International Journal of Drug Delivery and Nanotechnology

xanthoparmelia tasmanica and flavopunctelia flaventior have antibacterial and enzyme inhibitory properties

Karthikeyan Meenakshisundaram — 2024-01-08

Lichens have been widely used in traditional medicine across various cultures, particularly among pre-Columbian South American societies, where their applications were notably systematic. This study focuses on the antibacterial and enzymatic inhibition properties of extracts from two Peruvian lichens, Tasmania and Tasmaniaflavination. The antibacterial activity of these extracts was evaluated against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using the broth microdilution method to determine their efficacy.In addition to their antibacterial potential, the study assessed the ability of these lichen extracts to inhibit two key enzymes: α-glucosidase and α-amylase, which are relevant in managing certain metabolic conditions. The results of this research highlight the potential of Peruvian lichens as sources of bioactive compounds, both as antibacterial agents and as enzyme inhibitors. These findings support the traditional medicinal use of lichens and suggest a promising role for these natural compounds in the development of pharmaceutical applications, particularly in creating new antibacterial therapies and enzyme-based treatments. Overall, this study expands the understanding of lichen-based remedies and their potential contributions to modern medicine, especially as alternative treatments for bacterial infections and metabolic enzyme regulation.

phytochemical investigation of essential oils from polyalthia longifolia ethanolic extract using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Karthikeyan Meenakshisundaram — 2024-01-09

Background: Polyalthia longifolia (PL) holds local significance in India, celebrated for its rich heritage and medicinal properties. Its leaves and bark are used in essential oil production and in treating skin diseases, diabetes, hypertension, helminthiasis, and imbalances in vata and pitta. Phytochemical analysis of PL’s ethanolic leaf extract has revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, carbohydrates, steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins.Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify phytoconstituents in PL leaves through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with potential applications in disease treatment.Materials and Methods: GC-MS techniques were employed to analyze phytoconstituents based on retention time and mass spectra, which were then verified against mass spectrometry libraries from PL leaf extracts. The analysis identified compounds such as caryophyllene, oxiranetetradecyl, 5-(7a-isoprenyl-4,5-dimethyl-octahydroinden-4-yl)-3-methyl-pent-2-en-1-ol, cedrandiol (8S,14), and gurjunenepoxide-(2).Conclusion: Further research on PL leaves could explore additional extraction and chromatographic techniques to isolate higher proportions of these and other phytoconstituents, with a focus on their ethnopharmacological activities. This would deepen the understanding of PL's potential in traditional and modern medicine.

anticancer activity of diterpenoid lactones isolated from andrographis paniculata leaves

Karthikeyan Meenakshisundaram — 2024-01-10

Many important classes of compounds, including flavonoids, flavones, flavone glycosides, chalcones, chalcone glycosides, xanthones, diterpenoids, dimeric diterpenes, and sterols, have been isolated from Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh) of the Acanthaceae family. Though multiple clinical applications such as anti-inflammatory, antiprolifiratory, antihepatic, antithrombogenic, antisnake venom, and antipyretic activities have been indicated for this plant in traditional siddha and ayurvedic systems of medicine and tribal medicine in India and some other countries, only a small number of isolated compounds have been tested experimentally. This prompted us to isolate and test diterpenoid lactones from Andrographis paniculata for anticancer activity.Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of Andrographis paniculata leaves were prepared and chromotographed over a column of silica gel using a gradient-elution technique, and two compounds were isolated and purified by crystallisation using methanol and ethyl acetate. IR, NMR, and LC-MS spectra were used to characterise the compounds, which were then compared to authentic samples of andrographolide (1), 14-deoxy andrographolide (2), and neoandrographolide (3) for identification. MTT-PROLIFERATION ASSAY was used to test the identified compounds on various cancer cell lines such as HepG2 (hepatocellular) and Hct-116 (Human colorectal) at various concentrations. DAPI STAINING and ACRIDINE-ORANGE STAINING techniques were also used to confirm the findings. Both compounds demonstrated significant activity at micromolar concentrations.Top of Form