research article antibacterial potential and ethnomedical ... · in kumaun himalaya a few workers...

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The Journal of Phytopharmacology 2016; 5(5): 190-200

Online at: www.phytopharmajournal.com

Research Article

ISSN 2230-480X

JPHYTO 2016; 5(5): 190-200

September- October

© 2016, All rights reserved

Savita Joshi

Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus,

Kumaun University, Nainital-263001,

UK, India

S.C. Sati



UK, India

Parikshit Kumar



UK, India Correspondence: Parikshit Kumar



UK, India

Email: pk2461989[at]gmail.com

Antibacterial potential and ethnomedical relevance of

Kumaun Himalayan Gymnosperms

Savita Joshi, S.C. Sati, Parikshit Kumar*

ABSTRACT

Ethnomedicinal information is one of the powerful criteria for new drugs discoveries therefore; present

investigation was carried out to evaluate the ethnomedicinal and antibacterial potential of traditional Kumaun

Himalayan gymnosperms. Besides, an antibacterial value index and relative antibacterial activity of studied

plants have been established. Forty four plant leaves extracts in different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol,

chloroform and hexane) of 11 gymnosperms (Araucaria cunninghamii, Biota orientalis, Cedrus deodara,

Cephalotaxus griffithi, Cryptomeria japonica Cupressus torulosa, Ginkgo biloba, Juniperus communis, Picea

smithiana, Pinus wallichiana and Taxus baccata) occurring in Kumaun Himalaya were screened for their

antimicrobial activity against five pathogenic bacteria using disc diffusion method. The antibacterial activity of

studied gymnospermic plant extracts against a panel of bacteria was found effective at 1000 µg/ml. The MIC

and MBC values of each extract (where ZOI ≥ 15 mm) were also determined. The methanol extract of screened

gymnosperms were found the most effective against all the bacteria (54% to 81%), followed by ethanol extract

(45-72%), hexane extract (18-27%), while in chloroform extract it ranged 9-27% only. The extracts of G.

biloba exhibited superior Relative Antibacterial Activity (RAA, 20%), followed by A. cunninghamii and P.

wallichiana (12% RAA, each). The lowest RAA value was observed for C. torulosa (1%). All data were also

analyzed for determination of an Antibacterial Value Index (ABVI) for each studied species of gymnosperm.

G. biloba had maximum ABVI i.e. 90 % followed by A. cunninghamii and P. wallichiana (ABVI, 55% each).

C. torulosa showed the least ABVI and RAA i.e. 5% and 11%, respectively. The present work fully

highlighted the utility of traditionally known 11 gymnosperms of Kumaun Himalaya for their antibacterial

activities against pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords: Ethnomedical Gymnosperms, Antibacterial activity, MIC-MBC, ABVI, RAA.

INTRODUCTION

Scientists of divergent fields from all over the world are investigating plants for their antimicrobial

usefulness. To discover new biologically active molecules is now found to be the most productive area

of antibiotics [1-2] and use of criteria such as antifungal and antibacterial properties is good indicator of

plants that contain biologically active molecules. Plants or plant products have been utilized as

medicines since the time immemorial [3]. These medicines initially took the form of crude drugs such as

tinctures, teas, poultices, powders, and other herbal formulations [3-6] and later extraction of bio-

molecules.

India has a rich heritage of its own as far as the natural products and particularly medicinal plants health

care are more concerned because of its wide diversity in soil and climate condition and rich flora and

fauna. In India, nearly out of the 17,000 species of higher plants, 7500 are known for medicinal uses [7].

Thus, Indian subcontinent is a vast repository of medicinal plants that are used in traditional medicinal

treatments and forms a rich source of knowledge for pharmacology [8]. Therefore, the development of

Indian traditional medicine is possible through the proper exploitation and exploration of wide

biodiversity in the light of modern tools and techniques [7, 9].

Selection of plants for bioactive compounds, based on ethnobotanical information is useful to know their

drug potential [10-11]. Studies have also shown that 74% of the currently used drugs based on plant

compounds were discovered from ethnobotanical leads. Van der berghe et al. [12] showed that plants

selected by ethnobotanical information have provided more active leads than gathered randomly. It is a

true fact that the selection of medicinal plants with good biological activities is enhanced when plants are

chosen on the basis of ethnomedicinal knowledge.

