Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Strychnos lenticellata

Abstract

Aims: Strychnos lenticellata belongs to the family of Loganiaceae. The study was intended to extract the phytochemicals from S. lenticellata using different solvents, the obtained exracts were subjected to determine the antibacterial and antioxidant capacity. Study Design:  Dried leaf powder of S. lenticellata was extracted with different solvent system and subjected to determine the phytochemical content, Antioxidant capability and antimicrobial activity against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Botany, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Nandanam, Chennai 600 035, Tamil Nadu, India, over the period of 7 months Methodology: Total Phenolic content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid content (TFC) of different solvent (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and ethanol) leaf extract of S. lenticellata was determined. The antioxdidant capability of the extracts was examined by DDPH assay, Hydroxyl and Superoxide radical scavenging assay. The antibacterial activity was ascertained by well diffusion method against bacterial pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. Results: All the three solvent extracts showed positive results for flavonoids, and phenols. However, the ethanol extract (ES) shows highest total phenol content (31.11±1.24mg GAE/g extract) and total flavonoid conten (19.11±1.80mg QE/g extract) when compared to other solvent extracts. The ES extract shows potential antibacterial activity in order to S. mutans>S. aureus>S. typhi>B. subtilis>S. flexneri>K. pneumoniae. The ES extract exhibited significant radical scavenging ability with IC50 values of DPPH (87.12 µg/mL), Superoxide (76.66 µg/mL) and hydroxyl radicals (76.20 µg/mL), respectively. Conclusion: The study concludes that phenolic compounds in the extracts are liable for the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Correspondingly, S. lenticellata inhibits the oral pathogen S. mutans and that could be added as ingredient in herbal formulation of natural oralcare products.