dc.description.abstract |
The study intended to investigate the phytochemicals, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of
petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of C. macrostachyus. The antioxidant activity
was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method.
Moreover, the antibacterial activities were evaluated by disk diffusion method. Qualitative
phytochemical screening of the crude extracts revealed the presence of phenolic, flavonoids,
terpenoids, glycosides, steroids, saponins, tannins. The antibacterial activity of stem bark extract
of Croton macrostachyus was performed against four bacterial species S. pyrogens, K.
pneumonia, E. coli and S. aureusat concentration of 500 ppm, 250 ppm, 125 ppm, 62.5 ppm and
31.25ppm.The result revealed that the methanol and chloroform extracts showed a better activity
against all disease causing bacteria while, at higher concentration petroleum ether extracts were
active against bacteria. The total phenolic content of methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether
extract was 80.405mgGAE/g, 68.756mgGAE/g and 52.378mgGAE/g dry sample respectively.
The antioxidant activities of methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether stem bark extracts of
Croton macrostachyus were screened using 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl. IC
50
values found to
be 52.84µg/ml, 73.348µg/ml and 145.651µg/ml in methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether
stem bark extracts respectively for their antioxidant activity by DPPH assay; the lower IC
50
value showed the radical scavenge activity to be effective in this solvent extract. In the same
condition methanol, chloroform and petroleum ether extract showed high antioxidant activity
and oxygen free radicals scavenging abilities which were found almost equivalent to ascorbic
acid standard antioxidant activity. |
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