Antioxidant, anthelminthic, and antimicrobial activities and GC-MS analysis of methanolic stem extract of Memecylon accedens

Abstract

Memecylon accedens is used in traditional medicine in the treatment of yaws, typhoid, amenorrhea, diarrhea, and piles. This study sought to investigate the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anthelmintic activity methanolic stem extract of Memecylon accedens. Standard methods were employed to determine the phytochemicals present in the extracts. Anthelminthic activity and antimicrobial activity were respectively assessed utilizing Pheretima posthuma and the broth dilution method respectively. The antioxidant capacity was assessed using the DPPH radical, Total Antioxidant Capacity, and H2O2 scavenging assays. The phytochemical investigation of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, phenols, tannins, saponins, steroids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids. The extract showed promising activity against Pheretima posthuma. The extract recorded an MIC of 20.83 mg/ml and an MBC of 25 mg/ml giving an MBC/ MIC ratio of ≤ 2 (bactericidal) for all the selected bacteria. It also showed higher activity against the fungus, Candida albicans with an MIC and MBC of 10.38 mg/ml and 12.5 mg/ml respectively. The IC50 values recorded for the extract’s DPPH assay was 54.46±0.104 µg/ml. The TAC (gAAE/100 g) for the extract was 217.1712 mg. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence many important phytochemicals with medical importance. The findings of this study provide insights into the possible use of Memecylon accedens as a potential source for the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of Helminth-related diseases, reactive oxidants, and microbial infections.