Phenolic compounds in seven South American Ilex species.

Ilex paraguariensis (common name: 'mate' or 'yerba mate') is used for the preparation of the most popular tea-like beverage of South America. Choleretic, hypocholesteremic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and bitter taste properties of mate are attributed to the phenolic constituents of the leaves. I. paraguariensis has seven local congeneric substitutes or adulterants: I. brevicuspis; I. theezans; I. microdonta; I. dumosa var. dumosa; I. taubertiana; I. pseudobuxus; I. integerrima; and I. argentina. An HPLC method using UV with Photodiode Array Detector was developed for the identification and quantification of caffeoyl derivatives (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) and flavonoids (quercetin, rutin and kaempferol) in these species. I. paraguariensis showed a higher content of flavonoids and caffeoyl derivatives than the other assayed species.     

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata.

The methanol extracts of leaves, flowers, stem and root barks of Cassia alata showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. The activity was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), the dichloromethane fraction of the flower extract being the most effective. No activity was shown against tested 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 Castanopsis acuminatissima

The methanol extracts of Castanopsis acuminatissima leaves, stem and root barks were partitioned (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate). Though all of the crude methanolic extracts and obtained fractions from them, showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, in most cases the activity was decreased on fractionation. None was active against tested moulds.     

Antibacterial activity of Picrasma javanica

The methanol extracts of Picrasma javanica, leaves, seeds, stem and root barks were partitioned (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol). All obtained extracts and fractions showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, while none was active against the tested moulds.     

Antimicrobial activity of Clematis papuasica and Nauclea obversifolia.

The methanol extracts of Clematis papuasica leaves and stem bark and of Nauclea obversifolia leaves, stem and root barks showed awide spectrum of antibacterial activity which was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate), the ethyl acetate fractions being in all cases the most effective. None of the extractives was active against tested moulds.     

Antimicrobial activity of Evodia elleryana.

The methanol extracts of Evodia elleryana, leaves, stem wood, stem bark, root wood and root bark were partitioned (petrol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate). All obtained fractions showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, while none were active against tested moulds.     

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of Gentianella achalensis

The anti-inflammatory activity of the petrol, dichloromethane and methanol extracts from Gentianella achalensis flowering plant were studied using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Only the dichloromethane extract and its F2 fraction (at 1 mg/ear) showed marked anti-inflammatory activity in TPA-induced ear edema test. No effects were seen on carrageenan-induced edema. Oleanolic and ursolic acid, isolated from F2, may account for the observed topical anti-inflammatory effects.     

Antibacterial compounds from shoot skins of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens)

Bamboo is intricately associated with human activity, and its usefulness is well known. For example, its roots and leaves have been used as medicinal products. Also, studies on the medicinal properties of bamboo leaves have shown antioxidant, anticancer, and antibiotic properties. In this study, we determined that the dichloromethane soluble of the methanol extract from the bamboo shoot skin (Phyllostachys pubescens) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The active constituents were isolated and identified as stigmasterol and dihydrobrassicasterol by NMR and mass spectrometry. These compounds inhibited the growth of S. aureus and Escherichia coli. Also, from the standpoint of structure–activity relationships, the activities of these phytosterols depend on their side chain structures. These findings indicate that the extracts of bamboo shoot skins as well as its active compounds in the skins are potentially useful as antibacterial materials.     

Antimicrobial activity of Lithocarpus celebicus.

The methanol extracts of leaves, stem and root barks of Lithocarpus celebicus showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity which was increased on fractionation (petrol, dichloromethane, ethylacetate), particularly in the ethyl acetate fraction of the stem bark and petrol fraction of the root bark. None of the extractives was active against tested moulds.     

