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The present investigation emphasizes the pharmacognostic and phytochemical screening of Eulaliopsis binata and further evaluates the extracts of this plant for toxicological profile and anti-bacterial potential based on in vivo/in vitro assays. Microscopy, powder characteristics of the leaf material, and physicochemical and phytochemical screening were assessed for pharmacognostic evaluation. Dry leaves of Eulaliopsis binata were extracted using different solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, and hexane), and the extracts obtained were further investigated for in vitro/in vivo toxicological study. Moreover, acute toxicity was assessed by evaluating the anti-oxidant defense system and anatomical damage in vital organs. In addition, anti-bacterial activity of all the extracts was assessed by the Kirby-Bauer method. Physicochemical and microscopic observations showed the unique identification mark for leaf powder and leaf transverse section. Phytochemical investigation evidenced the presence of flavonoids and phenolic contents in the methanolic extract. All extracts were found to be hemocompatible and exhibited no induction of behavioral alteration and no alteration in the anti-oxidant potential and anatomical structure of the vital organs. On the other hand, the methanolic extract showed a significant upsurge in the reduced glutathione level, whereas all extracts showed significant anti-bacterial potential in a dose-dependent manner. Eulaliopsis binata has inimitable pharmacognostical characteristics, good safety profile and significant anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial potential that show immense possibility for its further investigation for pharmacological use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Streblus asper, family Moraceae is well-known important medicinal plant used in the Indian system of medicine. In Ayurveda, stem bark of S. asper is recommended against elephantiasis for which there is still no any other effective medicine in the modern system of medicine. Objectives: In the present work, methanol extract (SAM) and its fractions of S. asper leave tested for in vitro anticancer activity against cancer cell lines (MCF-7, A-549, Hep-G2, and K-562) which claims its folklore importance in cancer and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identification of extracts was also performed. Materials and Methods: Shade dried plant material was extracted with methanol and fractionated sequentially with hexane, chloroform, and butanol. Results: All tested extracts found highly effective against human lung cancer cell line (A-549) with IC50 <10 μg/mL. On Hep-G2 cancer cell line, only chloroform fraction are highly active with IC50 <10 μg/mL. Methanol and hexane fraction showed potent anticancer activity on K-562 cancer cell line with IC50 <10 μg/mL. Conclusion: Qualitative phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of fatty acids, phytosterol, triterpenoids, polyol, sugar acid, aldehyde, diterpene, terpene, carboxylic compounds, acid and sugar in S. asper leaves extract. Topmost abundant compounds in SAM are α-D-glucopyranoside (10.60%), glycerol (7.96%), myo-inositol (4.90%), and butanedioic acid (3.30%). Hexane consists of the higher amount of hexadecanoic acid (18.07%), octadecanoic acid (7.39%), β-sitosterol (4.50%), and α-D-glucopyranoside (4.03%). Higher component in chloroform extract is lupenyl acetate (11.25%). Abbreviations used: SRB: Sulforhodamine B assay; SAM: Methanol extract; SAH: Hexane extract; SAC: Chloroform extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bergenia species are important medicinal plants used in indigenous systems of medicine for their antilithiatic and diuretic properties. An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid linear ion trap triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQLIT-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the estimation of quantitative variation of eight major bioactive phenolics in the rhizomes (150 samples) of four species of this herb, Bergenia (B. ciliata, B. ligulata, B. purpurascens and B. stracheyi). Chromatographic separation was obtained on a Waters ACQUITY UPLCTM BEH (ethylene bridged hybrid) C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile under a gradient elution manner. A hybrid linear ion trap triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was operated in negative electrospray ionization mode with multiple reactions monitoring for detection and quantification of the eight compounds. The validated method demonstrated good linearity (r2 ≥ 0.9991), precision (RSD ≤ 1.87%) and accuracy (95.16–102.11%, RSD ≤ 1.83%) for all reference analytes. The quantitative results revealed that B. ligulata contains the highest amount of the major active marker-bergenin. The results also suggest that sensitive UHPLC-QqQLIT-MS/MS method, a sensitive, accurate and convenient one, could be helpful in identification of potential accession(s), rapid quality control and establishing authenticity of Bergenia species as raw material for pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher and aromatics plants have traditionally been used in folk medicine as well as to extend the shelf life of foods, showing inhibition against bacteria, fungi and yeasts. Most of their properties are due to essential oils produced by their secondary metabolism. Essential oils and extracts from several plant species are able to control microorganisms related to skin, dental caries, and food spoilage, including Gramnegative and Gram-positive bacteria. The present study is based on the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of the fresh leaves ofJusticia adhatodaand to identify the chemical constituents responsible for antimicrobial potential. The chemical constituents of essential oil were identified by gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS).The essential oil was evaluated for the antimicrobial potential against methicillin resistant and sensitiveStaphylococcus aureusalong with its clinical isolates. GC-MS analysis revealed that the major constituents of the essential oil were phytol (57.8 %), n-hentriacontane (3.92 %), nonacosane (3.65 %), pentacosane (2.65 %), β-Eudesmol (1.14 %), heneicosane (1.13 %). Result indicates thatJ. adhatodaleaves essential oil has a strong antimicrobial activity against mentioned microorganisms (MIC: 62.5–250 μg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Leucas cephalotes has been used by many tribes to treat variety of diseases and known to have many essential secondary metabolites. