Antimicrobial activity of Loranthus micranthus harvested from kola nut tree

Various solvent extracts of Loranthus micranthus exhibited varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. Only the petroleum ether extract showed antifungal activity. The methanol extract showed the best antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.     

Study on the antimicrobial activity of Hymatanthus sucuba

The antimicrobial activity of Hyamatantus sucuba roots methanol extract, fractions prepared from this extract (n-hexane, CHCl(3), EtOAc, and n-butanol) and some isolated compounds were evaluated against some Gram(+) and Gram(-) bacteria and yeasts.     

Antibacterial activities of some mosses including Hylocomium splendens from South Western British Columbia

The antibacterial activity of methanol extracts of ten moss species and fractions prepared from 80% methanol extract of Hylocomium splendens were evaluated by disk diffusion method. Nine moss species showed antibacterial activity against Gram (+) bacteria, in particular H. splendens and its ethyl acetate fractions showed stronger activity. Enhancement of antibacterial activity against Staphylococci by UV-A light irradiation was demonstrated in the extracts of Bartramia pomiformis, Ceratodon purpureus and Neckera douglasii.     

Antimicrobial activity of extractives of Solidago microglossa

The antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract from Solidago microglossa roots, essential oil from its aerial part and some isolated compounds was investigated. The oil exhibited concentration-dependent activity against all the tested bacteria and yeasts.     

Antioxidant activity of Filipendula hexapetala flowers

The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Filipendula hexapetala flowers was assessed by the assay for ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), the assay for DPPH free radical scavenging ability (DPPH) and the assay for the influence of lipid peroxidation in liposomes, induced by Fe(2+)/ascorbate system and measured by the TBA test (LP). The activity of the investigated extract in all test-systems was found to be significant. The principal constituent responsible for the observed effects was isolated and identified as spiraeoside.     

Antiinflammatory and analgesic activities of Zizyphus lotus root barks

The root barks of Zizyphus lotus were extracted with water, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol to determine their antiinflammatory and analgesic activities. Aqueous extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) given intraperitoneally (i.p.) showed a significant and dose-dependent antiinflammatory and analgesic activity.     

Analgesic activity of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos leaves

The methanol extract of leaves of Aegle marmelos at a dose level of 200 and 300 mg/kg showed significant analgesic activity on acetic acid-induced writhing and tail flick test in mice.     

Molluscicidal activity of Aglaia duperreana and the constituents of its twigs and leaves

The methanol (MeOH) extract of the twigs and leaves of Aglaia duperreana was investigated for its molluscicidal activity against Pomacea canaliculata. The extract was found to exhibit significant molluscicidal activity. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the extract showed the most potent molluscicidal activity among different solvent fractions. The bioactivity-guided chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate soluble fraction led to a new triterpenoid along with 15 known compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques as well as mass spectroscopic analysis. The molluscicidal activities of compounds 2-16 against P. canaliculata were also investigated. Naringenin trimethyl ether showed significant molluscicidal activity with a median lethal concentration (LC(50)) of 3.9 μg/mL, which was indicated higher potency than the positive control, tea saponin (LC(50)=4.5 μg/mL).     

Antimicrobial activity of Leucas aspera flowers

The methanol extract of Leucas aspera flowers, its fractions, the alkaloidal residue and the expressed flower juice, tested for antimicrobial activity, showed good antibacterial activity for methanol extract and methanol fraction with maximum activity for the alkaloidal residue.     

Antioxidant compounds from Ebenus pinnata

Activity-guided fractionation of the methanol extract of Ebenus pinnata aerial parts led to the isolation of ombuoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (2), rutin (3), catechin (4), and picein (5), along with beta-sitosterol and beta-sitosterol glucoside. Compounds 1-4 showed significant antioxidant activity in the DPPH, and TEAC, reducing power assays.     

