Evaluation of phytochemical, radical scavenging and antimicrobial profile of Pittosporum eriocarpum royal (Agni) from Uttarakhand Region, India

Abstract

Aim: The current study was designed to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), radical scavenging activity and antimicrobial profile of the aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, and acetone leaf extract of Pittosporum eriocarpum. Materials and Methods: TPC was performed by the Folin–Ciocalteu method and TFC was measured by aluminum chloride assay. The free radical scavenging activity of leaf extracts of P. eriocarpum was ascertained by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay and antimicrobial activity were studied by agar well diffusion method and were measured on the basis of the zone of inhibition (ZI) in millimeters. Results and Discussion: Screening of phytochemicals is a basic step in the investigation of the new potent bioactive component before huge extraction. P. eriocarpum leaf extracts possess significant results in terms of TPC and TFC, maximum value of TPC (544.60 ± 28.70 gallic acid equivalent [GAE] mg/g) was recorded in acetone extract while the minimum value of TPC (352.01 ± 32.4 GAE mg/g) was recorded in aqueous extract. The maximum (786.00 ± 13.75 QE mg/g) and minimum (493.30 ± 33.02 QE mg/g) values for TFC were recorded in methanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. Radical scavenging activity was recorded to be maximum in the methanolic extract (66.91 ± 0.60%), whereas, lowest scavenging activity was recorded for aqueous extract (45.99 ± 0.7%), respectively. P. eriocarpum leaves extracts showed significant antimicrobial potential against three yeast strains (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis) and three bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The maximum ZI was recorded in the methanolic extract (19.03 ± 0.47 mm) against Candida glabrata while minimum ZI 11.53 ± 0.41 mm for C. tropicalis was recorded. Methanolic extract showed maximum ZI of 14.67 ± 00.30 mm against P. aeruginosa while aqueous extract showed minimum ZI of 11.60 ± 00.65 mm for P. aeruginosa, respectively. Fluconazole (for fungal strains), ampicillin (for bacterial strains) and DMSO were used as a positive and negative control. Conclusion: These results may serve as the basic footsteps in the field of biomedical research, and further studies can be directed toward the investigation of novel molecules associated with its antioxidants, phytochemical properties, and antimicrobial properties.