In Vitro Phytochemical, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Evaluations of Various Extracts of Eleocharis dulcis (Burm.f.) Trin. ex Hensch

Abstract

Eleocharis dulcis Burm.f. Trin. ex Hensch, has been empirically used in Chinese folk medicine to treat cough, laryngitis, hepatitis, enteritis, hypertension, and pharyngitis. The study is aimed to compare the phytochemical components, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of hexane (H), ethyl acetat (EA), and methanol extracts (MeOH) extracts obtained by Ultrasonic Assisted Extraction (UAE) method. Total Phenolic Content (TPC) was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) by quercetin method. Antioxidants activity using the DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP method. The inhibition zone of antibacterial activity using the disc diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration with microdilution method. Results of the extracts’ total phenolic and flavonoid contents showed that EA has a higher content of these phytochemicals. The EA also exhibited a higher zone of inhibition for each concentration against Aeromonas hydrophila (AHA), Aeromonas salmonicida (AS), and Streptococcus agalactiae (SA). The MIC of EA against AHA and AS was 6.25 mg/mL and 3.125 mg/mL, respectively. Allextracts were effective against SA with MIC of 1.5625 mg/mL. Similarly, the EA extract showed better ntibacterial activity against all the tested bacteria strains than the H and MeOH extracts. Also, the EA extract exhibited better antioxidant activity compared to others, with IC50 values of 52.830 ± 0.271 ppm, 16.923 ± 0.047 ppm and 198.504 ± 1.490 µmol/g in the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively. The study concludes that the EA extract of E. dulcis possesses better antibacterial and antioxidant activities.