Epiphytic and endophytic bacteria that promote growth of ethnomedicinal plants in the subtropical forests of Meghalaya, India / Bacterias epífitas y endófitas que promueven el crecimiento de plantas etnomedicinales en los bosques subtropicales de Meghalaya, India

The present study was aimed to investigate the endophytic and epiphytic bacteria associated with selected ethnomedicinal plants from the pristine subtropical forests of Meghalaya and analyse them for plant growth promotion and antagonistic ability. This study is an attempt to explore plant associated bacteria which are beneficial to host plants, and thus aid in the conservation of ethnomedicinal plants of the studied subtropical forests, which are dwindling due to exploitation. The plant growth promotion parameters like indole acetic acid (IAA) production, mineral phosphate solubilisation, acid phosphatase activity, presence of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACC) gene, nitrogen fixation, cellulose digestion, chitin and pectin degradation were screened among the isolates. The study revealed significant differences in bacterial population not only between the epiphytic and endophytic microhabitats, but also amongst the host plants. Out of the 70 isolated plant associated bacteria, Bacillus sp., Serratia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea sp., and Lysinibacillus sp. showed potent plant growth promotion properties. Bacillus siamensis C53 and B. subtilis cenB showed significant antagonistic activity against the tested pathogens. This study indicated the isolates inhabiting the plants prevalent in the subtropical sacred forests could be explored for use as plant growth promoters while practising the cultivation and conservation of ethnomedicinal plants. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (4): 1295-1308. Epub 2014 December 01.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar las bacterias endófitas y epífitas asociadas con plantas medicinales seleccionadas de los bosques subtropicales prístinos de Meghalaya, para estimular el crecimiento de plantas y la capacidad antagónica. Este estudio es un intento de explorar las plantas asociadas a bacterias que benefician a la planta hospedera, y así ayudar en la conservación de plantas medicinales de los bosques subtropicales estudiados, los cuales son cada vez más escasos debido a la explotación. Los parámetros de promoción de crecimiento de las plantas, tales como: índice de producción de ácido acético (IAA), solubilización de fosfato mineral, actividad de la fosfatasa ácida, presencia del gen 1-aminociclopropano-1-ácido carboxílico desaminasa (ACC), fijación de nitrógeno, digestión de celulosa, quitina y pectina fueron seleccionados entre los aislamientos. El estudio reveló diferencias significativas en la población bacteriana, no sólo entre los microhábitats epífitos y endófitos, sino también entre las plantas hospederas. De las 70 bacterias aisladas de plantas asociadas, Bacillus sp., Serratia sp., Pseudomonas sp., Pantoea sp. y Lysinibacillus sp. mostraron potentes propiedades estimulantes del crecimiento vegetal. Bacillus C53 siamensis y B. subtilis cenB mostraron actividad antagónica significativa contra los patógenos probados. Este estudio indicó que los aislamientos que habitan en las plantas predominantes en los bosques sagrados subtropicales podrían explorarse para su uso como promotores del crecimiento vegetal, mientras se practica el cultivo y conservación de plantas medicinales.

Ethnomedicinal plants of Jodhpur District, Rajasthan used in herbal and folk remedies.

The Jodhpur district a part of Thar Desert is very rich in medicinal plant wealth. The medicinal plants of this region have great potential to be used in drug and pharmaceutical industries. These herbal plants have been used by local people, tribal communities, vendors, native doctors such as Ojhas, Bhagats Bhopas and experts of Ayurvedic fields since long time in herbal and folk remedies. Kalbelia, Nats, Bhils, Raika, Bhopas, Banjara, Gadolia-Lohar, Saharia and Meena communities of this district have a rich knowledge of plants based traditional medicines. Ten ethnomedicinal plants like Cleome gynandra Linn., Clerodendrum phlomidis Linn., Cassia angustifolia Vahl., Echinops echinatus Roxb., Leucas aspera (Willd.) Spreng., Mimosa hamata Willd., Moringa oleifera Lamk., Pedalium murex Linn., Peganum harmala Linn., Sida cordifolia Linn. have been selected for this research work. The present investigation is aimed to create awareness about the ethnomedicinal value of the plants and their uses to draw the attention of pharmacologists, phytochemists and pharmaceuticals.

Ethnomedicinal Plants of Barmer District, Rajasthan Used in Herbal and Folk Remedies.

