Isolation, structural elucidation and antiplasmodial activity of fucosterol compound from brown seaweed, Sargassum linearifolium against malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

The brown seaweed, Sargassum linearifolium (Turner) C. Agardh, 1820 is commonly available along the south-east coast of India. Its compound fucosterol was isolated and confirmed through spectral characterisation and chemical transformation methods. The antiplasmodial effect of the isolated fucosterol was investigated against the 3D7 chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium falciparum strain, parasitaemia percentage was determined at 48 h and morphological change was studied through microscopic examination after Giemsa staining. A perceptible antiplasmodial effect was produced by fucosterol compound against the P. falciparum and positive control, chloroquine with the IC50 values (µg/mL) of 7.48 and 12.81, respectively. Fucosterol showed higher antiplasmodial activity as compared to chloroquine. It is inferred that both the fucosterol and chloroquine could have inhibited the schizont stage of the parasite during the intra-erythrocyte asexual development. The findings underline the usefulness of the seaweed-based fucosterol and further studies are warranted.

Structural characterization and evaluation of mosquito-larvicidal property of silver nanoparticles synthesized from the seaweed, Turbinaria ornata (Turner) J. Agardh 1848.

The silver nanoparticles synthesized from Turbinaria ornata (To-AgNPs) showed spherical with crystalline nature (20-32 nm) was evaluated against fourth instar larvae of three mosquitoes. The maximum activity of To-AgNPs was recorded on Aedes aegypti followed by Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus with the following lethal concentration values (µg/ml): LC50 of 0.738, 1.134, and 1.494; and LC90 of 3.342, 17.982, and 22.475, respectively. The obtained respective values (µg/ml) vis-a-vis aqueous extract (To-AE) were: 2.767 and 40.577; 4.347 and 158.399, and 7.351 and 278.994. The findings revealed that To-AgNPs could form a base for the development of an eco-friendly, low-cost pesticide.

Phytochemical profiling of Turbinaria ornata and its antioxidant and anti-proliferative effects.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the phytochemicals and evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative ability of Turbinaria ornata (Turner) J. Agardh, 1848. METHODS: A phytochemical analysis of the T. ornata-hexane extract (To-HE) and T. ornata-aqueous extract (To-AE) was performed. T. ornata extracts were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant properties of To-HE and To-AE were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging (DPPH) and ferric ion reducing power (FRAP) assays. In addition, the in vitro anti-proliferative properties of To-HE and To-AE were assessed in kidney epithelial cells from the African green monkey (Vero) and in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549) using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a yellow tetrazole) assay. RESULTS: The phytochemical screening of T. ornata revealed the presence of saponin, alkaloids, amino acids, fixed oil and fat and phenolic compounds (tannins, flavonoids and total phenol). A higher antioxidant ability was found in To-HE than in To-AE. The anti-proliferative efficacy values (µg/mL) of To-HE and To-AE for A549 and Vero cells were 62.91 and 93.00 and 72.64 and 106.6, respectively. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups such as alcohols, amides, aromatics, amines, alkyl halides, alkynes, alkanes and carboxylic acids. The GC-MS analysis of To-HE revealed the presence of 13 active compounds. CONCLUSION: Owing to its recorded anti-proliferative effect, further pharmaceutical studies on the development of this anticancer drug are merited.

Structural characterization, antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic properties of seagrass, Cymodocea serrulata (R.Br.) Asch. & Magnus mediated silver nanoparticles.

The present study pertains to the synthesis, structural elucidation, antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic properties of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from marine angiosperm, Cymodocea serrulata aqueous extract (CSAE). The characterization was made through UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), zeta potential and dynamic light scanning (DLS) analyses. The UV-Vis spectrum resulted in a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 430 nm. The average crystalline size of the AgNPs was predicted through XRD peaks that indicated the 2 theta values of 37.84°, 44.06°, 64.42° and 77.74° for Bragg's refraction index. The functional groups responsible for the bio-reduction of Ag(+) into Ag(0) were focused through FTIR spectrum. The FESEM images showed that the C. serrulata mediated AgNPs (CS-AgNPs) were spherical in shape. DPPH assay revealed the higher free radical scavenging activity in CS-AgNPs, when compared to CSAE. The cytotoxicity assay on the cervical cancer (HeLa) and African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells upon treatment with CSAE: 107.7 & 124.3 µgml(-1) and CS-AgNPs: 34.5 & 61.24 µgml(-1), respectively showed good inhibition rate. These findings highlight the fact that C. serrulata could be a potential source for developing potent drugs and further studies are needed.

