Phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of leaf extract of Morinda citrifolia L. against Escherichia coli & Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia is used traditionally for the treatment of infectious diseases. This study aims to investigate phytochemical screening and examines the antioxidant and antibacterial property of leaves. The shade dried leaf powder was extracted serially using hexane, acetone, and water. All three extracts were subjected to phytochemical screenings and only water extract is subjected to antibacterial and antioxidant analysis. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out by different chemical tests. Amino acid, Carbohydrate, Protein were the primary metabolites found to be present. The Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Terpenoids, Steroids, Saponins, Phenol, Tannin, and Cardiac glycosides showed to be present as the secondary metabolites. The terpenoids were found only in acetone extract. The evaluation of antibacterial activity of the aqueous extract of Morinda citrifolia against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations 10, 50,100µl. The bacterial strains are sub-cultured on nutrient broth. The aqueous extract of Morinda citrifolia shows maximum antibacterial activity in 100µl concentrations, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa it will be 61.46% and in the case of Escherichia coli 52.24%. The antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Morinda citrifolia was carried out by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Different concentration of the extract was taken and the percentage of inhibition was calculated. Maximum radical scavenging activity was observed in 100µl concentration i.e. 68.94% and minimum in 50µl concentration. i.e., 49.47%. So as the concentration increases the antioxidant activity also increases. The data generated as a result of this investigation has provided the scientific basis for its use as therapeutic in traditional medicine.