Antimicrobial activity of Gynura segetum's leaf extracts and its active fractions

Phytochemical Composition and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Salvadora persica Root Extracts Against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Background Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are difficult to eradicate from the environment and are virtually immune to all antibiotics. Consequently, CRAB may culminate in severe outbreaks and fatal infections among people attending hospitals and nursing homes. Salvadora persica has been used as an herbal remedy and chewing sticks for dental cleansing. Evaluating S. persica's efficacy against CRAB may provide an alternative approach to treating CRAB infections in healthcare environments, considering its traditional application in dental hygiene. Employing S. persica as an herbal remedy could be a part of a more sustainable approach to control CRAB infections. Aim To investigate the phytochemical composition of S. persica and evaluate its antimicrobial properties. Materials and methods The roots were extracted by Soxhlet apparatus using n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol. Each extract was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) and characterized using WN908.L and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) libraries. The antimicrobial activity of each extract against CRAB was evaluated using a broth microdilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Results The GCMS analysis of different solvent extracts of S. persica roots showed the presence of various phytochemical compounds such as steroids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, alcohols, terpenoids, and vitamin E. Both chloroform and hexane extracts showed the most effective antimicrobial activity with a MIC value of 3.13 mg/mL and an MBC value of 12.50 mg/mL, respectively. Benzoic acid was the major phytochemical compound identified from S. persica extract. N-hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts exhibited maximum antimicrobial activity due to the presence of active compounds in them. Conclusion Chloroform and hexane extracts showed the most potent antibacterial activities against CRAB.

Current Knowledge Regarding Pharmacological Profile and Chemical Constituents of Gynura procumbens

Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. is a well-known plant used in the folkloric medicine in tropical Asian countries. The plant is prevalently employed by traditional healers in the treatment of diabetes, cancer, hypertension, inflammation, fever and skin disorders. Several scientific studies reported that, Gynura procumbens possesses considerable therapeutic value for the development of emerging treatment options. The diverse pharmacological effects of this plant are attributed to its vast phytoconstituent content. Different chemical classes including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, steroids, proteins and polysaccharides have been isolated from this plant. In this review, we tried to explore the different aspects of Gynura procumbens as an established medicinal plant. The data gathered here give an indication that the plant Gynura procumbens is a good natural source of chemical compounds with different types of pharmacological actions and these chemical compounds can be used as model for the development of de novo therapeutic agents.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Gynura segetum leaf

Gynura segetum, family Compositae, is a cultivated species and can be found growing in the tropical regions of Indonesia and Malaysia. The plant is known for its use for the treatment of cancer, inflammation, diabetes, hypertension and skin afflictions. In the current study, in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of the methanol extract G. segetum leaf and its antioxidant effect in vitro have been investigated for the first time. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the methanol extract were measured using common methods including total phenolic content; total flavonoid content; scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching assays. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activities were tested using the cotton pellet implanted animal model. The measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-1) levels in the blood samples of the rats was carried out by using ELISA kits. The inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme of methanol extract was also evaluated. The methanol extract exhibited good antioxidant activity which is associated with their total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Methanol extract strongly inhibited the granuloma tissue formation in rats and the anti-inflammatory potential was mediated through the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and COX-2 enzyme activities. Taken together, the present study suggests that G. segetum's leaf is a natural source of antioxidants and has potential therapeutic benefits against chronic inflammation.