Biochemical Properties, <i>In-Vitro</i> Antimicrobial, and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of the Leaves of <i>Annona muricata</i>

Abstract

Fifteen (15) male Wistar rats were completely randomized into three (3) groups. Group A was normal control, Group B received 200 mg/kg weight of ethyl acetate extract of Annona muricata leaves (AMLE) and Group C received 100 mg/kg b.weight AMLE. Single daily dose of AMLE was administered orally for twenty one (21) days after which the animals were sacrificed. The blood samples were taken for haematological and biochemical analysis. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Annona muricata leaves were carried out. These extracts exhibited satisfactory inhibitory activities against bacterial and fungal strains, which include; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiellae pneumonae, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, penicillium notatum and Rhizopus stolonifer. N-hexane extract of the plant exhibited antioxidant property by scavenging DPPH radicals with IC50 of 342.44 μg/mL. GC-MS analysis of nhexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the plant principally revealed the presence of Urs-12-ene (23.15%), Squalene (48.80%) and Clionasterol (15.88%) respectively. 

Keywords: biochemical properties, antimicrobial, antioxidant, urs-12-ene, squalene, clionasterol