Abstract
This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial, antioxidant, nutritional and cytogenotoxic potentials of Aloe barbadensis (AB) root extract. The antimicrobial activity of AB was determined using agar well diffusion and microdilution techniques while the nutritional analyses were done using standard procedures. The antioxidant activities were evaluated via the lipid peroxidation, 1, 1, diphenyl-2-picrlhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing power (FRAP) assays. The cytogenotoxic effects were assessed using the Allium cepa and Sorghum bicolor assays. Five test bacterial isolates: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus saprophyticus) were found susceptible to the ethanolic extract of AB root. The extract at 50 mg/ml recorded the highest zone of inhibition (25.00±1.73 mm) against S. saprophyticus. The nutritional analysis gave a nitrogen free extract value of 24.66%, 30.05% crude fibre, 15.14 mg/kg of Na, 2.01 mg/kg of Mg, 37.42 mg/kg of Fe and 0.02 mg.kg of Zn. The fractions had antiradical activity in the lipid peroxidation, DPPH and FRAP assays. The ethanolic extract induced some chromosomal aberrations in the root tip cells of Allium cepa. The ethanolic extract had the highest (0.13±0.09 mm) antiproliferative activity at 20 mg/kg in the Sorghum bicolor assay. The relatively high nutrient content may be a possible mechanism for the aphrodisiac property of the plant. The results of the biological activities of AB root is an indication of its potential use in drug development for the management of infectious diseases and other related ailments.
Highlights
Today medicinal plants are fast becoming an important key to unlock the ravaging effects of some diseases in the world
This enhancement in the general health can lead to a burst of energy which translates into increased sexual appetite, besides increasing blood flow and intensity of ejaculation accompanied by anabolic and growth hormone stimulating properties (Smith et al, 2000; Ahmad et al, 2003; Yakubu et al, 2007)
This study revealed the potential of A. barbadensis root extract as a strong scavenger of free radicals with relatively good antimicrobial activities though at moderately high concentrations
Summary
Today medicinal plants are fast becoming an important key to unlock the ravaging effects of some diseases in the world. These plant chemicals have been reported to offer a boost of nutritional value thereby improving sexual performance and libido (Yakubu et al, 2007; Sumalatha et al, 2010) This enhancement in the general health can lead to a burst of energy which translates into increased sexual appetite, besides increasing blood flow and intensity of ejaculation accompanied by anabolic and growth hormone stimulating properties (Smith et al, 2000; Ahmad et al, 2003; Yakubu et al, 2007). The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the plant were investigated
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