Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine antimicrobial, antiradical, and insecticidal activity of methanolic extract of the whole plant of Solanum virginianum L. (Solanaceae).Methods: Extraction of shade dried and powdered plant material was carried out by maceration process. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of extract were determined by agar well diffusion and poisoned food technique, respectively. Antiradical activity of extract was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Insecticidal activity, in terms of larvicidal activity, was evaluated against 2 nd and 3 rd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Results:The extract exhibited inhibitory activity against all bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria showed greater susceptibility to extract when compared to Gram-negative bacteria. The extract was effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of all test fungi with marked activity against Curvularia sp. and Alternaria sp. The extract scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals dose dependently with an inhibitory concentration value of 45.66 and 7.37µg/ml, respectively. The extract showed concentration-dependent larvicidal activity with high lethal activity observed against 2 nd instar larvae with lethal concentration value of 0.82 mg/ml. Conclusion:In suitable form, the plant can be used as an effective agent against microbial infections and oxidative damage and to control insect vectors which transmit several diseases.

<p><strong>Objectives</strong>: The present study was conducted to evaluate antimicrobial, insecticidal and radical scavenging activity of leaf extract of <em>Hydnocarpus pentandra</em> (Buch.-Ham.) Oken belonging to the family Achariaceae.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Extraction process of shade dried and powdered leaf was carried out by maceration technique. Extract was screened for phytochemicals by standard tests. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of leaf extract was determined by Agar well diffusion and Poisoned food technique respectively. Antiradical activity of leaf extract was evaluated by two in vitro assays namely 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Insecticidal activity of leaf extract was determined against II instar and IV instar larvae of <em>Aedes aegypti</em>.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, glycosides, triterpenes and steroids in the leaf extract. Leaf extract exhibited marked inhibitory activity against Gram positive bacteria when compared to Gram negative bacteria. <em>Bacillus cereus</em> (zone of inhibition 1.86±0.05cm) and <em>Escherichia coli</em> (zone of inhibition 1.06±0.05cm) were inhibited to highest and least extent respectively. Extract was effective in inhibiting mycelial growth of seed-borne fungi. Among fungi, the susceptibility to extract was in the order: <em>Curvularia</em> sp. (53.64% inhibition) &gt; <em>Fusarium</em> sp. (45.81% inhibition) &gt; <em>Alternaria</em> sp. (35.08% inhibition). The extract exhibited concentration dependent larvicidal activity with marked activity being observed against II instar larvae (LC₅₀ value 0.79mg/ml) when compared to IV instar larvae (LC₅₀ value 1.37mg/ml). Leaf extract scavenged DPPH and ABTS radicals dose dependently with an IC₅₀ value of 13.91µg/ml and 6.03µg/ml respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: The plant is shown to be an important source of bioactive agents. The observed bioactivities could be attributed to the phytochemicals present in the leaf extract. Further studies on characterization and bioactivity determination of isolated components from leaf extract are to be carried out.</p>

Objectives: Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv. belongs to the family Solanaceae. The present study was carried out to determine insecticidal, antibacterial, and antiradical activity of aerial parts of N. plumbaginifolia.Methods: Extraction was carried out by maceration process using methanol. Insecticidal activity was assessed, in terms of larvicidal effect, against II and IV instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against a panel of 7 bacteria by agar well diffusion assay. Antiradical activity was determined using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonate (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. Results:The extract was found to cause dose-dependent mortality of larvae of A. aegypti. The lethal concentration 50 value of extract for II and IV instar larvae was found to be 0.41 and 0.99 mg/ml, respectively. Extract was effective in inhibiting all bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria displayed marked susceptibility when compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were susceptible to highest and least extent, respectively. Extract scavenged both DPPH radicals and ABTS radicals dose dependently. Extract scavenged ABTS radicals more efficiently (inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ] value 13.51 µg/ml) when compared to DPPH radicals (IC 50 value 17.43 µg/ml). Conclusions:The plant N. plumbaginifolia appears to be a promising resource for developing agents with insecticidal, antibacterial, and antiradical activity. The observed bioactivities could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals which are to be isolated, characterized, and subjected for bioactivity determinations. The plant can be used to prevent arboviral diseases, infectious diseases, and oxidative damage.