@article {351, title = {An examination of the Antimicrobial and Anticancer Properties of Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. Bark Extracts}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {May 2017}, pages = {504-518}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {504}, abstract = {

Background: Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss. is a common component of the pharmacopeia\’s of multiple African groupings which inhabit the areas in which it grows. Amongst these groups there is a myriad of medicinal uses in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial, fungal and protozoal infections, as well as in the treatment of cancers. This study was undertaken to test K. senegalensis bark extracts for the ability to inhibit microbial and cancer cell growth, and thus to validate traditional African medicinal usage of this plant in treating a variety of diseases. Materials and Methods: K. senegalensis bark powder was extracted by both solvent maceration and subcritical fluid extraction (SFE). The extracts were tested for the ability to inhibit bacterial and G. duodenalis growth. Inhibition of Caco-2 and HeLa cancer cells was evaluated using MTS-based colorimetric cell proliferation assays. Toxicity was evaluated using an Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay and GC-MS headspace analysis was used to identify phytochemical components. Results: K. senegalensis bark extracts displayed strong inhibitory activity against bacterial triggers of several autoimmune inflammatory diseases. The growth inhibitory activity of the methanolic and subcritical extracts was particularly noteworthy against P. mirabilis (MIC values of 185 and 211\μg/mL, respectively against the reference strains). These extracts were similarly potent growth inhibitors of K. pneumoniae and A. baylyi\ and were moderate inhibitors (MIC \>1000\μg/mL) of P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes growth. The methanolic and subcritical K. senegalensis extracts were also potent inhibitors of G. duodenalis (187 and 328\μg/mL, respectively), as well as Caco-2 (268 and 470\μg/mL, respectively) and HeLa carcinomas (155 and 174\μg/mL, respectively). GC-MS analysis of the SFE extract revealed relative abundances of a variety of mono- and sesquiterpenoids. Furthermore, all K. senegalensis bark extracts were non-toxic in the Artemia franciscana toxicity assay, indicating their safety for therapeutic use. Conclusion: These studies validate traditional African therapeutic usage of K. senegalensis in the treatment of microbial infections, autoimmune inflammatory diseases and some cancers.

}, keywords = {African mahogany, Anti bacterial activity, Anti-cancer activity, Anti-proliferative activity, Giardia duodenalis, Meliaceae, Sub-critical fluid extraction, Terpenoid.}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.4.82}, url = {/files/PJ-9-4/10.5530pj.2017.4.82}, author = {Camille Rabadeaux and Lou Vallette and Joseph Sirdaarta and Craig Davis and Ian Edwin Cock} } @article {230, title = {GC-MS headspace analysis of Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit and leaf extracts which inhibit Bacillus anthracis growth}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, month = {December 2016}, pages = {73-82}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {73}, abstract = {

Background: Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) is an endemic Australian plant with an extremely high antioxidant capacity. The fruit has long been used by the first Australians as a nutritional food and as a medicine and recent studies have reported its potent growth inhibitory activity against a broad panel of bacteria. Despite this, T. ferdinandiana extracts are yet to be tested for the ability to inhibit the growth of Bacillus anthracis. Materials and Methods: Solvent extracts were prepared using both the fruit and leaf of Kakadu plum. The ability to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis was investigated using a disc diffusion assay. Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. The most potent extracts were investigated using non-targeted GC-MS head space analysis (with screening against a compound database) for the identification and characterisation of individual components in the crude plant extracts. Results: Solvent extractions of T. ferdinandiana fruit and leaf displayed good growth inhibitory activity in the disc diffusion assay against B. anthracis. Fruit ethyl acetate and methanolic leaf extracts were particularly potent growth inhibitors, with MIC values of 451 and 377\μg/mL respectively. The fruit methanolic and chloroform extracts, as well as the aqueous leaf extracts also were good inhibitors of B. anthracis growth, albeit with lower efficacy (MIC values of 1800 and 1414 \μg/mL respectively).The aqueous fruit extract and leaf chloroform extracts had only low inhibitory activity. All other extracts were completely devoid of growth inhibitory activity. Furthermore, all of the extracts with growth inhibitory activity were nontoxic in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay, with LC50 values \>1000 \μg/mL. Non-biased GC-MS phytochemical analysis of the most active extracts (fruit ethyl acetate and methanolic leaf) putatively identified and highlighted several compounds that may contribute to the ability of these extracts to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis. Conclusions: The low toxicity of the T. ferdinandiana fruit ethyl acetate and methanolic leaf extracts, as well as their potent growth inhibitory bioactivity against B. anthracis, indicates their potential as medicinal agents in the treatment and prevention of anthrax.

