Assessment of Components, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina Del.

Abstract

Vernonia amygdalina Del. Asteraceae family, is used traditionally to treat inflammation, pain, fever and cancer. This study aimed to determine the bioactive composition of leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina Del. for evaluating the antibacterial and anti-oxidant effects of these extracts. Analysis of the active ingredients in the aqueous extracts of Vernonia amygdalina leaves showed the presence of pharmaceutical substances such as: tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloid, phenol, phytalate and oxalate. The results of determining the antibacterial activity of fresh and dried leaf extracts with concentrations of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12,5%, and 7,5% showed that Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are very sensitive to these extracts, especially the aqueous extracts. The antioxidant activity of Vernonia amygdalina leaf and stem extracts at different concentrations was determined by the DPPH and β-carotene-linoleic acid method compared with BHA, BHT, and quercetin. A positive correlation of radical scavenging activity (p value < 0.05) was observed in all the extracts from Vernonia amygdalina by their electron transfer or hydrogen donating ability.