In Kumaun Himalaya a few workers carried out the bioactivity of angiospermic plants [13-17] but there is a

dearth of information regarding the antimicrobial activity of gymnosperm plants. Therefore, present

study on antimicrobial activity of gymnosperms of Kumaun Himalaya is one step ahead to bridge the

The Journal of Phytopharmacology

191

gap in this direction. It was carried out in two parts, first exploration

of medicinal gymnospermous plants from Nainital and its suburbs in

Kumaun Himalaya (Uttarakhand), India based on ethnomedical/

traditional uses and second, the antimicrobial potential of their plant

extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Collection of plant material

Plant materials were collected from various localities of Nainital,

Kumaun Himalaya and authenticated by the Department of Botany,

Kumaun University, Nainital. Voucher specimens of every collected

gymnospermous plant species were deposited in the herbarium of the

department.

Preparation of the extract

Leaves of the selected plant species were thoroughly washed with

distilled water and dried at the room temperature (20±2°C). The dried

material was powdered in an electric grinder. To prepare stock

solution 50g of this powder was placed in a 500 ml conical flask

mixed with 200ml of solvents (w/v, 50g/200ml). The mouth of flasks

are tightly plugged with non-absorbent cotton and tightly wrapped

with aluminium foil to prevent evaporation. Solvents used for

extraction were methanol, ethanol, chloroform, and hexane. All flasks

were shaken on a rotary incubator shaker at 190-220 rpm for 24 h at

37° C. The mixtures were filtered through Whatman filter paper no.1

and the filtrate collected separately in a clean beaker. The extracts

were evaporated, using steam bath to dryness at 30° C. The dry

extracts were kept in sterile sample bottles and stored in the

refrigerator at 4°C for further use.

Microorganisms used

Five (Gram +ve and -ve) bacteria (Bacillus subtilis MTCC No. 121,

Escherichia coli MTCC No.40, Agrobacterium tumefaciens MTCC

No.609, procured from Institute of Microbial Technology,

Chandigarh, India and Xanthomonas phaseoli and Erwinia

chrysanthemi obtained from Plant Pathology Department, G. B. Pant

University, Pantnagar, India) were used in this investigation.

Pathogens obtained from respective stock cultures were inoculated (1

% v/v) into nutrient agar broth followed by incubation at 37° C (for 18

h) to activate cultures.

Plate 1. A- Araucaria cunninghamii: young leaves; B- Biota orientalis: Mature seeded plant C- Cedrus deodara: green leaves with cone; D- Cephalotaxus

griffithi: green leaves with seeds; E- Cryptomeria japonica: green leaves; F- Cupressus torulosa: G- Ginkgo biloba: young leaves, H- Pinus wallichiana: young

leaves; I- Picea smithiana: Leaves; J- Juniperus communis: whole plant; K- Taxus baccata: whole plant

G H I

J K

A C B

E F D


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Plate 2: Antibacterial activity of plant extracts by paper disc diffusion technique

AG- Agrobacterium tumefaciens, BS- Bacillus subtilis, EC- Erwinia chrysanthemi, E.co.- Escherichia coli P- Xanthomonas phaseoli 1- Extract, 2, 3, 4- positive

controls (Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Ampicillin), 5- negative control (solvent)

Screening of antibacterial activity

Forty four plant extracts of 11 gymnospermic species (Araucaria

cunninghamii, Biota orientalis, Cedrus deodara, Cephalotaxus

griffithi, Cryptomeria japonica Cupressus torulosa, Ginkgo biloba,

Juniperus communis, Picea smithiana, Pinus wallichiana and Taxus

baccata) occurring in Kumaun Himalaya were screened for their

antibacterial activity (Plate 1).

Antibacterial tests of selected microorganisms were carried out using

disc-diffusion method [18]. Nutrient agar plates (90mm size) were

prepared and cooled down at room temperature (20±2°C). A small

sterile cotton swab was dipped into the 24h old culture of bacteria and

was inoculated by streaking the swab over the entire agar surface.

This process was repeated by streaking the swab 2 or more times

rotating the plates approximately 60° each time to ensure even

distribution of inoculums. Each organism (culture) was inoculated on

three (3) plates (replicate).

The sterile filter paper discs (5 mm) loaded with 20μl of extract were

placed on the surface of the bacteria seeded agar plates at equidistance

and it was allowed to diffuse for 5min then these plates were

incubated at 37±1°C for 24h. Gentamycin (30 mcg), erythromycin and

ampicilline (20 mcg) were placed into agar plates used as positive

control and respective solvent were also used as negative control.

