Antimicrobial Activity of Pinus Wallachiana Against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Cubense and Analysis of its Fractions by HPLC

Fusarium wilt has ruined banana production and poses a major threat to its industry because of highly virulent Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) race 4. The present study focused on the efficacy of Pinus wallachiana and its organic fractions against Foc in in vitro and greenhouse experiments. The presence of polyphenols in the fractions was also investigated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The in vitro tests carried out for the leaf extract of P. wallachiana showed its inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and based on this evidence, further characterization of fractions were done. Complete mycelial inhibition and the highest zone of inhibition against Foc was observed for the n-butanol fraction in vitro, while the n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed lower disease severity index (DSI) in greenhouse experiments. The fractions were further analysed by HPLC using nine polyphenolic standards, namely quercitin, myrecitin, kaempferol, rutin, gallic acid, trans-ferulic acid, coumeric acid, epicatechin and catechin. The highest content of polyphenols, based on standards used, was quantified in the n-butanol fraction followed by the ethyl acetate fraction of the leaf extract. This is the first report of antimicrobial activity of Pinus wallachiana against Foc to the best of our knowledge.

Antipyretic activity of Calotropis gigantea, Vernonia cinerea,and Cissampelos pareiraextractsonlipopolysaccharide-induced pyrexia in rabbits

This study aims to evaluate the antipyretic activity of Calotropis gigantea (CG), Vernonia cinerea (VC), and Cissampelos pareira (CP)extracts. Rabbits were received an intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) after being orally administered with the plant extracts or paracetamol, a reference drug. The treatment of CG and VC ethanolic extract (125 and 250 mg/kg) and paracetamol (150 mg/kg) significantly reduced LPS-induced pyrexia. Moreover, ethyl acetate fraction (50 mg/kg) of CG showed a more significant effect in lowering the hyperthermia than dichloromethane, n-butanol fraction, or water residue. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CG and VC ethanolic extract possess antipyretic activity. Besides, the components in the ethyl acetate fraction of CG play an important role in the antipyretic property of this herb

The antidepressant-like effects of an n-butanol fraction of Ocimum sanctum Linn. extract in unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced depression in mice

We previously reported that Ocimum sanctum Linn. (OS) ethanolic extract and its n-butanol fraction (OS-B) could improve depression-like behaviour in olfactory bulbectomized mice. The present study aims to clarify the antidepressant-like effects of OS-B and the possible mechanism of its action using mice subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). UCMS mice were administered daily with OS-B (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, p.o.) or imipramine (IMP, 8 mg/kg, i.p.), a reference drug. The UCMS-induced anhedonia in mice was analysed by the sucrose preference test, while behavioural despair was assessed using the tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST). Locomotor activities and grooming behaviour of mice were elucidated using the open-field test (OFT). The UCMS procedure for 5 weeks induced anhedonia, and this symptom was significantly ameliorated by the administration of OS-B (100 mg/kg) as well as IMP during the UCMS period. Moreover, the OS-B and IMP treatment attenuated the UCMS-induced enhancement of behavioural despair in the TST and FST. In OFT, mice subjected to UCMS showed a decrease in grooming behaviour, and the effect of UCMS was reversed by OS-B and IMP administrations. No significant difference in locomotor activities between each animal group was observed. The amelioration effects of OS-B and IMP on UCMS-induced behavioural despair in the TST were abolished by administrating of ρ-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 80 mg/kg, i.p), a tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, and α-methyl-ρ-tyrosine (AMPT, 100 mg/kg), a tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor. The present results suggest that OS-B attenuates UCMS-induced depression-like symptoms via monoaminergic systems including in the noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic system

IDENTIFICATION AND CONTENT OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS IN A BUTANOL FRACTION OF EXTRACT FROM THE FLOWERS OF TANACETUM VULGARE

Tanacetum vulgare L. (syn.: Chrysanthemum vulgare (L). Bernh) is a perennial medicinal plant with a Euro-Asian type of habitat. Tansy extracts have a wide biological and pharmacological activity. At the All-Russian Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, on the basis of the butanol fraction of the T. vulgare flowers extract was developed a drug with high choleretic and anti-inflammatory activity. In this regard, the aim of this work was to study the qualitative composition and quantitative content of phenolic compounds of the butanol fraction, which are supposed to determine its biological activity. For this was obtained a phenolic compounds fraction, isolated from the extract of inflorescences of T. vulgare plants grown on the VILAR experimental plot. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection in combination with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-HRMS) was used for the analysis. Our studies have shown that the butanol fraction of T. vulgare contains 7 phenolic compounds, among which myricetin-3-glucoside was detected for the first time. The content of phenolic compounds reaches 90%, while the main compounds are neochlorogenic, 3,5- and 4,5-dicofeylquinic acids, the proportion of which is 69%. Thus, the obtained data indicate that the pharmacological activity of the drug based on the butanol fraction of the extract from tansy flowers is due to the high content of caffeoylquinic acids.

