Phytochemical screening

Boerhaavia diffusa (punarnava), a member of the Nyctaginaceae family, is a well-known plant in India for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. The present study was conducted to identify the novel compounds based on the novel medicinal properties of the plant. Preliminary phytochemical screening, TLC, and GC-MS-based chromatographic analysis of an acetone extract from Boerhaavia diffusa. Resulted in the detection of carbohydrates, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, and glycosides in the plants. Compounds were studied through TLC using solvents mixture as a mobile phase in the ratio chloroform: methanol: ammonia (2:2:1) at 254 and 365 nm.The GC-MS analysis of Boerhaavia diffusa resulted in detail of more than 200 compounds present in different peaks. All of them were cross-checked at various online compound databases such as Pubchem, and Drug bank for the identification of their biological activities, if already reported. Mainly 25 compounds (falling in 50.10% peak area) like 2-None-1-ol, (E)-, (Z)-, trans-2-Undecen-1-ol, 2-Propylcyclohexanol, Ethanol pentamethyl,Formamide, N-methyl- etc. were characterized in the study. According to the given medicinal properties of the identified compounds in compounds databases, the plant is hereby reported for possessing the Nematocidal, Anticancer, Antitumor, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Activities. The presence of various bioactive compounds justifies the use of the plant for various ailments. However, the Isolation of individual phytochemical components and their pharmacological evaluation will yield more fruitful results.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different fractions of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of certain bryophytes such as Plagiochasma appendiculatum (Liverwort) Anthoceros longii (Hornwort), Fissidens bryoides and Entodon prorepens (Mosses) against phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria solani, Curvularia lunata and Fusarium moniliforme using poisoned food technique. The results revealed that the radial growth in form of colony diameter, fresh weight of test fungi drastically reduced in response to all concentrations ranged from 10 to 100 per cent especially in the plant material extracted with methanol showed strong antifungal activity with significance inhibition on percent inhibition and fungal hyphal length of all test fungi. Among plants P.appendiculatum extract showed potent antifungal activity followed by A. longii, F. bryoides and E. prorepens. Fungus F. moniliforme exhibited most sensitivity in methanolic extract of P. appendiculatum followed by C. lunata and A. solani. Findings of this study confirmed that all four bryophytes have some potent bioactive phytochemicals which showed antifungal activity resulting in the suppression of fungal growth therefore, after further analysis of extracts and confirmation of phytochemicals, extracts of these, plants can be used as natural and ecofriendly fungicides to control phytopathogenic fungi to reduce the pressure of use of synthetic fungicides.

Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae) is a medicinally important plant used in India since long. The present investigation was carried out in order to assess the antibacterial property of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Gomphrena serrata L. on the common human pathogens viz. Escherichia coli, Vibrio harveyi, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus by Kirby- Bauer disc diffusion assay. The antibacterial activity of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was also carried out. The preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, protein, carbohydrate, and terpenoids in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Both the extracts showed similar activities against all four strains of bacteria. Nanoparticle solution showed significant activity against Escherichia coli with an inhibition zone of 11mm. Maximum zone of inhibition was exhibited by the standard antibiotic drug Amoxycillin. Further characterisation and screening are essential for finding out the actual principle behind the antibacterial property.