Wild marigold (Tagetes minuta), a flowering plant of the family Asteraceae contains compounds of pharmaceutical and nutritional importance especially essential oils and flavonols. Identification, characterization of flavonols and determination of their antibacterial activity were major objectives of the current study. The isolation and purification of flavonols was accomplished using chromatographic techniques while structural elucidation was completed by LC–MS and NMR spectroscopy. The extracts and purified compounds were tested against various bacterial strains for antibacterial activity. A total of 19 flavonols were isolated from this species. Of these, 17 were of butanol and two of ethyl acetate extracts. Based on the concentration and purity, eight potential flavonols were selected and structurally elucidated. Four flavonols, 6-hydroxyquercetin 7-O-β-(6′′-galloylglucopyranoside; 2), 6-hydroxykaempferol 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (5), 6-hydroxykaempferol 7-O-β-(6′′-galloylglucopyranoside; 7), 6-hydroxyquercetin 7-O-β-(6′′-caffeoylglucopyranoside; 9), were identified for the first time from T. minuta. Butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of flowers and seeds showed significant antibacterial activity against Micrococcus leteus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pseudomonas pikettii. Among the isolated flavonols only 1, 2, and 18 were found to possess significant antibacterial activity against M. luteus. The extracts and purified flavonols from T. minuta can be potential candidates for antibacterial drug discovery and support to ethnopharmacological use.

Present study was conducted to investigate the adsorption and ultrasound-assisted adsorption potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanoparticles loaded on chitosan (AgCS composite) as nano-adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal. AgNPs were synthesized using leaf extract of Ligustrum lucidum, which were incorporated on the chitosan’s surface for modification. UV–Vis Spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, and EDX techniques were used to confirm the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials. Batch adsorption and sono-adsorption experiments for the removal of MB were executed under optimal conditions; for fitting the experimental equilibrium data, Langmuir and Freundlich’s isotherm models were adopted. In addition, the antimicrobial potential of the AgNPs and AgCS were examined against selected bacterial and fungal strains. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed AgNPs synthesis from the leaf extract of L. lucidum used as a reducer, which was spherical as exposed in the SEM analysis. The FTIR spectrum illustrated phytochemicals in the leaf extract of L. lucidum functioning as stabilizing agents around AgNPs and AgCS. Whereas, corresponding crystalline peaks of nanomaterial, including a signal peak at 3 keV indicating the presence of silver, were confirmed by XRD and EDX. The Langmuir model was chosen as an efficient model for adsorption and sono-adsorption, which exposed that under optimum conditions (pH = 6, dye initial concentration = 5 mg L−1, adsorbents dosage = 0.005 g, time = 120 min, US power 80 W), MB removal efficiency of AgNPs was >70%, using ultrasound-assisted adsorption compared to the non-sonicated adsorption. Furthermore, AgNPs exhibited promising antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus with the maximum zone of inhibition (14.67 ± 0.47 mm). It was concluded that the green synthesis approach for the large-scale production of metallic nanoparticles is quite effective and can be recommended for efficient and cost-effective way to eradicate dyes, particularly from textile wastewater

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Withania coagulans contains a complex mixture of various bioactive compounds. In order to reduce the complexity of the plant extract to purify its phytochemical biomolecules, a novel fractionation strategy using different solvent combination ratios was applied to isolate twelve bioactive fractions. These fractions were tested for activity in the biogenic synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles, biofilm and antifungal activities. The results revealed that plant extract with bioactive fractions in 30% ratio for all solvent combinations showed more potent bioreducing power, according to the observed color changes and the appearance of representative absorption peaks at 500–510 nm in the UV-visible spectra which confirm the synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles (Co3O4 NPs). XRD diffraction was used to define the crystal structure, size and phase composition of the products. The fractions obtained using 90% methanol/hexane and 30% methanol/hexane showed more effectiveness against biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus so these fractions could potentially be used to treat bacterial infections. The 90% hexane/H2O fraction showed excellent antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans, while the 70% methanol/hexane fraction showed good antifungal activity for C. albicans, so these fractions are potentially useful for the treatment of various fungal infections. On the whole it was concluded that fractionation based on effective combinations of methanol/hexane was useful to investigate and study bioactive compounds, and the active compounds from these fractions may be further purified and tested in various clinical trials.

