Evaluation of in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Melia azedarach L. bark

Abstract

The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant potential of n-hexane and methanolic extracts of Melia azedarach L. bark. The antibacterial potential of M. azedarach L. bark was tested against human pathogens causing diarrhoea and dysentery such as Shigella flexneri (MTCC- 9543), Salmonella enterica ser typhi (MTCC-733), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-1305), Streptococcus mitis (MTCC- 2897), Klebsiella pneumoniae (MTCC-109) and Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC-1430) using agar well diffusion method. The results of the study revealed that n-hexane extract of bark sample was highly effective against Shigella flexneri whereas Streptococcus mitis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis showed no response and other test pathogens under study responded moderately. It was observed that methanolic extract had high inhibition potential against Salmonella enterica ser typhi and Streptococcus mitis while moderate effect against other test bacteria. Studies on the antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging method revealed significant antioxidant potential of n-hexane and methanolic extracts with IC50 value 84.37 and 66.79 respectively