title: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum are used for treating stomach-related ailments in traditional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant, mutagenic and antimutagenic properties of extracts obtained from the leaves of Distephanus angulifolius and Ormocarpum trichocarpum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The microtitre bioassay was used to determine the antibacterial activity against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria. Antioxidant activity was determined using the free-radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid model assays. The safety and possible protective properties of the extracts were investigated using Ames test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dichloromethane fractions of both plants displayed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 0.63 mg/ml. A dose-dependent antioxidant activity was recorded in both plant species. All the evaluated samples showed no mutagenic as well as weak or no antimutagenic properties in the absence of exogenous metabolic activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrated the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the leaves obtained from the two plant species. Furthermore, the data provides a rationale for the use of the plant species in treating stomach-related ailments in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chukwujekwu
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Amoo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae; D007887:Fabaceae; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D019800:Phenol / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D013634:Tannins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013634:Tannins; D019800:Phenol
keywords: Ames test; Antibacterial; DPPH; Genotoxic; Medicinal plants