Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant properties of some traditional medicinal plants TICLE R from India A Sreerangegowda Thippeswamy, Rayasandra Umesh Abhishek, Kiragandur Manjunath, Devihalli Chikkaiah Mohana L Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India A Background: Medicinal plants have been used to prevent and treat various health problems. Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of aqueous and solvent extracts of some selected medicinal plants. IGIN Materials and Methods: The disc diffusion method was employed for the determination of antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant R activity was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide reducing and ‑carotene/linoleic acid bleaching inhibition assays. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method was employed for the determination of total phenolic contents. O Results: Aqueous and solvent extracts of Acacia catechu, A. ferruginea, Adenanthera pavonina, Albizia odoratissima, Anogeissus latifolia, Breynia vitis‑idaea, Salacia oblonga, Senna spectabilis and Solanum indicum showed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis, and promising antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activities were positively correlated with total phenolic contents. Discussion and Conclusion: The promising antibacterial and antioxidant activities of these plants validated their traditional use in various herbal preparations to treat various ailments associated with pathogenic microbes and oxidative stress. Further investigations such as isolation of active principles and toxicological studies to ascertain the safety, and in vivo experimentations on suitable models are required to explore the therapeutic usage of these plants on humans. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, medicinal plants, total phenolic content INTRODUCTION peroxide (H2O2) are highly reactive unstable molecules, which are generated naturally as unwanted products Infectious diseases are the world’s leading cause of during oxidation-reduction reaction in the human body.[10] premature deaths, killing almost 50,000 people every The overproduction of these reactive oxygen species day.[1] In recent years, drug resistant human pathogenic causes many oxidative damage associated degenerative bacteria have been commonly reported from all over the diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases, world.[2-4] According to centers for disease control and cancer, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, inflammation and prevention statement, more than 2 million people get neurodegenerative diseases.[11-13] Synthetic antioxidants antibiotic-resistant infections every year.[5] These drug play an important role in prevention or delaying the onset resistant bacteria have further complicated the treatment of major oxidative stress related diseases.[14,15] However, of infectious diseases in immuno-compromised persons the setback and limitation with many of the synthetic [6-8] particularly AIDS and cancer patients. As a result, antioxidants are that they cause innumerable side‑effects society is facing one of the most serious public health in human.[16] Hence, there is an increasing interest in dilemmas over the emergence of infectious bacteria finding natural antioxidants.[17] displaying resistance to many and in some case all, [9] effective antibiotics. Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of higher plants are being reported from all over the world.[18,19] The free radicals such as singlet oxygen (1O ), superoxide 2 Approximately, 80% of the world population relies on − anion (O ), hydroxyl radical (OH) and hydrogen [20] 2 traditional medicine for their primary health care. Access this article online Even though, the WHO is encouraging, promoting, Quick Response Code: and facilitating the effective use of herbal medicine, Website: only a small percentage (5–15%) of the estimated www.greenpharmacy.info 400,000–500,000 plant species have been scientifically and systematically evaluated for their pharmacological DOI: activities. Considering the vast potentiality of plants 10.4103/0973-8258.150925 as a source of new pharmacological agents, a detailed investigation was conducted to test the antibacterial and Address for correspondence: Dr. Devihalli Chikkaiah Mohana, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru ‑ 560 056, Karnataka, India. E‑mail: [email protected] Received: 04‑04‑2014; Accepted: 27‑01‑2015 | January‑March 2015 | International Journal of Green Pharmacy 50 Thippeswamy, et al.: Bioactivities of extracts of some medicinal plants antioxidant efficacies of some selected Indian medicinal Table 1: Antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of some plants with the ultimate aim to develop plant based drugs traditional plant species against E. coli and S. aureus for the management of diseases caused by pathogenic Name of the plants Family Antibacterial bacteria and free radicals. activity (ZOI in mm) MATERIALS AND METHODS S. aureus E. coli Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd. Fabaceae 12.1±0.6 07.2±0.6 Acacia chundra (Rottler) Willd. Fabaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Chemicals and Culture Media Acacia ferruginea DC. Mimosaceae 08.5±0.8 06.0±0.6 The Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA), dimethyl Adenanthera pavonina L. Mimosaceae 08.2±0.7 06.5±0.6 sulfoxide (DMSO), -carotene, H2O2, linoleic acid, butylated Albizia odoratissima (L.f.) Benth. Fabaceae 09.5±0.7 06.5±0.5 hydroxytoluene (BHT), ascorbic acid, all solvents and Anogeissus latifolia Combretaceae 09.5±0.7 06.5±0.8 synthetic antibiotics were purchased from Hi-media, (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Bedd. Mumbai (India). 