Evaluation of anxiolytic potential of ethanol root extract and fractions of Pterocarpus mildbraedii in mice

To evaluate the anxiolytic potential of ethanol root extract and fractions of Pterocarpus mildbreadii in mice. Elevated-I-maze model apparatus is a straight wooden passage, divided equally (16cm each) into two enclosed areas (close arms) at both ends of the “maze” and an open area in the centre of two enclosed ends (arms). The ethylacetate fraction of Pterocarpus mildbraedii showed significant increase (p<0.05) in number of unprotected head dips (uHDIPS) when compared to control group but there was no significant difference when compared with other group. The butanol fraction of Pterocarpus mildbraedii showed significant increase in number of unprotected head dips (uHDIPS) at higher dose of 200mg/kg when compared to control group (p<0.05), there was no significant difference when compared with diazepam, crude extract, n-hexane, increased dose of butanol fraction (200mg/kg) there was increased significant difference. The crude extract of Pterocarpus mildbreadii showed significant increase in number of unprotected head dips (uHDIPs) at the dose of 100mg/kg, it also showed same significant increase in number of unprotected head dips with ethylacetate fraction at the dose of 200mg/kg. Ethylacetate fraction of Pterocarpus mildbreadii (200mg/kg) showed significant increase in number of unprotected head dips when compared with the crude extract at the dose of 100mg/kg (p<0.05).Diazepam (2mg/kg) showed significant increase in number of unprotected head dips when compared with the control group. Ethylacetate fraction of Pterocarpus mildbreadii (100mg/kg) showed significant increase (p<0.05) in number of protected head dips when compared with the control group. Increased dose of ethylacetate fraction of Pterocarpus mildbraedii (200mg/kg) showed significant increase (p<0.05) in number of protected head dipping when compared with the control group. The oral administration of ethylacetate fraction (100mg/kg) and 200mg/kg) to mice showed anti-anxiety effects indicated by increase in number of unprotected head dips and decrease in number of unprotected head dips.. Experimental evidence obtained in the laboratory test model could provide a rational for the traditional use of this plant. The plant can be further screened to evaluate and elucidate the mechanism of action and possibly isolate the active principle.

Polyphenols contents and antioxidant potential of Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) acetonic fractions from Burkina Faso

Scientific information on antioxidant properties and phenolic content of Nauclea latifolia used in ethnoveterinary medicine in Burkina Faso are limited. Therefore, the quantification of the antioxidant activity of different parts of this specie remains an interesting and useful task, particularly for finding new sources for natural antioxidants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity and total polyphenols of Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) acetonic fractions from Burkina Faso. n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaves, barks and root barks were tested for their antioxidant activities using DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. Folin-Ciocalteu and AlCl3 reagents were used to quantify the polyphenols. n-butanol fraction of barks (58.16 ± 0.76 mg GAE/100 mg), dichloromethane fraction of barks (51.13 ± 0.99; 26.14 mg GAE/100 mg) have presented the best total phenolic contents while the best total flavonoid contents were found in n-butanol fraction of leaves and n-hexane fraction of leaves with 4.85 ± 0.14 mg EQ/100mg and 2.92 ± 0.13 mg EQ/100mg, respectively. It was observed that n-hexane fraction of leaves was scavenge more DPPH free radicals with a value of 1011.98± 17,01 µmol EAA/g. That of n-butanol fractions of barks was showed the best ferric reduction power (3056.37 ± 96.66 µmol EAA/g) and the highest ABTS cation radicals scavenging capacity (7031.52 ± 254.98 µmol EAA/g). Nevertheless, this work encourages investigations on Burkina Faso plant species used in the ethnoveterinary medicine as sources of antioxidants. Keywords: Fraction; Ouagadougou; Barks, Total Polyphenols Contents; Radicals.

Evaluation of Cytotoxic Effects of Methanolic Extract and Fractions of Mirabilis jalapa (L.) Leaf

This study examined the potential cytotoxicity of Mirabilis jalapa L. methanolic crude leaf extract and its fractions against brine shrimp nauplii (Artemia salina L.) and Allium cepa L. roots. The leaf extraction was done according to standard technique and crude extract was partitioned using n-hexane, water, ethyl acetate and butanol to obtain their respective fractions. Allium cepa root growth inhibition of M. jalapa methanolic crude extract and fractions were evaluated as well as brine shrimp lethality of the fractions based on standard methods. Also, phytochemical screening of the methanolic crude leaf extract was carried out according to standard methods. The result showed that M. jalapa methanolic crude leaf extract caused a significant reduction in cell mitotic index (32.96%) compared with the control (52.13%). The butanol fraction produced the highest mitotic inhibitory activity on A. cepa cell division at 0.3 mg/ml. Moreover, the butanol fraction produced the highest percentage lethality (LC50 1.45 μg/ml) against brine shrimp nauplii. There was a strong correlation between brine shrimp lethality and mitotic cell inhibition with butanol fraction as the most potent in both models. The methanolic leaf crude extract tested positive for alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, tanins and triterpenes. The methanolic crude extract of M. jalapa leaf and its fractions exhibited effective cytotoxic effect on A. cepa and brine shrimps. Butanol fraction, with the most cytotoxic activity among the tested extracts, demonstrates a promising source for novel anticancer agents.