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Volume 7 Number 1 2013
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Nilufar Z. Mamadalieva, Dilfuza Egamberdieva (Uzbekistan), Antonio Tiezzi (Italy) In Vitro Biological Activities of the Components from Silene wallichiana (pp 1-6)
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Original Research Paper: Methanol, butanol, chloroform and water extracts and individually six phytoecdysteroids (viticosterone E, 20-hydroxyecdysone-22-benzoate, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone, 2-deoxyecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone and integristerone A) isolated from a Silene wallichiana Klotsch. plant were evaluated for their antibacterial and antiproliferative properties. The methanolic extract inhibitedthe growth of Acinetobacter sp., Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pantoea agglomerans, Proteus rettgeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus at an MIC of 2.5 mg/ml, while Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were inhibited at an MIC of 1.25 mg/ml. The proliferation of cancer cells was potently inhibited by the chloroform extract (IC50 28.53 ± 1.98 µg/ml in HeLa, 26.34 ± 2.34 µg/ml in HepG-2 cells). Aqueous and butanol extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 24.83 ± 2.82 and 46.32 ± 3.73 µg/ml.
Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Dilfuza Jabborova, Nilufar Mamadalieva (Uzbekistan) Salt-tolerant Pseudomonas extremorientalis Able to Stimulate Growth of Silybum marianum underSalt Stress (pp 7-10)
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Original Research Paper: The effect of root-colonizing Pseudomonas extremorientalis TSAU20 on the root and shoot growth and biomass was determined in the medicinal plant Silybum marianum (milk thistle) under salinated conditions. Four salinity levels (25, 50, 75 and 100 mM) were maintained in a gnotobiotic system using NaCl salt. Shoot and root growth were reduced as much as 42% and fresh weight as much as 31% at 100 mM NaCl. Inoculation of salt-stressed milk thistle with P. extremorientalis TSAU20 significantly improved root length (90%), shoot length (66%) and total fresh weight (64%) at 100 mM NaCl compared to control plants. P. extremorientalis TSAU20 also increased the root and shoot length and dry weight of milk thistle in non-saline (0.8 dS m-1), slightly saline (EC 2.3 dS m-1) and saline (EC 7.1 dS m-1) soil. The root length increased by 49%, shoot length by 67% and dry weight by 21%. The strain was able to survive in the rhizosphere of plants. The results presented here make it possible for recommending root-colonizing, auxin-producing P. extremorientalis TSAU20 to alleviate salt stress of milk thistle grown under conditions of soil salinity.
Marzieh Negahban (Iran), Kamel Msaada (Tunisia), Enayatollah Tafazoli, Abdolrasool Zakerin (Iran) Effect of Foliar Application of Diammomium Phosphate on Morphological Characteristics and Constituents of Essential Oil of Mexican Marigold (Tagetes minuta L.) (pp 11-18)
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Original Research Paper: Pot trials were carried out in a greenhouse in Shiraz, Iran to determine the effect of foliar application of diammonium phosphate (DAP) on morphological characteristics and quality of essential oil (EO) of Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta L.). DAP was applied at 0, 2.4, 4.8, 7.2, 9.6 and 12% (w/v). Growth parameters increased as DAP levels increased. The dry weight of shoots increased at 2.4% DAP. At 7.2% DAP, the height, leaf area, length of axillary shoots and fresh weight of aerial parts peaked. Moreover, the number of axillary shoots, number of flowers per plant and the EO yield reached a maximum at 9.6% DAP. Regarding the EO constituents, the content of dihydro tagetone and Z-tagetone increased as DAP level increased while Z-β-ocimene and Z-ocimenone content decreased as the DAP level increased. The role of phosphorus as a central and pivotal metabolic and regulatory nutrient element is discussed.
Fatma Abd El-Lateef Gharib (Egypt), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Composition, Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil of Four Lamiaceae Herbs (pp 19-27)
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Original Research Paper: The composition of the essential oils of fresh aerial parts of marjoram (Majorana hortensis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) herbs were determined by GC-MS. The main identified oils constituents were γ-terpinene (19.77%), sabinene hydrate (17.56%), terpinen-4-ol (14.96%), α-terpinene (13.25%) and sabinene (12.35%) in M. hortensis; menthone (36.58%) and neo-menthol (40.47%) in M. piperita; carvone (42.84%) and carveol (34.98%) in M. spicata and 1,8-cineol (21.55%), α-pinene (17.77%) and camphor (15.38%) in R. officinalis. The 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of theoils while the Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic equivalent. Peppermint oil has the highest free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 59.19 μg mL-1) and the most total phenolics. The lowest radical scavenging activity was exhibited by marjoram oil (IC50 = 65.352 μg mL-1). Moreover, the radical scavenging activity of the four essential oils was much lower than that observed for the synthetic antioxidant TBHQ (IC50 = 29.81 μg mL-1). The four Lamiaceae oils can be potential sources of natural antioxidant agents in particular,peppermint and rosemary oils, which have the highest total phenolic equivalent (0.163, 0.128 mg of gallic acid equivalents per 100 µl essential oil, respectively).
