title: Estimation of flavoniods, antimicrobial, antitumor and anticancer activity of Carissa opaca fruits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carissa opaca Stapf ex Hanes fruits is traditionally used in the treatment of asthma, hepatitis and microbial infections. The present study was arranged to investigate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antitumor activity of various fractions of C. opaca extract and its bioactive metabolites responsible for that activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  To characterize various fractions of C.opaca antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic and antitumor assays are used. Eight strains of bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Enterobactor aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Salmonella typhy, and Staphylococcus aureus and four strains of fungal viz: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium solani are used. Brine shrimps and potato dics are used for anticancer and antitumor potency of extract. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is utilized for determination of bioactive metabolites responsible for the activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPLC chromatogram revealed the presence of orientin, isoquercetin, myricetin and apigenin. Various fractions of C. oapca showed significant antibacterial, antitumor and anticancer activity. In case of C. opaca fruit inhibition growth of Aspergillus niger was ranged between 23.2 ± 1.36% to 43.3 ± 2.39%, Aspergillus flavus ranged between 27.6 ± 1.39% to 65.6 ± 3.44%, Aspergillus fumigatus ranged between 13.2 ± 1.00% to 52.4 ± 1.54% and Fusarium solani ranged between 10.5 ± 1.02% to 14.6 ± 1.74%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that, various fractions of C.opaca are accessible source of ethno pharmacy as they are consumed in different areas of Pakistan with ultimate health compensations.
authors.affiliation: Botanical Sciences Division, Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, Islamabad, Pakistan. sumaira@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sahreen
authors.forename: Muhammad Rashid
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Rahmat Ali
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Naseer Ali
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010154:Pakistan; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts