Motiur Rahman

Antipyretic Activity of Rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia. in Rabbit

Abstract The antipyretic effect of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate soluble fractions of ethanol extract of the rhizome of Drynaria quercifolia. J. Smith (Polypodiaceae) was investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of boiled milk at a dose of 0.5 mL/kg body weight in albino rabbit leads to pyrexia. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate soluble fractions of ethanol extract of the rhizome of D. quercifolia. at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight were shown to significantly reduce the elevated body temperature of rabbit, which was compared with standard aspirin (market product) and solvent used.

Accumulation, distribution and toxicological effects induced by cadmium on the development of mangrove plant Kandelia candel (L.)

Accumulation and distribution pattern of cadmium (Cd) and its toxic effect on growth of the mangrove plant of young Kandelia candel seedlings have been examined. This study demonstrated that under high concentration of Cd stress, the total biomass of K. candel decreased 41.57% compare to control (CK). At the end of 90 days exposure to 25 mg/l Cd, the average seedlings stem height and leaf number of the K. candel decreased by 30.54 and 42.68%, respectively. The results showed that K. candel seedlings, under the experimental condition, accumulated higher concentration of Cd in their roots (411.29 ± 3.60 mg/kg) when compared to hypocotyls, stems and leaves. More than 95% of Cd was accumulated mainly in roots. The distribution pattern of Cd concentration in K. candel seedlings was found in the following order: roots > hypocotyls > stems > leaves. Based on the leaf symptoms and morphological change of K. candel seedlings under heavy metal stress, this study showed that Cd is phytotoxic to K. candel.

A new triterpenoid from roots of Laportea crenulata and its antifungal activity

A new triterpenoid 2α,3β,21β,23,28-penta hydroxyl 12-oleanene and two known compounds were isolated from the roots of Laportea crenulata Gaud. The structures of all compounds were elucidated on the basis of various spectroscopic data. The two known compounds β-sitosterol and β-sitosterol 3-β-D-glucopyranoside are also the first report of isolation from this plant. The antifungal activity of new triterpenoid was studied against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Rhizopus aurizae, and compared with the activity of nystatin (30u2009µgu2009disc−1). This compound has shown moderate activity against tested fungi.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Laportea crenulata

Crude extracts and 2alpha,3beta,21beta,24beta,28-pentahydroxy-olean-12-ene (1) obtained from the root of Laportea crenulata exhibited remarkable antibacterial activities against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria. The antifungal activities of crude extracts and compound (1) were also determined. The cytotoxic activities of crude extracts and compound (1) were observed by brine shrimp bioassay and LC(50) value of the compound (1) was found to be 27.54 microg/ml.

Bioactivity of Roots of Laportea crenulata

The roots of Laportea crenulata Gaud (Urticacae) were collected in Bangladesh and the bioactivity was evaluated by two bioassays. The brine shrimp lethality test and the antibacterial activity were conducted on the different organic solvent root extracts of this plant. In addition minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using serial dilution technique. On the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol extracts of roots of L. crenulata displayed LC50 values of 20.87, 14.43, and 31.02 μ g/ml respectively. Furthermore, the antibacterial assay on these extracts indicated activity against several pathogenic bacteria. The MIC values against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis, and Streptococcus-β -haemolyticus were ranged from 32 to 128 μ g/ml. The positive results on these bioactive extracts should encourage the further investigation of the active principles responsible for these activities.