Koona Subramanyam, Kondeti Subramanyam, Pinnamaneni Rajasekhar, Chirra Srinivasa Reddy, Nateshan Anil (India) Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Rauvolfia serpentina Accessions Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers (pp 28-32)
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Original Research Paper: Rauvolfia serpentina is an important medicinal herb since it contains medicinally important compounds. In the present study, the genetic diversity among R. serpentina accessions collected at different geographical regions in India was assessed through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Totally 19 accessions of R. serpentina were screened with 60 RAPD primers of which 15 (25%) primers were found to be the most informative and produced multiple band profiles with a number of amplified DNA fragments varying from 7 to 11. Of the 143 amplified bands, 95 were polymorphic (66.46%), with an average of 6.33 polymorphic fragments per primer. Jaccard’s genetic similarity co-efficient varied from 0.313 to 0.875. A UPGMA dendrogram showed two main clusters split at Jaccard’s similarity co-efficient of 0.313. The information obtained here could be valuable for devising strategies for conservation of this medicinal plant.
Bochra Laribi, Karima Kouki, Taoufik Bettaieb, Abdelaziz Mougou, Brahim Marzouk (Tunisia) Comparative Analysis of Growth, Seed Yield, Essential Oil and Fatty Acid Composition of Two Tunisian Caraway (Carum carvi L.) Ecotypes Ecotypes (pp 33-39)
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Original Research Paper: In this study, two Tunisian caraway ecotypes originating from the regions of Menzel Temime and Souassi (Tunisia) were investigated regarding their seed yield and its components as well as the composition of their essential oils and fatty acids. For this purpose, the two ecotypes were cultivated, harvested and processed under the same conditions whereas the seed essential oil was analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). On one hand, results concerning the biomass production, seed yield and yield components (number of umbels/plant, number of umbellets/umbel and 1000-seed weight) were higher for Menzel Temime ecotype in comparison to Souassi one. On the other hand, total fatty acid (TFA) content was 2.95 and 5.68% in Menzel Temime and Souassi ecotypes, respectively. Petroselinic acid (C18:1n-12) was the major fatty acid in both ecotypes, with a higher proportion being found in Menzel Temime ecotype (38.36% TFA) than in Souassi one (37.39% TFA). In addition, the seed essential oil yields differed significantly between the two ecotypes: 0.82% and 1.20% for Menzel Temime and Souassi ecotypes, respectively. Forty one volatile compounds were identified in the two essential oil samples where carvone and limonene constituted the main components but with significant different proportions. However, the two ecotypes displayed the same chemotype, namely carvone. Since the environmental and technical parameters effects were considered negligible, the observed differences concerning the seed yield and its components as well as the essential oil and fatty acid composition seem likely to result from genetic variation.
Mouna Ben Taârit Rayouf, Kamel Msaada, Karim Hosni, Brahim Marzouk (Tunisia) Essential Oil Constituents of Salvia argentea L. from Tunisia: Phenological Variations (pp 40-44)
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Original Research Paper: The essential oils (EOs) from the aerial parts of Salvia argentea L. were analyzed at three developmental stages (vegetative, flowering and fruiting stages). The highest content of oil (0.15%, w/w) was obtained at full flowering. The current study showed consistent compositional variations among the three studied stages. In fact, manool and manoyl oxide characterised the vegetative stage while viridiflorol, camphor, methyl eugenol and 1,8-cineole prevailed during flowering and the fruiting phase was marked by the prevalence of viridiflorol, α-humulene, β-ionone and methyl eugenol. Additionally, a wide array of bioactive terpenic compounds was commonly found at different stages, making S. argentea an advocated herb in pharmaceutical science.
