Pharmacognostic Evaluation & Antimicrobial Activity of Endangered Ethnomedicinal Plant Crepidium acuminatum (

Background: Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlach (family Orchidaceae) is an ethnomedicinal plant. It is used in breathing disorders, burning sensation, Cough, decrease in bone tissue, blood disorders, tuberculosis, as refrigerant, aphrodisiac, in insect bites, rheumatism, as tonic and in general debility. It is vital component of Ayurvedic formulation “Astavarga” with trade name “Jeevak means vitality of life. Despite the common utilization of this plant, no conclusive study has been reported so far regarding the pharmacognostic evaluation and antimicrobial activity. Aim: The present study was carried to evaluate pharmacognostic evaluation and the potential of C. acuminatum as antimicrobial. Materials and Methods: Organoleptic, histochemical, microscopic, physicochemical, extractive yield were studied to standardise pharmacognostic characters and well diffusion method were carried out for antimicrobial activity. Five extracts viz. Hexane, Chloroform, Ethanol, Ethyl acetate and aqueous were evaluated against 4 bacterial strains viz. E. coli (MTCC 40), S. aureus (MTCC 87), P. aeruginosa (MTCC 424), B. subtilis (MTCC 121). Results: The diagnostic characters were evaluated and documented. All the extracts showed good antimicrobial activity. Conclusion: Obtained standards will provide referential information for correct identification, purity, standardization and preparation of monograph. The work confirms that the studied plant has potent antimicrobial activity and has potential for antimicrobial drug. These results may constitute a basis for promising future applied research that could investigate the use of this plant as antimicrobial drug.


INTRODUCTION
Natural products are utilized as therapeutics. 1A large percentage of the world's population depends upon natural products for medicine.Folk medicine and ecological awareness suggest that natural products are harmless. 2therefore trend is shifting from synthetic to herbal medicine, which has been called as 'Return to Nature' . 3India, have a pluralistic healthcare system.Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the formally recognised systems of health in India viz.Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy.Almost, 70% modern medicines in India are derived from natural products. 4Natural products sustained to play a highly substantial role in the drug discovery and development process. 5Medicinal plants play a crucial role not only as traditional medicines but also as trade commodities. 6The role of information derived ethno medicine and its utility for drug discovery purposes is important. 7A lot of work has been done on ethnomedicinal plants in India but still some important plants are still to be scrutinized.Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, glyco-

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MTCC 40, Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 424) based on their pharmacological importance.All the strains of micro-organism were obtained from Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC), Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh.The strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were maintained on nutrient broth at 37°C and suspension were stored in refrigerator till used.Commercially available Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) (Hi-media, Mumbai) was prepared according to the instructions on the leaflet.Immediately after autoclaving the media, it was allowed to cool.Freshly prepared and cooled medium was poured into glass flat-bottomed petri-plates on a level, flat surface to give a uniform depth of approximately 4 mm.This corresponded to 30 ml for each plate with a diameter of 90 mm.The agar medium was allowed to cool at room temperature and unless the plates were used the same day otherwise these were stored in a refrigerator (2 to 8°C) for further use within seven days.Representative samples of each batch of plates were examined for sterility by incubating at 37°C for 24 hours or longer. 22

Agar Well Diffusion Method for Determination of Zone of Inhibition (ZOI)
Antibacterial activity was carried out using well diffusion method.The test cultures were spread with the help of spreader on the top of the solidified media and allowed to dry.The tests were conducted with 100mg/ml concentrations of the crude extract per well with three replicates.Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO) (Himedia Mumbai) was used as negative control.Streptomycin discs (10μg/disc) of 6 mm were used as positive control.The plates were incubated for 24 h at 37 ºC.Zone of inhibition (ZOI) was recorded in millimetres and the experiment was repeated thrice.The inoculums were prepared by making a direct broth suspension of 24-hour agar plate.The suspension adjusted to match the 0.5 McFarland turbidity standards.Dried extracts were accurately weighed and dissolved in the DMSO to yield the 100mg/ml concentration, using sterile glassware.These were stored in refrigerator for further use.The wells were made in the incubated MHA media plates with the help of sterile cork borer (steel) of 4 mm and plates were labelled properly.50 μl of the working solution of plant extract were loaded into the respective wells with the help of micropipette.The plates were incubated 24 h at 37C.The plates were then observed for the zone of inhibition (ZOI) produced by the anti-bacterial activity of different plant extracts.At the same time ZOI of different organism by different extracts were measured with the help of the ruler for the estimation of effectiveness of anti-bacterial substance and tabulated.The plates were then incubated in the inverted position at 37°C for 24 h The diameters of the zones of complete inhibition as observed by the unaided eye are measured, including the diameter of the disc/well.Zones were measured to the nearest whole millimetre, using a ruler, The petri plate is held in non-reflecting background and illuminated with reflected light.The zone margin were taken area showing no obvious, visible growth which can be detected with the unaided eye.The same procedure was followed for each strain and extract. 23

