ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to carryout preliminary phytochemical analysis and in vitro antimicrobial activities of aqueous and ethanolic root and stem bark extracts of Ficus sycomorus. Qualitative phytochemical analysis for tannins, saponin, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, and reducing sugar was done using standard methods. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were tested against four micro- organisms; Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella dysentrae, and Salmonella typhi. Agar well diffusion method was used for the antimicrobial studies. Phytochemical screening of both root and stem bark aqueous extracts showed the presence of tannin, saponin, terpenoid, flavonoid, alkaloids, glycoside, steroid, reducing sugar, and phenol. Glycoside was not detected in both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the root bark. The result of the antimicrobial studies showed that the aqueous root extract have higher antimicrobial activity ranging from (2-12 mm) on the tested microorganisms than aqueous stem bark extract (3-9 mm), while for ethanol extract both stem and root bark extract has almost the same effect or antimicrobial activity on the tested pathogens ranging from (2-15 mm) which is having higher activity compared to the aqueous extracts. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of both the extracts were found to be 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL respectively. From this study, it can, therefore, be concluded that the root and stem bark extract is a potential antimicrobial agent which support the claim of the traditional users of this plant in herbal medicine for the treatment of diseases that are of microbial origin.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Carissa bispinosa, Ficus sycomorus, and Grewia bicolar are edible fruit plants that grow in the wild. The plants produce yellow-, red-, and purple-colored fruits and thus can be good sources of flavonoids for fighting oxidative reactions in humans, food, and the pharmaceutical industry. The present study aimed at isolating flavonoids from C.bispinosa, F. sycomorus, and G. bicolar fruits and determining their antioxidant activity using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2-azino-bis 3-ethylbenz-thiaz-oline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) model radical assays. METHODS: Analytical and preparative thin-layer chromatography was used to isolate flavonoids from the fruits using methanol/chloroform/hexane (7:2:1,v/v/v) as a mobile phase system. The ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging methods were used to test for the antioxidant activity of the samples, using quercetin and catechin as reference standards. RESULTS:Thin-layer chromatographic profiling revealed two different types of flavonoids from each plant.C. bispinosa yielded two flavonoid bands, Rfvalues 0.11 and 0.38;G. bicolaryielded two flavonoid bands,Rfvalues 0.63 and 0.81; andF.sycomorus also yielded two types of flavonoids, Rfvalues 0.094 and 0.81. All the extracted flavonoids exhibited significant antioxidant activity of over 80% at a concentration of 200 mg/L. The order of radical scavenging activity for the 200-mg/Lsamples is G. bicolar Rf(0.81) >C. bispinosa Rf(0.113) >F. sycomorus Rf(0.094) >F. sycomorus Rf(0.047) >C. bispinosa Rf(0.38) >G. bicolar Rf(0.63).G. bicolar(Rf= 0.81) exhibited antioxidant activitythat was superior to that of catechin. CONCLUSION:The present study results show that C. bispinosa,F. sycomorus,and G. bicolar contain different flavonoid types with significant antioxidant activity of over 80% at a concentration of 200 mg/L. Therefore, the fruits can be used as a source of natural antioxidants which can be used as nutraceuticals to promote health, as preservatives to delay peroxidation of foods, and as flavoring for packed foods.
Subject(s)
Antioxidants/therapeutic use , Apocynaceae/chemistry , Ficus/chemistry , Flavonoids/analysis , Grewia/chemistryABSTRACT
Decoction of Ficus sycomorus stem bark is used to treat infertility involving low sperm counts, but the reproductive risk associated with its use is uncertain. The aqueous stem-bark extract was orally administered at 200-600 mg/kg for 30 days to post-pubertal growing albino rats. Within the period, the live body weights, scrotal diameters and testicular size parameters were estimated. The mean live body weight, scrotal diameter of the control and treated rats significantly (p<0.05) increased as the animals grew, but the treatment did not significantly (p>0.05) affect the parameters. There were no significant (p>0.05) variations in mean testicular size parameters in treated and control rats, and no dose-dependent nor time-dependent effects occurred. Sections of the testes of the treated animals showed active spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules with no apparent histological lesions. It is concluded that the use of the crude extract of the Ficus sycomorus within our dose range portends minimal male reproductive risk and underscores the need to study its pro-spermatic effect.
La decocción de la corteza del tallo de Ficus sycomorus se usa para tratar la infertilidad relacionada al bajo conteo de espermatozoides, pero es incierto el riesgo reproductivo asociado con su uso. El extracto acuoso de la corteza se administró, en ratas albinas, por vía oral, en una dosis de 200-600 mg/kg, durante 30 días post-crecimiento puberal. Durante el período, fueron controlados los siguientes parámetros: peso corporal in vivo, diámetro escrotal y tamaño testicular. El promedio de peso corporal in vivo y diámetro escrotal de las ratas control y tratadas, tuvieron un incremento significativo (p<0,05) en los animales, pero el tratamiento no afectó significativamente (p> 0,05) esos parámetros. No hubo variaciones significativas (p> 0,05) en la media de los parámetros tamaño testicular en las ratas tratadas y control, ni tampoco se produjeron efectos dependientes de la dosis, ni en función del tiempo. Las secciones de los testículos de los animales tratados mostraron una espermatogénesis activa a nivel de los túbulos seminíferos, sin lesiones histológicas aparentes. Se concluye, que el uso del extracto crudo de Ficus sycomorus, dentro de una dosis de 200-600 mg/kg, presenta mínimo riesgo en la reproducción masculina, sin embargo, se hace necesario estudiar su efecto pro-espermático.