Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Cuscuta Reflexa ROXB. and Few Members of Family Convolvulaceae

Antioxidant activity of 12 species, of which one was Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. which belongs to the family of Cuscutaceae as well as 11 of Convolvulaceae, collected from district Bhimber, Mirpur and Kotli were measured by using ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assay. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the whole plant of all the selected species were investigated. Ipomoea eriocarpa showed a comparatively higher amount of total polyphenols (0.98 ± 0.073 mg/gdw). The maximum DPPH value was shown by Ipomoea carnea Jacq (5.6%) and the minimum value was shown by Convolvulus arvensis L. extracts (3.0 %). ABTS was the highest by Convolvulus prostrastus and the lowest by Ipomoea carnea. In FRAP assay, the highest value was 2.75 by Ipomoea hederacia and the lowest value was 0.31 by I. arachnosperma Welw. The antifungal and antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts of the whole plant of all the selected species was carried out by using both bacterial and fungal strains. Two gram positive bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, two gram negative bacteria namely E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two fungal strains of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae were used to carry out antimicrobial activity. For the comparison of inhibition zones showed by plant extracts against bacterial and fungal strains. Erythromycin, tetracycline and cefoparazone were used as standard for bacterial strains. Moreover, fungivine and Terbinafine were used as standard antibiotics against fungal strains. Among fungal strains, the highest zone of inhibition was shown by Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. extract against Aspergillus niger, that is 5.55±0.3, while the lowest zone of inhibition, that is, 0.60±0.28mm was shown by Evolvulus alsinoides (L.) extract against Aspergillus oryzae. Plants from the Convolvulaceae family have had frequent traditional uses for different therapeutic purposes. Furthermore, all plants selected for this study showed strong antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant activity. Their further detailed phytochemical studies can help to develop plant-based therapeutic agents