Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Heracleum nepalense D Don root

Suvakanta Dash¹*, Lila Kanta Nath¹, Satish Bhise² and Nihar Bhuyan¹

¹Himalayan Pharmacy Institute, Majhitar, Rangpo, East Sikkim-737132, India. ²Govt College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Satara, Karad- 415124, India.

 

Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research 2005; 4(1): 341-347

ISSN: 1596-5996

 

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the methanol extract of Heracleum nepalense D.Don roots.

Method: The antimicrobial effect was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion method. The free radical scavenging potential was studied by using different antioxidants models of screening using vitamin E (5mM) as standard.

Results: The crude methanol extract of H.nepalense root was found to be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the extract showed similar activity against these organisms. Similarly, the methanol extract at 1000 mg. ml^-1 and the ethyl acetate fraction at 50 mg. ml^-1 exhibited significant antioxidant activity in ferrous sulphate induced lipid peroxidation, 1,1- diphenyl- 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide scavenging models.

Conclusions: The study confirms the possible antioxidant and antimicrobial potentiality of the plant extract. Presence of flavonoid alone or in combination with its other components could be responsible for the activity.    

Keywords: Heracleum nepalense, Lipid peroxidation, Superoxide scavenging, DPPH assay, Antimicrobial effect, Flavonoid.

To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: sdash777@sify.com