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Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of Evax pygmaea (Asteraceae) growing wild in Tunisia

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Abstract

Antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Evax pygmaea was tested against five bacteria and two strains of phytopathogenic fungi using the agar diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Antioxidant properties were evaluated through the ability of the different fractions to scavenge the stable ABTS (2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. The TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) and IC50 values of the fractions were calculated and compared. The experimental data indicated that all fractions exhibit moderate to appreciable antibacterial activities against all Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative rods except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but no antifungal activity was observed. Ethyl acetate and methanol fractions were found to cause significant free radical-scavenging effects in both assays. These results may suggest that E. pygmaea could be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Fethia Harzallah Skhiri (High School of Horticulture and Animal Production. Chott Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia) for the botanical identification, Pr. Amina Bakhrouf (Laboratory of Environment Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia) for her patient assistance in antibacterial assays and Dr Mejda Daami (Laboratory of Phytopathology, Regional pole of research-development agriculture, Chott Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia) for assistance in antifungal assays.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genome, Diagnostic and Valorisation, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Olfa Boussaada, Dhouha Saidana & Ahmed Noureddine Helal

  2. Laboratory of Environment Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Jihène Chriaa

  3. Laboratory of Natural Substances Chemistry and Organic Synthesis, Faculty of Sciences, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia

    Rym Nabli, Samia Ammar, Mohamed Ali Mahjoub, Imed Chraeif & Zine Mighri

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  1. Olfa Boussaada
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  2. Jihène Chriaa
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  3. Rym Nabli
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  4. Samia Ammar
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  5. Dhouha Saidana
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  6. Mohamed Ali Mahjoub
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  7. Imed Chraeif
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  8. Ahmed Noureddine Helal
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  9. Zine Mighri
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Correspondence to Zine Mighri.

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Boussaada, O., Chriaa, J., Nabli, R. et al. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of Evax pygmaea (Asteraceae) growing wild in Tunisia. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24, 1289–1296 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9600-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-007-9600-7

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