Larvicidal activity of saponin containing extracts and fractions of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca

Chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol extracts of fruit mesocarp of Balanites aegyptiaca and five fractions from the methanol extract were tested against the Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. All extracts showed larvicidal effects however the highest larval mortality was found in methanol extract. One fraction obtained from the silica gel column chromatography of the latter was found most effective for larval mortality. This fraction also interfered with adult emergence. A concentration of 0.0014% (w/v) of this active fraction showed inhibition of the 50% of the test larval population from emerging adults (EC(50)). The analysis of total saponin content of these tested extracts and fractions revealed a strong correlation between saponin content and larval mortality.     

Anti-diarrheal activity of methanol extract of Litsea polyantha bark in mice

The anti-diarrheal activity of methanol extract of dried bark and aerial parts of Litsea polyantha (MELP) has been evaluated in mice using different models (castor oil-induced diarrhea and propulsive gut motility in mice). MELP (50, 75, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P<0.01) reduced the onset of diarrhea, fecal excretion and also showed a significant (P<0.001) reduction in gastrointestinal motility on charcoal meal test in mice. The results of the study support the folklore use of the plant for diarrheal remedies.     

Two new triterpenoids from the bark of Eucalyptus exserta and their molluscicidal and cytotoxic activities

Two new triterpenoids, 2α-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid-3β-trans- isoferulate (1) and 2α, 3α, 24-trihydroxyolean-18-en-28-oic acid (2), together with three known triterpenoids (3-5) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Eucalyptus exserta. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means. Compounds 1, 2, and 5 exhibited molluscicidal activity against Pomacea canaliculata. All isolated compounds showed significant cytotoxic activity against Spodoptera litura (SL) cells.     

Antioxidant activity of Erica arborea

The antioxidant properties of the methanol extract of leaves and flowers of Erica arborea and the ethyl acetate, butanol and water soluble fractions were investigated. The ethyl acetate extract was found to be the richest for phenolic and flavonoid content which showed the highest antioxidant activity.     

Nepetalactone content in shoot cultures of three endemic Nepeta species and the evaluation of their antimicrobial activity

Rapid micropropagation of Nepeta rtanjensis, N. sibirica and N. nervosa was performed. Qualitative and quantitative nepetalactone content in methanol extracts of in vitro grown plants was analysed by reverse-phase HPLC coupled with UV and MS detection. Only trans,cis-nepetalactone was detected in shoots of N. rtanjensis, while cis,trans-nepetalactone stereoisomer was present in N. sibirica. No nepetalactone was observed in shoots of N. nervosa. The antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts, against eight bacterial and eight fungal species, was evaluated. All the tested extracts showed significant antibacterial and strong antifungal activity. However, N. rtanjensis extract exhibited the best antimicrobial potential.     

Two new prenylated isoflavones from Sedum aizoon L

Investigation of a methanol extract from the Chinese endemic species Sedum aizoon L. led to the isolation of two new isoflavone derivatives that were named sedacin A and B (1 and 2). Their structures were elucidated by the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Two new isoflavone derivatives were isolated compounds were assayed for antioxidant 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.     

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus

The methanol extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizome, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w., showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Among the fractions, tested at 250 mg/kg, the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) and residual methanol fraction (RMF) were found to retain the activity, the latter being more active as compared to the control. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) did not show any antidiarrhoeal activity.     

Bioactive polar compounds from stem bark of Magnolia officinalis

Two new phenylethanoid glycosides magnoloside D (1) and E (2), together with nine known compounds, were isolated from the polar part of methanol extract of the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectral analysis. Anti-spasmodic activity of four major constituents (3, 4, 9 and 11) was tested in isolated colon of rat, compounds 3, 4, and 9 showed inhibition against acetylcholine, with the effect similar to that of magnolol and honokiol. At the same time, antioxidant activity of the isolated compounds was investigated using a DPPH and an ORAC assay. All of the compounds, except compound 8 showed potent antioxidant capacity in the ORAC assay, while compounds 1-5 and 11 exhibited potent antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay.     

Antibacterial and allelopathic activity of methanolic extract from Iris pseudopumila rhizomes

The methanolic extract of rhizomes of Iris pseudopumila was tested for its antibacterial and allelopathic activity. The extract was shown to have antibacterial effects. The allelopathic effect was tested against Raphanus sativus seed germination. The extract caused a decrease in the percentage of seed germination and root and epicotyl growth.