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The total ethanolic extract, different fractions and crude polysaccharides of leaves of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet, were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the disc diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive, Facultative anaerobic bacteria), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative, Facultative anaerobic bacteria), Candida albicans, C. krusei (Diploid fungi) and C. glabrata (haploid fungus). The antimalarial activity was examined on chloroquine-sensitive (D6, Sierra Leone) strain of Plasmodium falciparum protozoan and the antileishmanial activity was tested against Leishmania donovani. The results of the present study showed that the total extract exhibited the lowest MIC (11.8 μg/ml) against P. aeruginosa. While, the chloroform fraction showed low MIC (59.03, 181.72 and 364.03 μg/ml) against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa, respectively. The petroleum ether fraction exhibited the lowest MIC value (3.00 μg/ml) against C. albicans, while the total extract showed the lowest MIC (33.11 μg/ml) against C. glabrata. A. hirtum leaves extract and fractions showed a weak antimalarial activity. On the other hand, the chloroform fraction of A. hirtum leaves exhibited a potent antileishmanial activity with the highest percentage of inhibition (78%) against Leishmania donovani AMASTTHP_Pinh.

The Volatile oil of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet leaves extracted by a Clevenger approach and the fatty acid content of this species as a result of petroleum ether extraction were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. GC-MS analysis of the volatile oil revealed the presence of 63 compounds, with (2E,6E)-farnesol (6.56%), E-caryophyllene (4.68%), caryophyllene oxide (4.37%) and βcopaen-4-α-ol (3.51%) as the major components. On the other hand, 8 fatty acids of which three were identified as linolenic acid methyl ester, which was the major identified fatty acid methyl ester (38.74%), followed by palmitic acid methyl ester (29.09%) and linoleic acid methyl ester (18.14%). The identification of the compounds depends on the retention time and mass spectrum.

Zinnia genus contains annual and perennial plants belonging to family Asteraceae and comprising about 20 species native to South America. Zinnia species are used in folk medicine for the treatment of malaria and stomach pain and are used as hepatoprotective, antiparasitic, antifungal and antibacterial agents. Zinnia plants are well known ornamental plants with large, beautiful and attractive flowers. This review is first attempt for assembling the published papers about the isolated phytochemical components and pharmacological actions of this genus. Many studies reported that Zinnia contains numerous secondary metabolites of different classes including sterols, flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and hydrocarbons. Zinnia plants also are reported to possess a wide range of biological effects such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal activities. This review potentiates the researchers for carrying out further studies on this genus to isolate and develop new drugs from natural sources with wide margin of safety and understanding their effects and possible mechanism of actions.

The present study evaluates the chemical composition of Zinnia elegans and Gazania rigens based on their metabolomic profiles using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS), alongside with the anti-infective activities of their ethanol extracts, as well as, different fractions. A significant difference was observed between the LC-MS profiles of the two plants such as, coumarins, sesquiterpene lactones and phenylethanoids which were characteristic for Z. elegans, while amides and phenolic acid derivatives were characteristic for G. rigens. These results highlight the chemical potential of Z. elegans and G. rigens. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction of Z. elegans showed a significant antimalarial activity with IC50 values of 21.03 and 13.72 µg/mL against Plasmodium falciparum D6 and P. falciparum W2, respectively.

Abutilon Miller is a genus belonging to family Malvaceae comprises about 150 species. The plants of this genus are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or even small trees. It is native to the tropical and subtropical countries of America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The genus has a significant importance, which is attributed to valuable insoluble fibers obtained from different species of the genus such as Abutilon theophrastii and also due to several species grown as garden ornamental plants such as A. ochsenii and A. vitifolium. Reviewing the available literature on genus Abutilon revealed the presence of a diversity of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, sterols, triterpenes, quinones, coumarins, alkaloids, sphingolipids, megastigmanes, iridoids and others, which are responsible for its biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-hyperglycemic, gastroprotective, cytotoxic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anthelmintic, anti-malarial, anti-leishmanial, CNS activty, anti-stress, immunostimulant, anti-venom, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-hypertensive, aphrodisiac, abortifacient, antidiarrhoeal, diuretic, anti-urolithiatic, and wound healing activities.

Background Many plants of genus Abutilon are traditionally used for treatment of inflammation, bronchitis, piles, gonorrhea, diabetes and fever. Abutilon hirtum is traditionally used to ease the pain of kidney gravel, to treat diarrhoea, cough and toothache, to cure bladder inflammations, wounds and ulcers and as an antipyretic, demulcent, diuretic and mouth wash. The aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antidiabetic effects of the total ethanolic extract and different fractions of Abutilon hirtum (Lam.) Sweet leaves. Methods Air dried powder of A. hirtum leaves were extracted using 95% ethanol and fractionated successively with petroleum ether, chloroform and finally with ethyl acetate. The extracts were concentrated to afford petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions and were investigated for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antidiabetic activities using carrageenan-induced paw edema, hot plate, yeast -induced pyrexia and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia methods, respectively. Results The total ethanolic extract and the chloroform fraction exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity with a percentage of inhibition 50.8% which is close to that of indomethacin (52.4%). The aqueous extract exhibited the maximum analgesic activity (216.6%) with a rapid onset and a longer duration followed by petroleum ether and chloroform fractions and total extract (189.8, 186.9 and 183.0%, respectively), which is almost similar to that of acetylsalicylic acid (186.4%). The total ethanolic extract showed higher activity compared to the used standard acetylsalicylic acid with a rapid onset (30 min) and a longer duration exhibiting the maximum activity. The crude polysaccharides fraction showed a significant lowering in blood glucose level (81.08%). The total extract and petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions exhibited a significant anti-diabetic activity after 5 h (47.49, 47.79, 50.04, 49.80 and 46.36%, respectively) compared with that of metformin (55.45%). Conclusion Abutilon hirtum extract and fractions exhibited anti-inflammatory analgesic, antipyretic and antipyretic activities which may be attributed by the presence of active phytoconstituents.