EVALUATION OF PHYTOCONSTITUENTS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ACACIA NILOTICA L.

Abstract

The study is described in which the ethanol and methanol extracts from Acacia nilotica L. bark were evaluated for their possible antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of ethanolic and methanolic extracts was carried out by using simple chemical tests. Total phenolic content of both the extracts was determined by Folin-Lowry method. Ethanolic extract of Acacia nilotica L. was found to contain 307.54 ± 2.67 mg GAE/gm dry weight of phenolics and 496.42 ± 6.89 mg QE/gm dry weight of flavonoids. Antioxidant activity of both the extracts was evaluated by phosphomolybdenum method and DPPH radical scavenging method. Ethanolic extract demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity of 71.8 ± 0.18 % at 1000µg/ml concentration. Both the extracts showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity. The study suggests that the plant has promising applications in the development of phytomedicines with antibacterial and antioxidant properties