dc.description.abstract |
Most plant extracts are considered to have phytochemicals that are responsible for the
treatment of various ailments and hence termed as ‘medicinal plants’. Withania somnifera
(gizawa in Amharic) was known for the treatmentof anxiety, cognitive and neurological
disorders, and inflammation. The aim of this study is to extract phytochemicals from leaf part
of Withania somnifera and study antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the crude plant
extracts. Qualitative analysis of ethanol extract of leaf of Withania somnifera revealed the
presence of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, phytosterols and steroids.
Phenolics, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids were present in ethyl acetate extract
while petroleum ether extract confirmed the presence of phenolics, tannins, flavonoids and
terpenoids. The ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extractswerefound to have total
flavonoid content of 63.57 mgQE/g, 37.26 mgQE/g and 25.98 mgQE/g respectively. All
extracts showed antioxidant capacity using DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric
reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. IC50 vlaues of ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum
ether extracts were 51.59 µg/mL,59.8 µg/mL and 111.3 µg/mL respectively. Antibacteral
activity test was done by using agar disk diffusion method against four bacterial strains: two
gram negative bacteria (E. coli and K. pneumoneae) and two gram posative bacteria(S.
aureus andS. pyogens). Petroleum ether and ethanol extracts showed good antibacterial
activity against S.aureus. Ethyl acetate extract possess a highest zone of inhibition against K.
pneumoneae. |
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