Pharmacological Screening of Arceuthobium oxycedri (Dwarf Mistletoe) of Juniper Forest of Pakistan

Abstract

The local population of Balochistan, Pakistan considers the Juniperus excelsa an important medicinal plant. The species is facing a grave threat by a parasitic and epiphytic angiosperm, dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium oxycedri (DC) M. Bieb (Viscaceae). The methanolic extract of A. oxycedri was studied for its chemical composition and biologically active compounds for the first time. The extract was assayed for antibacterial, antifungal, phytotoxic, cytotoxic and insecticidal activities. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extract were determined against ten bacterial and ten fungal strains by agar well diffusion and disc diffusion assay. The extract was highly effective against three bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherchia coli, Bacillus subtillis and a fungus Candida albicans.. The phytotoxic effects showed that it was extremely toxic for Lemna acquinoctialis. It showed high cytoxicity for brine shrimps at all concentrations and was found to be significantly cytotoxic against Candida albicans when checked by flow cytometer. However, the extract was not effective against the pests tested.