Article

Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Studies of the Leaf Extract of Eurya japonica Thunb. and Ficus auriculata Lour.

Authors:
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract

Medicinal plants are of great importance to the health of individuals and the society. The medicinal value of the plants lies in some chemical substances that produce a definite physiological action on the human body .In this study we examined the phytochemical screening and antibacterial activities of the leaf of Eurya japonica and Ficus auriculata plant species. Phytochemical screening of these plants was performed for constituents Le alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids , terpenoids,saponins, tannins and reducing sugar using four (4) different solvents namely petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol respectively. Thier antibacterial activities were tested using some Gram positive bacteria: (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli ,Klebseila pneumonia and Pseudomonas species) by disc diffusion method. The disc diffusion method for antibacterial activity showed significant reduction in the bacterial growth in terms of zone of inhibition around the discs. The results of the antibacterial activity screening support the ethno-medical use of these plants. Further studies on the isolation and characterization of the compound from Eurya japonica and Ficus auriculata, responsible for the observed antibacterial properties is in progress.

No full-text available

Request Full-text Paper PDF

To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.

... xylopyranoside, taxifolin 3-O-β-D-xylopyranoside, 2R,3R --glucodistylin, and 2S,3S --glucodistylin, and phenyl glycoside 6 -O-coumaroyl-1 -O-2-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl -ethyl -β-D-glucopyranoside have been isolated from the stems and leaves of E. japonica. These compounds from extracts of this plant have been found to possess antioxidants 1, 2 and antibacterial activities 3 . In a previous study, the volatile fraction indicated that the essential oil from E. japonica obtained by steam distillation contained 3-hexenol and 2-hexenal 4 . ...
Article
Full-text available
The chemical compositions of essential oils from the flower and aerial parts (i.e., leaf and branch) of Eurya japonica were determined and quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 87 and 50 compounds were detected in the oils from the flower and aerial parts, respectively. The main compounds of the flower oil were linalool (14.0%), (9Z)-tricosene (12.0%), and nonanal (7.4%). In the oil from the aerial parts, linalool (37.7%), a-terpineol (13.5%), and geraniol (9.6%) were detected. In the oils from the flower and aerial parts, 13 and 8 aroma-active compounds were identified by GC-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis, respectively. The key aroma-active compounds of the flower oil were heptanal [fatty, green, flavor dilution (FD) = 128, odor activity value (OAV) = 346], nonanal (sweet, citrus, FD = 128, OAV = 491), and eugenol (sweet, spicy, FD = 64, OAV = 62): in the oil from the aerial parts, the key aroma-active compounds were linalool (sweet, citrus, FD = 64, OAV = 95), (E)-β-damascenone (sweet, FD = 256, OAV = 4000), and (E)-β-ionone (floral, violet, FD = 128, OAV = 120). This study revealed that nonanal and eugenol impart the sweet, citrus, and spicy odor of the flower oil, while (E)-β-damascenone and (E)-β-ionone contribute the floral and sweet odor of the oil from the aerial parts.
Article
Gallic acid is a well-known antioxidant ascribed to various beneficial health effects and is found in a variety of plants. In this study, gallic acid was extracted from Ficus auriculata leaves using ultrasound assisted extraction and the process parameters were optimized. The influence of time (5 – 60 min), temperature (30 – 75 °C), sonication level (30 – 70 %) and solid to solvent ratio (1:5 – 1: 40 g/mL) on gallic acid extraction was investigated. Maximum extraction was obtained after 30 min at 50 % sonication level, 1:10 g/mL solid to solvent ratio, 8 pH at 50 °C. Among the various solvents, 50 % methanol resulted in highest extraction followed by alkaline water and 50 % ethanol where gallic acid content in the extract was found to be 329.46 mg/L, 284.16 mg/L and 183.74 mg/L, respectively. Sonication bath was found to perform better in extracting and retaining extracted gallic acid as compared to probe sonication. The kinetics of the extraction was studied and Peleg model was found to have the best correlation with highest R² value (0.99). The extracted gallic acid was purified using reverse osmosis and HPLC. Results of the present study indicated that ultrasound assisted extraction using alkaline water can be an efficient method for extracting gallic acid from F. auriculata leaves without using harmful organic solvents. This paper will be instrumental to the readers for gaining in-depth comprehension on the water based gallic acid extraction from plant leaves under sonication.
Thesis
Full-text available
