title: Biological and chemical study of Astragalus gombiformis.
abstract: Extracts of aerial parts and roots of wild Astragalus gombiformis Pomel were tested for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities and contents of phenolic compounds. Antibacterial activity was tested by the paper disk agar diffusion method and determination of the minimal inhibitor concentration. Among the tested extracts, three extracts (methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate) from aerial parts and two extracts (water, methanol) from roots exhibited diameters of inhibition zone equal or above 12 mm (at 150 microg/ disk) and minimal inhibitor concentrations ranging between 233 and 1250 microg/ml. Spectrophotometric and HPLC analyses showed that contents of both total polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity were higher in the methanolic extract of aerial parts as compared to roots. No insecticidal activity of the extracts of the aerial parts was found against Culex pipiens.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, University Hospital Fattouma Bourguiba, Monastir 5000, Tunisia. teyeb.hassen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hassen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teyeb
authors.forename: Olfa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Houta
authors.forename: Hanen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Najjaa
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamari
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neffati
authors.forename: Wahiba
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Douki
authors.forename: Mohamed Fadhel
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Najjar
mesh_terms: D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts