Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Kingiodendron pinnatum (DC.) Harms and Humboldtia brunonis Wallich: endemic plants of the Western Ghats of India

The leaf and stem extracts of two endemic plants, Kingiodendron pinnatum (DC.) Harms and Humboldtia brunonis Wallich of the family Fabaceae were subjected to phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant assay. Phytochemicals such as phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and terpenes were present in both plants. The antibacterial and antifungal activity assays were carried out using the disc diffusion method. Antioxidant activity was carried out using DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays with ascorbic acid as the standard. The extracts inhibited six bacterial strains and one fungal strain. Among the solvent extracts, the methanol extract was the most effective against the tested microorganisms and it also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Total phenols and flavonoids were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride methods and correlated with the antioxidant activity.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/jnsfsr.v42i4.7729

J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2014 42 (4): 307-313