After 24 h of incubation of nutrient agar plates, clearance zone formed

around the discs indicates a positive antimicrobial activity and the

diameter was observed for inhibition zone and the zone diameter

expressed in millimeters including disc size [19, 20]. Each experiment

was carried out in triplicates. The mean ± SD of the inhibition zone

was taken for evaluating the antibacterial activity of the extracts.

Three nutrient agar plates were inoculated with each type of bacterial

cultures and all the fractions were tested for the minimum inhibitory


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concentration to find out the lowest concentration of an extract that

inhibits the visible growth of test microorganisms and same test was

used to determine the minimum bactericidal concentration. MIC and

MBC were performed at five concentrations of extracts (500, 250,

125, 62.5 and 31.25 μg/ml) following two fold serial dilution

technique [21].

Statistical analysis

Each plant extract was tested in three replicates and all the data were

recorded separately for each plant extract and microbes. Altogether

220 sets of experiments were conducted in all (11 plants species

extracts in 4 solvents tested against 5 bacteria). These results were

statistically analyzed for Standard Error of Mean (SEM) and

determination of an Antibacterial Value Index (ABVI) and Relative

Antibacterial Activity (RAA) by using following formula:

Total Activity observed (AO)

Antibacterial Value Index of plant (ABVI) = --------------------------------------- × 100

Total Activity tested (AT)

ABVI of plant

Relative Antibacterial Activity (RAA) of plant = -------------------------- × 100

Total ABVI

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 11 gymnosperms plant species (Araucaria cunninghamii,

Biota oriantalis, Cedrus deodara, Cephalotaxus griffithi, Cryptomeria

japonica, Cupressus torulosa, Ginkgo biloba, Juniperus communis,

Picea smithiana, Pinus wallichiana and Taxus baccata) are surveyed

and documented with other relevant ethnobotanical information

related to each species (Table 3). Further these plant species have

been investigated for antimicrobial activities using their leaves parts

against pathogenic microorganisms including Gram-positive and

Gram-negative bacteria and fungi which are responsible for many

diseases in plants and animals including human.

The antibacterial potential and effectiveness of each extracts of

gymnosperms are summarized in table 1 and results of MIC and MBC

are presented in table 2. The results obtained from the study revealed

that all the 11 gymnosperms plants had significant antibacterial

activity at 1000 µg/ml concentration against test microorganisms. The

calculated value for Antibacterial Value Index (ABVI) and Relative

Antibacterial Activities (RAA) of each plant against test microbes

with respect to the solvent applied are summarized in table 1 (Fig. 1

and 2).

Figure 1: ABVI of tested gymnosperms

Figure 2: Relative antibacterial activity of tested gymnosperms

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Plants

An

tib

act

eria

lV

alu

e In

dex

(A

BV

I)

A.cunninghamii12%

B. orientalis8%

C. deodara7%

C. griffithi10%

C. japonica4%

C. torulosa1%

G. biloba20%

J. communis9%

P. smithiana6%

P. wallichiana12%

T. baccata11%


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Figure 3: Antibacterial potential of different extracts of gymnosperms against bacteria

As evident from table 1, most of the extracts of these 11 tested plants

have excellent inhibitory activity by showing ZOI ≥15mm (60%

inhibition). All studied plants showed varied ABVI with the

maximum ABVI, 90 for G. biloba, in 20 tests conducted (4 extracts

against ×5 bacteria and at 18 instances this plant showed positive

activity). The Relative Antibacterial Activity observed for G. biloba is

20% (Fig. 2).

The lowest ABVI and RAA were observed for C. torulosa as it was

determined 5 and 1% respectively. The activity order of studied

gymnospermous plants was G. biloba > A. cunninghamii > P.

wallichiana > T. baccata > C. griffithi > J. communis > B. orientalis >

C. deodara > P. smithiana > C. japonica > C. torulosa (Fig. 1 and 2).

This highlights the utility of gymnosperms as antibacterial agents in

treating the bacterial disease of plant as well as animal.

It was interesting to note that the activities of most of the extracts are

very good whereas the used ampicillin and erythromycin (antibacterial

standard drug) were found totally inactive against the test microbes.

At many instances the plant extract showed better activity than

Gentamycin. It suggests that these gymnosperms plants contain more

effective chemical components than the commercially available

antibiotics in control of various plant and animal diseases.

The table 1 also portrays comparative antibacterial activities of each

gymnosperm plants in different solvents against a panel of bacteria i.e.

