European Journal of Medicinal Plants

Aims: To determine the antioxidant, antiglycation and antibacterial activity of two selected plants found wild in Pakistan (Ziziphus oxyphylla and Cedrela serrata).

Study Design: In vitro assessment of antioxidant assays, phenolic and flavonoid content, protein-glycation inhibition and antibacterial study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp Belgium (February - April 2013; Antioxidant, Protein glycation). Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Karachi, Pakistan (March – June, 2012; antibacterial).

Methodology: In vitro laboratory experimental tests; preparation of plant extracts, antioxidant assays (ABTS^.+, PMS-NADH radicals), total phenol, total flavonoid; protein glycation (fluorescence); susceptibility tests (zones of inhibition).

Results: The bark of C. serrata contained the highest amount of total phenol (0.35 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g extract) and exhibited significantly superior ABTS^.+ and PMS superoxide radical scavenging activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.043 ± 0.001 mg/ml and 0.18 ± 0.01 mg/ml, respectively (P=0.05). Similarly, the protein-glycation assay revealed that the bark of C. serrata had the best inhibitory property with a low IC₅₀ value of 0.61 ± 0.02 mg/ml (P=0.05), probably due to the presence of high amounts of total phenol. Furthermore, the various extracts showed considerable inhibition against both Gram–positive and –negative bacterial growth when compared against two standard drugs neomycin and doxycycline.

Conclusion: The results of this study substantiate a probable role for these plants to be utilized as a natural source of antioxidant having a wide range of bioactivities.