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Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa stem and its fractions

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Abstract

The present study was aimed to study the effect of fractionation of crude methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa stem on phytocompounds, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Bioassay guided method was used to prepare fractions of methanolic extract of C. reflexa stem. Spectrophotometric methods were used for quantification of total phenols and flavonoids; whereas antibacterial activity was analysed by using agar well diffusion and broth dilution method. DPPH radical scavenging method was used for determination of in vitro antioxidant activity. Among all the fractions, ethyl acetate fraction showed enriched total phenolic content (46.272 ± 2.77 mg/g GAE) and total flavonoid content (32.970 ± 2.37 mg/g RE). Ethyl acetate fraction showed more inhibition to growth of Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi) as shown by zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration. Chloroform fraction did not show any inhibition against tested bacteria. Ethyl acetate fraction (15.70 ± 1.82 µg/ml) showed highest radical scavenging by DPPH method. Order of antioxidant activity in terms of IC50 was ethyl acetate fraction (15.70 ± 1.82 µg/ml) > crude methanolic extract (36.365 ± 1.234 µg/ml) > aqueous fraction (49.94 ± 2.30 µg/ml) > n-hexane fraction (51.384 ± 0.84 µg/ml) > chloroform fraction (55.082 ± 2.402 µg/ml). The results from the current study revealed the importance of C. reflexa as a source of bioactive molecules for antibacterial and antioxidant activity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Dr. Vikas Kumar, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences for his valuable time and support during the experimental work. Authors are also thankful to CGC, Landran for providing infrastructure facility for the present study.

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Correspondence to Nitin Sharma.

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Sharma, N., Kumar, V. & Gupta, N. Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa stem and its fractions. Vegetos 34, 876–881 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-021-00249-3

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