Pharmacogostic evaluation
Pharamcognostic evaluation has been done with respect to organoleptic properties, histochemical evaluation, microscopy and physicochemical studies and successive extraction yield.acuminatum (D.Don) Szlach has been stated in many Ayurvedic formulation such as Astavarga churna, chyavanprash Rasayan, Ghrita, Taila, Gutika, Agada etc. 14,15 As it is a ethnomedicinal plant, it used in Svasa (breathing disorders ,dyspnea), Daha (burning sensation), Kasa (Cough) , Ksaya(decrease in bone tissue), Raktapitta(bleeding disorder), Raktavikara(blood disorders), Sosa(tuberculosis).It is reported to be refrigerant therefore used to reduce fever (Febrifuge).It has been described as aphrodisiac and used in emaciation, seminal weakness.It is also used in insect bites and rheumatism.2][13][14][15][16][17][18] It has been found that in spite of its ethnomedicinal value, little work has been done on this plant.In the current investigation carried out, pharmacognostic evaluation and screening of different extracts of C. acuminatum pseudobulbs have been used against various types of bacteria in order to screen new sources of antimicrobial agents.

Collection and Authentication of Plant Material
The pseudo bulbs of the plant C. acuminatum (family Orchidaceae) were purchased from Chandigarh in the month of February 2014 were air dried, powdered and stored in air tight container.Pseudo bulbs were authenticated and identified as Crepidium acuminatum (D.Don) Szlach from National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR), New Delhi.Pharmacognostic evaluation was done as per WHO Guidelines. 19

Chemicals
All reagents and chemicals used for pharmacognostic evaluation and antimicrobial activity were of analytical grade.

Pharmacognostic Evalaution
The organoleptic studies were carried out by with sense organs using simple technique like shape, size, colour, odour, taste etc. Histochemical reactions were applied with concentrated hydrochloric acid and phloroglucinol for identification of lignified elements, iodine solution for starch grains, Sudan red-III for cuticle layer and oil globules, Ruthenium red for mucilage and acetic acid for calcium oxalate crystals.Microsocopic study was done by taking transverse free hand sections of the fresh pseudobulbs.Physicochemical parameters such as loss on drying, ash values, pH value in 1% and 10% solution, aqueous, and alcoholic extractive values were carried out according to the methods recommended by the World Health Organization. 19

Preparation of Plant Extract
After collection of pseudobulb samples, they were powdered.Powder material were passed through sieve no.40 and used for extraction.Weighed powder was extracted using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous solution in Soxhlet apparatus till exhausted.The extract was evaporated at 40°C in rotary vacuum evaporator to dryness. 20The extracts obtained from successive extraction i.e.Hexane extract (HE), Chloroform extract (CE), Ethyl acetate extract (EAE), Ethanol extract (EE) and residual Aqueous extract (AAE) were subjected to preliminary phytochemical screening for the detection of various phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, phenolic compound, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids and fats. 20,21st Micro-organisms and growth Media The antibacterial activity of different extracts were studied against four bacterial strains, two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 87, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121) and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli Pharmacognosy Journal, Vol 9, Issue 6 (Suppl), Nov-Dec, 2017

Organoleptic evaluation
Organoleptic evaluation which is done by sense organs is the simplest and quickest means to ascertain the identity and purity of a drug.Organoleptic characters as shape, size, colour, odour, taste etc. are evaluated.These features of the pseudo bulb powder of C. acuminatum sample were observed.The details of results are presented in Table1.

Histochemical Characters
Powder study by using particular chemicals has been done.The results are presented in Table 2.

