Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Anthelmintic Activities of Ailanthus excelsa (Ardu) Tree Bark and Pods

A study was aimed to evaluate the different extracts of Ailanthus excelsa (Ardu) bark and pods for their antioxidant, antibacterial and anthelmintic activities. Phytochemical analysis showed higher concentrations of phenols, flavonoids, total tannin and saponin (6.37, 4.12, 5.70 and 18.94 mg/g, respectively) in methanol extract of pod as compared to bark (0.22, 0.79, 0.09 and 5.21 mg/g, respectively). A total of 12 phyto-compounds were identified with predominance of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(dimethoxymethyl) furan in methanol extract of bark and 4-phyto-compounds with predominance of 2,3-butanediol, [R-(R*R*)]- in methanol extract of pod. Antioxidant activity was 93.61 and 9.83% in methanol extract of pods and bark, respectively. Methanol extract of pod showed good antibacterial activity against E. coli. On in vitro egg hatch assay, >90% inhibition of egg embryonation was observed by both methanol (@ 0.31 to 5.00 mg/ml) and hydroalcohol (@ 1.25 to 5.00 mg/ml) extracts of bark. Except for the aqueous extract, all other extracts caused >95% egg hatch inhibition at a concentration of 0.63 to 10.00 mg/ml. Among extracts of pods, only hydroalcohol extract (@ 5.00 to 10.00 mg/ml) caused >90% inhibitory activity on egg embryonation; however, at similar concentrations, all the extracts showed >98% inhibition of egg hatching. On larval mortality assay, all the extracts (except aqueous) showed excellent (100%) larvicidal activity at 0.63 to 10.00 mg/ml concentrations. The results indicated that A. excelsa bark and pods have higher antioxidant, antibacterial activity against E. coli and anthelmintic activities against infective larvae of H. contortus.