The effects of Equisetum arvense L. extracts prepared using different solvents and extraction methods for antioxidant and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Our study aimed to determine the solvent and extraction method that reveals the biological activities and phenolic contents of the plant Equisetum arvense at the maximum rate. Leaf and stem extracts of Equisetum arvense were prepared using the soxhlet and maceration method in the presence of 5 different solvents. The extracts' total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, the antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical scavenging test, and the antimicrobial activity by the disc diffusion method. When the antibacterial activity results were examined, the methanolic leaf extract prepared by the maceration method showed the inhibition zones as 14.5 mm on S. aureus, 14.2 mm on S. epidermidis and 14 mm on E. faecalis. From leaf parts, it was determined that the methanolic extract prepared by the soxhlet method was 85.1%, the acetonic extract 84.5%, the methanolic extract prepared by the maceration method 83%, and the acetonic extract 84.1% scavenged DPPH radical. As a result of the study, it was determined that the maceration method showed better results in evaluating the total phenolic substance amount and antimicrobial activity and the soxhlet method in determining the antioxidant activity. It has been determined that methanol and acetone were the ideal solvents for TPC antioxidant and antimicrobial activity studies to be carried out with E. arvense plant. In this study, plant leaves and stems were studied separately for the first time and their biological activities were compared. In addition, our study provides integrative data investigating and comparing the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the E. arvense plant in detail with various solvents and methods.