11 Many medicinal plants exhibit antimicrobial activity for treatment of infectious

diseases. Antimicrobials are chemical compounds which either destroy or usually suppress the growth or metabolism of a variety of microscopic or submicroscopic forms of life.12 Essential (volatile) plant oils occur in edible, medicinal and herbal plants, which minimize questions regarding their safe use in food products. Essential oils and their constituents have been widely used as flavouring agents in foods since the earliest www.selleckchem.com/products/3-methyladenine.html recorded history and it is well established that many have wide spectra of antimicrobial action.13, 14 and 15 The composition, structure as well as functional groups of the oils play an important role in determining their antimicrobial activity. One of the more dramatic effects of inhibitory action appears in two separate reports where the outer of the two cell membranes of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium disintegrated following exposure to carvacrol and thymol. 16 Similar observations

were also recorded with these agents using a different strain of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 17 Yeast and Gram-positive bacteria showed no such changes in cell wall morphology. This was probably due to the solubility of lipo polysaccharides (LPS) in the outer membrane in phenolic-based solvents. Traditional and natural antimicrobial agents with potential are of current value for use in foods as secondary preservatives.18 and 19 Because of greater consumer awareness and concern regarding synthetic chemical additives, foods preserved with natural additives have BMS-354825 in vivo become popular. This has led researchers and food processors to look for natural food additives with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.20 Antimicrobial compounds present in foods can extend shelf-life of unprocessed or processed foods by reducing microbial growth rate or viability.21 Originally added to change or improve taste, spices and herbs can also enhance shelf-life because of their

antimicrobial nature. Some of these same substances are also known to contribute to the self-defense of plants against infectious organisms.22 and 23 Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in more than 100 diseases, including malaria, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, heart disease, of stroke, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer.24 When produced in excess, ROSs can cause tissue injury which can itself cause ROS generation.25 Trianthema decandra (Aizoaceae) is a prostrate, glabrous, succulent, annual herb found almost throughout India. It is commonly known as gadabani in Hindi and vellai sharunai in Tamil. 26T. decandra has been used in various parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and South America for curing various diseases. In African countries the plant has been popular use for skin diseases, wound healing, fever and tooth aches. 27 The juice of leaves is used to treat the black quarter.