Antibacterial activity of Elaeagnus umbellata [Thunb.] a medicinal plant from Pakistan

To evaluate the biological activity of Elaeagnus umbellata extracts on standard microorganism strains as well as multi-drug resistant bacteria isolated from hospitals. We carried out this study at the Plant Pathology Laboratory of the University College of Agriculture, Rawalakot Pakistan during the period between September-November 2004. Flowers, leaves, and berries of the plant were extracted in different solvents and tested for their antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method on selected organisms like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus], multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa [P. aeruginosa], and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli [E. coli]. The ether extract of flower was found to be highly effective against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Bacillus subtilis [B. subtilis]. The alcohol extract of these leaves also demonstrated strong activity against gram positive and negative bacteria. The aqueous extract from the berry strongly inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus whereas, it exhibited a very small zone of inhibition against B. subtilis. Multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa was found completely resistant to aqueous extract. The acetone extract of the berry showed good activity against P. aeruginosa. The present study reports the antibacterial activity of Elaeagnus umbellata. Most of the extracts displayed broad-spectrum activity, since gram positive bacteria including S. aureus, B. subtilis and gram-negative bacteria including E. coli and P. aeruginosa were inhibited. These preliminary findings may provide the basis for traditional use of this plant in the treatment of infectious diseases

Antibacterial activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa, Acacia seyal var. seyal and Sphaeranthus suaveolens var. suaveolens against upper respiratory tract pathogens

Medicinal plants constitute an effective source of both traditional and modem medicines. The emergence of drug resistant bacteria mandates the need for newer antibiotics. To evaluate the antibiotic effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa. Three medicinal plants have been selected for investigation of their antibacterial activities; Hibiscus sabdariffa. [Dried calyces], Cacia seyal var. seyal [fresh stem bark] and Sphaeranthus suaveolens var suaveolens [herbs] The extracts of these plants at concentration of 100mg/ml have been tested against seven strains of bacteria.; qualitative tests using the Agar Well Diffusion Method have been carried out. E coli showed higher resistance to the plant extracts whereas Pseudomonas aeruginosa is more sensitive. Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts showed extensive inhibition zone and were, therefore, effective as antibacterial ingredient

[Effect of methanolic extracts of Artemisia aucheri Boiss, Zataria multiflora Boiss and Myrtus communis L. on Trichomonas vaginalis [In Vitro]]

Considering the high prevalence of Tricomonas vaginalis [TV] in women and the known side effects of metronidazol, herbal drug therapy in order to reduce drug side effects has been considered increasingly in recent decades. This study was done to determine the effect of Artemisia aucheri Boiss, Zataria multiflora Boiss and Myrtus communis L. on Trichomonas vaginalis. This study was done on samples extracted from 100 patients with vaginitis due to Trichomona. The parasite was isolated from vagina and determined directly. Identification was done through direct smear preparation. Parasite was added to the 5 test tubes containing Dorse medium, metronidazole. dimethyl sulfoxaide [DMSO], Artemisia, Zataria and Myrtus extraction with concentration of 0.1, 0.01 ml in order to determine the effect of these concentrations within 72 hours. Trichomonas could be alived in Dorse medium for 72 hours, in presence of metronidazole for one hour and in Dorse medium for 6 hours. Also, methonolic extracts of Artemisia are effective at concentration of 0.1 after one hour and 0,01 after 4 hours of the inoculation. Methanolic extracts of Zataria at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 and the Myrtus extract at concentration of 0.1 are effective at beginning of inoculation but the Myrtus extract at concentration of 0.01 is effective after one hour. Considering the acceptable effect of methanolic extracts of these plants on trichomonas in in-vitro conditions, it is recommended that, the therapeutic effects of the substances from these plants to be studied in in vivo conditions and in case of having positive effect to be used as a drug

[Phytochemical evaluation of 30 plant species collected from Shahrbabak [Kerman/Iran]]

Iran as a large country with different climatic regions has various types of plants that a majority of them are used by locals as medicinal plants. The present study was aimed to investigate the phytochemistry of plants in Kerman province. A total of 30 plants species belonging to 19 families have been colldected from Shahrbabak area [in the west of Kerman province] and screened for alkaloid, tannin, saponin, flavonoid, cardiac glycosid, cyanogenic glycoside and volatile oil. According to the performed tests 8 plants [27%] were positive for alkaloid, 22 cases [71%] for tannin, 4 cases [13%] for saponin, 26 cases [86%] for flavonoid, 4 cases [13%] for cardiac glycoside, 1[3%] for cyanogenic glycoside and 11[40%] for volatile oil. Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia, Salsola baryosma and Vacaria pyramidata with more potential therapeutic effects are suggested for further researches

Analysis of the essential oil of Nepeta Sintenisii Bornm. from Iran

Nepeta is a one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family with regard to the number of species. Some species of this genus are important medicinal plants and their extracts have been used for medicinal purposes. In this investigation aerial parts of Nepeta sintenisii Bornm. was subjected to hydrodistillation and the chemical composition of the isolated essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS method for first time. Forty constituents [96.5% of the total oil] were identified of which 4abeta,7alpha,7abeta-nepetalactone [23.4%], elemol [16.1%], E-beta-farnesene [9.5%], 1,8-cineole [8.2%], cis-sabinene hydrate [6.5%], beta-bisabolene [4.2%] and germacrene-D [3.5%] were the main components. The constituents of the volatile oil of N. sintenisii is similar to the composition of the other Nepeta genus

[Evaluation of antidepressant activities of rose oil and geranium oil in the mouse forced swim test]

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that results in significant consequences in active population of the society. In traditional manuscripts, there are many indications about the antidepressant effects of rose oil. The purpose of this study was to determine the antidepressant effects of rose oil and geranium oil. All experiments were carried out on male Swiss-Webster mice [25-30 gr]. The antidepressant activities of rose oil and geranium oil were assesed using the forced swim test. In this test, mice were placed into a cylinderical glass [25 cm height, 12 cm in diameter] containing a column of 17 cm of water at 25 +/- 1 degree C. After 30 min [for the injection route] or 2 weeks [for the oral route] of the rose oil and geranium oil administrations, the mice were subjected to forced swimming test for 8 min. Acute subcutaneous [s.c.] injection or chronic oral administration of rose oil and geranium oil significantly decreased the immobility time in the mouse forced swim test. The geranium oil response was biphasic. Pretreatment of animals with amphetamine and nortriptyline also reduced the immobility time. The inhibitory effects elicited by rose oil, geranium oil and amphetamine but not nortriptyline were antagonized by reserpine. The results suggest that the antidepressant activities of rose oil and geranium oil may be mediated through a presynaptic mechanism

Antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of heracoleum persicum

Medical plants entail numerous therapeutic capabilities due to their antimicrobial activities. During the present study, the antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts of Heracoleum Persicum was determined in vitro. We have gathered the aforementioned plant from heights of Ashkour near Tonkabon. The antimicrobial activity of aqueous and methanol extracts was determined against 14 bacterial and 2 fungal specimens according to the disc diffusion, MIC [minimal inhibitory concentration], and MBC [maximum bactericidal concentration]. The aqueous extract of Heracoleum Persicum failed to show antimicrobial activity, however, the methanol extract was effective against bacillus, streptococcous, enterococcous and nocardia. The methanol extract of Heracoleum Persicum has antibacterial activity. Further studies are strongly recommended to find out the possible therapeutic capability of this plant in infectious diseases