Antimicrobial activity of some medicinal plants

The FOLLOWING study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of some medicinal plants. Ethanol extracts of different medicinal plants including Curcuma longa [Turmeric], Zingiber officinal [Ginger], Piper nigrum [Black Pepper], Cinnamomum cassia [Cinnamon], Thymus vulgaris [Thyme], Laurus nobilis [Bay leaf], and Syzgium aromaticum [Clove] were tested using the disc diffusion method for their antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. typhimurium, E. faecium, and E. faecalis. Cinnamon extract [CE], at 130 micro g/disk, exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. typhimunium, and E. faecalis. Thyme extract [TE], at 30 micro g/disk, exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli, E. faecium, and E. faecalis while the remaining medicinal plants extracts showed no activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of the cinnamon and thyme ranged from 31.25 to 250 micro g/ml by the dilution method. These results suggest that cinnamon and thyme have antibacterial activity in vitro

Anticancer activity of Bauhinia racemosa Lam on mice bearing ehrlich ascites carcinoma

PHARMACOLOGICAL studies of the Bauhinia Racemosa Lam which was belongs to the family Caesalpiniaceae revealed that the ethanol extract of leaves of B. racemosa presented analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic in the previous research but in the present study the antitumor activity and antioxidant status at different concentration of ethanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark [40, 80, and 160 micro g/kg] was evaluated against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma [EAC] in mice. The ethanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa stem showed decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume an viable cell count, and increased the nonviable cell count and mean survival time thereby increasing life span of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile reverted to more or less normal levels in extract treated mice. Treatment with ethanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase. It could be concluded that, the ethanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa stem bark exhibited antitumor effect by modulating lipid peroxidation and augmenting antioxidant defense system in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice