Kalpna Rakholiya

In vitro interaction of certain antimicrobial agents in combination with plant extracts against some pathogenic bacterial strains

Objective To evaluate the in vitro interaction between methanolic extracts of Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae) (T. catappa) and Carica papaya (caricaceae) (C. papaya) leaves and certain known antimicrobial drugs like penicillin G (P), ampicillin (AMP), amoxyclav (AMC), cephalothin (CEP), polymyxin B (PB), rifampicin (RIF), amikacin (AK), nilidixic acid (NA), gentamicin (GEN), chloramphenicol (C), ofloxacin (OF) against five Gram positive and five Gram negative bacteria.

Antimicrobial Activity of Terminalia catappa L. Leaf Extracts against Some Clinically Important Pathogenic Microbial Strains

Objective: The present study was undertaken to evaluate in-vitro antimicrobial activity of methanol, acetone and N, N-dimethylformamide extracts from leaf of Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae). Methods: In vitro antimicrobial activity of all the extracts was done by agar disc diffusion assay. 91 clinically important strains were used for the study, which were both clinical isolates as well as identified strains. Piperacillin and gentamicin were used as standards for antibacterial assay, while nystatin and flucanazole were used as standards for antifungal assay. Antimicrobial activity was determined by measurement of inhibition zone around each paper disc. For each extract three replicate trials were conducted against each organism. Results: The antibacterial activity was more pronounced against bacteria than fungal strains. The Gram positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram negative bacteria. The methanol extract showed best antibacterial activity. T. catappa leaf extracts showed better antibacterial activity than commercially used antibiotics. Conclusion: Demonstration of antimicrobial activity of T. catappa provides the scientific basis for the use of this plant in the traditional treatment of diseases and may help to discover new chemical classes of antibiotic substances that could serve as selective agents for infectious disease chemotherapy and control. This investigation has opened up the possibility of the use of this plant in drug development for human consumption possibly for the treatment of various infections caused by microbes.

Pharmacognostic, Physicochemical and Phytochemical Investigation of Mangifera indica L. var. Kesar leaf

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and microscopical characters of Mangifera indica L. leaf collected from Gujarat region and its phytochemical and physicochemical analysis. Methods Microscopic characters and powder analysis was done under microscope. The physiochemical properties such as loss on drying, total ash value, acid insoluble ash value, water soluble ash value, pH, solubility and extractive values of M. indica were carried out. Results The upper epidermis was irregular, wavy with thick epidermal layer; and prismatic, rosette and cluster types of calcium oxalate crystals were found. In phytochemical analysis, cardiac glycosides and tannins showed maximum amounts. Conclusions The present study provides pharmacognostical, physicochemical and phytochemical details of the M. indica leaf which are useful in laying down standardization and pharmacopoeia parameters.

Catalysis and stability of an alkaline protease from a haloalkaliphilic bacterium under non-aqueous conditions as a function of pH, salt and temperature

A haloalkaliphilic bacterium, isolated from Coastal Gujarat (India) was identified as Oceanobacillus sp. (GQ162111) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence. The organism grew and secreted extra cellular protease in presence of various organic solvents. At 30% (v/v) concentration of hexane, heptane, isooctane, dodecane and decane, significant growth and protease production was evident. The alkaline protease was purified in a single step on phenyl sepharose 6 FF with 28% yield. The molecular mass as judged by SDS-PAGE was 30 kDa. The temperature optimum of protease was 50°C and the enzyme retained 70% activity in 10% (v/v) isooctane. Effect of salt and pH was investigated in combination to assess the effect of isooctane. In organic solvents, the enzyme was considerably active at pH 8-11, with optimum activity at pH 10. Salt at 2 M was optimum for activity and enzyme maintained significant stability up to 18 h even at 3 M salt concentration. Patters of growth, protease production, catalysis and stability of the enzyme are presented. The study resumes significance as limited information is available on the interaction of haloalkaliphilic bacteria and their enzymes with organic solvents.

Indian medicinal herb: Antimicrobial efficacy of Mesua ferrea L. seed extracted in different solvents against infection causing pathogenic strains

Abstract Objective To study the antimicrobial potential of Mesua ferrea ( M. ferrea ) L. seed extracts employed for antimicrobial assay. Methods The plant powder was extracted in seven different solvents of increasing polarities against a wide spectrum of microbial strains. Agar disc diffusion method was employed for antimicrobial assay at the concentration of 500 μg/disc. Gram-positive bacteria were most susceptible and yeast was most resistant. The pronounced antimicrobial activity was with the extracts in non-polar solvents than in polar ones. Results The results were compared with the zones of inhibition produced by commercially available standard antibiotics. The lipophilic extracts of M. ferrea L. showed more activity towards Gram positive bacteria. Conclusion These results indicate that activity could be attributed to the presence of essential oil, xanthones and coumarines present within the seed of this plant. These results indicate that M. ferrea extract could be useful in fighting emerging drug-resistant microorganisms.

