BANNED ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES RESIDUE STILL OCCUR IN CATTLE MILK FROM KHARTOUM STATE

Background: Pesticides application for controlling pests, has been a matter of debate for long time. In order to guarantee sustainable human health, this application should be monitored continuously. Materials and Methods: 65 samples of cattle milk were collected from different Khartoum state’s municipals; to assess the OCP residue, samples were extracted with petroleum ether and cleaned up using silica gel, then read out by GC equipped with FID. Result: Two pesticides belong to OCP were detected, Endosulfan (69.8%) and Heptachlor (92%); the detected concentration of the second one was outstanding, as all positive samples were above the MRL.

Phytochemical and antimicrobial analyses of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extracts

The present study is to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of Plectranthus amboinicus leaf extract using petroleum ether, methanol and water as solvents. The antimicrobial activity of P. amboinicus leaf extracts were examined against the selected bacterial and fungal isolates namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method. FT –IR analysis was performed to identify the presence of functional groups in the methanol extract. The results of the study revealed the presence of distinctive active secondary metabolites in the tested leaf extract. The results revealed that the methanol extract exhibited maximum antimicrobial activity against the tested bacterial and fungal isolates when compared with aqueous and petroleum ether extracts. The FT-IR analysis reveals the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl, amines, alkynes, ketones and carboxylic acid in the methanolic extract of P. amboinicus. Thus, P. amboinicus leaves are effective against the selected microbes and recommends that the plant derived phytochemicals are comparatively safer than synthetic alternative, thereby contributing insightful remedial benefits for the treatment of diseases.

Phytochemical analysis and investigation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant potential of the Leaf Extracts of Putranjiva ruxburghi

Objectives: Herbs are in use as medicine worldwide from the time immemorial. Many drugs derived from plant, animal or minerals are in use as medicine till date. This is a study on leaf extract of Putranjiva roxburghii Wall. (Euphorbiaceae) involving pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, activity against microbes and oxidation to substantiate its use. The leaf extracts were collected by successive soxhlation using solvents like petroleum ether, chloroform, benzene, acetone & ethanol. Chemicals present in the crude leaf extracts and isolated constituents were analyzed for both quality and quantity followed by TLC, UV–Visible Spectrophotometric analysis, HPTLC, Phytochemical tests and TLC examination confirmed to contain flavonoids in acetone, chloroform, aqueous and ethanol extract. The activity of Petroleum-ether, chloroform, acetone, alcoholic and aqueous extracts against the microbes was assessed by cup plate method. Okada & Okada method was followed to evaluate the DPPH free radical for aging property. The reducing, total antioxidant and peroxide radical for aging action of the extracts were assessed. The study confirmed significant antimicrobial and antioxidant property of the Putranjiva roxburghii Wall leaves may be for the presence of constituents like flavonoids, saponins, Phytosterols, favoring its traditional usage as medicine.

Analysis of Flavonids and Terpenoids in Ethanol Extract of Colocasia esculenta L. (Schoot) Stalk and Leaves

Colocasia esculenta L. (Schoot) is a widely used plant in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Central America. The parts of the Colocasia plant that can be used are the tubers, stalks, and leaves. There has not been much research on the content of this plant. The study aims to determine the flavonoids and terpenoids in the ethanol extract of Colocasia stalk and leaves. The maceration method with 70% ethanol solvent and drying with vacuum evaporator. Determination of flavonoid levels based on quercetin marker compounds using AlCl3 reagent by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The terpenoid levels were carried out gravimetrically with petroleum ether as a solvent. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Colocasia stalk and leaf contained flavonoids, respectively 3.18 +0.0581% and 4.33 +0.0285%, while the results of the terpenoid levels for stalks were 7.10 +0.0676% and leaves were 8.39 +0.0023%.

In- vitro Hepatoprotective Action of the Crude Extracts of Luffa amara (Whole Fruit) and Rheum emodi (Rhizomes) in CCl4 Intoxicated Rat Hepatocytes

Aim: The objective of this in-vitro study involves evaluating the protective action of the extracts of L. amara (LA) (whole fruits including seeds) and R. emodi (RE) (rhizomes) at various concentrations on isolated primary rat hepatocytes. Methods: The pulverised dried whole fruits of L. amara (LA) and rhizomes of R.emodi (RE) were extracted successively with petroleum ether (PE), ethanol (EE) and distilled water (AE) and vacuum dried. These extracts of LA petroleum ether (PE), ethanolic (EE) and aqueous (AE) extracts and RE obtained were subjected to in vitro studies at doses of 25, 75, 100, and 150 µg/ml and silymarin (250 µg/ml) in CCl4 (1%) intoxicated primary hepatocytes monolayer cultures the hepatoprotective action of all the extracts of both plants at different doses was carried out using isolated rat hepatocytes which were subjected to CCl4 intoxication followed by estimating/ measuring the changes in serum biochemical markers – SGPT, SGOT, ALP, Total proteins (TP), total bilirubin (TB), albumin (ALB) and triglycerides (TGL). Results: Hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 was demonstrated in the rat primary monolayer hepatocyte culture using MMT assay with the ethanolic extracts of both plants showing more hepatocyte protective action compared to the aqueous and petroleum ether extracts by reducing the elevated serum marker levels. Alcoholic and aqueous extracts were found to express more protective action towards CCl4 intoxicated isolated primary rat hepatocytes in a dose dependant manner. Conclusion: Based on the result, it is suggested that the extract with the most hepatocyte protective action at a dose of 150µg is LA ethanolic extract (viability=88.24%), followed by LA aqueous extract (viability=84.31%), RE ethanolic extract (viability=88.24%) and RE aqueous extract (viability=88.24%) - which are comparable to the reference silymarin with viability at 92.15%. the petroleum ether extracts of both plants showed least hepatic cell viability with LA pet ether extract at 49.02% and RE pet ether extract at 47.85%

