Planta Med 2016; 82 - PB36
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1578684

Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Activities Of Extract Of Argemone Mexicana Linn (Papaveraceae)

AA Oyawaluja 1, AA Obisesan 1, A Odukoya Olukemi 1, HAB Coker 2
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy
  • 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Medicinal plants are well-known natural sources of remedies used in the treatment of innumerable diseases since antiquity. The search for newer synthetic drugs is of immense importance due to the increasing development of resistance. Antioxidant assay is a very useful technique in identifying plants which contain antioxidants which are substances that delay or inhibits oxidative damage to a target molecule thereby preventing the occurrence of degenerative diseases.

Antimicrobial assay was carried out using four bacterial and three fungi strains using the agar well diffusion method. The formation of a clear zone of inhibition was observed and measured and compared with that of the standards (Levofloxacin and Clotrimazole). Antioxidant assay was carried out using the DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity. The absorbance was read at 517nm.

The study indicates that the leaf extract of A. mexicana inhibited the growth of micro-organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus by the formation of a clear zone of inhibition. The plant tested positive for phenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, resins, saponins and carbohydrates. The antimicrobial assay indicates that the extract has a high percentage inhibition as compared with the standard. It possesses antioxidant activities useful in fighting free radicals which cause cell damage, and its constituents can be separated using thin layer chromatography.

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[1] Arshad Hussain, Shadma Wahab, Iffat Zarin, Sarfaraj Hussain. 2010.

[2] Antibacterial activity of the leaves of Coccinia indica (W.A.) of India. Advan Biol Res 2011; 4(5), 241 – 248, Khare, C.P., 2007.

[3] Indian Medicinal Plants-An Illustrated Dictionary. Springer, New York, ISBN: 978 – 0-387 – 70637 – 5, Pages: 379.

[4] Dash, G.K. and P.N. Murthy, 2011. Evaluation of Argemone mexicana Linn. Leaves for wound healing activity. J. Natural Prod. Plant Resource. 1: 46 – 56