A. tumefaciens, B. subtilis, E. chrysanthemi, E. coli and X. phaseoli.

Relying upon the table it is clear that methanol extract of all

gymnosperms are very effective against all the bacteria as it shows a

range from 54 % to 81% total activity. For ethanol extract it ranges

from 45-72%. It is 18-27% in case of hexane extract while in

chloroform extract it ranged 9-27% only (Fig. 3).

As evident from the available literature that gymnospermic plants

have not been adequately studied as compared to angiosperms

especially in Kumaun, Uttarakhand. More over in regards to the

bioactivity of Himalayan gymnosperms, not a single investigation is

available. It indicates that a number of plants remained untapped

potential source of biologically active constituents. In folk medicines

some gymnospermic plants are being used as an antimalarial,

antirheumatic, abortifacient and antibronchitis [22], antiasthmatic [23] as

well as antioxidant [24-26]. Many workers suggested that gymnosperms

possess various biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-

inflammatory, anticancer and antioxidant [26-31].

Undoubtedly, gymnosperms are the reservoir of chemotherapeutants

providing an unlimited source of new medicinal compounds [32]. They

are used traditionally throughout the world to treat many ailments [8, 26,

33-35]. The recent finding report that gymnosperms plants contain

various secondary metabolites such as tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids,

alkaloids, glycosides, ligans, phenol, steroid and sugar derivatives [29,

33, 35-37]. These phytochemicals have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral

and antihelminthic properties and they serve as defence agent against

invading microorganisms [29, 38-40].

It is also noteworthy that the earlier worker investigated these plants

against mostly animal pathogens whereas in this investigation

antibacterial activity was also tested against X. phaseoli, A.

tumefaciens, and E. chrysanthemi which are usually responsible for

plant diseases like crown gall, leaf blight, leaf spot, rot diseases etc.

Correlation between ethnomedical use and bioactivity

The ethnobotany and antibacterial value index (ABVI) are

summarized in table 4. As evident from the table, in many cases it is

found that the ethnomedical uses of gymnospermous plants are well

correlated with the antimicrobial activity of their extracts. The species

such as A. cunninghamii, B. orientalis, C. griffithi, J. communis, G.

biloba, C. torulosa and Pinus wallichiana which are used for the

treatment of infectious diseases, diarrhea, stomach problems and in

wounds healing by many tribes also showed the outstanding/strong

antibacterial effects (Table 3).

It is interesting to note that the traditional healers use primarily

aquatic extract to treat all the diseases in the form of decoction and

tincture using water, but in the present investigation aqueous extract

showed no inhibitory activity. This concludes that organic solvent of

plant extracts of gymnosperms are found to give more consistent

antimicrobial activity compared to water extract. The water soluble

flavonoids (mostly anthocyanins) have no antimicrobial significance

and water soluble phenolics only important as antioxidant compounds

[79].

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90Methanol Ethanol Chloroform Hexane

Microorganisms

To

tal

act

ivit

y o

f ex

tra

cts

(%)


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Table 1: Antibacterial potential of different extracts of studied gymnosperms (based on ZOI 1 5mm)

Plants

A. tumefaciens B. subtilis E. chrysanthemi E. coli X. phaseoli Activity

observed

ABVI of plants

1.Araucaria cunninghamii

E

H, E, M

H, M

E, M

H, E, M

11

55

2. Biota orientalis M M M C, E E, M 7 35

3. Cedrus deodara E E E E E, M 6 30

4.Cephalotaxus griffithi M E, M E, M E, M E, M 9 45

5. Cryptomeria japonica E M M M 4 20

6. Cupressus torulosa M 1 5

7. Ginkgo biloba H, C, M H, C, E, M H, C, E, M H, E, M H, C, E, M 18 90

8. Juniperus communis H, E H H H, E H, E 8 40

9. Picea smithiana M C, E, M M 5 25

10. Pinus wallichiana H, M E, M E, M C, E, M E, M 11 55

11. Taxus baccata E, M C, E E, M E, M E, M 10 50

Total activity of extracts

(%)

H=3 (27%)

C=1 (9%)

E=5 (45%)

M=7 (63%)

H=3 (27%)

C=3 (27%)

E=7 (63%)

M=7 (63%)

H=3 (27%)

C=1 (9%)

E=5 (45%)

M=6 (54%)

H=2 (18%)

C=2 (18%)

E=8 (72%)

M=6 (54%)

H=3 (27%)

C=1 (9%)

E=8 (72%)

M=9 (81%)