Physicochemical Analysis
The parameters which have been studied are moisture content, loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, alcohol and water-soluble extractive values, swelling index, foreign matter, foaming index and pH analysis.
Ash values are useful to indicate presence of various impurities like carbonate, oxalate and silicate.The water soluble ash indicates amount of inorganic compound present in drugs whereas the acid insoluble ash indicate contamination with earthy material.Moisture content of drugs should be at minimal level to discourage the growth of microorganisms during storage.Extractive values establish the amount of the active constituents.The extractions of any crude drug with a particular solvent yield a solution containing altered phytoconstituents.The compositions of these phytochemicals depend upon the nature of the plant and the solvent used.Results of physicochemical analysis of pseudo bulbs of C. acuminatum has been presented in Table 3.

Microscopic study
Parenchyma tissue was irregular having large air spaces and vascular bundles were scattered throughout the ground tissue.Calcium oxalate crystals were seen which were confirmed by histochemistry.Conspicuous mucilaginous canals were present.
Successive solvent extraction with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water Percentage yield and physical characteristic of various extracts of C. acuminatum pseudobulb sample are shown in Table 4.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY
Results obtained in the present study revealed that tested extracts possess potential antibacterial activity against E. coli, S. aureus, P.aeruginosa, B.subtilis.When tested by disc diffusion method the chloroform, Ethyl Acetate and Ethanol pseudobulbs extracts showed most promising results.The maximum ZOI has been observed with chloroform extract viz.20 mm has been observed against E. coli, followed by B. subtilis (15.33This work shows that maximum ZOI has been observed in Chloroform extracts and least in aqueous extracts.This means active components showing better antibacterial property are more lipophilic as compared to hydrophilic.Phytochemicals such as alkaloid are generally reported in Chloroform extract. 201][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] whereas in another study metal content and volatile constituents in Microstylis wallichii (C.acuminatum) which were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and GC and GC-MS.Not much work has been done on the phytoconstituents of this plant.Sharma, P and coworkers 27 studied The antimicrobial activity of pseudobulbs of Malaxis acuminata using the Butanol extract against some gram (+)ve, Gram (-)ve bacteria and fungi by agar cup diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and fungus, Candida albicans.The butanol extract showed better fungal inhibition than bacterial inhibition.They observed 19 mm and 18 mm ZOI with E. coli and S. aureus respectively at 50 mg/ml concentration.In another study 28 antimicrobial properties against pathogenic microbial strains namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 4676) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 7405) have been reported.The maximum activity out of the tested plants by them C. acuminatum was most active and out of various extracts studied by them ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the plant was found to be highly active against the test bacteria.The antioxidant activity of Malaxis acuminata was studied by Sharma, P. 29 by using methods:1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging activity, Reduction capability by Fe3+-Fe2+ Transformation method and Hydrogen peroxide scavenging method.The results predicted that the extract showed a good antioxidant activity.Ethanolic (50% v/v) extracts of Carissa carandas (fruits) (Apocynaceae) and Microstylis wallichii (tubers) (Orchidaceae) were considered 30 for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in experimental animals.Extracts of both plants (50-200 mg/kg) caused a dose dependent inhibition of swelling caused by carrageenin significantly in cotton pellet induced granuloma in rats.A significant increase occurred in the analgesic meter induced pain in rats.
The studies commenced here also suggest that presence of good antibacterial potency of the extracts is due to active compounds in the extracts.
The results indicate that the tested crude extracts are potential source to be explored to identify new compounds.As this plant is used in Ayurvedic formulations the results also revealed the scientific basis of the traditional usage of C. acuminatum and therefore received attention.This is supporting document to prove that this plant has therapeutic uses since ancient times.The use and exploration for drugs and dietary supplements derived from this plant have accelerated recently but much work has to be done.

