aqueous extracts were mediated by disc diffusion, agar well method and phytochemical analysis. Purification of curcumin from turmeric was assisted by silica gel, TLC and HPLC for evaluation of its antioxidant and DNA protection activity. The sensitivity of alcoholic extracts against bacterial species differed, yet Staphylococcus aureus subsp. Aureus and Bacillus subtilis both exhibited pronounced inhibition in disc diffusion and agar well method respectively. Overall, the crude ethanol extract of turmeric has an enhanced inhibitory effect on the growth of different bacterial species with a mean of 9.4 +/- 1.00 mm compared to 8.8 +/- 0.58 mm in case of crude methanol extract. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, coumarins, steroids, saponnins, tannins and phenols. Purification of curcumin through HPLC gave the main peak with 55% of acetonitrile at a retention time of 61- 65 minutes. Lower concentration of purified curcumin has protective effects on human DNA but increased concentrations instigate damaging effects. Its percentage scavenging ability was highest [91.84%] at 45 microg and per unit increase in the concentration prompted 6 units increase in percentage inhibition with a linear regression, R2= 0.914. All these traits boost its significance in herbal medicine with varied antimicrobial and pharmacological activities
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the in vitro anti-malarial activity of three medicinal plants, Picrorhiza kurroa, Caesalpinia bonducella and Artemisia absinthium of Pakistan. Different extracts of various parts of these plants were prepared by maceration and percolation, and were evaluated for their antimalarial activity. Aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa showed 34%, 100% and 90% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively, at 2.00 mg/ml. While aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extracts of Caesalpinia bonducella showed 65%, 56% and 76% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively at same concentrations. In the case of Artemisia absinthium, aqueous, cold alcoholic and hot alcoholic extract of Artemisia absinthium showed 35%, 55% and 21% inhibition in growth of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively at 2.00 mg/ml. In our study, extracts of Picrorhiza kurroa were found good for traditional therapy with highly significant results