Polyphenols are responsible for antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables which provide life sustaining nutrients and a variety of phytochemicals endowed with health promoting effects primarily due to their antioxidant properties. Plant species under the genus Ficus can be one such source of natural antioxidant, however systematic study with regard to their phytochemical, biological and functional aspect is quite lacking. With this milieu, the doctoral research was aimed to evaluate polyphenolic composition in the fruits of F. auriculata (Timla) and F. palmata (Bedu) and to assess their multifunctional antioxidant activity so as to establish these yet less explored species as a potential source of natural antioxidants. The specific objectives of the project were assessment of antioxidant activity of Ficus auriculata (FA) and F. palmata (FP) fruits of different maturity status by different assay methods, antioxidant activity guided chemical analysis of the fruits for estimation of total polyphenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins content, comparative studies on antioxidant activity of various extracts and their fractions assayed by various methods and correlation between their polyphenols and antioxidant capacity and determination of phenolic composition in the active fraction(s). Both fully grown unripe and ripe fruits of FA and FP were analysed for their proximate nutritional values which revealed that these wild edible fruits may be good substitute to cultivated fruits for their high nutrient and mineral content. Extraction of FA and FP fruits with solvent of different polarity, showed highest extract yield with methanol: water (4:1) from ripe fruits of both the Ficus fruits. The concentration of total phenolics, flavonoid and anthocyanins were found at the highest level in the extracts of ripen fruits of both species obtained with methanol: water (4:1). Thus ripen stage of both fruits was found as the optimal phase and methanol: water (4:1) as better solvent for extracting the phenolic compounds from fruits of FA and FP. In view of the multifunctional facets of antioxidant capacity, the activity of FA and FP fruit was investigated by different assays taking into account the various mechanisms of antioxidant action. The antioxidant capacity of fruit extracts of FA and FP was determined following five different in-vitro protocols including DPPH-RS, ABTS+-RS, FRAP, NOS and HPS assays which varied considerably among their different extracts. Ripe fruits extract in general and particularly those obtained by extraction with methanol: water (4:1) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all the assays which may be due to their high TPC, TFC and TAC. The most active extracts FARF2 and FPRF2 of FA and FP respectively selected on the basis of TPC, TFC, TAC and antioxidant capacities were further fractionated to BuOH, EtOAc, MeOH and Aqueous fractions and further investigated for TPC, TFC, TAC and antioxidant activity by different protocols. Results of the study recorded highest TPC, TFC, and TAC as well as maximum DPPH-RS, ABTS+-RS, FRAP, NOS and HPS activities in methanol fractions of ripe fruit extracts of both FA and FP. Also a positive correlation between TPC, TFC & TAC and antioxidant activities were established. Methanol fractions also showed highest α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity followed by ethylacetate fraction thus revealing the potential of FA and FP fruits in diabetes related complications. Petroleum ether extracts of FA and FP fruits yielded 1.76 and of 2.19 % of fatty oil. GC-MS analysis of fatty oil indicated the presence of altogether 12 fatty acids; of which oleic acid, linoleic acid, -linolenic acid and vaccenic acid have remarkable pharmacological actions thus affirming their therapeutic significance. The phenolic constituents of EtOAc, MeOH and aqueous fractions of FARF2 and FPRF2 were detected and quantified by UPLC-MS analysis using standards of phenolic compounds. Altogether 9 compounds were identified and quantified in different fractions of FARF2 and FPRF2. The study concluded that due to their lofty phenolic composition and antioxidant activity as recorded in the study, fruits of FA and FP could be healthy source of additives to enhance antioxidant value to food and may be considered a source of important phytochemicals with bioactive functional properties that can be beneficially exploited in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.
Article
The study was carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of Ficus auriculata Lour and to estimate their phenolic and flavonoid content. DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity and reducing power assay (RPA) were done for evaluating In vitro antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content (TPC) was estimated by Folin-Ciocalteau's method and total flavonoid content by Aluminium chloride colorimetric method. It is observed that DPPH EC50 was 251. 33mg/ml and Reducing Power Assay (RPA) was 53. 40 ± 0. 01. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were 21. 404 ± 0. 134 & 50. 83 ±1. 32 mg GAE/mg dry weight respectively. This study validated the medicinal potential of the leaf of Ficus auriculata and the positive relationship between total phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activities.
Article
