Original Articles
Mahendra Pratap Chopra*, Papiy
Abstract
Plants are the reservoir of effective chemotherapeu tics and can provide valuable sources of natural an timicrobials. S.splendens plant has been used in traditional med icine as an anti-inflammatory, anti diabetic and an tibacterial agent. The aim of this research was to evaluate the phytochemical together with antioxidant, and antim icrobial activities of S. splendens leaves.The phytochemical constituents of the leaves were extracted by suc cessive extraction using soxhlet apparatus. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis of extracts an d fractions werecarried out. The Ethyl acetate fraction of met hanolic extract of S.splendens leaves was selecte d for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.Antioxidan t status was evaluated using DPPH Scavenging activ ity and Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity methods. The t otal antioxidant capacity was determined in terms o f GAE (gallic acid equivalents). Antimicrobial activity w as carried out by method described by Ver-poorte. T he phytochemical screening showed positive results for triterpenes, steroids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and phenolic acids. The methanol ic extract was found to contain highest flavonoid c ontent of 117.4 mg Quercetin equivalent per 1gm and phenolic content of 17 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 1gm respectively and showed highest percentage inhibito ry activity for antioxidants. The S.splendens leav es exhibited significant antioxidant properties, in addition to antimicrobial effects against the selected microorg anisms..