Assessment of Biological and Antioxidant Capacities of Myrtuscommunis L. Leaf and Fruit Extracts from Mediterranean Region of Turkey

Abstract

Recently in humans and fishes most of the disease causing pathogenic microorganisms developed resistance against certain antimicrobial agents. This situation is causing both health and economic problems. In this context present study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of leaves and fruits of Myrtuscommunis. Antimicrobial activity of the plant’s leaf and fruit extracts was tested by using disc diffusion method against five fish, seven food-borne human pathogens and twoyeast strains. For this purpose, n-hexane and methanol an organic solvent were used for the obtaining the extract from dried leaves and fruit. The highest inhibition values was recorded as; for leaf n-hexane, leaf methanol and fruit n-hexane extracts against A. hydrophila ATCC 19570 fish pathogen as 24.59 mm, 21.76 mm and 23.78 mm, respectively while for fruit methanol extract against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 (human food-borne pathogen) as 16.61 mm. MBC and MFC results revealed that all extracts showed inhibitory activity against the entire test microorganisms. Methanol extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity than n-hexane extracts. IC50 values were recorded in the range of 162.82-633.01 μg/mL and the highest activity was recorded for methanol extract (162.82 μg/mL). According to total antioxidant capacity method, the leaf methanol extract has been shown to have the highest activity as 115.91 mg AE/g.The highest activity (147.97mg TE/g) was found by the leaf methanol extract using FRAP method. Considering the results M. communis can be suggested as possible candidate for the extraction of natural and economic antimicrobial and antioxidant material.