Figure 1 :
Figure 1: Antimicrobial activity response (ZOI) of extracts of different extracts of pseudobulbs of the plant.X-Axis -Types of extracts, Y-Axis-Zone of Inhibition in mm.DMSO is negative control and antibiotic Streptomycin 10 ug/disc as positive control Pharmacognostic evaluation play an important role in quality control of the crude drug.The different characters observed in the pseudobulbs of C. acuminatum serve as base for the identification of right sample of the plant as drug and other studies.Five extracts have been selected out of which Chloroform extract, Ethyl Acetate and ethanol extracts have shown more promising results as compared to hexane and Aqueous extracts.It can be concluded from this study that chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol are more suitable for further studies.Antibacterial leads seem to be more lipophilic in nature.The ZOI in chloroform extract is found to be even more as compared with standard drug Steptomycin against E. coli MTCC 40.The present study justified the claimed uses of pseudobulbs in the traditional system of medicine to treat various infectious disease caused by the microbes.However, further studies are needed to better evaluate the prospective efficacy of the crude extracts as the antimicrobial agents.The present results will form the basis for selection of plant species for further investigation for the potential discovery of new natural bioactive compounds.Is working as HOD Biotechnology & Food Processing at ASBASJSM College, Bela Rupnagar (Punjab).Author has qualified NET CSIR-JRF Life Sciences in 2001 and qualified UGC-NET in Education 2006.Author has published two books.One on Human rights education and other on primary school health Care system.She has got Bharat Jyoti Award in 2016, State award by Bharat scouts and Guide Punjab 2016, State award by Punjab Kala Manch sri Chamkaur Sahib 2016, Best citizen of India award 2016 by International Publishing House, Excellence services 2008 Award, Bestowal of Excellence Award, Best Coordinator award 2012 , Best Teacher Award' 2013 .Panjab Sangeeet Natak academy, Panjab Kala Parishad, Panjab Kala Bhawan Chandigarh honoured for Conducting Stage .She has presented various International and national papers.She is Convener of Internal quality assurance Cell etc. Gurjinder Kaur: Did Masters in Biotechnology.Health care administration postgraduate course from St. Lawrence College (Canada) and then International business management course from Canada and working as supervisor.Parvinderdeep S. Kahlon: Recently completed his masters from The University of Bonn, Germany where he studied molecular, Physiological and Taxonomical aspects of Plants.He did Masters thesis on Plant Pathology at the University of Oxford, where he worked on Rcr3/Pip1 hybrids and oxidative burst assays.

Table 1 : Organoleptic evaluation of pseudobulbs of Crepidium acuminatum D. Don Szlach
mm), S. aureus(14.33mm) and least with aqueous extract.Ethyl Acetate pseudobulb extract of C. acuminatum exhibit highest activity against E.coli of 18.66 mm followed by B. subtilis 13.33 mm, S. aureus 10.33 mm and least against P. aeruginosa 8 mm.Ethanol extract showed maximum activity against E. coli 15.33 mm followed by S. aureus 12.33 mm, B. subitilis 11 mm and least in P. aeruginosa 8 mm.Hexane extract showed highest activity against B.subtilis as 9.33 mm almost same as for S.aureus 9.17 mm.hexane extract showed equal activity against E.coli

Table 4 : Extractive yields of different extracts
and P. aeruginosa.Aqueous extract exhibited least activity among all the extracts tested.The data pertaining to the antimicrobial potential of the plant extracts are presented in Table5(results as mean ± standard error, standard error was calculated by on line statistical tool) It is clear from the Table5that antibacterial activities of different extracts are showing promising results.The growth inhibition zone measured ranged from 6.5 mm to 20 mm.Trend of the activity of different extracts against E.coli and S. aureus is same i.e.Chloroform>Ethyl acetate>Ethanol>Hexane>Aqueous.Maximum ZOI has been observed for Chloroform extract i.e. 20 mm and least ZOI for aqueous i.e. 6.5 mm.DISCUSSIONEthno pharmacologists, Botanists, Microbiologists, Biotechnologists and natural-Products Chemists are exploring the mother Earth for phytochemicals and "leads" which could be developed into medicine.Plants are rich in secondary metabolites like tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids and these secondary metabolites are responsible for antibacterial properties.The use of plants and its preparations to treat diseases is an ancient practice in world especially in developing countries like India where there is dependence on traditional medicine.Interest in plants with antibacterial properties has revitalized as a result of current problems associated with the use of antibiotics.The present studies aimed at the investigation of C. acuminatum Endangered ethnomedicinal orchid plant in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.The results presented here point out that this plant is a good choice for the development of new "leads".Hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts of C. acuminatum pseudobulb extracts showed significant zone of inhibition against "Gram-positive" bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 87, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 121 and Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC424 and Escherichia coli MTCC 40.