title: Antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonist effects of Caesalpinia bonducella.
abstract: Caesalpinia bonducella F. (Leguminosae) has been used as a folk medicine for a variety of ailments. The crude extract of C. bonducella and its fractions were studied for antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic and Ca++ antagonistic properties. The strongest antibacterial effect was displayed by the n-butanol (72%) and ethyl acetate (80%) fractions, followed by the crude extract (46% and 42%), against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. The plant extract and its fractions showed mild to excellent activity in antifungal bioassays, with maximum antifungal activity against Candida glaberata (80%) and Aspergillus flavus (70%) by the n-butanol and chloroform fractions, followed by the crude extract (70% and 65%). Caesalpinia bonducella extract caused concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous and high K+ (80 mM)-induced contractions of isolated rabbit jejunum preparations, similar to that caused by Verapamil. These results indicate that C. bonducella exhibits antibacterial, antifungal, spasmolytic and Ca++ channel blocking actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. hidayat_sks@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hidayat-Ullah
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Irshad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Arif-Ullah
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Rubina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: Anwarul Hassan
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Gilani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects; D029911:Caesalpinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000187:drug effects; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014700:Verapamil