A phytochemical study on the flowe r of Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) using silica gel column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography, led to the first time isolation of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (compound 1) and anhydrosophoradiol-3-acetate (compound 2). The structures of these compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic analyses (IR, HRTOFMS and NMR). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of ethyl acetate extract, compound 1 and compound 2 were measured using the disc diffusion method. Ethyl acetate extract and compound 1 presented better results than compound 2. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extract and compounds were found to be in the range of 16~128 µg/ml. The cytotoxicity (LC50) against brine shrimp nauplii (Artemia salina) were also evaluated and found to be 14.61 µg/ml for ethyl acetate, 9.19 µg/ml for compound 1 and 15.55 µg/ml for compound 2.

No abstract

As part of a scientific appraisal of some of the folkloric and ethnomedical uses of Calotropis gigantea L. (Family: Asclepiadaceae), the present study was designed to evaluate the antitumour activity of the Calotropis gigantea flower against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) by using a crude ethyl acetate extract from the flower of Calotropis gigantea (designated as EECF) in Swiss mice. EECF was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight. Bleomycin (0.3 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. EECF treatment significantly decreased both viable tumour cells and body weight gain induced by the tumour burden and prolonged survival time. The haematological and biochemical (glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea, ALP, SGPT and SGOT) parameters altered during tumour progression, were also significantly restored in EECF-treated mice. Among the three doses tested, the highest dose was the most potent and comparable with the standard drug bleomycin (0.3 mg/kg). In conclusion, EECF from the Calotropis gigantea flower has a potent inhibitory effect against EAC cells in a dose dependent manner.

No abstract

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of three schiff bases were evaluated against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Parallel experiments were also carried out with standard drugs (Kanamycin for bacteria and Nystatin for fungi). Two compounds [N-(1-phenyl-2-hydroxy-2phenylethylidine)-2',4' dinitrophenyl hydrazine, abbreviated as PDH and N-(2-hydroxy benzylidine)-2'-hydroxy imine, abbreviated as HHP] showed significant antimicrobial activities. The rest one [N-(1-phenyl 2-hydroxy-2 phenyl ethylidine) 2'-hydroxy phenyl imine, abbreviated as PHP] showed moderate activity. All these three compounds were found to possess pronounced cytotoxic effect. These compounds can be considered as potent antimicrobial agents.