title: Antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal, cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity studies on Indigofera gerardiana.
abstract: The antibacterial, antifungal, acute cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity and insecticidal profile of the crude extract and various fractions of Indigofera gerardiana have been studied. Six bacterial and fungal strains were used, of which Samonella typhi and Microsporum canis were the most susceptible strains with MICs 0.37 mg/mL and 0.09 mg/mL, respectively. The crude extract and the fractions showed low insecticidal activity against Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica and Callosbruchus analis but no activity against Tribolium castaneum. The brine shrimp lethality assay showed absence of any measurable cytotoxicity of the crude extract and fractions, showing a good safety profile at a preliminary level. All the fractions except crude extract revealed profound and highly significant herbicidal activity against Lemna minor at the concentration of 1000 microg/mL. Indigofera gerardiana was shown by in-vitro assays to be a potential source for natural antifungal, antibacterial and herbicidal agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar-25120, NWFP, Pakistan. akund_54@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.forename: Shafiq Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.forename: Inamullah Khan
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Marwat
authors.forename: Muhammad Raza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Ihsan Ali
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029883:Indigofera / Q000737:chemistry*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D006540:Herbicides; D007306:Insecticides; D010936:Plant Extracts