Phytochemical, antibacterial and DPPH free radical scavenging evaluations of the barks of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa

Abstract

The therapeutic value of the barks of Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa for the treatment of fever and cough has been recognized from the ethnobotanical survey in the Magar community in Hupsekot Rural Municipality, Nepal. Fruits of the plant, though, being much explored, exploitation of the uses of the barks is scarce. In this study, phytochemicals present in the hexane and aq. methanolic extracts were evaluated by chemical tests and GC-MS. These extracts constituted biologically active ingredients of alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids and polyphenols. The GC-MS analysis of the hexane extract revealed that it constituted a number of fatty acids and hydrocarbons, while the aq. methanolic extract possessed mainly steroids (γ-sitosterol 71.19% and sitostenone 10.14%). The antibacterial evaluation displayed that the extracts were effective against Ampicillin resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae as well. The MIC values were ranged from 12.5 to 50 mg/ml. The presence of carbonyl compounds, fatty acid methyl esters, phenolics and steroids could be responsible for the antibacterial activity. The aq. methanolic extract also exhibited DPPH free radical scavenging capacity with IC50 value of 961.53 µg/ml.