Libyan Agriculture Research Center Journal International 2 (2): 62-67, 2011 ISSN 2219-4304 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Studies on Antibacterial and Insecticidal Activities of Suregada multiflora 1M. Saiful Islam, 2Ronok Zahan, 2M. Badrul Alam, 3Marufa Naznin, 4Gopal C. Sarkar, 5M.A. Mosaddik and 6M. Ekramul Haque 1Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University, Chittagong, Bangladesh 2Department of Pharmacy, Atish Dipankar Unversity of Science & Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh 3Department of Environmental Science, Independent University, Bangladesh 4Quality Compliance Department, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Pabna, Bangladesh 5Department of Pharmacy, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi-6205, Bangladesh 6Department of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Abstract: The methanol: ethyl acetate (1:9) extract of the root and leaves of Suregada multiflora were tested against five Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. Root extract was active against all tested microbial species and the highest activity was shown against Escherichia coli with a zone of inhibition 13±0.01 mm. Leaves extract showed mild activity for all the tested bacterial strains (range of inhibition zone was 5±0.10 to 6±0.13 mm) except Bacillus cereus, B. megatherium, B. anthracis and Shigella boydii. Significant and highest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were observed by root extract against Escherichia coli with the value of 0.625 mg/ml. In insecticidal study, the root extract of Suregada multiflora showed better activity with 100% mortality rate of Tribolium castaneum at a dose of 50mg/ml with 12 hours and also showed the activity in a dose dependent manner, whereas the leaves extract of Suregada multiflora showed 40% mortality rate of Tribolium castaneum at a dose of 50mg/ml with 48 hours. Key words: Suregada multiflora % Tribolium castaneum % Antibacterial % Insecticidal activity INTRODUCTION or self treatment practices [3]. So the developments of new antibacterial agents are necessary to combat the The history of plants being used for medicinal problem of microbial resistance and for substitution with purpose is probably as old as the history of mankind. ineffective ones. Moreover, it is presumed that the broad Extraction and characterization of several active spectrum effectiveness of plant species may provide a phytocompounds from these green factories have given suitable basis for new antimicrobial therapies [4]. birth to some high activity profile drugs. The potential Higher plants are rich source of novel natural natural drugs like vincristine, vinblastine and taxol can be substances that can be used to develop environmental the chief examples [1]. Simultaneous with population safe methods for insect control [5]. Yang and Tang [6] explosion, virulent strains of microorganisms become reviewed the plant used for insect control and found that more common and their increased attack accounts for there is a strong connection between medicinal and increased mortality [2]. Bangladesh, being a country with pesticidal plants. Not only the world wide annual losses high density of population, infectious diseases becomes of food grains storage caused by insects have been a great challenge in the health and economic sector. To estimated to be about 10% of the world’s production, but prevent infectious diseases, large numbers of antibiotics, losses of 25% or more may also occur in tropical countries mostly synthetic drugs, of different chemical nature have through insect attack after harvest [7]. Tribolium been developed in the last few decades. Nowadays, a castaneum (Herbst) is considered to be a major pest of good number of antibiotics are found to be microbiology stored grains. In Bangladesh Tribolium castaneum is resistant due to their inappropriate and injudicious uses abundantly found in stored grains of different cereals. Corresponding Author: Professor Md. Ekramul Haque, PhD Chairman, Department of Pharmacy, BRAC University, 66-Mohakhali, Gulshan, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh. Tel: +88-01711952286. 