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first comparative analysis of total fatty acid (FA) composition and α-amylase inhibition activity of L. cephalotes. Objective: The present study is carried out to explore the antihyperglycemic activity and FA contents of all parts of L. cephalotes. Material and Method: Fruits, leaves, stems, and roots part of L. cephalotes have been extracted in ethanol. Simultaneously, all plant parts have been extracted in hexane with Soxhlet extraction. Ethanolic extracts have been evaluated for antihyperglycemic activity and hexane extract have been analyzed for FA identification. Result: The present study indicated that ethanolic extract of fruit and leaves have shown significant α-amylase inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 92.86 ± 0.89 and 98.09 ± 0.69 μg/mL, respectively. FA composition of all the parts of L. cephalotes was analyzed by GC/MS. Nineteen FAs have been identified in all parts of L. cephalotes in which palmitic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and linoleic acid were major FAs. Conclusion: The study indicates that L. cephalotes has significant potential to inhibit α-amylase enzyme and it is a rich source of essential FAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study investigated the comparative analysis of fatty acid and antioxidant activity from the bark of Betula utilis, collected from Kashmir and Sikkim coded as BUK and BUS respectively. Methods: Fatty acid constituents were analyzed by GCMS (gas chromatography mass spectroscopy) in BUK and BUS bark. B. utilis bark extracts of both the locations were phytochemically investigated and radical scavenging activity was evaluated by DPPH in all solvent fractions. Results: Phenolic content were found to be higher in methanolic extracts of BUK bark, 5.8 ± 0.1 mg/gm and flavonoid content were higher in the water extract of BUK bark, 6.16 ± 0.2 mg/gm. The radical scavenging activity was found to be higher methanolic, alcoholic and water extracts of BUK bark. The lowest IC50 value for radical scavenging activity of methanolic and water extracts of B. utilis bark collected from Kashmir were found 18.7 ± 1.1 and 18.2 ± 0.3 µg/mL, respectively. Thirteen fatty acids were identified in the sample BUK as well as BUS in which the major fatty acids were found-Palmitic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acid. BUK possess the highest amount of Palmitic acid (18.07%) in oily portion of the bark. Conclusion: The present study concluded that BUK and BUS extracts have shown significant antioxidant activity in comparison to standard but BUK possess potent radical scavenging activity over BUS, and higher amounts palmitic acid, linoleic acid and oleic acid was present in the extract, and may a play an important role in nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a complication of tooth extraction which indicates inflammation of alveolar bone of either maxilla or mandible. This study uses Apitherapy where honey catalyses biological reactions to improve immune system, makes local environment unbearable for microorganisms in the affected socket and enhances healing. Materials and Methods: 50 patients of AO were included in the study. After cleansing of the affected socket, honey dressing was applied. Dressings were changed daily for first 2 days and then altenatively. In biochemical investigations, CRP levels in the body were measured using Nephelometry method. Microbiological examination was done for the identification of microorganism and semi quantitative count of colony forming units. Result: Results were assessed from clinical, microbiological, biochemical and radiological findings at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th day based on VAS score, erythema, pus discharge, swelling, lymphadenitis, fever, bleeding on probing, exposed bone and necrotic debris. Pre-Treatment CRP was 2.08 ± 1.62 which significantly (P = 0.0001) decreased to 0.82 ± 0.48. Mean change and average percentage change were 1.25 ± 1.51 and 44.1% respectively. Conclusion: Majority of the patients with exposed bone got healed socket with evidance of granulation tissue and healing gingiva in about one week. CRP levels at the completion of treatment of AO with honey dressing showed a significant decrease from the pre-treatment values indicating fast recovery. Microbiological examination showed presence of normal commensal flora at AO sites like Streptococcus, Staphyloccocus and Enterococcus. So, the role of bacteria in the genesis of AO, if any, appears unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rhizome of Hedychium spicatum has been widely used in traditional medicines. The present study deals with the evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of rhizome essential oils from four different regions of the Western Himalaya (India) along with comparative correlation analysis to characterise the bioactive cytotoxic component. The essential oils were coded as MHS-1, MHS-2, MHS-3 and MHS-4, and characterised using GC-FID and GC–MS. The main volatile compounds identified were 1,8-cineol, eudesmol, cubenol, spathulenol and α-cadinol. In vitro cytotoxic activities were assessed against human cancer cell lines such as, the lung (A549), colon (DLD-1, SW 620), breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), head and neck (FaDu), and cervix (HeLa). MHS-4 is significantly active in comparison to other samples against all cancer cell lines. Sample MHS-4 has major proportion of monoterpene alcohol mainly 1,8-cineol. Principal components analysis was performed for the experimental results and all four samples were clustered according to their percentage inhibition at different doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]