Potential significance of medicinal plants in forensic analysis: A review

The Antibacterial, Antitumor Activities, and Bioactive Constituents’ Identification of Alectra sessiliflora Bacterial Endophytes

Due to increased antimicrobial resistance against current drugs, new alternatives are sought. Endophytic bacteria associated with medicinal plants are recognized as valuable sources of novel secondary metabolites possessing antimicrobial, antitumor, insecticidal, and antiviral activities. In this study, five bacterial endophytes were isolated and identified from the medicinal plant, Alectra sessiliflora, and their antibacterial and antitumor activities were investigated. In addition, the crude extracts of the endophytes were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). The identified bacterial endophytes belong to three genera viz Lysinibacillus, Peribacillus, and Bacillus, with the latter as the dominant genus with three species. Ethyl acetate extracts from the endophytes were used for antimicrobial activity against eleven pathogenic strains through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The antitumor activity against the Hela cervical, Hek 293 kidney, and A549 lung carcinoma cells was determined by the MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxy-phenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay. Lysinibacillus sp. strain AS_1 exhibited broad antibacterial activity against the pathogenic strains with MIC values ranging from 4 to 8 mg/ml, while Bacillus sp. strain AS_3 displayed MIC of 0.25 mg/ml. Crude extracts of Lysinibacillus sp. strain AS_1, Peribacillus sp. strain AS_2, and Bacillus sp. strain AS_3 showed growth inhibition of more than 90% against all the cancer cell lines at a concentration of 1,000 μg/ml. Untargeted secondary metabolite profiling of the crude extracts revealed the presence of compounds with reported biological activity, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antidiabetic properties. This study reported for the first time, bacterial endophytes associated with A. sessiliflora with antibacterial and antitumor activities.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Phytochemical and FTIR Analysis of Peganum harmala (Fruit) Ethanolic Extract From Cholistan Desert, Pakistan

The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Peganum harmala fruit. Ethanolic extract was prepared and phytochemical screening showed the presence of a lot of chemical compounds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra indicated the presence of organic acids, hydroxyl and phenolic compounds, amino groups, aliphatic compounds, and functional groups such as amide, ketone, aldehyde, aromatics, and halogen compounds. Antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of P. harmala by the DPPH method showed 71.4% inhibition, whereas IC₅₀ ± SEM (μg/mL) was .406 ± .11. Antibacterial activity was performed against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Maximum antibacterial activity was exhibited by Bacillus subtilis (24.33 ± 2 mm) and Bacillus pumilus (23.33 ± 2 mm). Zone of inhibition was 19 ± 2 mm by P. aeruginosa, and it was 18.33 ± 2 mm by Bordetella bronchiseptica. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis had inhibitory effect in the range of 12.33 ± 2 mm and 13.66 ± 3 mm, respectively. 11.66 ± 2 mm and 10 ± 2 mm was zone of inhibition by Micrococcus luteus and E. coli, respectively. Antifungal activity was performed against Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans. Ethanolic extract of P. harmala showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus (5 ± 1 mm) and Candida albicans (4 ± 1 mm). Mild antifungal activity was reported by Aspergillus fumigatus (3 ± 1 mm), whereas no activity was exhibited by Aspergillus terreus. Further research is needed in order to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of P. harmala as well.

Ayahuasca as a Decoction Applied to Human: Analytical Methods, Pharmacology and Potential Toxic Effects

Ahyahuasca is a term commonly used to describe a decoction prepared by cooking the bark or crushed stems of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi (contains β-carbolines) alone or in combination with other plants, most commonly leaves of the shrub Psychotria viridis (contains N,N-dimethyltryptamine-DMT). More than 100 different plants can serve as sources of β-carbolines and DMT, which are the active alkaloids of this decoction, and therefore it is important to know the most accurate composition of the decoction, especially when studying the pharmacology of this plant. The aim was to summarize the latest sensitive methods used in the analysis of the composition of the beverage itself and the analysis of various biological matrices. We compared pharmacokinetic parameters in all of the studies where decoction of ayahuasca was administered and where its composition was known, whereby minimal adverse effects were observed. The therapeutic benefit of this plant is still unclear in the scientific literature, and side effects occur probably on the basis of pre-existing psychiatric disorder. We also described toxicological risks and clinical benefits of ayahuasca intake, which meant that the concentrations of active alkaloids in the decoction or in the organism, often not determined in publications, were required for sufficient evaluation of its effect on the organism. We did not find any post-mortem study, in which the toxicological examination of biological materials together with the autopsy findings would suggest potential lethality of this plant.