The Barmer district a part of Thar Desert is very rich in herbal plant wealth. The herbal plants of this region have great potential to be used in drug and pharmaceutical industries. These herbal plants have been used by local people, tribal communities, vendors, native doctors such as Ojhas, Bhagats Bhopas and experts of Ayurvedic fields since long time in herbal and folk remedies. Kalbelia, Nats, Bhils, Raika, Bhopas, Banjara, Gadolia-Lohar Langa and Manganiars communities of this district have a rich knowledge of plants based traditional medicines. Ethnomedicinal plants like Aristolochia bracteolata Lamk., Calligonum polygonoides Linn., Cardiospermum halicacabum Linn., Clerodendrum phlomoidis Linn., Evolvulus alsinoides Linn., Grewia tenax (Forsk.) Fiori., Maytenus emarginata (Willd.) Ding Hau., Mollugo Cerviana (Linn.) Seringe. Neurada procumbens Linn., Ocimum americanum Linn., Peganum harmala Linn., Pergularia daemia (Forsk) Chiov., Portulaca oleracea Linn., Sarcostemma acidum (Roxb.) Voigt. and Trianthema portulacastrum Linn. have been selected for this research work.The present investigation is aimed to create awareness about the ethnomedicinal value of the plants and their uses to draw the attention of pharmacologists, phytochemists and pharmaceuticals.

Endophytic fungal communities associated with two ethno-medicinal plants of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India and their antimicrobial prospective.

To study endophytic fungi associated with two plant species used as ethno-medicines by aboriginal tribes of Similipal Biosphere Reserve and evaluation for their antimicrobial potentials against some clinically significant human pathogens. A total of 458 endophytic isolates were obtained from leaf, stem and fruit tissues of Solanum rubrum and Morinda pubescence. The dominant endophytic fungi belong to genera Aspergillus, Colletotrichum, Curvularia and Mycelia sterilia. Maximum endophytic isolates were obtained from leaves segments followed by stem and fruit tissues. In both the plants class hypomycetes were dominant over other fungal classes. Shannon- Weiner and Simpson indexes showed rich diversity of endophytic fungi suggesting even and uniform occurrence of various species. The endophytic isolates showed varying degree of antimicrobial activity against 9 human pathogens. In S. rubrum 20% and 10% of the isolates inhibited all the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and 35% of the isolates displayed antifungal activity against all the test fungal pathogens. One of the isolate showed considerable antimicrobial activity against all the test pathogens. Endophytic isolates of M. pubescence showed 24% antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and 28% antifungal activity against all the test fungal pathogens. The study revealed that medicinal plants associated endophytes could be a rich source of antimicrobial agents.

Antibacterial activity of selected Egyptian ethnomedicinal plants

Aims: Medicinal plants have recently received the attention of the antimicrobial activity of plants and their metabolites due to the challenge of growing incidences of drug-resistant pathogens. The aims of this study were to determine the antibacterial activities of plant extracts used as ethnomedicinal in Egypt. Methodology and Results: Investigations were carried out to assess the antibacterial efficiency of 11 plant extracts used as ethnopharmacological among Egyptian native people against infectious diseases. Crude methanol, ethanol, chloroform, hexane, acetone and aqueous extract of plants were tested for antibacterial activity in vitro against ten bacterial isolates using the disc diffusion method test. Discs were impregnated with 2 mg/mL of different solvent extracts. Among all the crude extracts, the methanol extract showed the highest activity than other extracts. P. harmala and S. officinalis exhibited highest antibacterial activity against gram positive and negative bacteria while the remaining plants extracts showed less activity. All the plant extracts showed no significant effect against the Bordetella bronchisepta ATCC 4617 except the extracts of M. fragrans and L. sativum. E. coli is the most sensitive microorganism tested, with the lowest MIC value (0.5 mg/mL) in the presence of the plant extract of P. harmala and S. officinalis. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Results obtained herein, may suggest that the ethnomedicinal Egyptian plants possess antimicrobial activity and therefore, they can be used in biotechnological fields as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceutical industry.

Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of some selected Nigerian medicinal plants / Atividade inibitória da acetilcolinesterase e butirilcolinesterase de algumas plantas medicinais da Nigéria

Plants have been found to be useful as memory enhansers as well as antiaging. Twenty two of such plants from sixteen families were investigated for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities using the in vitro Ellman's spectrophotometric and in situ bioautographic methods with physostigmine as standard. At least three morphological parts were examined for each of the plants investigated and the test concentration was 42.5 µg/ mL. Some plants were active on both enzymes though with some morphological parts being more active than others. The root bark of Spondias mombin showed the highest activity to the two enzymes; 64.77 percent and 83.94 percent on AChE and BuChE respectively. Other plant parts of the selected plants exhibited some remarkable selectivity in their actions. Those selectively active against AChE were Alchornia laxiflora stem bark (41.12 percent) and root bark, Callophyllum inophyllurn root bark (56.52 percent). The leaves of C. jagus (74.25 percent), Morinda lucida leaves (40.15 percent), Peltophorum pterocarpum leaves and stem bark (49.5 percent and 68.85 percent, respectively), physiostigmine gave 90.31 percent inhibition. Generally higher activities were found against BuChE. Bombax bromoposenze leaves, root bark and stem bark were particularly active. The inhibition was over 80 percent. Other selective plant parts are the leaves Antiaris africana, Cissampelos owarensis aerial parts (78.96 percent), Combretum molle leaves and stem bark (90.42 percent and 88.13 percent, respectively), Dioscorea dumentorum root bark and tuber (over 87 percent), G. kola leaves, Markhamia tomentosa root bark, Pycnanthus angolensis stem bark and Tetrapleura tetraptera leaves. Most of these plants are taken as food or are food ingredients in Nigeria and may account for the low incidence of Alzheimer's disease in the country and may play certain roles in the mediation of the disease.

