Objective: To aim at preliminary phytochemical screening of Daphne mucronata and evaluate its antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening was conducted for the crude extracts using standard methods. Antioxidant properties of crude methanolic extracts, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of leaves, roots and bark were evaluated following standard procedures. The antibacterial activities were checked against Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Morganella morganii (M. morganii) and vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA).
Results: Carbohydrates, saponins, steroids, phenols/ tannins, flavonoids and glycosides were present in different parts of Daphne mucronata. The extracts showed good antioxidant activity with EC50 values of 157.82-361.61 μg/mL. Methanolic extracts of roots showed good activity against A. baumannii (86.95%), E. coli (85.18%) and S. aureus (84.61%). Methanolic extracts of bark were active against A. bumanni (65.21%), M. morganii (65.21%) and E. coli (62.96%). Methanolic extracts of leaves showed good activity against A. bumanni (78.26%), E. coli (77.78%), P. aeruginosa (74.07%), S. aureus (73.07%), M. morganii (69.56%), VRSA (68%) and Proteus vulgaris (60%). The n-hexane fraction of roots was effective against A. bumanni (78.26%). Chlorofom fraction of roots showed moderate activity against A. bumanni (60.86%) and S. aureus (61.53%). Ethyl acetate fraction of roots showed moderate activity against A. bumanii (69.56%), E. coli (62.96%) and S. aureus (69.23%).
Conclusion: This study illustrates that Daphne mucronata possesses good antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The plant could be further exploited as potential natural antioxidant and as a new source of antimicrobials for treatment of various infections.
Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents; Antioxidants; Daphne mucronata; Phytochemicals.