The essential oil from the leaves of Curcuma longa L. Kasur variety grown in Pakistan was extracted by hydro-distillation. Chemical constituents of the essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The chromatographic analysis of oil showed 25 constituents, out of which nine chemical constituents were identified. The eucalyptol (10.27%) was the major component of the essential oil. α-pinene (1.50%), β-phellandrene (2.49%), β-pinene (3.57%), limonene (2.73%), 1,3,8-p-menthatriene (1.76%), ascaridole epoxide (1.452%), 2-methylisoborneol (2.92%), 5-isopropyl-6-methyl-hepta-3, dien-2-ol (2.07%) were also present in considerable quantity. The antimicrobial properties of leaves of Curcuma longa were tested by disc diffusion method against various human pathogens, including eight fungal and five bacterial strains. Essential oil showed maximum resistance against Fusarium miniformes MAY 3629 followed by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 whereas; it exhibited least resistance against Fusarium oxysporium ATCC 48122. The results of the antimicrobial assay revealed that essential oil showed significant inhibitory activity against the tested organisms.
Citrus essential oils were extraction from hydro distillation technique yielding Citrus oil with reasonable yield. Phytochemical screening of all five Citrus oils showed that alkaloids, tannins, sterols, terpenoids, saponoins, flavonoids were present (50-80%). GC/MS analysis showed highest percentage of limonene (58-89%) in Citrus oils. Antioxidant study revealed that Citrus peel oils have strong scavenging activity (83%-91%). Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar well method against eight common pathogens depicted marked antimicrobial potential especially tangerine (4.9-1.9 cm inhibition zones) and grapefruit oil (4.5-1.2 cm) inhibition zones. The studies emphasized the therapeutic and commercial utilization of Citrus peel essential oils as food preservatives, phytomedicine and antioxidant agent.
The essential oils of six Myrtaceae species were investigated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. The volatile oils were characterized by four common components i-e α-pinene, 1,8cineole, p-menth-1-en-8-ol and caryophyllene. The Eugenia jambolana essential oil was found rich in α-pinene (54.74%) followed by Callistemon citrinus (34.19 %), Myrtus communis (30.73 %), Melaleuca genistifolia (10.19 %) and Melaleuca alternifolia (4.47 %). Callistemon citrinus contained 1,8-cineole in appreciable amount (28.85 %) followed by Melaleuca alternifolia (26.35 %) and Myrtus communis (20.00 %). Melaleuca genistifolia oil contained highest concentration of p-menth-1-en-8-ol (14.66 %) among oils while Callistemon citrinus and Myrtus communis contained p-menth-1-en-8-ol in comparable amounts (10.69 and 9.68 %) respectively. Syzygium caryophyllatum had high content of caryophyllene (96.42 %) while it is found in minor amounts in other selected species (0.01-2.23 %). All the oils showed good antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. Eugenia jambolana exhibited high antibacterial activity among the oils whereas Syzygium caryophyllatum showed hightest activity against all tested fungal strains. TEOP 18 (4) 2015 pp 950 -956 950
The untreated industrial and sewage wastes arising from industries and metropolitan activities make their passage to the River Ravi, Pakistan, where Balloki Headworks is one of the major sites of effluent concentration. This study was designed to evaluate the concentration of various toxic elements in fishes of that area compared to a nearby fish farm. The concentrations of heavy metals, such as As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn, and electrolytes Ca, K, and Na were determined in different edible and non-edible fresh water fish varieties. Fish samples were collected from two selected sites and were analyzed for aforementioned elements. Higher levels of As (35.74-45.33 ppm), Cd (0.35-0.45 ppm), Pb (2.1-3.0 ppm), Hg (83.03-92.35 ppm) while normal levels of Zn (37.85-40.74 ppm) and Cu (1.39-2.93 ppm) were observed. Mercury, higher levels of which trigger cough, impairment of pulmonary function, and psychotic reactions, was significantly higher in all studied categories. At the sites under study, there has been observed alarming levels of toxic metals which are needed to be monitored regularly.
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