Fight against AMR with desolate wealth Dioscorea pentaphylla L.: an unexplored wild medicinal food plant of Similipal Biosphere Reserve Forest, Odisha, India


Abstract published

International Conference on Conserving Biodiversity for Sustainable Development (INCCBSD-2013)
Supported by TEQIP II, 16th to 18th August, 2013. Organised by Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha, India. pp-55.



Sanjeet Kumar et al. 2013
Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack- 75 3003, Odisha, India

AMR (Antimicrobial resistance) is phenomenon of resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobial drugs to which they were originally responsive. Such effect may due to natural changes in the microorganisms or due to anthropogenic causes. Therefore there is need for screening of new plants having good ethnic values to fight against AMR. Among those plants, Dioscorea pentaphylla L. is a wild medicinal tuberous food plant commonly available in Similipal Biosphere Reserve Forest (SBR). Tribal communities of SBR have been using its parts against microbial infections. Therefore an attempt has been made to evaluate the phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of Dioscorea pentaphylla L. tuber extracts against pathogenic microbes. Aim of the study was assessment of ethnobotanical values, bioactive compounds, antimicrobial activity and validation of tribal claims. Ethnobotanical data collection were made following Christian and Brigitte, (2004).Qualitative analysis of bioactive compounds were carried out by Harborne, (1973); Trease and Evans (1989) and Kumar et al., (2007).The antimicrobial activity was done using Agar Well Diffusion assay (Allen et al., 1991).The ethnobotanical survey indicated wide medicinal values among the tribal communities of SBR.Tuber extracts are used against different microbial diseases.The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of bioactive compounds such as tannin, flavonoids,  saponins etc in the extracts of Dioscorea pentaphylla L. tuber that posses anitimicrobial activity. Results showed relevant zones of inhibition against Streptococcus pyogenes (MTCC 1926), Streptococcus mutans (MTCC 497), Salmonella typhi (MTCC 1252), Vibrio cholerae (MTCC 3909) and Shigella flexneri (MTCC 1457) at different concentration of the plant extracts used.The investigation validates the potent medicinal applications of Dioscorea pentaphylla L. among the tribal communities of SBR against skin infections and other diseases through phytochemical screening and antimicrobial activity of the tuber extracts. Isolation, purification and characterization of bioactive compounds in tuber extracts will aid to the formulation of new synthetic drugs that may fight against AMR. The study further suggest to all concerned with biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of this valuable bioresource of SBR.

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