The antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of Mazus goodenifolius (Hornem.) Pennell essential oil, methanol extract and some solvent-extracted subfractions of the latter were appraised. A qualitative, quantitative analysis of the classes of phytochemicals in the various fractions and GC-MS analysis of the essential oil was carried out. The activity of the plant extract and various subfractions against selected bacterial (Pasturella multocida, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria alternata and Rhizopus solani) was evaluated. The antioxidant activity was assayed using the DPPH radical scavenging and % inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation tests. In the DPPH radical scavenging test the IC₅₀ values ranged from 7.21 to 91.79 µg/mL, and in the latter the range of % peroxidation inhibition was 35.42–93.48%. Protective effects of the absolute methanol extract, which had the highest content of phenolics and flavonoids, against H₂O₂ induced oxidative damage in plasmid pBR322 DNA was also evaluated, and it was found to offer some protection at the highest tested dose (1,000 µg/mL). Finally the cytotoxicity of the plant extract, fractions and essential oil was analyzed by examining haemolytic activity against human blood erythrocytes (RBCs), whereby the % lysis of RBCs was found to be in the range of 1.65 to 4.01%.

The present study was conducted to examine various biological activities of a methanol extract of Agave attenuata leaves. GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction from the extract revealed the presence of 31 compounds, with mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (11.37%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid (6.33%), n-docosane (6.30%) and eicosane (6.02%) as the major components. The leaves contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents (10.541–39.35 GAE, mg/100 g) and total flavonoid contents (43.35–304.8 CE, mg/100 g). The extract and some of its fractions showed moderate antimicrobial effects. Leaves extract and fractions also exhibited a good antioxidant potential when measured by DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibition of lipid peroxidation assays. The hemolytic effect of the plant was found to be in a range of 1.01%–2.64%. From the present study it is concluded that this plant could be used as a source of natural antioxidants and functional food nutraceutical applications.

Background: Current study has been designed to estimate the possible antioxidant, antimicrobial and hemolytic potential of Ficus benjamina different parts (leaves, stem and root). Results: All examined extracts and fractions were significantly rich in antioxidants and exhibited potent antimicrobial activity. GC/MS analysis of essential oil identified four compounds in stem and eight compounds in root, respectively. HPLC analysis indicated four phenolic compounds (chlorogenic, p-coumaric, ferulic and syringic acids) in roots, three (chlorogenic p-coumaric and ferulic acids) in stem and only one (caffeic acid) in leaves. Extracts of all three parts of F. benjamina exhibited substantial hemolytic activity. Conclusions: Considering these results, it is concluded that F. benjamina can be used as a potential source for the exploration of new antioxidant compounds and antimicrobial agents.

A series of various novel 4-arylthiophene-2-carbaldehyde compounds were synthesized in moderate to excellent yields via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling with different arylboronic pinacol esters/acids. The synthesized products were screened for their antibacterial, haemolytic, antiurease, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging capabilities and interestingly, almost all products turned out to have good activities. 3-(5-Formyl-thiophene-3-yl)-5-(trifloromethyl)benzonitrile (2d) revealed excellent antibacterial activity, showing an IC₅₀ value of 29.7 µg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, compared to the standard drug streptomycin with an IC₅₀ value 35.2 µg/mL and was also found to be the best NO scavenger, with an IC₅₀ value of 45.6 µg/mL. Moreover, 4-(3-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl)thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (2i) exhibited a superior haemolytic action and an outstanding urease inhibition, showing an IC₅₀ value of 27.1 µg/mL.

Heavy metals e.g., Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As and Ni etc are a major sources of pollutants which enter into the food chains and cause serious health impairments, carcinogenicity and mutagenesis. They have adverse effects on blood composition, lungs, energy level, kidneys, central nervous system, liver, and other vital organs of the body. Heavy metals can be successfully removed by easily available, eco-friendly and low-cost adsorbents which include the wastes/products of natural (chitin, silicate porous material, clay and zeolites, vermiculite, cyclodextrin, chitosan, starch and its derivatives, alginates, fly ash), agricultural (walnut shell, Turkish coffee, waste tea, black gram, neem bark, coconut shell, coconut husk, coal, oil palm shell, sugarcane bagasse, rice, wool, waste tea, peat moss, Turkish coffee, exhausted coffee, crop biomass, rice straw, rice hulls, rice husk, rice, soybean hull, papaya wood, peanut shell, peanut, citrus fruits, palm date pits, black gram, wool, cassava waste, carrot residues, banana and orange peels, sugar-beet pectin gels, black gram husk) and industrial (waste rubber tire, waste slurry, lignin, fly ash, red mud)) origin. The adsorption efficiency is affected by functional groups and particle/ pore size of the adsorbent, speed of agitation, biosorbent dose, initial concentration and molecular size of metal ions, temperature and pH.