Antioxidant and antimicrobial investigations of Elaeocarpus tectorius (Lour.) Poir. fruits against urinary tract infection pathogens

Exploration of plant growth promoting traits and regulatory mechanisms of Bacillus anthracis PM21 in enhancing salt stress tolerance in maize

Bacillus species have been reported to reduce the negative effects of salt stress on plants; the involvement of Bacillus anthracis PM21 and the internal mechanisms involved in this process are unclear. The effects of PM21 inoculation on maize plants under salt stress were investigated in this study. The study aimed to assess the ability of Bacillus anthracis PM21 to endure high levels of salinity stress while preserving the concentration of plant growth regulators. The biomass, photosynthetic pigments, relative water content (RWC), antioxidants, osmoprotectants, inorganic ion contents, regulation of plant hormones and expression of antioxidants enzyme encoded genes were investigated under normal and salinity stress conditions. Bacillus anthracis PM21 produced a significant amount of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase enzyme (ACC deaminase) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) under salt stress and normal conditions. PM21 also produced plant growth stimulants including indole acetic acid, gibberellic acid (GA3), kinetin, and siderophore under salinity stress and normal conditions. Under salt stress, PM21 inoculation markedly increased plant growth indices, stimulate antioxidant enzyme mechanisms, osmoprotectants, and chlorophyll content. The use of qRT-PCR to analyze the transcription of targeted genes indicated greater expression of antioxidant-encoded genes and inferred their possible function in salinity stress tolerance. Our findings shed light on the functions of PM21 and its regulatory mechanisms in plant salt stress tolerance, as well as the importance of PM21 in this process. This study will provide a thorough analysis of the theoretical framework for adopting PM21 in agricultural production as an eco-friendly method to enhance crop growth and yield under salinity stress.

Chemical profiling and antioxidant activity of Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. stem extract, a potential traditional medicinal plant for urinary tract infections

Background

Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (E. ramosissimum) is a widely used traditional medicinal plant to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) by ethnic people throughout the world. The utility of the plant in treating urinary-related disorders was evaluated against selected pathogenic bacteria which has major role in causing UTIs. Hence, the present study executed to extract phytochemicals like total phenolics and flavonoids, chemical profiling by GC–MS analysis and to test their antioxidant activity from stem extracts of E. ramosissimum. The extraction process was directed by petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous solvents.

Results

The GC–MS analysis yielded 24 phytoconstituents with linoleic acid, palmitic acid, nonacosane, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, and octacosane as major compounds. Methanolic extract yielded maximum amount of phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) with 600.02 ± 0.22 mg GAE/g and 631.38 ± 0.69 mg QE/g, respectively. Methanolic extract also exhibited notable free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 123.89 ± 0.73, 150.10 ± 1.02, 146.01 ± 0.54, and 63.73 ± 6.12 µg/mL for DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, and O2− assays, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) required to inhibit the growth of tested pathogenic bacteria was observed in aqueous and methanolic extracts with the value being 31.25 µg/mL against R. equi and V. cholerae. As like, methanolic and petroleum ether extracts efficiently inhibited the growth of B. subtilis with the MIC of 31.25 µg/mL.

Conclusion

It was concluded that the notable effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts against the uropathogenic bacteria reported in this study supported the traditional uses of this plant in treating UTIs. The results acquired from this investigation revealed that E. ramosissimum stem extract might be considered as an interesting candidate in the development of antibacterial agent against UTIs coupled with antioxidant properties.

Medicinal plants utilized in Thai Traditional Medicine for diabetes treatment: Ethnobotanical surveys, scientific evidence and phytochemicals

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes mellitus remains the most lethal metabolic disease of contemporaneous times and despite the therapeutic arsenal currently available, research on new antidiabetic agents remains a priority. In recent years, the revitalization of Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) became a clear priority for the Thai government, and many efforts have been undertaken to accelerate research on herbal medicines and their use in medical services in various hospitals. Additionally, and particularly in rural areas, treatment of diabetes and associated symptomatology frequently relies on herbal preparations recommended by practitioners of TTM. In the current work, medicinal plants used in Thailand for treating diabetes, as well as their hypoglycaemic pharmacological evidences and potential therapeutic use for diabetes-related complications were reviewed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethnopharmacological information on the plant materials used in TTM for diabetes treatment was collected through literature search in a range of scientific databases using the search terms: diabetes, folk medicine, Thailand medicinal plants, traditional medicine. Information regarding scientific evidence on the antidiabetic effects of surveyed species was obtained considering not only the most common taxonomic designation, but also taxonomic synonyms, and including the keywords 'diabetes' and 'hypoglycaemic effect'.

RESULTS

A total of 183 species known to be used for diabetes management in TTM were reviewed, with 30% of them still lacking experimental evidences to support claims regarding the mechanisms and phytochemicals underlying their antidiabetic properties. Moreover, a total of 46 bioactives displaying effective antidiabetic effects have been isolated from 24 species, their underlying mechanism(s) of action being fully or partially disclosed.

CONCLUSIONS

We deliver the most extensive survey dealing with the ethnomedicinal knowledge of Thai medicinal plants utilized on diabetes management. We are certain that the current review will spark further research on Thai plants for the development of new standardized phytomedicines through drug discovery programmes.