Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of <i>Piliostigma reticulatum</i> (DC.) Hochst extracts

Abstract

The methanol and aqueous extracts of Piliostigma reticulatum barks were investigated for its antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant test using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method demonstrated important radical scavenging activity for the methanol extract with IC₅₀ = 0,37 ± 0,04 μgmL^-1. The 2 extracts were then examined for antibacterial activity by using the broth micro dilution method. The extracts possessed the antibacterial effect against the almost germs tested; the aqueous extract exhibited a better activity than methanol extract. These results indicate that methanol and aqueous extracts of P. reticulatum could be used as a source of antioxidant and antibacterial ingredients in the food industry.

Keywords: Piliostigma reticulatum, Ceasalpiniaceae, bark extracts, antioxidant, antibacterial

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(33), pp. 5407-5411, 16 August, 2010