Potential nursing effects of Parkia platycephala Benth. (Fabaceae) in a disturbed Brazilian Savanna area undergoing restoration

We evaluated the influence of Parkia platycephala on plant assemblages under its crown and surrounding areas in a disturbed Brazilian Savanna, as well as the effects of aqueous extracts of its leaves on the germination and development of three species, under the hypothesis that P. platycephala might work as a nurse species. Eleven areas of direct (ADIs) and indirect (AIIs) influence of P. platycephala and 11 control areas (COs) were delineated. All tree and shrub species present in these areas, including seedlings, were sampled. Richness, composition and abundance of woody taxa were determined. Laboratory studies analyzed the effects of P. platycephala aqueous leaf extracts on the germination and initial development of Dipteryx alata, Enterolobium gummiferum and Magonia pubescens, which in the field exhibited different abundance levels under its crown. Regarding plant assemblages, no differences in terms of richness and abundance of woody taxa were detected among the areas. However, we recorded a gradient of species composition and abundance ranks from ADI to CO areas. The number of seedlings also differed, with higher values near P. platycephala. Soil characteristics were similar among areas, but shading, plant height and diameter differed. The aqueous leaf extract at 25% provided the best germination of M. pubescens. The extract at 75% favored the initial development of this species in terms of root length. These results indicate that the presence of P. platycephala affects the structure of neighboring plant assemblages, possibly working as a facilitator for some species in areas undergoing restoration.

Facile Green Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Using Kigelia africana (Lam) Benth., Aqueous Leaf Extract and its Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity

Titanium nanoparticles are toxic to bacteria and have a widespread applications in different fields of research. Hence the present study aimed to synthesize the titanium dioxide nanoparticles by adopting green synthesis methodology using Kigelia africana leave extract as a biological reducing agent. The UV absorption spectra show characteristic absorption maxima corresponding to TiO2 nanoparticles at a wavelength of 512 nm confirms the formation of nanosized tin particles. The FT-IR spectrum of TiO2 nanoparticles show absorption bands at 3609 cm-1 and 3227 cm-1 corresponding to O-H stretching in alcoholic and carboxylic compounds, respectively. Absorption peaks at 1607, 2834, 1654 and 1324 cm-1 correspond to aromatic C=C vibrations, C-H stretching in aldehydes, C-H bending vibrations and aromatic C-N stretching vibrations, respectively. This confirms the involvement of bioactive compounds from the plant extract. The SEM and EDX studies confirmed that the nanoparticles are spherical to oval shape with an average particle size of 46 nm. The metal content in the nanoparticles was found to be 58.71%. The synthesized nanoparticles have potential growth inhibition activity against Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the nanoparticles synthesized was compared with that of aqueous leaf extract and standard ascorbic acid and proved that the nanoparticles have enhanced activity than aqueous leaf extract. The IC50 of the leaf extract, nanoparticles and the standard was found to be 31.55, 75.82 and 84.95 μg/mL, respectively. Kigelia africana leaf is shown in this work to be a valuable bioagent in the biosynthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with increased biological activity.

Phytochemical analysis, nutrients and mineral composition of Combretum platypterum Aqueous leaf extract

The Phytochemical, mineral and proximate evaluation of Combretum platypterum leaves were carried out because of its ethno medicinal uses. Aqueous leaf extract of the plant were analysed using standard methods. The phytochemical composition ( quantitative ) shows that it contains 1.344 ± 0.05% saponin, 0.957 ± 0.02% phenol, 0.533 ± 0.04% tannin, 0.527 ± 0.09% steroids, 0.356 ± 0.02% alkaloids, 0.0667 ± 0.01% flavonoids and 0.013 ± 0.02% glycoside. The proximate analysis of the leaves showed that Combretum platypterum is very rich in carbohydrates 46.56 ± 0.02%, proteins 28.44 ± 0.6, fats 10 ± 0.0 %, fibre 1.25 ± 0.0%, ash 9.5 ± 0.2%, and has a moisture content of 4.25 ± 0.3%. The minerals obtained includes; 18.4 ± 0.02 mg/kg phosphorous, 10 ± 0.1mg/kg magnesium, 5.3 ± 0.0mg/kg iron, 4.8 ± 0.2mg/kg calcium, 0.3 ± 0.0mg/kg sodium, 0.07 ± 0.0mg/kg zinc, 0.06 ± 0.02mg/kg manganese and 0.11 ± 0.0mg/kg copper. Combretum platypterum from this study, shows that it contains nutrients, rich in minerals and phytochemicals, which if processed adequately, will provide nutritional, chemo protective and medicinal benefits to users.

Effects of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Simarouba glauca DC (Simaroubaceae) on Lipoprotein Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers

Background and Purpose: Simarouba glauca is widely reported to contain a number of biologically active compounds with potentials in the treatment of numerous diseases. The study was conducted to evaluate the sub-acute effects of the aqueous leaf extract of Simarouba glauca (AESG) on lipoproteins and oxidative stress biomarkers in male Wistar rats. Methods: Oral administration of AESG was carried out in line with the guidelines of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), No. 425 using a total of 24 male Wistar rats allotted to four groups (n=6); given distilled water, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg/day of AESG respectively for 30 days. Results: In plasma, there was a significant reduction (P?0.05) in HDL-cholesterol; elevated (P?0.05) triglycerides (TG) at 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day; elevated (P?0.05), and LDL-cholesterol at 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, relative to the control. While the level of liver total cholesterol (TC) reduced significantly, it increased in the heart. Catalase (CAT) activity in the liver increased significantly (P?0.05) at all doses. The dose of 1000 mg/kg/day significantly (P?0.05) elevated kidney CAT activity. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver and heart reduced (P?0.05) at 500 mg/kg/day. At all doses, the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma, liver and heart were comparable with the control. Although, there were no significant changes in plasma and liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity at all doses, animals given 500 mg/kg had reduction (P?0.05) in the heart GSH-PX activity compared to the control. Conclusion: Oral sub-acute AESG at high doses altered lipid homeostasis in plasma and heart without lipid peroxidation or oxidative stress. The extract has the potential to cause hyperlipidemia.