GC-MS analysis of bioactive components and synthesis of gold nanoparticle using Chloroxylon swietenia DC leaf extract and its larvicidal activity.

A rapid bio-reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) was achieved by Chloroxylon swietenia DC leaf extract (CSLE), which resulted in the formation of well dispersed C. swietenia gold nanoparticles (CSGNPs). The formation of GNPs was confirmed by color changes from yellowish green to purple and their characteristic peak at 545 nm. The characterization of synthesized CSGNPs was made through X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) followed by size and zeta potential analyses. The GC-MS profile of C. swietenia methanolic leaf extract (CSMLE) resulted 20 phytocomponents, among those heptacosanoic acid, 25-methyl-, methyl ester (C29H58O2) attributes highest peak area. The efficiency of the synthesized CSMLE, CSGNPs and CSLE were tested against fourth instar larvae of malarial and dengue vector, which resulted more substantial upshot than with leaf extract treated. The Lethal concentration (LC50) values of CSMLE, CSGNPs and CSLE were found to be 0.509, 0.340, 0.423 ppm and 0.602, 0.188, 0.646 ppm on Aedes aegypti and Anopheles stephensi, respectively. The findings form an important baseline information proceeding biologically innocuous biopesticide for controlling the malarial and dengue vectors.

Mukia maderaspatana (Cucurbitaceae) extract-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles to control Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

Mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases are prone to raise health and economic impacts. Synthetic insecticide-based interventions are indeed in situations of epidemic outbreak and sudden increases of adult mosquitoes. Nanoparticles are being used in many commercial applications and were found that aqueous silver ions can be reduced by an aqueous extract of plant parts to generate extremely stable silver nanoparticles in water. Based on this, silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesized using leaf aqueous extract (LAE) of Mukia maderaspatana. Further, the synthesized SNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectrum, which indicated a strong plasmon resonance at 427 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the average crystalline size of the synthesized SNPs was approximately 64 nm by Debye-Scherrer formulae. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of different functional groups like amines, halides, alkanes, alkynes, amides, and esters with respective stretches, which are responsible for the bio-reduction of silver ions. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) depicted the spherical morphology of SNPs with size range of 13-34 nm. The larvicidal activity of LAE and SNPs exhibited an effective mortality to Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus. The lethal concentration (LC50; LC90) of LAE and SNPs were found to be 0.506; 1.082, 0.392; 0.870 ppm and 0.211; 0.703, 0.094; 0.482 ppm, respectively on A. aegypti and C. quinquefasciatus. Thus, the synthesized SNPs have shown preponderant larvicidal activity, but further studies are needed to formulate the potential larvicidal agents.

Structural characterization, antioxidant and anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles synthesized from leaf extract(decoction)of Antigonon leptopus Hook. &Arn.

Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring boiling water over alleviated leaves of the tea plant. Tea prepared from the aerial parts of Antigonon leptopus has been traditionally used as remedy for cold, diabetes and pain in many countries. The gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesized from powdered leaf extract (decoction) of A. leptopus were characterized by UV­visible spectroscopy (UV­vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses to define the formation of Au NPs. Further, the synthesized Au NPs were well characterized based on their strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR), crystalline nature, functional groups, size and dispersed shapes, purity and Bragg's reflections of face centered cubic (fcc) structure of metallic gold. The Au NPs showed higher free radical scavenging property when compared to the effect of leaf extract. Cytotoxicity study of synthesized Au NPs exhibited the growth inhibitory property at the concentration (GI50) of 257.8 µg/mL in human adenocarcinoma breast cancer (MCF-7) cells after 48 h. Thus, the Au NPs synthesized from the Mexican creeper, A. leptopus revealed the important biological properties: as a free radical as well as anticancer agent. We conclude that the A. leptopus derived biological materials have promising potential as a source for the development of anticancer drug in future.

Antigonon leptopus: a potent biological source for extermination of fish bacterial pathogens Providencia and Aeromonas.

This study pertains to the phytochemical components and the biological properties of the weed, Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn. (AUT/PUS/064). Phytochemical screening of methanolic leaf extract of A. leptopus revealed the presence of saponin, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, fixed oils and amino acids. Accordingly, 12 phytochemical components were analysed and characterised by GC-MS. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against fish and clinical pathogens. Fish pathogens, Providencia vermicola (MTCC 5578) and Aeromonas hydrophila (MTCC 646) were more sensitive to the methanolic leaf extract than clinical pathogens. A useful information was obtained from the phytochemistry of A. leptopus leaves, which would pave way to further applications to treat fish diseases and for utility in the pharmaceutical field.