Search

Introduction: The development of bacterial strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics has made the discovery of new antibiotics a priority for medical research. Examination of plants for new antimicrobial agents is an attractive prospect and numerous recent studies have screened plants for antibacterial activity. Despite this, Australian native plants have been relatively neglected. Heritiera actinophyllum (F.M.Bailey) Kosterm. is a rainforest tree that is native to eastern coastal regions of Australia. Material from this species has not yet been examined for antibacterial properties against human pathogens. Materials and Methods: The ability of H. actinophyllum leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: H. actinophyllum methanolic and aqueous extracts were ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria. The extracts were non-toxic or of low toxicity following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: The H. actinophyllum leaf extracts lacked growth inhibitory bioactivity against a panel of pathogenic bacteria and were nontoxic in the Artemia nauplii assay. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, fungi, and virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of bacterial strains that are resistant to multiple antibiotics has made the discovery of new antibiotics a priority for medical research. Examination of plants for new antimicrobial agents is an attractive prospect and numerous recent studies have screened plants for antibacterial activity. Despite this, Australian native plants have been relatively neglected. Mirbelia oxylobioides F. Muell. is a native Australian shrub of the family Fabaceae. Very few studies have yet examined species for antibacterial properties against human pathogens. Methods: The ability of M. oxyloboides leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: M. oxyloboides methanolic and aqueous extracts were ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria. The extracts were non-toxic or of low toxicity following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: The M. oxyloboides leaf extracts lacked growth inhibitory bioactivity against a panel of pathogenic bacteria and were non-toxic in the Artemia nauplii assay. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, fungi, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The recent development of extensively antibiotic resistant bacteria has necessitated the search for novel antibacterial compounds. An examination of aromatic plants and traditional medicines is an attractive option for drug discovery. Astrotrichia latifolia Benth. is a native Australia shrub that has yet to be tested for antibacterial activity. Methods: The ability of A. latifolia leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: A. latifolia leaf methanolic and aqueous extracts were completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria. The extracts were non-toxic in the Artemia nauplii bioassay following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: A. latifolia leaf extracts were completely ineffective bacterial growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Trachyspermum ammi leaves and seeds have been used as dietary supplements and to treat multiple pathogenic diseases in several traditional healing systems. Despite this, their therapeutic properties have been poorly studied. Methods: Chloroform, ethyl acetate, hexane, methanol and water extracts of T. ammi were prepared and tested and the activity was compared to that of standard antibiotics for their in vitro antibacterial activity against ten human bacterial pathogens. The antibacterial activity was studied by standard disc diffusion assays and the activity was recorded as zones of inhibition. Results: All T. ammi seed extracts were ineffective at inhibiting the growth of all of the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria pathogens screened against. Conclusion: Despite their use in traditional healing systems to treat some pathogenic diseases, T. ammi seed extracts were completely ineffective bacterial growth inhibitors. However, these extracts were screened against a limited panel of bacteria and further testing against other pathogens is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Closely related plant species often share similar secondary metabolites and bioactivities and are therefore good targets for bioactivity testing when one or more species within a family are known to possess therapeutic properties. The genus Pouteria (family Sapotaceae) has a long history of medicinal usage in many areas of the world. Many species are known to have therapeutic properties, several of which have well established antibacterial bioactivities. Methods: The ability of P. australis leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: P. australis methanolic and aqueous extracts were completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria. The extracts were nontoxic to Artemia nauplii following 24 hr exposure. Conclusion: Despite the taxonomic relationship with several bioactive Pouteria spp., P. australis leaf extracts were completely ineffective bacterial growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, fungi, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Closely related plant species often share similar secondary metabolites and bioactivities and are therefore good targets for bioactivity testing when one or more species within a genus are known to possess therapeutic properties. The genus Ficus has a long history of medicinal usage in many areas of the world. Many species are known to have therapeutic properties, several species of which have well established antibacterial bioactivities. Methods: The ability of F. racemosa leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: F. racemosa methanolic and aqueous extracts were completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria. The extracts were nontoxic or of low toxicity following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: Despite the close taxonomic relationship with several bioactive Ficus spp. and its therapeutic uses in traditional medicine, F. racemosa leaf extracts were completely ineffective bacterial growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, fungi, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Closely related plant species often share similar secondary metabolites and bioactivities and are therefore good targets for bioactivity testing when one or more species within a genus are known to possess therapeutic properties. The genus Eucalyptus has a long history of medicinal usage by the first Australians. Many species are known to have therapeutic properties, several species of which have well established antibacterial bioactivities. Methods: The ability of Eucalyptus grandis leaf and flower extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial and fungal pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: E. grandis leaf and flower methanolic and aqueous extracts were completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria, as well as fungi. The extracts were nontoxic in the Artemia nauplii bioassay following 24 hr exposure. Conclusion: Despite the taxonomic relationship to several bioactive Eucalyptus spp., E. grandis leaf and flower extracts were completely ineffective bacterial and fungal growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Closely related plant species often share similar secondary metabolites and bioactivities and are therefore good targets for bioactivity testing when one or more species within a family are known to possess therapeutic properties. The family Laminaceae has a long history of medicinal usage globally. Many species are known to have therapeutic properties, several species of which have well established antibacterial bioactivities. Methods: The ability of Westringa fruticosa leaf and flower extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial and fungal pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: W. fruticosa leaf methanolic and aqueous extracts were both completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative panels of bacteria, as well as fungi. The extracts were non-toxic or of low toxicity in the Artemia bioassay following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: Despite the taxonomic relationship to several bioactive Laminaceae spp., W. fruticosa leaf and flower extracts were completely ineffective bacterial and fungal growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, virus and tumour cells is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Closely related plant species often share similar secondary metabolites and bioactivities and are therefore good targets for bioactivity testing when one or more species within a genus are known to possess therapeutic properties. The genus Piper has a long history of medicinal usage in many areas of the world. Many Piper spp. are known to have therapeutic properties and several have antibacterial bioactivities. Methods: The ability of P. novae-hollandiae leaf extracts to inhibit the growth of a panel of bacterial pathogens was investigated by disc diffusion assay. Toxicity was examined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: P. novae-hollandiae methanolic and aqueous extracts were completely ineffective at inhibiting the growth of panels of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The extracts were nontoxic or of low toxicity to Artemia nauplii following 24 h exposure. Conclusion: Despite the close taxonomic relationship with several bioactive Piper spp. and its therapeutic use by first Australians, P. novae-hollandiae leaf extracts were completely ineffective bacterial growth inhibitors. However, these extracts may have other therapeutic properties and testing against protozoa, fungi, virus and tumour cells is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]