title: Chemical profiling, antimicrobial and insecticidal evaluations of Polygonum hydropiper L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The emergence of multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens is of great concern to the global health community. Our ability to effectively treat diseases is based on the discovery of potent drugs for the treatment of these challenging diseases. Traditional medicines are one of the major sources for the discovery of safe, effective and economical drug candidates. In order to validate its antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal potentials with respect to traditional uses, we have screened for the first time Polygonum hydropiper against pathogenic bacterial, fungal strains and a variety of insects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polygonum hydropiper samples including crude extract (Ph.Cr), subsequent fractions; n-hexane (Ph.Hex), chloroform (Ph.Chf), ethyl acetate (Ph.EtAc), n-Butanol (Ph.Bt), aqueous (Ph.Aq) and crude saponins (Ph.Sp) were tested against pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains. Insecticidal activities were performed against Tribolium castaneum and Rhyzopertha dominica and Monomorium pharaonis. Ph.Cr was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for preliminary identification of chemical constituents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In disc diffusion assay, Ph.Chf, Ph.Hex, Ph.EtAc and Ph.Sp exhibited highest activity against Enterococcus faecalis. MICs of Ph.Chf against Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, P. mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 32.00, 13.33, 10.66, 5.33, 64.00, 8.66 and 10.66 μg/ml respectively. MFC's of Ph.Chf against Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum were 16.66, 23.33, 125.00 and 46.66 μg/ml respectively. Ph.EtAc, Ph.Sp, Ph.Chf and Ph.Bt were most active fractions against T. castaneum and R. dominica. Ph.Sp being most active against A. punctatum exhibited LC50of < 0.01 mg/ml. In GC-MS analysis of Ph.Cr, 124 compounds were identified among which several bioactive antibacterial, antifungal and insecticidal compounds were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. hydropiper samples exhibited broad spectrum of activity against bacterial and fungal strains. Our results support previously reported insecticidal properties of saponins and may provide scientific justification for the ethno-medicinal uses of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan. ayazuop@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Junaid
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Lab (MOSEL), Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ovais
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sajjad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KPK), 18000, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001517:Coleoptera; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D007306:Insecticides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D028502:Polygonum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D007306:Insecticides; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Anobium punctatum; Fungicidal and antibacterial activity; Gas chromatography; Larvicidal; Monomorium pharaonis; Rhyzopertha dominica; Tribolium castaneum