大孔吸附树脂对杜仲叶中绿原酸、总黄酮的分离研究

通过对静态吸附容量和洗脱效果的选择，从10种大孔吸附树脂中确定出最适于杜仲叶中绿原酸、总黄酮分离的XDA-5树脂。研究了用该树脂吸附分离杜仲叶中绿原酸和总黄酮的方法，得出以下结论：1)杜仲叶绿原酸和总黄酮的最佳分离工艺为：上柱液pH值为2-3，静态吸附时间8h，绿原酸最佳洗脱剂为10％～15％乙醇溶液，黄酮洗脱剂为50％-70％乙醇溶液，流速为每分钟流出液体积相当于吸附剂体积的8％；2)10％～15％乙醇洗脱液经真空浓缩后，其固形物得率为4．85％，绿原酸含量为36．65％；3)50％～70％乙醇洗脱液经真空浓缩后，其固形物得率为4．98％，总黄酮含量为28．34％。     

Antimicrobial activity of Newtonia hildebrandtii

Successive petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of Newtonia hildebrandtii stem bark were tested in vitro for their antifungal and antibacterial activity. The methanol extract was found to be the most effective against the tested pathogens.     

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.     

Antioxidant activity of propolis: role of caffeic acid phenethyl ester and galangin

Propolis, a natural product produced by the honeybee, has been used for thousands of years in folk medicine for several purposes. The extract contains amino acids, phenolic acids, phenolic acid esters, flavonoids, cinnamic acid, terpenes and caffeic acid. It possesses several biological activities such as antiinflammatory, immunostimulatory, antiviral and antibacterial. The exact mode of physiological or biochemical mechanisms responsible for the medical effects, however, is yet to be determined. In this work, we have investigated the antioxidant activity of a propolis extract deprived of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). In addition, the activity of CAPE and galangin was also examined. Propolis extract (with and without CAPE) and its active components showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging effect, a significant inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, and an antilipoperoxidative capacity. Propolis extract with CAPE was more active than propolis extract without CAPE. CAPE, used alone, exhibited a strong antioxidant activity, higher than galangin. The experimental evidence, therefore, suggests that CAPE plays an important role in the antioxidant activity of propolis.     

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.     

Antioxidant activity of Arbutus unedo leaves

The ethanol and methanol extracts of Arbutus unedo leaves were screened for antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity was determined by an improved assay based on the decolorization of the radical monocation of [2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] (ABTS). The ethanol and methanol extract of A. unedo leaves displayed potent antioxidant activity.     

竹叶总黄酮提取纯化工艺研究

以芦丁为对照,竹叶总黄酮得率为考察指标,通过正交试验法优选破碎提取竹叶总黄酮的最佳工艺.在此基础上,采用真空薄膜浓缩,超声波脱色,大孔树脂Diaion HP-20吸附分离纯化竹叶总黄酮提取物.结果表明,20 g竹叶粗粉最佳提取工艺为用80%(体积分数)乙醇做溶剂,液固比为10:1(mL:g)提取1次,5 min.最佳分离纯化工艺为:采用大孔树脂Diaion HP-20进行分离富集,以不同浓度的乙醇进行梯度洗脱,洗脱流速为5mL/min,收集并减压浓缩各洗脱部分的总黄酮提取物,精制后的总黄酮纯度可达76%.     

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.     

桑叶总黄酮的提取及其抑菌活性研究

以抑菌活性为评价指标,对桑叶总黄酮的提取工艺进行了优化,并对优化条件下得到的粗提物采用不同溶剂进行分级提取和定性分析,测定了各萃取物的总黄酮含量,考察了萃取物对大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌圈直径、最低抑菌浓度,选取抑菌效果最佳的萃取物进行了稳定性实验。结果表明,桑叶总黄酮提取的最佳条件为:温度70℃,乙醇体积分数70%,提取时间4 h,固液比1∶30(g∶mL);抑菌效果最佳的为乙酸乙酯萃取物,且乙酸乙酯部分对温度和紫外线照射的影响均具有良好的稳定性。     

Antimicrobial activity of some Sri Lankan Rubiaceae and Meliaceae

Ninety solvent extracts (n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) obtained from the leaves, bark and stem of 13 Sri Lankan Rubiaceae and two Sri Lankan Meliaceae plants have been screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Morinda tinctoria, Mussaenda frondosa, Psychotria gardneri and Psychotria stenophylla displayed the widest spectrum of antibacterial activity.