As plantas podem ser úteis para estimular a memória, bem como serem usadas para combater o envelhecimento. Vinte e duas plantas, de dezesseis famílias, foram investigadas in vitro oara verificar sua atividade inibidora das enzimas acetilcolinesterase (AChE) e butirilcolinesterase (BuChE) pelo método espectrofotométrico de Ellman in situ e métodos de bioautografia utilizando fisostigmina como padrão. Pelo menos três partes morfológicas de cada planta foram analisadas e a concentração de ensaio foi de 42,5 µg/mL. Algumas plantas foram ativas em ambas as enzimas, embora com algumas partes mais ativas que outras. A casca da raiz de Spondias mombin apresentou a maior atividade as duas enzimas, 64,77 por cento para AChE e 83,94 por cento para BuChE. Outras partes das plantas selecionadas apresentaram boa seletividade em suas ações. As plantas seletivamente ativos contra AChE foram as casca do caule e casca da raiz de Alchornia laxiflora (41,12 por cento), e casca da raiz de Callophyllum inophyllurn (56,52 por cento). As folhas de C. jagus (74,25 por cento), folhas de Morinda lucida (40,15 por cento), folhas e casca do caule de Peltophorum pterocarpum (49,5 por cento e 68,85 por cento, respectivamente), physiostigmine inibiu 90,31 por cento. Em geral, atividades melhoras foram apresentadas contra BuChE. Folhas, casca da raiz e casca do caule Bombax bromoposenze foram particularmente ativos. A inibição foi acima de 80 por cento. Outras partes de algumas espécies também foram seletivas, como as partes aéreas de Antiaris africana, Cissampelos owarensis (78,96 por cento), folhas e casca do caule de Combretum molle (90,42 por cento e 88,13 por cento, respectivamente), casca da raiz e de tubérculos de Dioscorea dumentorum (mais de 87 por cento), folhas de G cola, cascas de raiz de Markhamia tomentosa, casca do caule de Pycnanthus angolensis e folhas de Tetrapleura tetraptera. A maioria destas plantas são utilizadas como alimentos ou ingredientes alimentares na Nigéria e podem ser responsáveis pela baixa incidência da doença de Alzheimer no país e desempenhar determinadas funções na mediação da doença.

Antimicrobial screening of some medicinal plants from Mato Grosso Cerrado / Triagem antimicrobiana de algumas plantas medicinais do Cerrado de Mato Grosso

Os extratos em hexano, diclorometano, acetato de etila e etanol das entrecascas de Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari e Stryphnodendron obovatum, do rizoma de Simaba ferruginea e do látex de Croton urucurana foram triados contra um painel de bactérias e fungos usando o método de microdiluição em caldo. O látex de Croton urucurana foi o material derivado de planta com maior atividade antimicrobiana. Os extratos em acetato de etila e hexano da entrecasca de Calophyllum brasiliense destacaram-se por suas seletivas atividades antibacterianas. Os extratos polares da entrecasca de Lafoensia pacari notabilizaram-se por suas potentes e seletivas atividades contra leveduras e os extratos polares e não-polares de Bowdichia virgilioides por suas atividades antifúngicas contra hialo-hifomicetos e dermatófitos. Este é o primeiro relato mostrando atividades antifúngicas para os extratos de Cariniana rubra e Simaba ferruginea. Esse trabalho demonstrou a atividade antimicrobiana de plantas medicinais do Cerrado de Mato Grosso em ensaios in vitro e indica que elas podem ser potenciais candidatas para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias no tratamento de infecções bacterianas e fúngicas.

Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts from stem barks of Bowdichia virgilioides, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cariniana rubra, Lafoensia pacari, and Stryphnodendron obovatum and rhizome of Simaba ferruginea and Dragon's blood red sap from Croton urucurana were screened against a panel of bacteria and fungi using the micro-broth dilution method. Dragon's blood from Croton urucurana was the most effective antimicrobial plant material. Ethyl acetate and hexane extracts of Calophyllum brasiliense stem bark deserved distinction by their selective antibacterial activity. Lafoensia pacari stem bark polar extracts distinguished by their potent and selective anti-yeast activity and Bowdichia virgilioides polar and non-polar extracts by their antifungal activity towards hyalohypho-mycetes and dermatophytes. This is the first report showing antifungal activity for polar extracts of Cariniana rubra and Simaba ferruginea. This study has demonstrated antimicrobial activity of Mato Grosso Cerrado ethnomedicinal plants in in vitro assays and has indicated that they can be effective potential candidates for the development of new strategies to treat fungal and bacterial infections.