Qualitative Chemical Plant Characterization and Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial potential of Rhododendron, a high Attitudinal Medicinal Plant in Uttarakhand, India

The objective of our study was to analyze and screen the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Rhododendron species (especially rawatii and arboreum using methanol as solvent system) in order to display potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. These Rhododendron species may be considered them as one of the immunobiological sources for future novel antioxidants (food and pharmaceutical formulations) and antimicrobial agent. In this study, we performed the antioxidant activity in methanolic leaves and flower extract of Rhododendron rawatii and Rhododendron arboretum using parameters i.e. DPPH scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid content. In addition, antimicrobial activity was also performed against bacterial strains. The results of these studies showed that leaves of Rhododendron rawatii (10 mg/ml; 100 µl) showed higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activity followed by Rhododendron arboreum and flowers of both species of Rhododendron. In short, these studies may have revealed that Rhododendron rawatii act as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent due to its free radical scavenging and inhibition in the growth of bacterial colonies.