Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Ephedra alata Extract against Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Plants have been a source of important chemical compounds that can be used for treatment of different disease. Natural products in plants also are a source of active compounds and can be considered an alternative to synthetic molecules with high antioxidant potential. Objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant and antibacterial potential of Ephedra alata extract. Methods: Phytochemical values namely, total phenolic, DPPH radical scavenging effect were studied by established methods. Antimicrobial properties of Ephedra alata was tested using cup-plate diffusion method and disc diffusion. Results showed numerous secondary metabolic products including in plant Ephedra alata extract such as Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins were detected. And other metabolic products such as Steroids and Cardinolids are absent.  The yield for the aqueous extract was 9.89%. However, the polyphenols extract content was equal to 0.004243 (mg GAE/ml extract. Effectiveness of antioxidant plant using DPPH free root was estimated at IC50= 0.901 mg/ml for aqueous extract. In antibacterial screening, the extract showed antibacterial power with zone of inhibitions compared to positive controls Penicillin against multi-resistant germs such as: Pseudomonase aeruginosa and Serratia fonticola responsible of many infectious. Growth inhibition varies with bacterial species and concentration of Ephedra alta extract.