In vitro assessment of antioxidant activity and anti-bacterial screening of Pithecellobium dulce leaves against resistant bacteria

Oxidative stress resulted from free radicals and reactive oxygen species are associated with many diseases. Several studies are going on worldwide directed towards finding natural antioxidants of plant origin. The present study was designed to investigate the in-vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Pithecellobium dulce leaves extract. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest total phenolic (201.22 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid content (252.11 mg CE/g extract) and antioxidant properties as shown by DPPH radical, reducing power, hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay among different fractions of methanol extract. Antibacterial activity was assessed by disc diffusion method. Methanol extract showed highest zone of inhibition (45 mm) against B. Cereus which was higher than standard (36mm). Ethyl acetate fraction produced an inhibitory effect against bacteria which are resistant to some antibiotics like azithromycin, cefuroxime, cephalexin and cotrimoxazole. So, this can be used as a good therapeutic approach for infectious disease caused by those resistant bacteria.