Jatropha curcas L: Phytochemical, antimicrobial and larvicidal properties

Objective: To evaluate antimicrobial activities as well as the phytochemical and lavicidal properties of different parts of Jatropha curcas L.(J. curcas) growing in Mauritius.Methods: Determination of the presence of phytochemicals in the crude plants extracts by test tube reactions. Disc diffusion method and microdilution method were used to detect the antimicrobial sensitivity and activity(minimal inhibitory concentration). The crude solvent extracts were also tested on the larvae of two insects, Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera cucurbitae(Diptera, Tephritidae).Results: The antimicrobial activities were significantly dependent for the different crude plant extracts on the thirteen microorganisms tested. For the Gram-positive bacteria, the crude ethyl acetate extract was more efficient compared to the Gram-negative bacteria with both solvents being effective. The crude ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark and mature seed oil showed the highest efficacy. The highest mortality percentage was observed after 24 h for both Diptera flies with(66.67 ± 2.89)% of Bactrocera cucurbitae larvae killed by ethyl acetate extract of J. curcas bark.Conclusions: This paper compared the different J. curcas plant sections with respect to the effectiveness of the plant as a potential candidate for new pharmaceuticals. The larvicidal effect was also studied in order to demonstrate the dual purpose of the plant.

In vitro antimicrobial and larvicidal properties of wild Ricinus communis L. in Mauritius

Objective: To explore the phytochemical and antimicrobial activities as well as the insecticidal properties of the different sections of Ricinus communis(castor) plant in Mauritius.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative methods were used for the determination of phytochemicals in the crude leaves, pericarp, seeds, bark and root extracts obtained by using polar and non-polar solvents. The disc diffusion and micro-dilution methods were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the crude solvent extracts against 13 microorganisms. The insecticidal properties of the crude extracts on larvae of Bactrocera zonata(Diptera: Tephritidae), which caused important economic losses to local fruits were also investigated.Results: All the extracts from the different parts of the plant showed antimicrobial activity against most tested microorganisms. The polar solvents' extracts of the fully mature parts of the castor plant were active against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa(ATCC 27853),Escherichia coli(E. coli)(ATCC 25922), E. coli(0145:H28 Acc. No. CP006027.1) with inhibition zones ranging from 16 mm to 19 mm and against Bacillus cereus(ATCC11778)(B. cereus), Listeria innocua(ATCC 33090)(L. innocua). Lowest microbial inhibitory concentration was recorded for B. cereus, L. innocua, Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 29213), E. coli(ATCC 25922) and Proteus mirabilis strain(NCTC 11938) with value of 3.2 mg/m L. The most active extract against both Gram-negative and Grampositive bacteria was extracted from the fully mature pericarps and it was the most active against E. coli(ATCC 25922), B. cereus, L. innocua and Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 29213). In addition, the extracts obtained by using polar solvent and fully mature leaves demonstrated the strongest larvicidal activity against Bactrocera zonata(100%).Conclusions: Ricinus communis(castor) plant extracts possess larvicidal properties providing an effective eco-friendly control for fruit flies. The antimicrobial results justify the use of this plant in traditional medicine and the practice of supplementing decoctions/concoctions with conventional antibiotics.

Notes for genera:Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi,has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques,over the past 10–15 years,and continues to accelerate.Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic,and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended.New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera.The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011,has also caused changes in fungal generic names.In order to facilitate access to all important changes,it was desirable to compile these in a single document.The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota(approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016),including those which are lichen-forming.Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of‘Ainsworth&Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’in 2008 are provided.The notes include the number of accepted species,classification,type species(with location of the type material),culture availability,life-styles,distribution,and selected publications that have appeared since 2008.This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the"Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi"published in 2013,which will be developed into a list of protected generic names.This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists,and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi(NCF).The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis,Collophora(as Collophorina),Cryomyces,Dematiopleospora,Heterospora(as Heterosporicola),Lithophila,Palmomyces(as Palmaria)and Saxomyces are validated,as are two previously invalid family names,Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae.Four species of Lalaria,which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations.Catenomycopsis Tibell&Constant.is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain.,while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces.&De Not.(Art.59).