Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of solvent fractions of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less leaf extract.
BACKGROUND
Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less is used in folk medicine as a remedy for various diseases.


OBJECTIVE
The present study reports antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of solvent fractions of Vernonia cinerea.


METHODS
The antioxidant properties of solvent fractions of V. cinerea were evaluated by determining radicals scavenging activity, total flavonoid and phenolic contents measured with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) test, the aluminum chloride and the Folin-ciocalteau methods, respectively. Antimicrobial activities were tested against human pathogenic microorganisms using agar diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of each active extract were determined.


RESULTS
The ethyl acetate fraction having the IC50 value of 6.50 µg/mL demonstrated comparable DPPH radical-scavenging activity with standard antioxidants, gallic acid and quercetin included in the study. All fractions displayed moderate antimicrobial potential against the tested pathogens with the zone of inhibition that ranged from 9.0 to 13.5 mm. The MIC (1.56 mg/mL) and MBC (3.13 mg/mL) indicated highest susceptibility of Candida albicans in all fractions.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study showed that the solvent fractions of V. cinerea possess antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, hence justifying the folkloric use of the plant for the treatment of various ailments in traditional medicine.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Mubo A
MA
Sonibare
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Oluwafunmilola T
OT
Aremu
Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Patricia N
PN
Okorie
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009549:Nigeria; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012997:Solvents; D035741:Vernonia / Q000737:chemistry*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D012997:Solvents
Vernonia cinerea; antimicrobial activity; antioxidant activity; total flavonoid content; total phenolic content