H=hexane C= chloroform E= ethanol M= methanol; ABVI= Antibacterial value index


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Table 2: Minimum Inhibitory and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MIC and MBC) for leaves extracts of Kumaun Himalayan gymnospermous plants which have more than 15 mm ZOI

Minimum inhibitory concentration/Minimum bactericidal concentration (µg/ml)

S. No. Botanical name/family Local name Extracts A. tumefaciens B. subtilis E. chrysanthemi E. coli X. phaseoli

1. Araucaria cunninghamii Sweet.

(Araucariaceae)

Hoop pine, Bunya

tree

Methanol - 62.5/125 125/250 62.5/250 31.25/125

Ethanol 31.25/125 62.5/125 - 62.5/250 125/500

Hexane - 62.5/250 62.5/125 - 62.5/250

2. Biota oriantalis Endl.

(Cupressaceae)

Morpankhi Methanol 125/na 62.5/125 62.5/250 - 125/500

Ethanol - - - 125/250 125/500

Chloroform - - - 125/250

3. Cedrus deodara(Roxb.) G. Don

(Pinaceae)

Deodar Methanol - - - - 62.5/125

Ethanol 250/500 250/500 125/250 62.5/125 250/na

4. Cephalotaxus griffithi Hook.f.

(Cephalotaxaceae)

Plum yew, Tinya Methanol 62.5/125 62.5/250 125/250 125/500 250/250

Ethanol - 62.5/250 125/250 125/250 125/500

5. Cryptomeria japonica D.Don

(Taxodiaceae)

Japanese cader,

Sugi

Methanol - 250/500 - 250/500 250/500

Ethanol 125/250 - - - -

6. Cupressus torulosa D. Don

(Cupressaceae)

Cypress, Surai Methanol 250/250 - - 500/na 500/na

7. Ginkgo biloba Linn. (Ginkgoaceae) Maiden hair tree,

Baalkumari

Methanol 31.25/125 31.25/125 62.5/250 62.5/125 31.25/250

Ethanol - 31.25/62.5 125/250 125/250 62.5/250

Chloroform 62.5/125 31.25/125 62.5/250 - 62.5/125

Hexane 125/500 62.5/250 62.5/250 62.5/500 125/250

8. Juniperus communis Linn.

(Cupressaceae)

Juniper, Jhora Ethanol 250/500 - - 250/500 250/500

Hexane 125/500 250/500 250/500 62.5/125 250/500

9. Picea smithiana (Wall.) (Pinaceae) Himalayan Methanol 62.5/250 250/500 - - 125/250


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na: not active

spruce, kalachiulu Ethanol - 250/250 - - -

Chloroform - 500/500 - - -

10. Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson

(Pinaceae)

Blue pine, chilla,

Kail

Methanol 250/500 500/500 500/500 500/na 500/na

Ethanol - 125/250 250/500 500/na 500/500

Chloroform - - - 250/500 -

Hexane 500/500 - - - -

11. Taxus baccata Linn. (Taxaceae) Common yew,

thuner

Methanol 62.5/250 - 500/na 500/na 250/500

Ethanol 250/500 250/500 250/500 250/500 250/500

Chloroform - 250/500 - - -

Positive control ( Gentamycin) 3.9/15.6 1.9/3.9 0.48/3.9 1.9/7.8 7.8/15.6


198

Table 3: Correlation between ethnomedical and antibacterial values index (ABVI) of studied gymnosperms

ABVI= Antibacterial Value Index (See table 1)

Plants name Plant part used Ethnobotanical uses Antibacterial

Value ABVI

Remarks

Araucaria cunninghamii Sweet. Leaves Treat dried skin and wounds [41] 55 First report on antimicrobial activity of this

Kumaun Himalayan plant [43]. Bark Thatching and Ritual application [42]

Biota oriantalis Endl. Leaves, Fruit and

wood

Anthelmintic, Astringent, Antipyretic, antitussive, astringent, antidiuretic,

Antifibrotic activity, Hemostatic activity, refrigerant and stomachic [44-50]

35

First report on antibacterial activity of this

Kumaun Himalayan plant [39] Seeds Wound healing [51]

Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don Leaves The oil is analgestic and alexipharmic, useful for bruises and injuries to joints,

boils, tubercular glands, skin diseases and ulcer [46, 52-54]

30

Antimicrobial activities against some bacterial

strains used in this study are carried out for the

first time

Bark Useful in inflammations, dyspepsia, insomnia, cough, fever, urinary discharges,

ozoena, bronchitis, itching, elephantiasis, tuberculous glands, leucoderma,

opthalmia, plies, disorders of the mind, and diseases of the skin and of the blood

[55]

Cephalotaxus griffithi Hook.f. Bark Antioxidant, cytotoxic, and apoptotic activity [25] 45 First report on the antimicrobial activity of

leaves part of this Kumaun Himalayan plant.

