A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSTION, IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF METHANOL LEAVES EXTRACT OF Ficus exasperata AND Astonia bonnei

ABSTRACT

This present study investigated the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and the antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of Alstonia boonei and Ficus exasperata leaves. Qualitatively, the phytochemicals screening revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides, steroids, phytosterols and anthocyanins in both A. boonei and F. exasperata leaves extract. A. boonei showed to be highest in total phenolic content and total flavonoid content as compared to F. exasperata and F. exasperata showed to be highest in total tannin content and proanthocyanidin content. For antioxidant activity, ferric reducing antioxidant potential, reducing power assay, DPPH radical scavenging activity and Nitric Oxide inhibition were evaluated. Ferric reducing antioxidant potential value was higher for F. exasperata leaves extract (383 ± 15 µM Fe (II)⁄g extract). In reducing power assay F. exasperata leaves extract showed better reducing power when compared to A. boonei leaves extract. For DPPH radical scavenging activity the IC50 values for F. exasperata leaves extract (37.59 µg/mL) was lower than that of Alstonia boonei leaves extract (64.47 µg/mL). The Nitric Oxide inhibition was higher in F. exasperata with an IC50 value of 69.01 µg/mL as compared to A. boonei (76.53µg/mL). The antimicrobial activities showed that F. exasperata leaves extract have slightly better antibacterial activity as compared to A.boonei and A. boonei was shown to have a slightly better antifungal activity as compared to F. exasperata.