Phytochemical Investigation and Assessment of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potential of Bark of Mimusops elengi.

The extracts (aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate and pet ether) of Mimusops elengi bark were evaluated for phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts showed the presence of carbohydrates, proteins, tannins, phenols, flavonoids and alkaloids. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content was also determined. The antioxidant ability of the extracts were measured by DPPH and nitric oxide (NO) radical assays. The IC₅₀ values of aqueous, methanol, ethyl acetate and pet ether extracts were 5.765μg/ml, 2.959μg/ml, 3.37μg/ml and 29.453μg/ml, respectively by DPPH method and by NO method, the IC₅₀ values of the extracts were 43.37μg/ml, 34.847μg/ml, 39.736μg/ml and 98.969μg/m, respectively. The IC₅₀ values were comparable with standard ascorbic acid. Antibacterial activity of the extracts was determined by the agar diffusion method against 9 species of bacteria and fungi: Staphylococcus aureus, Sterptococcus pyogens, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella aerogens, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Except petroleum ether extract, all the other extracts were effective against all the bacteria. None of the extracts showed antifungal activity. Methanol extract showed highest antimicrobial activity at 80 mg The results were compared with standard antibacterial drugs (Chloramphenicol and fluconazole).