Vol. 8, Issue 2 (2019)

Author(s):
P Boominathan, CV Chittibabu, C Sivaraj, K Saraswathi and P Arumugam

Abstract:
Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R.Br.– Anantamool, is a plant species of Apocynaceae family commonly found in India, especially in different areas of West Bengal. It is a slender, laticiferous, semi-erect endangered shrub; specifically known for its immense medicinal values. In Tamil it is called Nannari. It is traditionally used in dysentery, diarhhoea, skin diseases, syphilis, dyspepsia, leucoderma, diuretic, blood purifier, burning of body, chronic fever and asthma. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of ethanol root extract of H. indicus and to identify the bioactive compounds by GC-MS analysis. Antioxidant assays such as DPPH^● radical, superoxide (O₂^●_-) radical, hydroxyl (OH^●) radical, ABTS^●+ radical cation, Fe³⁺ reducing power and phosphomolybdenum reduction assays were carried out for evaluating antioxidant activities. The maximum DPPH^● radical scavenging activity of ethanol root extract was 68.85±0.28% at 120 µg/mL concentration and the IC₅₀ was 57.90 µg/mL concentration. The maximum superoxide (O₂^●_-) radical scavenging activity of ethanol root extract was 75.79±0.19% at 120 µg/mL concentration and the IC₅₀ was 53.37 µg/mL concentration. The maximum hydroxyl (OH^●) radical scavenging activity of ethanol root extract was 61.65±0.42% at 120 µg/mL concentration and the IC₅₀ was 90.55 µg/mL concentration. The maximum ABTS^●+ radical cation scavenging activity of ethanol root extract was 90.73±0.44% at 12 µg/mL concentration and the IC₅₀ was 5.03 µg/mL concentration. The maximum of Mo⁶⁺ reduction and Fe³⁺ reduction were 89.73±0.39% and 53.23±0.25% at 120 µg/mL concentration and the RC₅₀ values were 48.86 µg/mL and 80.58 µg/mL concentration. The antibacterial activity showed maximum zone of inhibition of 16 mm for Bacillus subtilis as well as Shigella flexneri at 625 µg/mL concentration. Antioxidant compounds such as 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol and flavone were present in ethanol root extract of H. indicus which were eluted by GC-MS exhibiting therapeutic applications.