Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activity of medicinal plant Alphonsea sclerocarpa Thaw

Abstract

Alphonsea sclerocarpa Thaw is a medicinal plant of Annonaceae family widely distributed in South India and Sri Lanka. With a view to study its potential medicinal properties the present work was initiated to evaluate phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity through scavenging of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and antibacterial and antifungal activities of Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl acetate, Methanol and aqueous extracts of leaves from Alphonsea sclerocarpa Thaw. The phytochemicals like Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Saponins, Steroids and Tannins were identified in Ethyl acetate and Methanolic fractions. The Methanol and Ethyl acetate fractions showed high antioxidant activity compared to control Ascorbic acid. The Ethyl Acetate fraction showed high antibacterial activity than other solvents. The results revealed the leaf extract of Alphonsea sclerocarpa Thw. showed notable antibacterial and antifungal activity so as can be used as medicine.