The chemical composition of the volatile fractions obtained by steam distillation from the capitula (C) and the aerial parts of Rhaponticum acaule DC were analysed by GC-MS. From the 57 identified constituents, representing 95.5% and 96.3% of the two oils, respectively, methyl eugenol, epi-13 manool, beta-ionone, beta-bisabolol, 1-octadecanol, phytol and farnesyl acetate were found to be the main components. Furthermore, the oils were tested against six Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and four phytopathogenic fungi. It was found that oils from both parts of R. acaule, and especially that of C, exhibited interesting antibacterial activity, but no antifungal activity was observed.
Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Evax pygmaea was tested against five bacteria and two strains of phytopathogenic fungi using the agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Antioxidant properties were evaluated through the ability of the different fractions to scavenge the stable ABTS (2,2 0 -azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and DPPH (1,1-dip henyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. The TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) and IC 50 values of the fractions were calculated and compared. The experimental data indicated that all fractions exhibit moderate to appreciable antibacterial activities against all Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative rods except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but no antifungal activity was observed. Ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were found to cause significant free radicalscavenging effects in both assays. These results may suggest that E. pygmaea could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities of flower extracts of Retama raetam Forssk. Webb (Fabaceae) were screened both from standard and isolated Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by solid medium technique. Oxacillin, Amoxicillin, Ticarcillin, Cefotaxim, and Amphotericin were used as the control agents. The antiviral activity was evaluated against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD-169 (ATCC Ref. VR 538) and coxsackie B virus type 3 (CoxB-3) using a cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using two tests: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging and the ammonium thiocyanate methods. All extracts were characterized quantitatively for the presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. Of the extracts tested, butanol and ethyl acetate extracts showed important antibacterial activity against Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria but only moderate antifungal activity. Methanol extract exhibited moderate antiviral activity against HCMV with IC 50 of 250 lg/ml. Ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol fractions were found to cause significant free-radical-scavenging effects in both assays. These results may suggest that R. raetam flowers could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.
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