Phytochemical investigation of extracts of rhizomes of Hedychium Spicatum Sm. in A. Rees of Himachal Pradesh, India

Hedychium Spicatum is a rhizomatous perennial plant of various ethnomedicinal significance, which belongs to Zingiberaceae family.In the present study, H.Spicatum extracts were investigated for the presence of major phytochemical compounds. The dried and powdered rhizomes were extracted employing Soxhlet extraction with selective solvents of varying polarities viz water, ethanol, petroleum ether and diethyl ether. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of each of these extracts of H.Spicatum suggested the existence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, alkaloids, reducing sugars (carbohydrate), proteins, steroids, saponins and oils. Greater extent of unsaturation was observed in diethyl ether and petroleum ether extracts. These extracts were also examined for their physico-chemical properties. All of the studied extracts were found to be optically active, specifically dextro rotatory. The phytochemicals present in the rhizomes suggest potential ethnomedicinal application of the species in the treatment, control and management of diseases and for new drug discovery.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF LIPOPHILIC FRACTIONS OF SHOOTS OF THREE SPECIES OF THE GENUS CRATAEGUS L.

The article presents research of the chemical composition of lipophilic fractions of shoots Crataegus sanguinea Pall. (Rosaceae), Crataegus submollis Sarg. (Rosaceae) and Crataegus almaatensis Pojark. (Rosaceae). Lipophilic extract is obtained from petroleum ether. The components of the lipophilic fraction were separated and identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. 36 compounds were identified in lipophilic fractions: hydrocarbons, fatty acids, sugars, phenolic compounds, diterpenoids and sterols. Their presence may determine the pharmacological properties of hawthorn shoots. These research expand information about the chemical composition of these hawthorn species and can be used in the development of a new drug.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF LEAF EXTRACTS OF SENNA TORA (L.) ROXB

Plants have always been an important source of medicines since ancient times and seventy percent of the worldwide population still relies on one or other forms of traditional plant based medicine. Plant items have been essential for phytomedicines since days of yore. These can be derived from any part of the plants like bark, leaves, flowers, roots, fruits, seeds, etc. The present exploration has been conducted in the leaf of Senna tora performing various phytochemical tests to identify the secondary metabolites present in it such as alkaloids, flavonoids, sugars, glycosides, saponins, steroids, tannins, phenolic compounds, Vitamin C, proteins, amino acids and carbohydrates. The maximum phenolic content was presented in methanol solvents 1.41 ± 0.44 and lowest content was presented in petroleum ether extract 0.17 ± 0.21. Antibacterial activity were estimated and evaluated by using different types of extract against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Bacillus thuriengensis and Staphylococcus. Among these the maximum antibacterial activity (Zone of inhibition 19.0 mm) shown against Klebsiella pneumoniae in the extract of Petroleum ether. The minimum antibacterial activity observed (Zone of inhibition 11.0 mm) against Staphylococcus ceureus in extract of Ethanol extract of Senna tora (L.) Roxb. Keywords: Senna tora (L.), phytochemical analysis, antibacterial activity, bacterial strains

Mixed Aqueous Surfactants Solution for Rapid Oil Extraction from Palm Kernel Seed

Adverse effects associated with the use of hexane or other similar organic extraction solvents for extracting oil from oilseeds have been a drive for alternative less toxic oil extracting solvents. This research focuses on oil extraction from grinded palm kernel using solution of mixed aqueous polyoxythylene (23) lauryl ether (BRIJ-35) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) surfactants and sodium chloride (NaCl) as the electrolyte. Grinded Biomass was agitated in the solution of the mixed surfactant, allowing the extracted oil to be liberated from the seeds as separate phase from the aqueous phase. The effect of SDS concentration, NaCl concentration, contact time and liquid/seed ratio on oil yield was studied. The extracted oil was subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscope (FT-IR) characterization to determine the functional groups present in the oil. At optimum conditions for the mixed aqueous surfactant extraction (0.2379 wt.% SDS, 0.5995 wt.% BRIJ-35, 0.3wt.% NaCl, 10 ml/g liquid/solid ratio, 25 min contact time at 25oC), an optimum 78% oil yield was obtained. In contrast, at 50oC for 24hr, an optimum of 81% and 82% oil yield were obtained respectively when hexane and petroleum ether were used as oil extracting solvents. Addition of BRIJ-35 and NaCl to the SDS solution improved the oil yield. Oil extracted using mixed aqueous surfactants, petroleum ether and hexane have the same functional groups indicating the surfactant does not affect the quality of the oil extracted.