ANTIMICROBIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND MINERALS EVALUATION OF CUSCUTA EUROPEA AND CUSCUTA REFLEXA COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT HOSTS AND EXPLORING THEIR ROLE AS FUNCTIONAL ATTRIBUTE

Abstract

The Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity and mineral contents of the plant Cuscuta reflexa and Cuscuta europea extracted with different polarity based solvents are assessed. The antioxidant activities are evaluated by the measurement of total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), DPPH radical scavenging (IC50). Zn, Fe, Cu, Co and Pb are analyzed by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The plant materials are contained the TFC (13.91- 68.13 CE mg/100g of dry extract), TPC (35.18- 189.68 GAE mg/100g of dry extract), DPPH radical scavenging activity, IC50 (669.37-88.85%), respectively. The antimicrobial activities are assessed against Bacillus subtilis, Pasteurella multocida and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria strains and Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus fungal strains. The concentration of Zn ranges from 13.75±0.0524.5±0.03 ppm, Fe 21.35±0.05-28.50±0.08 ppm, Cu 6.00±0.01-11± 0.05 ppm, Pb 2.50±0.01-7.00±0.08 ppm, Co 0.00±0.000.25±0.02 ppm. It is concluded that extracts of plant may be used as potential source of antioxidant agents in food industries. Keywords Cuscuta reflexa, Cuscuta europea, Antioxidant potential, Antimicrobial activity, Mineral contents, AAS.