Estimation of phytoconstituents and screening of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of different extracts from Moringa oleifera

Abstract

The present study deals with the preliminary phytochemical screening and determination of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of various extracts from leaves and flowers of Moringa oleifera. The results revealed the presence of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and steroids in the extracts. All the extracts exhibited antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria with the diameter of inhibition zone ranging from 7 to 22 mm. However, highest antibacterial activity was observed by methanol and ethyl acetate extracts. The scavenging effect of the n-hexane extracts of leaf and flower on DPPH radicals increased with increasing concentration and highest activity was 70.94% and 73.50%, respectively while ascorbic acid was the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (82.91%) at a concentration of 180 μg/ml. These results indicated that n-hexane extracts of flower and leaf of Moringa oleifera have a noticeable effect on scavenging free radical, however, it can be categorized as a good and potential antioxidant agent and could be one of the areas which attached a great deal of attention is the possible therapeutic potential of antioxidants in controlling degenerative diseases associated with marked oxidative damage. The preliminary studies on Moringa oleifera extracts exhibited their antibacterial and antioxidant potential which could be exploited further as future antimicrobials for pharmaceutical treatment, natural therapies, food preservation and cosmetic applications.