A STUDY OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION, IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES OF FICUS EXASPERATA

ABSTRACT

Ficus exasperata, which is frequently referred to as a medicinal plant, is known to contain biologically active compounds that are a part of significant phytochemical groups. This study evaluates the phytochemical composition of the leaves of Ficus exasperata and further investigates the in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The leaves of Ficus exasperata were collected, air-dried, powdered and extracted with methanol for 72 hours at room temperature with occasional stirring. The solution was filtered and concentrated using a rotary evaporator at 50°C. The resulting concentrated extract was subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, in-vitro antioxidant assay, and antimicrobial assay using the agar disk diffusion method. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, phytosterols, and anthocyanins in varying concentrations in the methanol extract. The antioxidant assay showed that the methanol extract is an effective free radical scavenger and/or inhibitor. The antimicrobial assay revealed high susceptibility of Gram negative bacterial isolates- Escherichia coli, Serratia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungal isolates- Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus to the methanol extract. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the methanol extract of Ficus exasperata leaves can be attributed to its high phytochemical content.