}, keywords = {Anthrax, Bacillus anthracis, Combretastatin, Kakadu plum, Metabolomics., stilbene, Tannin, Zoonotic}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2017.1.14}, author = {Mitchell Henry Wright and Joseph Sirdaarta and Alan White and Anthony Carlson Greene and Ian Edwin Cock} } @article {149, title = {Bacillus anthracis growth Inhibitory Properties of Australian Terminalia spp.: Putative Identification of low Polarity Volatile Components by GC-MS Headspace Analysis}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {Jan/2016}, pages = {281-290}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {281}, abstract = {

Introduction: Anthrax is a severe acute disease caused by Bacillus anthracis infections. If untreated, it often results in mortality. Many Terminalia spp. have documented therapeutic properties as general antiseptics, inhibiting the growth of a wide variety of bacterial species. This study examines the ability of selected Australian Terminalia spp. extracts to inhibit B. anthracis growth. Methods:\ Solvent extracts were prepared from Terminalia carpentariae and Terminalia grandiflora plant material and investigated by disc diffusion assay for the ability to inhibit the growth of an environmental strain of B. anthracis. Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. The most potent extracts were analysed by GC-MS headspace analysis. Results: T. carpentariae and T. grandiflora leaf, fruit and nut solvent extractions displayed good growth inhibitory activity against B. anthracis. Methanolic T. Carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora nut extracts were particularly potent growth inhibitors, with MIC values of 74 and 155 \µg/mL respectively. The T. carpentariae leaf ethyl acetate extract was also a good inhibitor of B. anthracis growth (MIC 340 \µg/mL). All other extracts were substantially less potent growth inhibitors. Interestingly, the T. Carpentariae leaf extracts with growth inhibitory activity were nontoxic in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay, with LC50 values \>1000 \µg/mL. In contrast, the LC50 value 740 \µg/mL reported for the methanolic T. grandiflora nut extract indicates low-moderate toxicity. Non-biased GC-MS phytochemical analysis of the most active extracts (methanolic T. carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora nut) putatively identified and highlighted several compounds that may contribute to the ability of these extracts to inhibit the growth of B. anthracis. Conclusions: The growth inhibitory activity of the methanolic T. Carpentariae leaf and T. grandiflora nutextracts against B. anthracis indicates their potential for the treatment and prevention of anthrax. Furthermore, thelack toxicity of the T. Carpentariae leaf and the low-moderate toxicity of the T. grandiflora nut extract, indicates that their use may extend to all forms of the disease (cutaneous, inhalation or gastrointestinal).

