Objective: To investigate the target specific larvicidal potential of an edible herb Typhonium trilobatum (T. trilobatum) (L.) Schott against mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus (Cx. quinquefasciatus) Say. Methods: Different concentrations of crude and methanol extract of T. trilobatum mature leaves were treated against Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae. LC50 concentration of crude extract on mosquito 3rd instar larvae was tested on Chironomus circumdatus and Diplonychus annulatum larvae. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was performed in search of plant’s secondary metabolites. Results:100%mortality of 1st instar mosquito larvae was recorded at 0.4%concentration after 72 h of exposure of crude extract. At 72 h 0.5%concentration produced 100%, 89.99%and 79.99%mortality of 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar larvae respectively. 50 ppm methanol extract showed 73.67%mortality of 3rd instar mosquito larvae at 72 h. 400 ppm concentration was responsible for 100%mortality in 24 h. Application of LC50 concentration (of 3rd instar mosquito larva) against non target organisms like C. circumdatus and D. annulatum larvae produced no significant mortality among them. Secondary metabolites like terpenoids and free glycoside bound anthraquinones were found. Conclusions:This experimental study was a pioneer attempt to establish T. trilobatum as a valuable resource of effective target specific mosquito larvicide.

Objective: To investigate antioxidant potential of methanol extract of Alpinia nigra leaves.Methods:picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assays. Phytochemical constituents, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of the extract at different concentrations (10-500 μg/mL) were determined.Results: Alpinia nigra leaves showed high free radical scavenging activity as evidenced by the low IC50 values in DPPH (64.51 μg/mL), in ABTS (28.32 μg/mL), in nitric oxide (80.02 μg/mL) and in H2O2 (77.45 μg/mL) scavenging assays. Furthermore the TPC and TFC of the extract were found to be 69.25 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram of extract and 78.84 mg quercetin equivalent per gram of extract respectively.Conclusions:The results of present comprehensive analysis demonstrated that Alpinia nigra The study was done by using various in vitro methods such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-leaves possess high phenolic, flavonoid contents and potential antioxidant activity, and could be used as a viable source of natural antioxidants and might be exploited for functional foods and neutraceutical applications.

Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the leaf extracts of Cestrum diurnum, Ocimum sanctum, Carcica papaya, Solanum villosum, Vitex negundo, and Clerodendron inerme against two gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 2940 and Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441) and two gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli MTCC 739 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 2453). Methods: The sensitivity of two gram positive and two gram negative pathogenic multi-drug resistant bacteria to extracts of leaves of six medicinal plants used as popular medicine in India was studied in vitro by the disk diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: All the bacterial strains were found to be sensitive to aqueous, n-hexane and ethanol extracts. But, it is evident that the organic extracts were comparatively more effective than aqueous extracts. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the leaf extracts of the six medicinal plants possess antibacterial activity against human pathogens.