Arvish Maharaj

Title : Assessment of antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties in crude extracts of Bougainvillea glabra leaves, stems, and flowers

Abstract:

This study investigates the medicinal potential of Bougainvillea glabra, a native plant of South Africa, renowned for its ethnopharmacological significance. The research assesses the total flavonoid, phenolic content, antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties of crude extracts obtained using hexane, chloroform, and methanol at varying concentrations. In vitro antioxidant activity is evaluated through DPPH scavenging and FRAP assays, while phenolic content is determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's assay. Antibacterial activity is assessed via the agar-well diffusion method, and cytotoxicity is measured using the MTT assay across human embryonic kidney, cervical cancer, and breast adenocarcinoma cell lines.The methanolic leaf extracts of had the highest flavonoid content (42.39 ± 1.14 mg GAE/g DW) and phenolic content (6.05 ± 0.09 GAE/g DW). Methanol stem extracts followed closely with phenolic content (2.93 ± 0.73 GAE/g DW). Methanolic leaf and stem exhibited DPPH inhibition at 16.95 μg/mL and 14.27 μg/mL, respectively. However, all extracts showed lower reducing power compared to the ascorbic acid standard in FRAP assays. The IC50 values for cytotoxicity across three cell lines were > 63 μg/mL.Antibacterial activity of the stem showed lower activity against Staphylococcus aureus compared to streptomycin, with inhibition zones of 18.17 mm and 16.67 mm, respectively. flower extracts exhibited a 12 mm inhibition zone against S. aureus, while streptomycin had 13.67 mm. Leaf extract displayed higher antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli than gentamycin, with zones of inhibition of 18.05 mm and 17.5 mm, respectively. Flowers showed 8.5 mm inhibition zone against E. coli, while gentamycin had 14.5 mm. The study indicates that Bougainvillea glabra leaves and stems hold potential bioactive compounds with antioxidant and therapeutic effects, necessitating further research for drug development. Additionally, it marks the initial investigation into the cytotoxic activities of B. glabra leaf and stem crude extracts, offering valuable insights into its medicinal properties.

Biography:

Arvish Maharaj, I am a final year PhD student who focuses on medicinal plant research. I am affiliated with the University of Kwa-Zulu natal, Westville campus, school of life science and funded by CSIR. My interest in this field is to find cheaper alternative treatment for people who are unable to afford or gain access to western medicine. Finding alternative and effective treatments is my focus, to try and merge traditional medicinal practices with the western medicinal world. This has prompted me using plants for their effective therapeutic capabilities to make a difference in alternative and effective treatment to the underprivileged.