Background Taxus wallichiana is an evergreen tree species found in the Himalayan region of Pakistan. The tree possesses important secondary metabolites such as Taxol that has been implicated in treating breast, ovarian and colon cancer. Therefore keeping in view the importance of this plant species, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Taxus wallichiana aqueous leaf extract and evaluated for their anti-bacterial and anti-cancer properties. Methods Silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized for their optical, morphological and structural features using techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and were evaluated for their antibacterial activity and anti-cancer activity using U251 cell line. Results The study showed that the UV-absorbance peak of Ag2O NPs at 450 nm shifted to 410 nm, affirming the formation of leaf extract Ag NPs. Similarly structural studies revealed the crystalline nature of the cubic structure of the Ag crystal with an average crystallite size of 29 nm. FTIR analysis exhibited the existence of different functional elements including O-H and N-H and phenolic groups. Non-spherical glomerular shaped Taxus wallichiana Ag NPs were observed from SEM studies and EDX profile showed Ag as the main element along with constituent of biological origin. The synthesized Ag NPs showed significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus. The cytotoxic activity of Ag NPs on U251 brain cancer cells showed a synergistic effect with 10 ug/mL concentration after 48 and 72 h incubation based on cell viability assay indicating promising glioblastoma drug potential.

ABSTRACT. Tagetes, a genus of flowering marigolds in the family Asteraceae (Compositeae), is reported to be a medicinal plant with hypotensive, spasmolytic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Tagetes minuta characteristically contains high concentrations of essential oils, flavonoids, polyphenols, and polysaccharides that interfere with DNA, causing erroneous or no PCR products. We tested and modified various standard protocols in an effort to isolate high-quality DNA from different plant tissues of T. minuta. We used sun-dried, shade-dried and fresh-leaf tissues, as well as seeds for DNA analysis. The DNA obtained from seeds and fresh-leaf tissues with a modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide buffer protocol was of good quality, with no colored pigments and contaminants. We were able to obtain good quality DNA from fresh leaf tissues without using liquid nitrogen. A relatively large amount of DNA was also extracted from the sun-and shadedried tissues, but its quality was not as good as that from seeds. The DNA extracted from seeds and fresh leaves was successfully amplified by PCR using arbitrary RAPD primers. The same protocol 387 ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 9 (1): 386-393 (2010) Optimization of DNA extraction from Tagetes minuta will probably be useful for extracting high-molecular weight DNA from other plant materials containing large amounts of secondary metabolites and essential oils.

Introduction Literature has shown varying results regarding the presence of group B Streptococcal (GBS) infection in pregnant females with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The infection can be detrimental to maternal and neonatal well-being. There is a lack of studies that showed the extent of this problem in the local population of Pakistan. Our study aims to determine the frequency of GBS infection in females with PPROM. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Lahore General Hospital, Pakistan for six months. Informed consent was obtained from each patient. Demographic data were also recorded. Then the amniotic fluid sample was taken during a vaginal examination and was sent to the laboratory of the hospital for assessment of the presence or absence of GBS. Reports were assessed for GBS infection. Baseline demographics including age, body mass index (BMI), parity, and gestational age were presented as mean and standard deviation. Categorical data like parity and GBS infection were presented as frequency and percentage. Results The mean age of women was 30.04 ± 6.75 years. The mean gestational age of patients was 34.51 ± 1.75 weeks. Among 150 women, GBS infection was diagnosed in 24 (16%) patients. The occurrence of GBS infection was significantly associated with the age and parity status of women (p < 0.05). However, it was not significantly associated with gestational age and BMI of women (p > 0.05). Conclusion Our study showed a low prevalence of GBS infection in females presenting with PPROM. Nonetheless, the presence of infection can lead to detrimental outcomes including neonatal and maternal sepsis. The rate and risk factors of maternal and neonatal GBS colonization may vary in different communities. These rates, as well as the incidence of neonatal disease, need to be thoroughly evaluated to develop appropriate strategies for prevention.

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