Evaluation of antibacterial activity and flavonoid content of two capparis species from Iran

Background: Due to multiple drug resistance against antimicrobial drugs for treatment of infectious disease, investigations to discovering new antibacterial compounds from natural sources have been designated

Objective: According to antimicrobial effects of some Capparis species, this study was carried out to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the extract and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia against 6 bacterial strains

Methods: Aerial parts of the Capparis species were extracted by maceration method using methanol and fractionated separately by liquid-liquid fractionation method. The antibacterial activity of the extract and fractions were studied against 6 bacterial strains using MIC microplate method. Total flavonoid content [TFC] of the extracts and fractions was determined using AlCl[3] reagent

Results: The total extract and methanolic fractions of C. mucronifolia were the most effective fractions against the bacterial strains. Methanolic fraction of C. cartilaginea was the most effective fraction with MIC 10.42 microg/ml against Salmonella enterica. The highest antibacterial activity of C.mucronifolia was against Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC 7.8 microg/ml. Methanolic fractions of Capparis species showed the highest TFC value in AlCl[3] colorimetric assay

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the extracts and fractions of Capparis cartilaginea and Capparis mucronifolia have antimicrobial effect against 6 gram positive and gram negative strains. According to the high amount of flavonoids in methanolic fraction of C. mucronifolia, the antibacterial activity may be related to the flavonoid compounds of this plant

review on phytochemistry and pharmacology of Otostegia persica [Burm.f.] Boiss

Iran has a great wealth of various naturally occurring medicinal plants which have great potential pharmacological activities. Otostegia persica [Burm.f.] Boiss. is one of these plants which is a perennial shrub found in South and Southeast of Iran. The aerial parts of O. persica have been used in Iranian traditional medicine to treat various types of diseases [e.g., inflanimatory and pain- mediated diseases, malaria and diabetes]. Research carried out using different in vivo and in vitro assays of biological evaluation support most of these claims. The active pharmacological components of O. persica most studied are flavonoids and terpenoids. This paper presents the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of this medicinal plant. This is the first article reported in this review form about O. persica which might be helpful for scientists and researchers to find out new in modern health concept

[Effect of polar and non-polar Aloe vera L. leaf extracts on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidases inhibitory activity in vitro]

Intestinal alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase are two carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes that play a key role in conversion of disaccharide to glucose. Inhibition of these two enzymes provides a therapeutic option for treatment of postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of different Aloe vera L. extracts against alpha -amylase and alpha -glucosidase in vitro. Aloevera L. leaf was collected from the Institute of Medicinal Plants farm and several extracts were prepared by n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvents. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were tested on alpha -amylase and alpha -glucosidase enzyme separately. In this experiment, the minimum concentration of the extract required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity [IC[50]], was obtained and compared with acarbose as a positive control. The results showed that total methanol extract of Aloe vera L. leaf had significantly [p<0.001] higher alpha-amylase inhibitory [28.2 +/- 1.3 microg/ml] effect than other solvent fractions but lower than acarbose [25.4 +/- 1.9 microg/ml]. Furthermore total methanol extract and solvent fractions of methanol and ethyl acetate of Aloe vera L. leaf had significantly [p<0.001] higher inhibitory effect on alpha -glucosidase enzyme activity [2.3 +/- 0.1 microg/ml, 2.7 +/- 0.1 microg/ml, 3.4 +/- 0.1 microg/ml, respectively] than other solvent fractions as well as compared with acarbose [5.8 +/- 0.6 microg/ml]. Total methanol extracts of Aloe vera L leaf has strong alpha -amylase and alpha -glucosidase inhibitory activity than chloroform, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol solvent fraction

[Investigation of alpha amylase and alpha-glucosidases inhibitory effects of Silybum marianum [L. Gaertn] seed extracts in vitro]

The alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase are the key enzymes involved in broken down of dietary polysaccharides to monosaccharides or simple sugars molecules. Inhibition of these two gastrointestinal enzymes especially in diabetic patients can reduce glucose absorption and decreases postprandial hyperglycemia. The present study was undertaken to explore the alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase inhibitory effects of different silybum marianum seed extracts. Silybum marianum seeds were collected from the Institute of Medicinal Plants farm and total extract and different fractions were prepared by methanol, chloroform, hexane and ethyl acetate solvents. The inhibitory effects of the extracts were tested on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme separately. In this experiment, the minimum concentration of the extract required for 50% inhibition of enzyme activity [IC50], was obtained and compared with acarbose as a positive control. The results showed that total methanol extract and hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol fractions of silybum marianum seeds have inhibitory effects on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity. Statestical analysis showed that total methanol extract of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than other fractions on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity compared to acarbose. Methanol extracts of silybum marianum seeds have stronger inhibitory effect than methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane and chloroform fraction on alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity