Background Merremia umbellata subsp. orientalis (Hallier f.), commonly known as Sapussunda in Bengali, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of different diseases such as helminthiasis, rheumatism, fever, wounds, burns, sores, management of pain due to cut etc. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant, analgesic and anthelmintic activities of ethanolic extract of stems of Merremia umbellate (ESMU). Methods Phytochemical investigation was carried by using standard chemical test as described in literatures. In vitro free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract was quantitatively estimated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals scavenging assay. Total phenolic and tannin content were spectrophotometrically determined by Folin Ciocalteu reagent whereas the flavonoid was determined by aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. Acetic acid induced writhing method and hot plate method, using Swiss albino mice, were used to investigate the analgesic effect of ESMU whereas in-vitro anthelmintic activity was evaluated against Haemonchus contortus (Nematode) of cattle. Results Phytochemical screening revealed that the ESMU contain reducing sugar, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, gums, steroid, xanthoproteins, glycosides and acidic compound. In DPPH free radical scavenging assay, the extract showed scavenging potential with IC50 value of 161.81 μg/mL. Total phenolics, tannin and flavonoid content of crude extract were found to be 87.4 mg GAE/gm, 68.2 mg GAE /gm and 64.27 mg QE/gm respectively. Significant (P < 0.001) analgesic effect was observed in acetic acid induced writhing method at both doses 250 and 500 mg/kg. Similar effect was found in hot plate method that measures antinociceptive effect in response to heat stimuli. The ESMU also exhibited significant (P < 0.001) anthelmintic activity in a concentration dependent manner. The paralysis time and time for death were recorded as 9.30, 8.62 and 7.65 min and 19.58, 18.82, and 16.43 min respectively at a concentration of 25, 50 and 100 mg/mL respectively. Conclusion Based on the results obtained in this study clearly strengthen the traditional uses of M. umbellate stems as antioxidant, antinociceptive and anthelmintic. Therefore, this result suggested that the stems of Merremia umbellata might be a potential source of useful bioactive compounds.

The current study evaluated the antioxidant, α-amylase inhibitory and anti-Staphylococcus aureus activities of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. Methanolic extract of G. lucidum (MEGL) was investigated for its in vitro antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl 2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and EC 50 value was determined. α-Amylase inhibitory and anti-S. aureus activities were carried out by conventional methods. The mushroom extract showed maximum free radical scavenging activity at a dose of 500 µg/mL with EC 50 value of 22.1399 µg/mL. EC 50 value for the inhibition of α-amylase activity was found 22.6011 µg/mL. G. lucidum extracts exhibited a concentration-dependent Anti-S. aureus activity. The vast differences of this inhibition between lower and higher doses were assessed significantly (p < 0.05). This study shows that the fruiting body of G. lucidum has moderate antioxidant, α-amylase inhibitory, and anti-S. aureus activities. Thus this mushroom may be the alternative plant source for the antioxidant, anti-diabetic and antibacterial agents and further in vivo studies and isolation of bioactive compounds are required.

In this study we substituted the retinal units in proteorhodopsin (PR) and bacteriorhodopsin (BR) with azo chromophores to investigate the mechanism of photoinduced proton pumping in rhodopsins and potentially develop...