62 Libyan Agric. Res. Cen. J. Intl., 2 (2): 62-67, 2011 Control of these insects relies heavily on the use of Preparation of Extracts: The roots and leaves of synthetic insecticides and fumigants, which has led to S. multiflora were dried in an oven at 37°C and then problem such as disturbances of the environment, pulverized into course powder with a mechanical grinder, increasing cost of application, pest resurgence, resistant passing through sieve #40 and stored separately in an air to pesticides and lethal effects on non-target organism in tight container. The dried powdered materials (1.0 kg) addition to direct toxicity to users [8, 9]. So there is an each, extracted three times by sonication for 30 min with immediate need to develop eco-friendly alternatives with MeOH:EtOAc (1:9) mixture (1000ml) and then filtered.. The low cost and easy to use. total filtrate of both was concentrated to dryness, in Suregada multiflora (syn. Gelonium multiflorum vacuo at 40°C to render the crude extracts 300 g and 240 A. Juss) belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, grows in g, respectively. the tropical and the subtropical areas of Asia and Africa. It is locally known as false lime and used traditionally for Screening of Antibacterial Activity: Test the treatment of hepatic and gum diseases [10]. In Thai Microorganisms: Bacterial strains (Gram positive and traditional medicine, the bark of this plant has been used Gram negative) were obtained from International Centre to treat hepatitis, lymphatic disorders, skin diseases, for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B). venereal diseases, fungal infections and leprosy. Wood Bacillus anthracis ATCC 14321, Bacillus cereus ATCC parts have been used for treatment of pyrexia, eczema and 14579, B. megaterium ATCC 13578, B. subtilis ATCC venereal diseases, whereas the roots have been used for 6059, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, Escherichia treating skin infection and lymphatic disorders [11]. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Previous phytochemical investigations on some species Shigella flexneri ATCC 9221, Shigella boydii ATCC of this genus have resulted in the isolation of flavonoids 9234, were used as test microorganisms. All these [12, 13], triterpenoids [14, 15] and some diterpenoids bacterial species are recommended by ATCC for their [16-20]. The crude extract (CH Cl –MeOH, 1:1) of S. 2 2 susceptibility assay. All the test strains are maintained multiflora exhibited selective cytotoxicity against and tested on Nutrient Agar medium (NA) for bacteria. different human tumor cell lines [21]. This plant has also been reported to contain anti-human immunodeficiency Antibacterial Assay: The crude extract of the root and virus type 1 (HIV-1) protein, GAP31 and also to exhibit the leaves of Suregada multiflora were tested for inhibitory effect on the infection and replication of herpes antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method [25]. Both simplex virus (HSV) [22]. But still no scientific and the crude extracts were separately dissolved in respective methodical investigation has so far been reported in the solvent (1 ml) to get a concentration of 200µg/disc. The literatures regarding its antimicrobial and insecticidal test microorganisms were inoculated into respective action. Therefore, as a part of our ongoing phytochemical and pharmacological investigations on local medicinal medium by spread plate method with 24 h cultured plants of Bangladesh, [23-24] the present study has been bacteria, grown in nutrient agar medium. After designed to examine the antimicrobial and insecticidal solidification the filter paper disc (5 mm diameter) activity of the crude extract (Methanol (MeOH): impregnated with sample, the standard antibiotic Ethylacetate (EtOAc)-1:9) of the leaves and roots of (Kanamycin-30µg/disc) as positive and as negative Suregada multiflora against some pathogenic bacteria controls, a blank disc impregnated with 30µl respective using disc diffusion method and adult Tribolium solvent was used. The spatial arrangement discs were castaneum (Herbst) by surface film treatment, such that the discs were not closer than 15 mm to the respectively. edge of the plate to prevent overlapping the inhibition zone. The plates were then kept in a refrigerator at 4°C for MATERIALS AND METHODS about 24 hours in order to provide sufficient time to diffuse the sample and standard from the discs to Plant Materials: Different parts (leaves and roots) of S. surrounding agar medium. Finally, the plates were multiflora were collected from the adjoining area of invested and kept in an incubator at 37°C for 24 hours. Rajshahi University Campus, Bangladesh during the After incubation the antibacterial activity of the test month of April 2009 and were identified by Taxonomist, material was determined by measuring the diameter of the Department of Botany at University of Rajshahi, zone of inhibition in terms of millimeters (mm) with a Bangladesh, where a voucher specimen (Voucher No # 37) transparent scale and the experiment was carried has been deposited for future references. out in triplicate. The extracts that showed prominent 63 Libyan Agric. Res. Cen. J. Intl., 2 (2): 62-67, 2011 antimicrobial activity were later tested to determine the death. Attention was also paid to recover the insects if Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for each bacterial occurred. The mortality records of the Tribolium sample according to method [26]. castaneum adults were corrected by the Abbott’s formula [29].