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) Abrus precatorius L. Fabaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 was obtained from Sigma, Germany. All chemicals and Argemone mexicana L. Papaveraceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 solvents used were of analytical grade. Artabotrys odoratissimus Blume Annonaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Asparagus racemosus Willd. Liliaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Bauhinia acuminata L. Caesalpiniaceae 06.7±0.4 0.0±0.0 Plant Materials Breynia vitis‑idaea (Burm.f.) Phyllanthaceae 08.5±0.7 06.5±0.5 Fresh disease free leaves of 42 different plants [Table 1], with C.E.C.Fisch. reported medicinal property in traditional literature and Calotropis gigantea (L.) Dryand. Apocyanceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 generally available in the southern part of Karnataka (India) Carissa carandas L. Apocyanceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 were selected for the study. The plant samples were Cassia alata L. Fabaceae 07.5±0.4 0.0±0.0 identified by Dr. Seetharam, Professor, Department of Cassia siamea Lam. Fabaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Biological Sciences, Bangalore University, Bangalore (India). Cassia tora L. Fabaceae 07.8±0.5 0.0±0.0 The authenticated voucher specimens of these plants Coleus amboinicus Lour. Lamiaceae 06.5±0.5 0.0±0.0 Couroupita guianensis Aubl. Lecythidaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 were deposited in the Department of Microbiology and Delonix regia (Hook.) Raf. Fabaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bangalore along Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. Sapindaceae 07.5±0.7 06.2±0.5 with proper voucher numbers (Voucher numbers: BUB/ Ficus benghalensis L. Moraceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 MB-BT/DCM/JU10/01 to BUB/MB-BT/DCM/JU10/42). The Ficus religiosa L. Moraceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 collected fresh plant materials were washed separately with Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. Fabaceae 07.6±0.8 0.0±0.0 tap water (2–3 times) and once with sterile distilled water, Holoptelea integrifolia Planch. Ulmaceae 06.5±0.5 0.0±0.0 shade dried, powdered and used for extraction. Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Lythraceae 07.8±0.6 0.0±0.0 Millingtonia hortensis L.f. Bignoniaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Preparation of Aqueous Extract Phyllanthus amarus Sch. and Phyllanthaceae 06.5±0.8 0.0±0.0 Thonn. Fifty grams each of powdered plant material was macerated Peltophorum pterocarpum K .Heyne Fabaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 separately with 250 mL of sterile distilled water. The Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae 06.5±0.4 0.0±0.0 macerate was first filtered through double‑layered muslin Saccharum spontaneum L. Poaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 cloth and then centrifuged at 4000 g for 30 min. The Salacia oblonga Wall. Celastraceae 08.0±0.5 06.1±0.6 supernatant was filtered through Whatman No. 1 filter Senna spectabilis (DC.) H.S.Irwin Fabaceae 12.5±0.8 07.5±0.7 paper and the obtained extracts were considered as mother and Barneby extracts (100% concentration) and subjected to evaluation Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Pers. Fabaceae 06.5±0.4 0.0±0.0 of antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and estimation Solanum indicum L. Solanaceae 08.2±0.6 06.5±0.5 Spathodea campanulata P. Beauv. Bignoniaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 of total phenolic contents.[21] Spilanthes paniculata Wall. ex DC. Asteraceae 06.1±0.4 0.0±0.0 Tabebuia aurea Benth. and Bignoniaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Preparation of Solvent Extracts Hook. f. ex S. Moore The plants viz., Acacia catechu, A. ferruginea, A. pavonina, A. Thespesia populnea (L.) Malvaceae 07.0±0.6 0.0±0.0 odoratissima, A. latifolia, B. vitis‑idaea, S. oblonga, S. spectabilis Sol. ex Correa and S. indicum showed significant antibacterial activity Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merr. Asclepiadaceae 06.2±0.4 0.0±0.0 in aqueous extract, were selected for successive solvent Vitex negundo L. Lamiaceae 0.0±0.0 0.0±0.0 Ziziphus mucronata Willd. Rhamnaceae 06.8±0.4 0.0±0.0 extraction following the procedure of Amoo et al.[22] Briefly, F ‑ 86.19 104.50 50 g powder of each plant material was filled in the thimble Data given are the mean of four replicates±standard error, ANOVA df 41 at and extracted successively with 200 mL of petroleum P<0.001.