In vitro studies of antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Ipomoea pes-caprae root extracts

Abstract

To evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Ipomoea pes-caprae root (belonging to the family of Convolvulaceae) was studied in five different solvents. Antibacterial activity was determined using well diffusion assay for eight strains of bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined in eight bacterial strains by agar well diffusion assay. Other focuses included the determination of antioxidant activity using DPPH assay and IC₅₀ (Inhibitory concentration) values were also determined using broth dilution assay. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the crude extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins and phenolics. The presence of these bioactive constituents is associated with the antibacterial activity of the plant. Methanol extracts of I.pes-caprae exhibited highest inhibition zone of 17mm, 18mm and 21mm against Klebsiella pnemoniae, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtills. During DPPH assay of methanol extract of I.pes-caprae root shows highest antioxidant activity of 92.04% in 200(µg/ml). The results confirm that I.pes-capra roots can be used as source of drugs to fight infections caused by susceptible bacteria.