Enzymes inhibition and antioxidant assay of ethno medicinal plants of Nepal

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this research, both chemical and biological assays performed. Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Eucalyptus alba were found to be effective against Staphylococcus aureus with the zone of inhibition 18, 11 and 7 ug/ml respectively, rest of the selected plants were not found to be active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus has been found to cause different disease like bacteremia, endocarditis, meningitis, skin infection and toxic shock syndrome. Eucalyptus alba showed highest polyphenol content (138.86±9.62 mg GAE/g dry wt.) while flavonoid content were even lower than polyphenol content while flavonoid content were even lower than polyphenol content. Phytochemical screening showed presence of tannins, polyphenol, flavonoids, and cardiac glycosides. IC 50 value of antioxidant activity for most of the selected plants were below 50 µg/ml. Least IC 50 value was found to be of Terminalia chebula that is 19.63±0.89 µg/ml. Such results indicated the efficacy against disease due to free radical like rheumatic arthritis. In enzymatic assays, low IC50 values by Terminailia chebula, Ampelocissus divaricata, Terminalia bellerica, Eucalyptus alba, and Woodfordia fruticosa for inhibition of α-glucosidase and 15-lipoxygense indicated their efficacy against disease due to free radicals like diabetes. Result of this research awares us about the use of these medicinal plants. Keywords: Medicinal plants, phytochemical screening, antioxidant, antibacterial activity, enzymatic assays.