}, keywords = {Anthrax, Combretaceae, Metabolomic profiling., Native almond, Terminalia carpentariae, Terminalia grandiflora, Wild peach}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.3.18}, author = {Mitchell Henry Wright and Joseph Sirdaarta and Alan White and Anthony Carlson Greene and Ian Edwin Cock} } @article {162, title = {Cakile maritima Scop. extracts inhibit the growth of some bacterial triggers of autoimmune diseases: GC-MS analysis of an inhibitory extract}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {June/2016}, pages = {361-374}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {361}, abstract = {

Introduction: High antioxidant capacities have been linked to the treatment of rheumatic diseases and also in the inhibition of microbial growth. Although Cakile maritima has a high antioxidant capacity, it is yet to be tested for the ability to inhibit the growth of the bacterial triggers of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Methods: C. maritima solvent extracts were analysed for antioxidant capacity by the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Growth inhibitory activities against bacterial species associated with initiating rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis were determined by disc diffusion assay and quantified by MIC determination. Toxicity was determined by Artemia franciscana bioassay. Results: All C. maritima solvent extracts displayed good DPPH radical scavenging activity, although the ethyl acetate extract was particularly potent with an IC50 values of 3.4 \μg/mL. The other extracts also had significant radical scavenging activity, with IC50 between 4.7 and 13.6 \μg/mL. The bacterial growth inhibitory activity of the extracts correlated with their free radical scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate extract displayed the most potent growth inhibitory activity against most bacterial species. This extract was particularly potent against Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC values of 431, 559 and 777 \μg/mL, respectively). The hexane extract was also a potent inhibitor of the Proteus spp., (MIC of approximately 500-800 \μg/mL). The ethyl acetate extract also inhibited Klebsiella pneumoniae growth, albeit with higher MIC\’s (approximately 1500 \μg/mL). All other C. maritima extract-bacteria combinations generally resulted in mid-low potency inhibition. All of the extracts were determined to be nontoxicin with the Artemia franciscana bioassay, with LC50 values substantially \>1000 \μg/mL. A total of 97 unique mass signals were detected in the C. maritima ethyl acetate extract by nonbiased GC-MS headspace analysis. A number of terpenoids which may contribute to the therapeutic bioactivities of the extract were putatively identified. Conclusion: The lack of toxicity and the inhibitory activity against microbial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis by the C. maritima ethyl acetate extract indicates its potential in the treatment and prevention of these diseases.

}, keywords = {Acinitobacter baylyi, ankylosing spondylitis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, multiple sclerosis, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas areuginosa., rheumatoid arthritis}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.4.9}, author = {Elsayed Omer and Abdelsamed Elshamy and Abdel Nasser El Gendy and Xin Cai and Joseph Sirdaarta and Alan White and Ian Edwin Cock} } @article {136, title = {GC-MS Analysis of Commiphora molmol Oleo-Resin Extracts which Inhibit the growth of Bacterial Triggers of Selected Autoimmune Diseases.}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {January 2016}, pages = {191-202}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {191}, abstract = {

Introduction: Myrrh has been used traditionally for the inhibition of microbial growth and for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Despite this, myrrh extracts are yet to be tested for the ability to inhibit the growth of the bacterial triggers of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Methods: Solvent extracts prepared from commercially obtained myrrh resin were analysed for the ability to inhibit the growth of bacterial species associated with initiating rheumatoid arthritis (P. mirabilis), ankylosing spondylitis (K. pneumoniae) and multiple sclerosis (A. baylyi, P. aeruginosa) by disc diffusion assay, and quantified by MIC determination. Toxicity was determined by Artemia franciscana bioassay. The most potent inhibitory extract was investigated using non-targeted GC-MS head space analysis (with screening against a compound database) for the identification and characterization of individual components in the crude plant extracts. Results:\ Methanolic myrrh extract inhibited the growth of all bacterial species tested. The growth inhibition of this extract was particularly notable against P. mirabilis and K. pneumoniae, with MIC values substantially \< 1000 \μg/mL for both reference and clinical bacterial strains. Indeed, the MIC values of the methanolic extract against P. mirabilis reference and clinical strains were 572 and 463 \μg/mL respectively. The methanolic extract also inhibited the growth of A. baylyi (MIC approximately 3000 \μg/mL) and P. aeruginosa (MIC approximately 1800 \μg/mL). However, the MICs against these bacteria was indicative of only moderate inhibitory activity. The aqueous, ethyl acetate, chloroform and hexane extracts also inhibited the growth of all bacterial species, albeit with moderate (MIC values 1000-5000 \μg/mL) to low efficacy (MIC values \>5000 \μg/mL) against all bacterial species. All myrrh extracts were non-toxicin the Artemia franciscana bioassay, with LC50 values substantially above 1000 \μg/mL. Non-biased GC-MS headspace\ analysis of the methanolic extracti dentified a high diversity of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoid. Conclusion: The lack of toxicity and the inhibitory activity of the methanolic myrrh extract against microbial triggers of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis indicates its potential in the treatment and prevention of these diseases.

