Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
aromadendrene. The ethyl acetate extracts of rhizomes and leaves of this
species showed pronounced antifungal activity with diameter zones of inhi-
bition ranging from 20 to 28 and from 18 to 25 mm, respectively. They also
showed antiyeast activity with diameter zones of inhibition ranging from 22
to 25 and from 20 to 23 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concen-
tration (MIC) of rhizome and leaf extracts for antifungal activity measured
was 2-4 mg/ml. The MIC value for antibacterial activity, however, was high
(16-42 mg/ml). The compounds α- and β-asarones (phenylpropanoids) of
this species are said to be responsible for these antimicrobial activities
(Asha Devi and Ganjewala, 2009). Asarones and ursolic acid have also been
reported to possess antiepileptic and antihelmintic activities. The extracts
of roots possess antimalarial properties.
THALIA MULTIFLORA
HORKEL EX KOERNICKE
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Fire lag
Distribution: Tropical America, tropical Africa, Argentina, Paraguay
Habitat: Freshwater habitats
Description: This species, which grows to a maximum height of 2 m, is known
for its large starch rhizome. The blue-green leaves are ovate to lanceolate.
Small violet lowers are seen on a panicle (20 cm length) that is held above
the foliage.
Compounds and activities: From the aerial parts of this plant, bioactive anti-
tubercular sterols, viz., stigmast-5-en-3β- ol-7-one, stigmast-4-en-6 β- ol-3-
one, stigmast-5,22-dien-3β-ol-7-one, and stigmast-4,22-dien-6β- ol-3-one,
have been isolated. These compounds have shown MIC values of 1.98 ± 0.02,
4.2 ± 0.17, 1.0 ± 0.06, and 2.2 ± 0.3 µg/m, respectively (Lugo et al., 2005).