The present study, we carried out to determine the antioxidant activity of the leaf extract of Eurya japonica Thunb. and to estimate its phenolic and flavonoid content. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity and reducing power assay (RPA) were carried out to evaluate In vitro antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content (TPC) was estimated using Folin-Ciocalteau's reagent and total flavonoid (TF) content by Aluminium chloride colorimetric method. It was observed that DPPH EC50 value of leaf extract of Eurya japonica Thunb. was 32.20 mg/ml and the reducing capacity of the extract was 173.70 ± 0.02. The phenolic and flavonoid content of the leaf extract was found to be 26.31 ± 0.13 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) /mg dry weight and 74.99 ± 1.83 mg GAE/mg dry weight respectively.The results suggested a positive relationship between total phenolic and flavonoid content with antioxidant activity of the leaf extract of Eurya japonica Thunb.
Article
Full-text available
Ethanol and aqueous extract of Heracleum sphondylium subsp. artvinense was investigated for their antimicrobial activities against eight bacterial species (Enterococcus feacalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Corynobacterium diphtheria) and two yeast (Candida albicans and C. krusei). Both ethanol and aqueous extract of H. sphondylium subsp.artvinense showed antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacterium (S. aureus).
Article
Full-text available
Eurya is the largest genus in the Ternstroemiaceae. The 13 Eurya species in Taiwan constitute an important element in various habitats from low to high elevated forests in the island. In an attempt to understand the interspecies relationships and geographical history of these 13 species, we sequenced 123 samples representing 32 Eurya species from Taiwan, the Ryukyus, continental China, and Southeast Asia at the nuclear ITS region. Sixteen species of five other genera of Ternstroemiaceae were also incorporated. Molecular phylogenetic trees show that the Eurya species studied form a monophyletic group, organized into five clades with geographical correlations. All the 17 Eurya species from Taiwan and the Ryukyus studied, except E. loquaiana, together constitute two coherent, but distantly related clades: one clade stands at a basal and isolated position, with four out of its five species endemic to these two regions; they are probably Tertiary elements of northern China or their direct descendants. The other clade is much more advanced and has strong affinity to the Eurya in southeast China, which suggests that the members were probably originated from the Quaternary flora of southeast China. Ecological partitioning is thought to be the major mechanism for the speciation of four Taiwan-endemic species from E. chinensis.
Article
Full-text available
Floristic diversity, dominance and abundance to frequency ratio of tree, sapling, seedling, shrub and herb species were studied in two different forest sites of a tropical foot hill region of Garhwal Himalaya. In tree layer on both the sites the dominant species recorded were Lannea coromandelica (IVI-39.80) and Anogeissus latifolia (IVI-29.50) on site I and site II respectively. The ranges of diversity for tree layers was 4.580 to 4.643. Most of the species on both the sites were contagiously distributed except few species which were distributed randomly.
Article
Full-text available
The powdered crude sample of Khaya grandifoliola was subjected to phytochemical analysis using standard experimental procedures. The phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins and flavonoids. The methanolic extract of Khaya grandifoliola stem bark was screened for antimicrobial activity against bacterial isolates MRSA, Bacillus subtilis , Klebsiella pneumonia and Proteus mirabilis at different concentrations. The isolates showed a minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.4 mg mL-1 except B. subtilis of 0.002 g mL-1.
Article
Tree leaves are important traditional fodder sources in many parts of the Himalaya, particularly during the dry winter season. Households interviewed in different regions of Bhutan used 1–13 different tree species for fodder, with Ficus auriculata standing out as the preferred and most widely used species across a range of conditions. It is preferred because of the wide range of adaptation, good nutritional qualities and palatability, and its good productivity. Ficus auriculata is also an important tree fodder in the Himalayan region of Nepal and India. Its fodder quality is far superior to paddy straw, the main winter fodder in the rice growing regions of the Himalayas. Parameters recorded in the literature for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fiber are 9.5–17.3, 46.2–58.4 and 36.1–45.8%, respectively. Farmers consider it to be better than rice straw and the fodder from the tree fodder species Celtis tetrandra, Brassaiopsis hainla, Stereospermum suaveolens, Bauhinia purpurea and Litsea polyantha. Average annual fresh yield per tree was reported as 200, 120, 112, 108, 108 and 96 kg for F. auriculata, Artocarpus lakoocha, Gmelina arborea, F. cunia, Litsea monopetala and Stereospermum suaveolens, respectively. Considering the current importance of F. auriculata it is imperative to carry out research exploring its potential in evolving production systems and to quantify the opportunities of improving its nutritional quality and productivity through selection.
Article
One thousand plant extracts were screened for the presence of alkaloids. Of these, 888 different species of higher plants were represented. The number of positive alkaloid tests determined on these 888 species was 202 or 22.8 percent. Some of these plants had been previously reported in the literature as containing alkaloids. A total of 111 new alkaloid-containing species were uncovered in the present investigation.