Preparation and Characterization of Green Fe3 O4 Nanoparticle Using the Aqueous Plant Extract of Gundelia tournefortii L.

In this work, the magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs) synthesized using a simple, fast, and environmentally acceptable green approach. Gundelia Tournefortii Extract, an aqueous plant extract, was used for the first time in green synthesis to prepare nanoparticles as reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents. Such biomolecules as flavonoids, alkaloids, and antioxidants are found in the aqueous leaf extract, and their presence has been determined to have an important role in the synthesis of Fe3O4-NPs. The techniques used in this analysis include Fourier Transform Infrared, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The Vibrating Sample Magnetometer demonstrated that the samples were superparamagnetic, with a magnetization value of 48.6 emu/g. The prepared nanoparticle was applied to remove Chrystal Violet (CV), Malachite Green(MG), and Safranin (S) dyes from prepared aqueous solutions with the adsorption capacity of 13.9, 15.6, and 14.4 mg/g respectively.

Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Screening of Leaf and Tuber Extracts of Tephrosia calophylla Bedd

Tephrosia calophylla, (Fabaceae) a perennial woody under shrub endemic to south India. It is one of 13 rare or threatened Tephrosia species. Commonly it is known as Adavivempali. The various species of Tephrosia is ascribed to have many medicinal and therapeutic uses. The importance of this study was to preliminary screening of different phytochemical constituents for the detection of various secondary metabolites and evaluation of antibacterial, antifungal activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of the different crude extracts of tuber and leaf. Tuber and leaf both yielded more number of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids tannins, saponins and glycosides with high quantity when compared with the leaf, consisting low quantities of phyto-constituents as steroids and in tuber consisting only tannins. Antibacterial activity of T. calophylla tuber and leaf aqueous and alcohol extracts at 10 mg/well are showing more effective activity on Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-441), Escherichia coli (MTCC-443), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC-741), Klebsealla neumoniae, Proteus vulgaris strains than the control drug Ampicillin 10 mg/well with 30.25-15.00 mm zone of inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) with leaf and tuber extracts was 0.312 to 2.50 mg/ml compared to that of the 10 mg of Ampicillin. Antifungal screening of aqueous leaf extract was more effective on Candida albicans with 19.25 mm inhibition zone than Aspergillus niger at 10 mg/well compared to Nystatin the control drug at 10 mg/well with 10.2 to 12.1 mm of zone of inhibition. Fungal MIC on both organisms with leaf and tuber extracts ranges from 0.612 mg to 3 mg compared to 10 mg of Nystatin.

Analysing the phytochemistry and anti-oxidant property of fabricated silver nanoparticles using Catharanthus roseus leaf extract

A green rapid biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Catharanthus roseus leaf extract was performed. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The reduction of silver ions to AgNPs using C. roseus extract was completed within 240 mins. The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) at 442 nm using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and it is characterized by XRD, Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The morphological studies revealed the spherical shape of the particles with sizes ranging from 16-35 nm and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum confirmed the presence of silver along with other elements in the plants metabolite. The extracellular AgNPs synthesis by aqueous leaf extract demonstrates ultra-fast, simple and inexpensive method comparable to other methods. The antioxidant assay of the synthesized AgNPs indicated that they have a strong antioxidant property as compared to the control. Since these compounds are also safe to use and discharged into the environment, the green AgNPs could be considered as an innovative alternative approach for biomedical and nanoscience based industries.

Comparison of the Antibacterial Activity of Australian Terminalia Spp. Extracts Against Klebsiella Pneumoniae: Novel Treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Traditional medicines prepared using Terminalia species have been used globally to treat inflammation and pathogenic infections. Recent studies have demonstrated that multiple Asian and African Terminalia spp. inhibit bacterial triggers of some autoimmune inflammatory disease, including ankylosing spondylitis. Despite this, the effects of Australian Terminalia spp. on a bacterial trigger of ankylosing spondylitis (K. pneumoniae) remain unexplored. Fifty-five extracts from five Australian Terminalia spp. were investigated for K. pneumoniae growth inhibitory activity. Methanolic, aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of most species and plant parts inhibited K. pneumoniae growth, with varying potencies. Methanolic leaf extracts were generally the most potent bacterial growth inhibitors, with MIC values of 66 µg/mL (T. ferdinandiana), 128 µg/mL (T. carpenteriae) and 83 µg/mL (T. petiolares). However, the aqueous leaf extract was the most potent T. grandiflora extract (MIC = 87 µg/mL). All T. catappa extracts displayed low growth inhibitory activity. The Terminalia spp. methanolic leaf extracts were examined by LC-MS and GC-MS. All contained a relative abundance of simple gallotannins (particularly gallic and chebulic acids), the flavonoid luteolin, as well as the monoterpenoids cineole and terpineol. Notably, all Terminalia spp. were non-toxic or of low toxicity in ALA and HDF toxicity assays, highlighting their potential for preventing the onset of ankylosing spondylitis and treating its symptoms once the disease is established.