Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Angiopteris evecta.

The leaves, stem bark, stem heart wood, root and tubers of Angiopteris evecta were successively extracted with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol. All the fractions exhibited a wider spectrum of antibacterial activity. The dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions of the leaves and stem bark were particularly good and were the only fractions exhibiting antifungal activity. All fractions of the tuber with the exception of petrol, exhibited very good antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Breynia cernua.

The Breynia cernua leaves, stem and root barks and heart-woods extracted with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol gave fractions with varied level of antimicrobial activity. The best activity was exhibited by the methanol extract of the root bark followed by its butanol fraction. These were the only fractions exhibiting a good level of antifungal activity as compared to the standard. The dichloromethane fraction of the stem bark also demonstrated good activity.

Bacterial contamination of sago starch in Papua New Guinea.

Sago starch is an important food in lowland Papua New Guinea. Extraction of the starch from the palm and storage were performed by way of traditional methods that have been used for thousands of years. Currently, very little is known about the microbiology of sago starch. Sago samples were collected from areas of high starch utilization and analyzed for the presence of bacterial pathogens and indicator organisms. Storage methods and duration were recorded at the time of collection, and pH and water activity on arrival at the laboratory. Sago starch was found to harbor high levels of fecal contamination, as well as various food pathogens including Salmonella, Bacillus cereus, and coagulase-positive staphylococci. Clostridium perfringens was only present infrequently in samples and in very low numbers, while Listeria monocytogenes was not isolated from sago starch. The presence of high levels of fecal contamination in sago starch is of particular concern, and may contribute to diarrheal disease in rural Papua New Guinea.

Antimicrobial activity of the Maniltoa schefferi extracts.

All fractions of Maniltoa schefferi exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Good activity was demonstrated by the petrol and dichloromethane fractions of seed pods, seeds with coat and by methanol fractions of stem heartwood, root bark, root heartwood and stem bark whose butanol fraction was equally good. None of the fractions showed any antifungal activity.

Antimicrobial activity of the Derris elliptica, Derris indica and Derris trifoliata extractives.

Various parts of Derris elliptica, Derris indica and Derris trifoliata on fractionation with a number of solvents (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol) gave fractions which demonstrated a varied level of broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Good activity was exhibited by the methanol fractions of the leaves and root heart-wood, petrol, butanol and methanol fractions of the root bark of D. indica and petrol and ethyl acetate fractions of D. trifoliata. None of the plants showed antifungal activity.

Antibacterial activity of Galeola foliata.

Galeola foliata leaves and stem bark were successively extracted with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol. A broad spectrum antibacterial activity (24 bacteria and protozoan) was exhibited by both parts. A very good level of activity was demonstrated by the CH2Cl2 and EtOAc fractions. None of the fractions were active against the moulds.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Euroschinus papuanus.

The crude methanolic extracts of the leaves, stem bark, stem heart wood, root bark and root heart wood of Euroschinus papuanus and the fractions obtained on partitioning with petrol, dichloromethane (D), ethyl acetate (E) and butanol (B), exhibited a broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Fractionation drastically enhanced the activity. Excellent activity was demonstrated by the E fractions of stem heart wood, D of root bark, and E of root heart wood. Antifungal activity was exhibited by the B fractions of leaves, stem heartwood and root bark.

Antimicrobial activity of extractives of Sarcocephalus coadunatus.

The methanolic extracts and the fractions (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol) obtained from the leaves, seeds, stem and root barks of Sarcocephalus coadunatus exhibited a high level of broad spectrum antibacterial activity. The activity was more pronounced in the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the leaves; ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the seeds; dichloromethane fractions of the stem bark and the ethyl acetate fractions of the root bark. None of the fractions showed any antifungal activity.

Antibacterial activity of Alstonia scholaris and Leea tetramera.

The crude methanolic extracts of the leaves, stem and root barks of Alstonia scholaris and Leea tetramera on partitioning (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol) gave fractions exhibiting improved and broader spectrum of antibacterial activity. Especially the butanol fractions of A. scholaris and the root bark of L. tetramera. None of the fractions were active against the fungi tested.

Antibacterial activity of Pterocarpus indicus.

The leaves, root and stem barks of Pterocarpus indicus were successively partitioned with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol. All the fractions exhibited a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was more pronounced in the butanol and methanol fractions. None were active against the moulds.

Antibacterial activity of Artocarpus heterophyllus.

The crude methanolic extracts of the stem and root barks, stem and root heart-wood, leaves, fruits and seeds of Artocarpus heterophyllus and their subsequent partitioning with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol gave fractions that exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The butanol fractions of the root bark and fruits were found to be the most active. None of the fractions were active against the fungi tested.

Antimicrobial activity of Terminalia complanata and Flacourtia zippelii.

A broad spectrum of antibacterial activity was exhibited by the methanol extracts of leaves, root and stem barks of Terminalia complanata and Flacourtia zippelii and their subsequent fractions (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate). Fractionation enhanced the activity particularly in the ethyl acetate fractions of the stem and root barks of T. complanata. No activity was observed against the moulds.

Antimicrobial activity of Calophyllum soulattri.

The methanol extracts of leaves, root and stem barks of Calophyllum soulattri were partitioned with petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate. The extracts demonstrated a range of antibacterial activity, improved on fractionation. None were found to be active against the moulds.

Antimicrobial activity of Michelia champaca.

The methanol extracts of leaves, seeds, stem and root barks, stem and root heart-woods of Michelia champaca and the obtained fractions (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol) exhibited a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Fractionation drastically enhanced the level of activity particularly in all fractions of the stem bark and dichloromethane fraction of the root bark. Some fractions of the leaves, stem and root barks demonstrated antifungal activity against some of the tested moulds. Liriodenine was the active constituent of the root bark, with a broader and, in some cases, better level of activity as compared to the standard.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Dracontomelon dao.

The crude methanolic extracts of the leaves, stem and root barks of Drancantomelon dao and their subsequent partitioning (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol) gave fractions which demonstrated a very good level of broad spectrum antibacterial activity. The dichloromethane and butanol fractions of the leaf were the most active. Only the leaf fractions had antifungal activity, particularly the dichloromethane and butanol.

Antibacterial, antifungal activity of Harpullia petiolaris.

The methanol extracts of Harpullia petiolaris, leaves, stem and root barks and heartwoods were fractionated into petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol. All fractions exhibited antibacterial activity.

Antibacterial activity of Hygrophila stricta and Peperomia pellucida.

The crude methanolic extracts of Hygrophila scricta and Peperomia pellucida were fractionated into petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol. All the crude extracts and the fractions exhibited a very good level of broad spectrum antibacterial activity. The fractions were more active than the crude extracts. The petrol fraction of H. stricta and the butanol fraction of P. pellucida were particularly good. No activity was noticed for the moulds tested.

Antibacterial, antifungal activities of Barringtonia asiatica.

The crude methanolic extract of Barringtonia asiatica (leaves, fruits, seeds, stem and root barks) and the fractions (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol) exhibited a very good level of broad spectrum antibacterial activity. A number of fractions demonstrated antifungal activity against a number of fungi.

Antimicrobial activity of Psychotria microlabastra.

The methanol extracts of leaves, root and stem barks of Psychotria microlabastra showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, that was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), particularly in the ethyl acetate fractions. None of the extractives showed activity against the tested moulds.

Antimicrobial activity of Symplocos cochinensis.

The methanol extracts of leaves, root and stem barks of Symplocos cochinchinensis and their fractions obtained by partition (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate) were screened for antimicrobial activity. All the crude extracts and fractions showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, that was enhanced on fractionation. None of them showed activity against the tested moulds.