Antimicrobial activity and phytochemical analyses of Polygonum aviculare L. (Polygonaceae), naturally growing in Egypt

Abstract

Polygonum aviculare (Polygonaceae) is an herb commonly distributed in Mediterranean coastal regions in Egypt and used in folkloric medicine. Organic and aqueous solvent extracts and fractions of P. aviculare were investigated for antimicrobial activities on several microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Phytochemical constituents of air-dried powered plant parts were extracted using aqueous and organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, chloroform and water). Antimicrobial activity of the concentrated extracts was evaluated by determination of the diameter of inhibition zone against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi using paper disc diffusion method. Results of the phytochemical studies revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids and sesquiterpenes and the extracts were active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Chloroform extract gave very good and excellent antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria and good activity against all tested fungi except Candida albicans. Structural spectroscopic analysis that was carried out on the active substances in the chloroform extract led to the identification of panicudine (6-hydroxy-11-deoxy-13 dehydrohetisane). Evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of panicudine indicated significant activity against all tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Panicudine displayed considerable activity against the tested fungi with the exception of C. albicans. Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was unaffected after exposure to different heat treatments, but was reduced at alkaline pH. Studies of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of panicudine on the tested organisms showed that the lowest MIC and the MBC were demonstrated against Salmonella paratyphi, Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella typhi and the highest MIC and MBC were against Staphylococcus aureus.

The effect of the acetone extract of Arctotis arctotoides (Asteraceae) on the growth and ultrastructure of some opportunistic fungi associated with HIV/AIDS

“…The Xhosa-speaking people in the Eastern Cape Province apply the juice from the leaf as a topical paste to treat wounds [11]. The inhibitory activity of the aqueous extracts of the shoots of A. arctotoides against six fungal species, with growth inhibitions ranging from 50.7% on Aspergillus tamarii to 95.2% on Penicillium digitatum at 0.1 mg/mL has also been reported [12]. The acetone and methanol extracts of the root of this plant demonstrated significant activity against five fungal species: Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Fusarium oxysporium, Mucor heamalis, and Penicillium notatum.…”

“…Test tubes containing only SDB were considered as controls. Spore suspensions (approximately 10 4 spores/mL) of Candida albicans ATCC 2091, C. glabrata ATCC 2001, Aspergillus fumigatus ATCC 204305, and Microsporum canis ATCC 36299 prepared from 10-day cultures on sabouraud dextrose agar slants were aseptically transferred into the test tubes [12]. The tubes were incubated at 37 °C for various times depending on the fungi: 48 h for C. albicans and C. glabrata, 96 h for A. fumigatus and 6 days for M. canis.…”

Antimicrobial, antioxidant and calcium channel blocking activities of <i>Amberboa divaricata</i>

“…Antibacterial activity: The antibacterial activity of crude extract of A. divaricata was performed by methods with little modifications as previously described (Salama and Marraiki, 2010).…”

Antibacterial Effects of Ethanol and Acetone Extract of Plantago major L. on Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

“…Since then, herbal cures has played key roles in medical services all around the world 1 . As traditional medicines, use of herbs is very popular and important for 80% of the population in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Middle East Countries 2 . Like many other countries in the world, medical usage of herbs has been very popular in Turkey for many years, too.…”

“…Like many other countries in the world, medical usage of herbs has been very popular in Turkey for many years, too. Despite of the improvement in synthetic organic chemistry of industrialized countries, directly or indirectly herbal medicines takes place as 25% in all medicines in the prescriptions 2 . Especially increasing microbiologic resistance of bacteria 3 leads people to search new solutions.…”