Comparative study of hydroalcoholic extracts of momordica charantia L. against foodborne pathogens

The antimicrobial effect of 24 different hydroalcoholic extracts (100, 75, 50 and 25% methanol and water) obtained from four parts (leaf+stem (aerial), peel, pulp and seed) of Momordica charantia L. were investigated against five Gram-positive, six Gram-negative and four fungal strains. The extraction was done by individual cold percolation method using hexane, different hydroalcoholic solvent (100, 75, 50 and 25% methanol) and water. The antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion assay. The extracts, which showed >15 mm zone of inhibition, were further screened to determine minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration using a broth dilution method performed in 96-well microtitre plate. The extractive yield was highest in aqueous extracts of all the four parts closely followed by 25% methanol. Micrococcus flavus was the most susceptible Gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas testosteroni was the most susceptible Gram-negative bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity was shown by 100% methanol. The Gram-negative Pseudomonas spp. was more susceptible towards all the extracts than the Gram-positive bacteria or fungal strains investigated. One hundred percent and 50% methanol extracts of seed showed lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values, that is <39 and 625 μg/ml, respectively, against Pseudomonas pictorum. Therefore, these extracts would be of interest in the control of Pseudomonas spp. in food industry as well as used for therapeutic purposes.

Inhibition of microbial pathogens using fruit and vegetable peel extracts.

Abstract The aim of the present work is to evaluate the antimicrobial potency of some vegetable and fruit peels. The extraction was done by individual cold percolation method using various solvents with increasing polarity (Hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and aqueous). The antimicrobial activity was done by agar well diffusion assay against five Gram positive bacteria, five Gram negative bacteria and four fungi. All extracts demonstrated varied level of antimicrobial activity. The peel extracts showed highest zone of inhibition against Gram negative bacteria as compared to Gram positive bacteria and fungi. Amongst studied peel extracts Citrus limon followed by Manilkara zapota and Carica papaya showed good antimicrobial activity indicating its potency as a promising source of natural antimicrobics. The results confirm the belief that agro waste can be therapeutically used.

Medicinal Plants as Alternative Sources of Therapeutics against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Microorganisms Based on Their Antimicrobial Potential and Synergistic Properties

Abstract Antibiotics are antimicrobial agents that are used to treat infectious diseases. The outbreak of pathogenic antibiotic-resistant strains illustrates our urgent need to search for new alternative sources of treatment. Hence, an attempt has been made in this review to list some plant extracts, essential/volatile oils, and their antimicrobial activity against different microorganisms using different methods, as well as synergistic effects (plant extract-plant extract, plant extract-essential oils, plant extract-conventional antibiotics, phytochemical-antibiotics, and essential oil-essential oil). Plant products and their active constituents are useful in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant microbes, food borne diseases caused by food spoiling microbes, and oral pathogens. Products derived from plants have the potential to control microbial growth in diverse situations, and specifically in the treatment of disease. The various aspects of this review may be helpful for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Nontargeted metabolomics approach to determine metabolites profile and antioxidant study of Tropical Almond (Terminalia catappa L.) fruit peels using GC-QTOF-MS and LC-QTOF-MS

HIGHLIGHTSThis article attempts to determine the appropriate extraction method of almond peels for proper utilization.Correlation between phytochemical content and antioxidant activity was determined.Most potent extract was characterized for the identification of the bioactive compounds by GC‐QTOF‐MS and LC‐QTOF‐MS. Results of the present investigation revels almond peels as a good source for the recovery of the antioxidants.Terminalia catappa peels proved to be a novel source in the preparation of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to identify the metabolome pattern and study the biological efficacy of Almond (Terminalia catappa L.) peels. In the present study, metabolite profiling was carried out using GC‐QTOF‐MS and LC‐QTOF‐MS techniques, from the potent extract showed highest antioxidant efficacy. Antioxidant efficacy of the various extracts derived by six different extraction methods was assessed by different assays viz. 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, superoxide, 2,2′‐Azino‐bis‐(3‐ethyl)benzothiazoline)‐6‐sulfonic acid diammonium salt radical cation inhibition assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The methanolic maceration extract showed significant antioxidant activity in all assays and richest source of flavonoid content. The results showed that the extraction method significantly altered the antioxidant activity. The correlation between the antioxidant activities and total flavonoid content were ranging between 0.939 to 0.628. Methanolic maceration extraction method proved to be the best extraction method for the extraction of antioxidant. During the metabolite profiling employed by GC‐QTOF‐MS and LC‐QTOF‐MS and total 24 and 53 compounds belongs to different groups were detected and identified, will help to uncover the relation with potent antioxidant activity.

Biochemical and Proteomics Analysis of the Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria in Stress Conditions

Among the emerging environmental threats of the twentieth century, the effect of biotic and abiotic stress on agricultural soils has been considered as one of the most alarming threats in both developed and developing countries. Among them, salt stress is a major problem, and cost associated with the salt salinity is potentially enormous affecting agriculture, food quality, safety, biodiversity, and environments. Several bacteria present in rhizosphere have great potential in improving crop production. Among these bacteria, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are the most important. PGPR are able to provide the plant with essential elements, ammonia, growth hormone, and hydrolytic enzymes helping against plant pathogens in salinity and improving soil fertility. The present review aims to establish the conception of the rhizospheric bacteria and to elucidate the mechanisms of rhizobacteria-mediated plant growth promotion. Recent tools available to analyze gene expression and metabolites under the larger umbrella of the genomics and proteomics will also be discussed.