Objective: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of Alysicarpus vaginalis var. nummularifolius (DC) along with phytochemical analysis. Methods:The crude extract of hexane (AVH), ethyl acetate (AVE) and methanol (AVM) of Alysicarpus vaginalis var. nummularifolius (DC) were prepared and analysed for phytochemical constituents using standard methods. The cytotoxicity activity of the plant extracts was predicted using brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA). The antimicrobial activity and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the plant extracts were examined against 5 bacterial and 2 fungal strains using agar well diffusion method, and two fold serial dilution method, respectively. Results:The phytochemical screening studies showed a higher concentration of saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, quinones and terpenoids in AVM than the other two extracts. The LC50 value of AVH and AVE were found to be 900.05 µg/ml and 754.35 µg/ml respectively using BSLA while that of AVM was>1000 ug/ml. All the extracts of the plant showed antimicrobial activity against most of the test organisms. The MIC values of AVM were lower than AVE for all the microbial strains except for Pseudomonas aeroginosa where AVE (107.87µg/ml) exhibited higher value than AVM (51µg/ml). Conclusion:The present study concluded AVM with a high presence of phytochemicals. The AVE and AVM were found to possess promising antimicrobial activity when compared with the standards. The AVM exhibited lesser toxicity when compared with AVH and AVE.

Objective: The present study was aimed at establishing the antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidative and antimicrobial properties of the plant Pyrrosia heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE. Methods:Standard protocols were used to estimate the antioxidant potential of the hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of the plant. Radical scavenging ability of the extracts was assayed for 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonicacid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals. Total antioxidant activity assay was done following the phospho-molybdenum method. The reductive potential was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Lipid peroxidation assay was done in vitro. Total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Antimicrobial activity was identified by well diffusion method, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by serial dilution method. Results:Results revealed that the ethyl acetate extract (PHE) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity followed by the methanolic extract (PHM) whereas the hexane extract (PHH) had the lowest activity. The percentage radical scavenging by PHE was found to be 86.63±0.85, 89.48±2.08 and 70.89±1.46 for DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radicals respectively, at a concentration of 800μg/ml. The total antioxidant activity of PHE, PHM and PHH was found to be 538.33±3.51, 283.33±7.57and 13.76±3.95 ascorbic acid equivalents/g of extract respectively. Phenolic content of PHE was the highest (207.22±1.95 gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of extract), followed by PHM and PHH (197.92±2.00 and 37.50±2.18 GAE/g respectively). Total reducing power was also found to be the highest in PHE followed by PHM and PHH as per the FRAP assay. All the extracts were found to possess inhibitory activity against the tested microorganisms. MIC50 value of all the extracts was below 40 µg/ml. Conclusion:The results of this study confirmed the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-lipid peroxidation potentials of the plant P. heterophylla (L.) M. G. PRICE.

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Objective: The present study was carried to evaluate free radical scavenging activity and phytochemical analysis of successive extraction with hexane (AVH), ethyl acetate (AVE) and methanol (AVM) of Alysicarpus vaginalis var. nummularifolius (DC.) MIQ., a herb used in home remedies.Methods: The entire plant was dried and powdered, successively extracted (soxhlet apparatus) and concentrated using rotary vacuum evaporator. The extracts were quantitatively analyzed for phytochemicals like total phenolic, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates following standard methods. The free radical scavenging activity was evaluated with DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), nitric oxide radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging reactions.Results: The quantitative phytochemical studies of the crude extracts showed that AVM extract with highest phenolic, flavonoid, alkaloid and carbohydrate content which is followed by AVE and AVH. The IC50 values of AVH, AVE and AVM for scavenging DPPH, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide were 589.21±0.09 µg/ml, 254.65±0.08 µg/ml and 261.40±0.08 µg/ml; 533.81±0.09 µg/ml, 362.07±0.09 µg/ml and 456.36±0.08 µ/ml; 464.66±0.08 µg/ml, 380.29±0.08 µg/ml and 367.6±0.08 µg/ml respectively. Conclusion: The present study revealed that AVM extracts having high polyphenolic compounds when compared with AVE and AVH. The free radical scavenging reaction was greater in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts. This suggests that due to the high antioxidant reactions, these extracts can be useful for the treatment of oxidative stress–related diseases.

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