In Vitro Antioxidant, Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants of District Bannu and Lakki Marwat

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the present study, the researchers selected four plants from District Lakki Marwat and Bannu. The purpose of the study was evaluate the methanol extracts of these medicinal plants, namely, Tamarix aphylla, Euphorbia helioscopia, Coriandrum sativum and Peganum harmala for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Plants dried in shade, were ground and obtained their methanol extracts. The extracts were evaluated for biological assays using the standard protocol for in vitro study. For the study of cytotoxic properties of plants methanol extracts were used against brine shrimps and their antimicrobial activities were also measured. Antioxidant activities against different free radicals were also checked. Brine shrimps showed seventy percent mortality rate to Tamarix aphylla extract having concentration of 500 μg/ml. The scavenging activity for free radicals was also significant at 500μg/ml. The present study revealed that these activities may be owing to the presence of bioactive constituents, isolation and purification of which is necessary.