Phytochemical compositions and antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts of Calotropis procera against food spoilage microorganisms

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial potential of crude n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Calotropis procera leaves against food spoilage microorganisms. Methods: Standard protocols were employed for the analysis of qualitative phytochemical compositions of the extracts, and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aerugenosa and Aspergillus niger. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannin, saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugar and phenolics. Terpenoids were absent in ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts while cardiac glycoside was absent in all extracts. All extracts produced antimicrobial activity at a varying zone of inhibition. The widest inhibition zone was produced by methanol extract (21.35±0.43 mm) on staphylococcus aureus while the lowest inhibition zone (12.05±0.45 mm) was observed in the n-hexane fraction. Similarly, the widest inhibition zone (17.24±0.95 mm) was produced by methanol on A. niger while the lowest inhibition zone (5.45±0.42 mm) was produced on n-hexane on A. niger. However, the ethyl acetate extract showed no visible inhibitory zone on all the tested microorganisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 32 mg/ml (S. aureus and B. cereus) for ethanol extracts to 128 mg/ml (B. cereus, P. aerugenosa and A. niger) for n-hexane extract. Conclusion: The result shows that the plant is a good source of bioactive compounds that can be used as a natural alternative to a chemical agent in preserving and controlling food poisoning organisms.

Tecnologia de sementes na emergência e variáveis biométricas da Flor de Seda (Calotropis procera)

A flor de seda (Calotropis procera) é uma espécie conhecida como invasora, tolerante a ambiente adverso, nativa da África e do sudoeste asiático e popularizada no Brasil como Ciúme, Saco de Velho, Paina e Flor de Seda. Destacada pelo uso como forrageira, medicinal e até na indústria têxtil, ainda necessita de estudos que viabilizem seu cultivo comercial. Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da secagem e reidratação das sementes na emergência e seu crescimento inicial, em trabalho conduzido entre setembro e outubro de 2018. O delineamento foi blocos ao acaso, com 04 repetições e os tratamentos consistiram do arranjo fatorial 2 x 5, sendo o primeiro fator a condição da semente no plantio (recém colhida ou desidratada por 48 horas) e o segundo a hidratação (00, 02, 04, 06 e 08 horas). Em cada situação realizaram-se determinações de ganho e perda de umidade. Sementes recém colhidas apresentam teor de umidade em torno de 70% e desidratadas próximo de 35%. Quando reidratadas, ainda ocorre, nos dois casos, ganho de umidade respectivamente de 18,13 e 43,33 %. A reidratação melhora o vigor das sementes recém colhidas não influindo nas desidratadas e não interferindo na emergência total que atinge 90%. A secagem não influi na profundidade da raiz, mas reduz drasticamente altura, peso da matéria fresca da parte aérea e raiz entre 27 e 210%.

Studying some neuroprotective effects of Calotropis procera extracts against scopolamine- induced neuropschiatric comorbidities in a rodent model of epilepsy

Many plants are largely used in alternative medicine of Burkina Faso for neuropsychiatric disorders treatment. However, their neuro-pharmacological properties are less evaluated through scientific studies. The present study aims to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of Calotropis procera leaves and root-bark aqueous extract, focusing on a scopolamine-induced model of epilepsy in rodents. In this study, we evaluated this plant extracts possible protective effects on the central nervous system, through the behavioral tests and the enzymes activity assays. Thus, elevated plus-maze test and Y-maze task were used to evaluate animals behavioral and UV/visible spectrophotometer methods were used to evaluate the enzyme’s activities in brain’s supernatant. Our results are showing no significant protective effects of leaves extract, but it revealed a significant neuroprotective effect of root-bark aqueous extract, as well as in the behavioral tests and the brain’s oxidative enzymes specific activity evaluation. Indeed, anti-amnesic and anxiolytic activities were observed through Y maze task and elevated plus maze tests for the groups of animals receiving root-bark extract (100 mg/kg b.w.). In these test, inhibition of disturbances of Time spent in Open Arms, Spontaneous Alternation, and Transfer Latency induced after scopolamine administration were recorded with animals received root-bark extract. Likewise, the superoxide dismutase and catalase activity disturbance induced by scopolamine were also inhibited in root-bark extract pre-administered group. Thus, our study provides biochemical and neuro-pharmacological data for traditional use of C. procera for neuropsychiatric disorders treatment, including scopolamine-induced epilepsy symptoms (mainly referring to the psychiatric comorbidities of this disorder).

Evaluation of the antibacterial and modulatory activities of ethanolic excract of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton against multiresistant bacterial strains

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and modulatory activities of ethanolic extract of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton against resistant species. By microdilution method, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract and modulation of the subinhibitory concentration MIC/8 to norfloxacine, gentamicin and imipenem against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was obtained 512 μg/mL to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To Staphylococcus aureus, modulation showed synergism to norfloxacin and gentamicin, with imipenem against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and gentamicin against Escherichia coli. Based on these results, more studies are needed to test the antibacterial activity of the extract. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actividad antibacteriana y moduladora del extracto etanólico de Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton contra cepas multirresistentes de bacterias. Por el método de microdilución, fueron definidas la concentración inhibidora mínima (MIC) del extracto y la modulación con la concentración inhibidora CIM / 8 del extracto con norfloxacina, gentamicina e imipenem contra Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Se obtuvo 512 μg/mL para Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Se descubrió sinergismo en el caso de Staphylococcus aureus, en la modulación con norfloxacina y gentamicina, mientras que con imipenem frente a Pseudomonas aeruginosa y con gentamicina para Escherichia coli. Con base en estos resultados, se necesitan más estudios para probar la actividad antibacteriana del extracto.