}, keywords = {ankylosing spondylitis, Commiphora molmol, Monoterpenoid, Multiple sclerosis., Myrrh, rheumatoid arthritis, Sesquiterpenoid, Terpenoid}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.3.4}, author = {Isaac Biggs and Joseph Sirdaarta and Alan White and Ian Edwin Cock} } @article {130, title = {Growth Inhibitory Activity of Kakadu Plum Extracts Against the Opportunistic Pathogenclostridium Perfringens: New Leads in the Prevention and Treatment of Clostridial Myonecrosis}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Journal}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {December 2015}, pages = {144-153}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {144}, abstract = {

Introduction: Clostridium perfringens is the etiological agent of clostridial myonecrosis and enteritis necroticans. Infections result in exotoxin production, tissue necrosis and unless promptly treated, may result in death. Terminalia ferdinandiana (Kakadu plum) fruit has documented therapeutic properties as a general antiseptic agent. Fruit extracts have been reported to inhibit the growth of an extensive panel of pathogenic bacteria. Leaf extracts have also been shown to block the growth of several bacterial species associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Methods: T. ferdinandiana fruit and leaf solvent extracts were investigated for growth inhibitory activity by disc diffusion assay against a clinical strain of Clostridium perfringens. Their MIC values were determined to quantify and compare their efficacies. Toxicity was determined using the Artemia franciscana nauplii bioassay. Active extracts were analysed by non-targeted HPLC-QTOF mass spectroscopy (with screening against 3 compound databases) for the identification and characterisation of individual components in the crude plant extracts. Results: Methanolic and aqueous T. ferdinandiana fruit and leaf extracts, as well as the leaf ethyl acetate extract, displayed growth inhibitory activity in the disc diffusion assay against C. perfringens. The leaf extracts were generally more potent growth inhibitors than the corresponding fruit extracts, although the aqueous fruit extract had substantially greater efficacy than the aqueous leaf extract. The methanolic and ethyl acetate leaf extracts were particularly potent growth inhibitors, with MIC values of 206 and 117 \μg/ml respectively. The fruit methanolic extract also displayed good efficacy, with an MIC of 716 \μg/ml. In contrast, the chloroform and hexane extracts of both fruit and leaf were completely devoid of growth inhibitory activity. All T. ferdinandiana extracts were either nontoxic or of low toxicity in the Artemia fransiscana bioassay. Non-biased phytochemical analysis of the methanolic and ethyl acetate leaf extracts revealed the presence of high relative levels of a diversity of galloand ellagi- tannins. Conclusion: The low toxicity of the T. ferdinandiana extracts and the potent growth inhibitory bioactivity of the leaf methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts against C. perfringens indicates their potential as medicinal agents in the treatment and prevention of clostridial myonecrosis and enteritis necroticans. Metabolomic profiling studies indicate that these extracts contained a diversity of tannins.

}, keywords = {Antibacterial extracts, Antioxidant, Australian medicinal plants, Enteritis necroticans, Gas gangrene., Kakadu plum, Myonecrosis, Terminalia ferdinandiana}, doi = {10.5530/pj.2016.2.8}, author = {Mitchell Henry Wright and Joseph Sirdaarta and Ben Matthews and Anthony Carlson Greene and Ian Edwin Cock} }