Phytochemical screening and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the extracts of the stem-bark of Psydrax peruviana

Abstract

The stem-bark of Psydrax peruviana is used in folkloric medicine in the treatment of gonorrhoea and syphilis. In this study, methanol and hexane extracts of P. peruviana were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial (agar and broth dilution method) and antioxidant (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), DPPH and H2O2 scavenging) assays were carried out on the extracts. The hexane and methanol extracts showed antimicrobial activity against test organisms with MICs ranging from 1.25 – 20 mg/mL. The IC50 values for methanol and hexane extracts in the DPPH and H2O2 assays were 12.20 and 24.26 µg/mL and 1143.0 and 2872.0 µg/mL, respectively. The TAC (gAAE/100 g) for methanol and hexane extracts were 21.563 and 17.389 g, respectively. The phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of plant secondary metabolites such as tannins, flavonoid, glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, carotenoids and saponins. These findings provide scientific justification for the use of P. peruviana in various traditional medicines, for the treatment and management of diseases.