Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of various polar solvent extracts of stem and leaves of four Cassia species

Abstract

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves and stem of four Cassia species are reported in solvents like methanol, acetone and water after defatting with petroleum ether. In vitro antioxidant activities like 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities and reducing capacity assessment was done. Total phenol and flavonoid content were measured. The antimicrobial activity was tested against eight bacterial and four fungal strains. There was a direct correlation between phenol content and antioxidant activity. The acetone extract of stem of Cassia auriculata showed significantly higher antioxidant activity while acetone and methanol extracts of stem and leaves showed a broad range of antimicrobial property. Therefore, it is concluded that C. auriculata possess phenolic properties that has considerable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, total phenol content, Cassiaspecies.