Ethnobotany and Antimicrobial Study of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Magar Community in Nawalpur District, Nepal

Nemkul, Chandra Mohini

Ethnobotany and Antimicrobial Study of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Magar Community in Nawalpur District, Nepal

Publisher

Institute of Science and Technology

Abstract

Field survey and ethnobotanical data was collected from 2015 to 2017 in Hupsekot , Bulingtar rural municipalities and Kawasoti urban municipality of Gandaki province, Nawalpur district, Nepal focusing on Magar community. To verify traditional use of selected plant species for diarrhea, urinary tract infection, typhoid and pneumonia, laboratory tests of the extracts of the plants were performed. Methods: Data were collected by interviewing local healers and knowledgeable people. Plants were selected for laboratory tests on the basis of factor for informant consensus (FIC) and feudality level (Fl) along with use mention (UM). Plant parts dried at room temperature were used for extraction by using hexane and 70% methanol successively. The extracts in amount 50µl were used for in vitro antimicrobial tests by agar well diffusion method. Dimethoxy sulfate (DMSO) was used as negative control; ampicillin and gentamicin were used as positive control. The test bacteria were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Shigella dysenteriae and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhi. Phytochemical screening was performed by colorimetric method. The effective compounds present were analyzed by GC-MS analysis. Estimation of total phenolic content was done using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. Antioxidant assays were done by DPPH free radical scavenging and H2 vi O2 scavenging methods. Results: Among 160 plant species recorded 124 species were medicinal use. Phanera vahlii, Flemingia strobilifera, Lagerstroemia parviflora, Stephania glandulifera, Tectaria coadunata, Woodfordia fruticosa, Rhododendron arboreum and Rhus chinensis were selected for gastrointestinal category; Tinospiora sinensis, Cissampelos pareira and. Azadirachta indica for urinary tract infection (UTI) category; Antidesma acidum and Aegle marmelos for the respiratory category; Callicarpa macrophylla for typhoid. Alkaloids, anthocyanosides, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannin and polyphenols were detected in the extracts. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that antimicrobial compounds such as 2-Methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 5(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furancarbaldehyde, Phytol, 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4Hpyran-4-one, Stigmasterol, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, disooctyl estser, vitamin E and squalene were present in the extracts. Methanolic extract of Rhus chinensis (RCM) showed largest zone of inhibition (ZOI) (23±0.57mm) against Escherichi coli followed by Woodfordia fruticosa (18mm) (WFM). The lowest value of minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli was <1.56mg/mL (WFM). RCM and FSM showed antimicrobial activities against Shigella dysenteriae causal bacteria of dysentery but MIC values of them were bacteriostatic.WFM (18.66±0.66mm) showed the largest ZOI against Enterococcus faecalis. The lowest value of MIC was 3.12mg/mL (WFM) against Enterococcus faecalis and it was bactericidal. WFM showed the largest ZOI against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The lowest value of MIC against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was <1.56 mg/mL (WFM). RCM (14.66±0.33mg/mL) showed larger ZOI against Klebsiella pneumoniae and followed by WFM (13.5±0.67mg/mL) and methanolic extract of Flemingia strobilifera (FSM) (11.66mg/mL). The lowest MIC value was 6.25mg/mL of FSM against Klesiella pneumoniae and it was bactericidal. The result showed that MIC value of methanolic extract of Antidesma acidum (AAM) (12.5mg/ml) against Klebsiella pneumoniae was bacterididal. MIC of methanolic extract of Callicarpa macrophylla leaf (CMML) was 25mg/mL against Salmonella typhi. MIC value of CMML against Salmonella typhi was bactericidal. RCH (hexane extract of Rhus chinensis) (16±0.33mm) showed larger ZOI against Escherichia coli. MIC of RCH was 1.56mg/mL against Escherichia coli was bacteriostatic and kill the bacteria at 6.25mg/mL. Total phenol content (TPC) in the plant extracts had significant variation ranging from 8.15 to 336.95 mg of GAE/g of dry extract. FSM contained maximum amount of TPC (336.95±14.61 mg of GAE/g of dry extract). 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging range from 4 to 94% at 100 µg/mL concentration of the 70% methanolic extracts and 50% inhibition concentration (IC50 vii ) range from 21.59±0.26 to 1434.11±1.17 µg/mL. The best DPPH free radical scavenger was methanolic extract of Rhododendron arboreum. The methanolic extract of Woodfordia fruticosa was the best H2 O2 scavenger. Conclusion: The extracts of the plants used for diarrhea by Magars of the study area, have shown antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, diarrhea causing bacteria. The most effective against Escherichia coli was the extract of Woodfordia fruticosa. The extract of the plant used for UTI by magars, have shown moderate effect against UTI causing bacteria. The result also verify local us of Callicarpa macrophylla against typhoid. These plants also have DPPHradical and H2 O2 scavenging properties. Woodfordia fruticosa, Flemingia strobilifera and Phanera vahlii could be used for treatment of UTI along with local use of Tinospora sinensis, Cissampelos pareira and. Azadirachta indica. In-vitro animal tests are required for these.