Anandhi Selvarasu, Rajamani Kandhasamy (India) Reproductive Biology of Gloriosa rothschildiana (pp 45-49)
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Research Note: An investigation was carried out to study the reproductive biology of Gloriosa rothschildiana. The flowers were borne on a short pedicel (7.73 cm) and were solitary. The flower weighs 1.60 g. There were six small crimson-colored tepals (3.60 × 1.45 cm) with a short stamen (3.34 cm) and pistil (3.39 cm). The stamen displayed profuse orange-yellow pollen. The pistil possessed a three-celled ovary which formed an ellipsoidal capsule. The mean number of days taken to complete flowering was 20.70 days. The percentage of bud opening and anther dehiscence in G. rothschildiana was 60% at 9.30 am. The maximum percentage of stigma receptivity (97.5%), pollen viability (98.1%) and fertility (98.33%) were observed on the day of anthesis. Pollen was oval shaped and pollen output was 701,250 in G. rothschildiana. The highest pod set (93%) was observed under artificial cross pollination followed by self-pollination and natural open pollination.
Anindya Bose, Sarbani Dey Ray, Anuradha Khuntia, Sujit Dash (India) Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Aerial Parts of Cleome rutidosperma (pp 50-53)
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Research Note: Different parts of Cleome rutidosperma are used in many ways, as an antiplasmodial, analgesic, locomotor, antimicrobial, diuretic, or laxative. In the present investigation, a detailed pharmacognostic study of C. rutidosperma leaves was carried out to establish standards that could be useful in future experimental studies. The study includes macroscopy, microscopy, powder microscopy, physical analysis and physicochemical evaluation.
Masoud Vazirzadeh, Javad Zaboli, Sasan Mohsenzadeh (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Hamid Reza Karbalaei-Heidari (Iran), Reza Robati (India) Antibacterial Activity of Ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum) Seed Extract (pp 54-55)
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Research Note: The antibacterial activity of ajowan (Trachyspermum copticum) seed extract (ASE) against four Gram-negative and one Gram-positive bacteria were evaluated with the agar disc diffusion and MIC methods. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter lwoffii were resistant to cephalosporin and hexane (0.01 mg/ml) as control drugs but sensitive to ASE. ASE also exhibited antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The thymol in ajowan seeds extracts maybe the cause of this antibacterial effect.
Dilfuza Egamberdieva, Nilufar Mamadalieva, Olimjon Khodjimatov (Uzbekistan), Antonio Tiezzi (Italy) Medicinal Plants from Chatkal Biosphere Reserve Used for Folk Medicine in Uzbekistan (pp 56-64)
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Research Note: Chatkal Nature Reserve area, which is situated in Western Tien Shan of Uzbekistan, is unique for its significant role in biodiversity conservation and ethnobotany. Nevertheless, extensive studies on such a rich natural resource region of the area have not been well documented. This paper aimed to create an inventory of and describe medicinal plants grown in the region. Questionnaires were distributed to 25 respondents, which were local people, in order to explore the present use of medicinal plants and their reputed therapeutic effects. It was revealed that there were 117 medicinal plants locally utilized for medicinal use. Plant species, botanical name, vernacular name, part(s) used, popular medicinal were among the information provided. Additionally, the invented plants consisted of Asteraceae (9 species), Lamiaceae (10 species), Liliaceae (4 species), Fabaceae (9 species), Polygonaceae (4 species), Rosaceae (14 species),and Ranunculaceae (6 species) having therapeutic values for digestive ailments, gastrointestinal disorders, anti-inflammatory, and heart disease.
Ernest A. Anyalogbu, Ethelbert U. Ezeji, Chiaka J. Nwalozie (Nigeria) Phytochemical Screening and Anti-malaria/Typhoid Fever Activities of Alstonia boonei (De Wild) Stem Bark Powder (pp 65-67)
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Research Note: Anti-malaria/typhoid fever potential of graded doses of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Alstonia boonei bark stem powder were investigated. The stem bark powder was also screened for the presence of some phytochemicals. The percentage chemo-suppressive activity (on early malaria infection in mice) of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses were found to be 81, 85 and 75%, respectively for the ethanolic extract and 56, 78 and 80%, respectively for the aqueous extract. This is substantial when compared to the 97% chemo-suppressive effect produced by 5 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine. The extracts did not produce any observable activity against Salmonella typhii. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponin, flavonoids, terpenes, sterol and resins in the stem bark powder. These results further confirmed earlier reports that A. boonei possesses antimalarial activities.
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