SCREENING OF ANTI OXIDANT AND ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE LEAF EXTRACTS OF MYRICA NAGI

Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the leaf extracts of Myricanagi considering its future industrial requirement and commercial utility as nutraceuticals. All the three extract namely Methanol MEE, Ethylacetate EE, Ethanol: Ethylacetate: Water (4.5:4.5:1)EEW were investigated for their anti-fungal activity against five fungal strains by disc diffusion method and MIC was determined by two fold serial dilution method.The EEW extract showed good antifungal activity with zone of inhibition of 22 and 20mm against Aspergillusniger and Crytococcusneoformans respectively which was comparable with standard antibiotic used. The leaf extracts of Myricanaga were subjected to antibacterial activity against human pathogens causing upper respiratory infection namely Haemophilusinfluenzae on chocolate agar media, Streptococcus pneumoniae on blood agar media, Streptococcus pyrogene on blood agar media and Staphylococcus aureus on blood agar media using the standard antibiotics namely Gentamycin (10 µg/disc), Optochin (10 µg/disc), Bacitracin(10 µg/disc) and Amoxicillin (10 µg/disc) respectively. EEW MEE and EE extract produced moderate antibacterial activity. Antioxidant property of the leaf extract of Myricanaga by Nitric oxide radical inhibition activity method was conducted and the results confirms the anti-oxidant activity.