EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING OF AQUEOUS METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LINUM USITATISSIMUM

Abstract

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial study and phytochemical assessment of 80% v/v aqueous methanol extract of Linum usitatisimum. Flax seeds (Linum usitatisimum) are an ample source of lignans, which have antioxidant properties and promisingly reduce the effects of free radicals. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by free radical scavenging activity using DPPH radical and the activity was in the range of 26.7% to 98.6%. The average inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated. According to DPPH method, the IC50value of 80% v/v aqueous methanol extract of flax seeds was 5.56mg/ml. An in vitro antimicrobial assay by disc diffusion method was carried out. The results showed that 80% v/v aqueous methanol extract of seeds were effective against various test microorganisms. This paper also presents total phenolic assessment of 80% v/v aqueous methanol extract of flax seeds; the content was 20.91%. Furthermore, 80% v/v aqueous methanol extract was examined for qualitative phytochemical analysis and the results illustrate the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids and proteins.