Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Lycium schweinfurthii Leaves Extracts
الكلمات المفتاحية:
Antibacterial; DPPH; Medicinal plants, Solanaceae.الملخص
Lycium schweinfurthii (L. schweinfurthii) is a shrub belonging to the Solanaceae family which is widely distributed in North
Africa and the Mediterranean region. The leaves and fruits have traditionally been used for gastrointestinal diseases. There
are currently only a limited number of scientific studies investigating the antibacterial activity of L. schweinfurthii. This study
aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity and antibacterial effect of L. schweinfurthii leaves extracts. Extraction was carried
out using a cold maceration method by fractionation on different solvents (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol).
The phytochemical screening was performed qualitatively. An in-vitro analysis of antioxidant activity was applied using qualitative
and quantitative DPPH scavenging activity test. Lycium schweinfurthii leaves extracts were tested at different concentrations
against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated bacteria from Tripoli Medical Center (Staphylococcus aureus &
Escherichia coli) zone of inhibition was recorded as the mean value. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of
major secondary metabolites. However, the methanol fraction contained (flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannins,
saponins and carbohydrates). The methanolic extract showed good DPPH scavenging activity compared to the ascorbic acid
which used as positive control. At 100 mg/ml concentration, petroleum ether fraction had the highest antibacterial activity
against Staphylococcus aureus, followed by methanol and ethyl acetate fractions (8.33, 7.33 & 5 mm respectively). Methanol
fraction at 100 mg/ml showed the largest zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli followed by ethyl acetate and petroleum
ether leaves extract (9, 6.66 and 5.83 mm respectively). It can be concluded that the Lycium schweinfurthii leaves extracts have
promising antioxidant and antibacterial activity against bacterial strains.
