Studies on phytochemical analysis, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Ficus racemosa L. leaf and fruit extracts against wound pathogens

Abstract

The present study deals with antibacterial activity of leaf and fruit parts of Ficus racemosa plant. Phytochemical analysis revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols that contributed for higher antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The fruit exhibited significant inhibition when compared with leaf. Bacteria from wounds of diabetic patients were isolated and identified as Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli. MIC for all the three (Ethanol, toluene and ethyl acetate) extracts was performed against wound isolates. Among all wound bacteria tested Staphylococcus spp. showed lowest MIC (0.07\xa0mg/ml) with toluene extract of fruit. The MIC for E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. was found to be 0.15\xa0mg/ml and for Klebsiella spp. (0.31\xa0mg/ml).The MIC 0.625\xa0mg/ml was obtained for toluene extracts of leaf against Staphylococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. Antibacterial study revealed that the extracts of leaf and fruit exhibited good inhibition activity against wound isolates. Study of well diffusion assay of Ficus racemosa extract revealed that 75 and 100\xa0µg/ml concentration was found to have significant control over wound pathogens. Highest inhibition was obtained for Staphylococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. with fruit extract with a zone of inhibition of 26\u2009±\u20090.10 and 24\u2009±\u20090.13\xa0mm, respectively at 100\xa0µg/ml. Toluene extract of fruit had higher antioxidant activity with IC50 of 0.75\xa0µg/ml followed by ethanol extract 1.42\xa0µg/ml and correlated with antibacterial activity. Thus, this study proved that leaf and fruit extract have significant antibacterial activity and hence it can be used for a therapeutic purpose.