Introduction: Autoimmune inflammatory diseases can be triggered by specific bacteria in susceptible individuals. Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) has documented therapeutic properties as a general antiseptic agent. However, the high ascorbic acid levels in Kakadu plum fruit may interfere with this activity. Methods: T. ferdinandiana leaf solvent extracts were investigated by disc diffusion assay against a panel of bacteria known to trigger autoimmune inflammatory diseases.Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies.Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Non-targeted HPLC separation of crude extracts coupled to high resolution time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy with screening against 3 compound databases was used for the identification and characterisation of individual components in crude plant extracts. Results: Methanolic, aqueous and ethyl acetate T. Ferdinandiana leaf extracts displayed potent antibacterial activity in the disc diffusion assay against the bacterial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. The ethyl acetate extract had the most potent inhibitory activity, with MIC values less than 120 µg/ml against P. mirabilis and A. baylyi (both reference and clinical strains). The ethyl acetate extract had similar potency against K. pneumonia (both reference and clinical strains), but had higher MIC values (2733 µg/ml) against P. aeruginosa. The methanolic extract was also a potent inhibitor of bacterial growth, with MIC values generally < 1000 µg/ml. In comparison, the water, chloroform and hexane leaf extracts were all substantially less potent antibacterial agents, with MICs values generally well over 1000 µg/ml. All T. ferdinandiana leaf extracts were either nontoxic or of low toxicity in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay.Non-biased phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of high levels of tannins (exifone (4-galloylpyrogallol), ellagic acid dehydrate, trimethylellagic acid, chebulic acid, corilagin, punicalin, castalagin and chebulagic acid). Conclusion: The low toxicity of the T. ferdinandiana leaf extracts and their potent inhibitory bioactivity against the bacterial triggers of autoimmune inflammatory disorders indicates their potential as medicinal agents in the treatment and prevention of these diseases.

Introduction: Autoimmune inflammatory diseases can be triggered by specific bacteria in susceptible individuals. Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) has documented therapeutic properties as a general antiseptic agent. However, the high ascorbic acid levels in Kakadu plum fruit may interfere with this activity. Methods: T. ferdinandiana leaf solvent extracts were investigated by disc diffusion assay against a panel of bacteria known to trigger autoimmune inflammatory diseases.Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies.Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Non-targeted HPLC separation of crude extracts coupled to high resolution time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectroscopy with screening against 3 compound databases was used for the identification and characterisation of individual components in crude plant extracts. Results: Methanolic, aqueous and ethyl acetate T. Ferdinandiana leaf extracts displayed potent antibacterial activity in the disc diffusion assay against the bacterial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis. The ethyl acetate extract had the most potent inhibitory activity, with MIC values less than 120 µg/ml against P. mirabilis and A. baylyi (both reference and clinical strains). The ethyl acetate extract had similar potency against K. pneumonia (both reference and clinical strains), but had higher MIC values (2733 µg/ml) against P. aeruginosa. The methanolic extract was also a potent inhibitor of bacterial growth, with MIC values generally < 1000 µg/ml. In comparison, the water, chloroform and hexane leaf extracts were all substantially less potent antibacterial agents, with MICs values generally well over 1000 µg/ml. All T. ferdinandiana leaf extracts were either nontoxic or of low toxicity in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay.Non-biased phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract revealed the presence of high levels of tannins (exifone (4-galloylpyrogallol), ellagic acid dehydrate, trimethylellagic acid, chebulic acid, corilagin, punicalin, castalagin and chebulagic acid). Conclusion: The low toxicity of the T. ferdinandiana leaf extracts and their potent inhibitory bioactivity against the bacterial triggers of autoimmune inflammatory disorders indicates their potential as medicinal agents in the treatment and prevention of these diseases.

Introduction: Streptococcus pyogenes is a gram-positive, pathogenic bacterium which causes a variety of diseases including streptococcal pharyngitis, impetigo and rheumatic heart disease, depending on which tissue it infects. Many Terminalia spp. have documented therapeutic properties as general antiseptics, inhibiting the growth of a wide variety of bacterial species. Methods: Solvent extracts were prepared using Indian Terminalia spp. with documented ethnobotanical usage to treat bacterial infections, or published antibacterial activity. The extracts were investigated by disc diffusion assay for the ability to inhibit the growth of a clinical strain of S. pyogenes. Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Results: T. arjuna, T. catappa and T. chebula methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts displayed potent antibacterial activity in the disc diffusion assay against S. pyogenes. The T. catappa and T. chebula ethyl acetate extracts were particularly potent, with MIC values of 225 and 205 µg/mL respectively. All methanolic extracts were also potent growth inhibitors with MIC values of 268 µg/mL (T. arjuna methanolic extract), 425 µg/mL (T. catappa methanolic extract) and 300 µg/mL (T. chebula methanolic extract). The T. catappa hexane extract was also a potent S. pyogenes growth inhibitor (MIC 768 µg/mL). All other extracts were either ineffective or were of only low efficacy. Furthermore, all of the Indian Terminalia spp. extracts were nontoxic in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay, with LC 50 values >1000 µg/mL. Conclusion: The potent growth inhibitory bioactivity of the methanolic and ethyl acetate T. arjuna, T. catappa and T. chebula extracts against S. pyogenes demonstrates their potential for the treatment and prevention of pharyngitis, impetigo and rheumatic heart disease. All extracts were nontoxic indicating their safety for therapeutic use.

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Background: Terminalia spp. are characterised by their high antioxidant capacities and many have anticancer activity. This study examines the anti-proliferative activity of T. carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora leaf, fruit and nut extracts against Caco-2 and HeLa carcinoma proliferation. Materials and Methods: Powdered T. carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora leaf, fruit and nut were extracted and tested for anti-proliferative activity against Caco-2 and HeLa cancer cell lines using colorimetric cell proliferation assays. Toxicity was evaluated using an Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. The extract with the most potent anti-proliferative activity was examined using GC-MS analysis and triterpenoid compounds were identified by comparison with a compound database. Results: T. carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora leaf, fruit and nut extracts displayed potent anti-proliferative activity against Caco-2 and HeLa carcinoma cells. The methanolic T. grandiflora leaf extract was particularly effective at blocking the proliferation of the colorectal carcinoma Caco-2 (IC 50 = 372 µg/mL). The methanol T. carpentariae and T. grandiflora leaf extracts were similarly potent inhibitors of HeLa cervical cancer cell proliferation with IC50 values of 864 and 833 µg/mL respectively. The methanolic T. grandiflora fruit and nut extracts, as well as all aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts, were moderate to good inhibitors of carcinoma proliferation. In contrast, chloroform and hexane extracts were generally devoid of anti-proliferative activity. The methanolic T. grandiflora extracts displayed low toxicity in the Artemia nauplii bioassay. All other extracts were non-toxic. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic T. grandiflora leaf extract identified 3 lanostane and 2 pentacyclic triterpenoids. Conclusion: The low toxicity and anti-proliferative activity observed with the T. carpentariae and T. grandiflora extracts against Caco-2 and HeLa indicate their potential for the prevention and treatment of some cancers.