This study identified phytochemicals in Argemone mexicana (A. mexicana) extracts that are responsible for its medicinal properties, and the best solvent for their extraction. The extracts of the stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits of A. mexicana were prepared at low (corresponding to room temperature) and high temperatures (corresponding to the boiling points) in various solvents, viz., hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and H2O. The UV-visible absorption spectra of various phytoconstituents in the isolated extracts were determined through spectrophotometry. Qualitative tests for the screening of phytoconstituents in the extracts were performed to identify various phytochemicals. We identified the presence of terpenoids, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, and carbohydrates in the plant extracts. The antioxidant and anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (anti-HIV-1RT) potential, as well as the antibacterial activity of various A. mexicana extracts were determined. These extracts showed strong antioxidant activities. The extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus epidermis, Citrobacter, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Shigella flexineri. These extracts significantly inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase activity. The aqueous leaf extract prepared at a temperature equivalent to the boiling point, i.e., 100 °C, was identified to be the most active against pathogenic bacteria and HIV-1 RT.

Parthenium hysterophorus possesses certain allelochemicals responsible for their medicinal effects. The presence of oils, polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenes, pseudoguaianolides, and histamines in P. hysterophorus has been shown to exhibit medicinal properties. However, the systematic biomedical properties of this plant are still unexplored. The extracts of leaves, stem, and flower of P. hysterophorus, both at low and high temperatures (equivalent to boiling points of different solvents) were prepared. The extracts prepared in hexane, ethylacetate, methanol, and water were analyzed spectrophotometrically and colorimetrically and resolved on TLC for the presence of phytochemicals. The analyses of the free radical quenching potential of plant extracts were done by DPPH assay. The total antioxidant capacity was determined by phosphomolybdate assay and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay was used to determine the reduction potential of the extracts. The spectrophotometric and qualitative analysis of plant extracts demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, carbohydrates, and cardiac glycosides. The occurrence of more than one Rf values for extracts determined by TLC indicated the presence of more than one phytochemical compound. The P. hysterophorus extracts contained strong antioxidant activity. These extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermis, Salmonela typhi, Neisseria gonococci or gonococci, Citrobacter, and Shigella flexineri. The evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of P. hysterophorus extracts was done by the disc diffusion method. These extracts also showed significant inhibition against HIV-1 RT activity. The anti-HIV-1 RT activity was done using Roche Kit. The P. hysterophorus extracts displayed the presence of many phytochemicals with strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-HIV-1 RT properties.

Parthenium hysterophorus L. belonging to the family Asteraceae is a noxious weed in-festation with allelopathic effects with its lower economic value. It poses a serious risk to its sur-roundings. The presence of oils, polyphenols, flavones, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenes, pseudoguai-anolides, and histamines in P. hysterophorus makes it important and beneficial due to its medicinal properties. This review article is focused on the history, geographical distribution, chemical compo-sition, and molecular structure of some phytochemicals and ethanopharmacological aspects of P. hysterophorus. The harmful effects of this weed have also been included. The information avail-able from the existing literature revealed that P. hysterophorus is rich in various phytochemicals with different pharmacological activities. However, the complete analysis of different phytoconstit-uents isolated from P. hysterophorus and their specific properties are not fully understood. The spo-radic information published in some journals suggests that this plant could be exploited to develop new drugs against certain diseases, including cancer, HIV-1 infection, and immunological disorders. The structure and mode of action of some compounds such as parthenin and stigmasterol were also discussed. Though the current information on P. hysterophorus indicates the ethnopharmacological implications of extracts of this plant, more systematic and extensive studies are still required to properly understand the contribution of its specific chemical constituents responsible for their vari-ous medicinal properties.

Background:Citrus limon(lemon) belongs to the Rutaceae family and has great therapeutic applications. The chemical ingredients ofC. limonhave been used in the formulation of several ethnic herbal medicines. The application of antibiotics has shown the development of drug resistance in antibacterial drugs. Due to the drug-resistant nature of microorganisms, there is an urgent need to develop a novel drug active against wildtype and MDR resistant strains of pathogens.Aim:The present study is an endeavor to characterize the juice ofC. limontowards its total antioxidants potential activity (FRAP), DPPH and antibacterial efficacy.Methods and Materials:The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using different bacterial species such asSalmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Citrobacter species, Shigella flexneriandStaphylococcus epidermidis.Results:The results of the present study indicated the antibacterial potential ofC. limonfruit juice. Among the tested bacterial species,Shigella flexneridisplayed maximum inhibition followed by the other microbes such asStaphylococcus epidermidis, Citrobacter speciesandSalmonella typhi.Conclusion:These findings may be utilized in the development of cost effective, safe and efficient novel drugs active against several pathogenic multi drug-resistant microorganisms.

As the currently available therapies for HIV-1 have high costs and are associated with the appearance of multi-drug resistant HIV-1 strains, the Indian traditional medicine system Ayurveda may provide useful alternatives. In this study, we screened the inhibitory activities of various extracts of five Indian plants for inhibitory effects on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Water extracts of the leaves of Argemone mexicana strongly inhibited the DNA polymerase activity of HIV1 RT, which indicated that they contained substances with inhibitor activity. Neither heat treatment at 100ºC nor proteinase K treatment of the extracts abolished the inhibitory activity, suggesting that the inhibitory substance was an organic compound rather than a protein.

Extracts obtained from different parts of the plants are reported to exhibit therapeutic potential due to presence of different phytochemical compounds.The extracts plant leaves, stem, seeds, flowers, fruits and roots of so many medicinal plants and weeds have been found to contain antibacterial and therapeutic potential.However, not much work has been conducted with the extracts of Argemone mexicana, Solanum xanthocarpum and Thevetia peruviana.This article presents a recent account of preparation of extracts from different parts of these plants, their chemical and biochemical characterization and future perspectives.