In vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz

Abstract

Objective: Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz. is a medicinal herb commonly used to treat ulcers, cough, diabetes and cancer. In this study, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of root, stem, leaf and whole plant of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz. have been evaluated. Method: In the present study, methanolic and aqueous extracts of root, stem, leaf and whole plant of Bryophyllum pinnatum have been used in the present investigation to study the superoxide, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, iron chelating power and total antioxidant activity. Antibacterial effect was tested against six species of bacteria; three Gram-positive (Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis) and three Gram-negative (Alcaligenes faecalis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and Serratia marcescens). The tests were carried out using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and agar well diffusion method. Results: In our results aqueous and methanolic extracts of root, stem, leaf and whole plant of Bryophyllum pinnatum showed abilities to scavenge hydroxyl and superoxide free radicals, IC50 values for hydroxyl radical (35.48, 37.15, 31.62, 28.13 mg/ml) and (50.18, 70.79, 32.35, 25.11 mg/ml) for aqueous and methanolic extracts of root, stem, leaf and whole plant respectively. IC50 values for superoxide radical (16.21 and 16.59 mg/ml) and (19.95 and 17.78 mg/ml) for aqueous and methanolic extracts of leaf and whole plant respectively. IC50 values for iron chelating power (63.09, 25.70 and 34.54 mg/ml) for aqueous extract of root, leaf and whole plant and (40.73 and 31.62 mg/ml) for methanolic extracts of leaf and whole plant respectively. Antibacterial activity was shown by both extracts of aqueous and methanolic extract of root, stem, leaf and whole plant of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz. Conclusion: These findings suggest the excellent medicinal bioactivity of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Kurz. and explain the popularity of this plant in the folk medicine as a remedy for different illnesses.