Evaluation of in-vitro Antioxidant potential and Antimicrobial activity of Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott. leaf extracts

To determine the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Nephrolepis biserrata (Sw.) Schott leaf extracts against different microbial strains, including 4 Gram-positive bacteria, 4 Gram-negative bacteria, 3 yeast, and 4 mould The agar well diffusion method examined Nephrolepis biserrata leaf extracts antimicrobial activity against test micro-organisms. Additionally, TPC (total phenolic content), TFC (total flavonoid content), and 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay of extracts were determined. Preliminary phytochemical screening of all three extracts revealed the presence of tannins, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponin glycosides, and flavonoids. Results obtained were compared with the antibiotics Amphotericin B, Fluconazole, and Gentamicin used as standards. The mean zones of inhibition of methanol extract varied from 7 to 25 mm. However, with petroleum ether extract, the range varied from 9 to 12 mm and with acetone extract from 8 to 13 mm at two different concentrations of 250 and 500µg/disc. All extracts possessed significant antimicrobial activity against bacterial strain including Bacillus cereus, B.subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, S.epidermis, Pseudomonas aeuginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus Vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumonia compared to fungal microbes such as Cryptococcus luteolus, Candida albicans, C.tropicalis, Aspergillus candidus, A.niger, and Mucor hiemalis wehmer, respectively. However, amongst all the three extracts, methanol leaf extract showed maximum antimicrobial activity. From the present study, it has been summarized that the antimicrobial activity of plants might be due to the presence of flavonoid and tannin components. In conclusion, still advanced research is required to isolate the active principles from plant extracts, showing antimicrobial activity that may lead to the development of a phytomedicine.