Cryptomeria japonica D.Don Leaves Antimitic, cytotoxic activities, Anti-termitic [31, 56- 59] 20 First report on the antibacterial activity of

needle part of this Kumaun Himalayan plant.

Cupressus torulosa D. Don Leaves Antirheumatic, cough and astringent [60] 5 First report on antimicrobial activity of Kumaun

Himalayan Plant C. torulosa Cones Antiinflammatory [61]

Ginkgo biloba Linn. Leaves Antitumor, Antiviral and antioxidant effects [62-64]

90 Appears to be the best antimicrobial plant. First

report on the antimicrobial activity of Kumaun

Himalaya [65]

Juniperus communis Linn. Leaves Antioxidant property, antiinflamamatory properties and abortifacient effect [66-

68]

40 First report on the antimicrobial activity of this

Kumaun Himalayan species [70]

Barreis Hypoglycemic activity [69]

Picea smithiana (Wall.) Leaves Insecticidal and Phytotoxicity [71] 25 First report on antimicrobial activity of this

Kumaun Himalayan plant [24, 72]

Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson Leaves Anti-proliferative and radical scavenging activity, Anti-wrinkling properties,

Insecticidal and Phytotoxic [73-75]

55 First report on antimicrobial activity of this

Pinus species.

Taxus baccata Linn.

Heartwood Anti-inflammatory, Anti-ulcergenic and antinociceptive [76, 77] 50 First report on the antimicrobial activity of

Kumaun Himalayan species T. baccata in

different bacterial strains. Leaves Abortifacient, Antimalarial, Antirheumatic, Bronchitis [22, 78]


199

It is also noteworthy that methanol extract of these gymnosperms

plants showed better antibacterial activity followed by ethanol and

hexane while, chloroform showed the least. This suggests that the

activity of any extract depend on presence of active compound as well

as their solubility. These variations may possibly because different

active compounds are responsible in determining the effectiveness of

a particular plant extract against particular microorganism. The

effectiveness of particular compound against microorganism is also

dependent on the metabolism of the organism as there are reports

especially for fungi that the secondary metabolites of plant origin are

metabolized by fungal enzymes [80, 81]. Although, it is difficult to

correlate the antimicrobial activity to single compound or classes of

compounds as it might be possible that the antibacterial and antifungal

effect, the result of many compounds acting synergistically [80, 82], but

the present work would be extremely useful to determine the utility of

plant part extract in bacterial disease management.

The gymnospermous plants seem to include many medicinally

important genera and species which are to be elucidated for the

biological activity of crude extracts and active compounds from these

plants [83, 84]. New techniques for bioactivity, guide isolation of active

compounds, such as microfractionation, may enhance in the finding of

new compounds/ known compounds with biological activities of this

plant group. This investigation on the biological activity of

gymnosperms appear a new report, and need to be expanded with

many new vistas on exploitation of natural resources as well as drug

discoveries.

CONCLUSION

The use of traditional knowledge is a powerful tool in the field of

pharmacology as it leads to discovery of new drugs required for

antimicrobial activity in the modern time, when many of the microbes

have become resistant to synthetic drugs. In the present investigation

eleven untouched gymnosperms occurring in an around Nainital,

Kumaun Himalaya have been investigated for their antibacterial

potentiality, correlated with their ethnomedicinal knowledge. Almost

all the gymnospermic plants were found active against the tested

pathogenic bacteria with some variations. The Antibacterial Value

Index (ABVI) as well as Relative Antibacterial Activity (RAA) of

each medicinally known gymnospermous plant has been determined

for the first time which might be a useful parameter in conservation,

cultivation as well as extraction of bioactive compounds needed for

drug industry.

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to University Grant Commission, New Delhi for

financial support from UGC-BSR under SAP scheme. The authors

wish to thank Department of Plant Pathology, G. B. Pant University

of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and Microbial Type

Culture Collection (MTCC) for providing bacterial strains.

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HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE

Joshi S, Sati SC, Kumar P. Antibacterial potential and ethnomedical relevance

of Kumaun Himalayan Gymnosperms. J Phytopharmacol 2016;5(5):190-200.

research article antibacterial potential and ethnomedical ... · in kumaun himalaya a few workers...

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