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Antibacterial, antifungal and
antioxidant activity of the roots and leaves of
Pelargonium reniforme Curtis (Geraniaceae)
E. A. Adewusi and A. J. Afolayan*
Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700,
South Africa.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
Aafolayan@ufh.ac.za.
Fax: +27 866282295.
Accepted 7 August, 2009 |
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Pathogens
such as bacteria and fungi and oxidative stress induce the
progression of alcoholic liver disease. The antimicrobial
and antioxidant activity of extracts from the roots and
leaves of Pelargonium reniforme Curtis (Geraniaceae)
were assessed in an effort to validate the traditional use
of the plant in the treatment of liver diseases. Methanol,
acetone and water extracts of the plant were investigated
for antimicrobial activity against ten bacterial and five
fungal species using the dilution method on solid agar
medium. With the exception of Streptococcus faecalis,
the extracts showed significant activity against all the
gram-positive and three of the gram-negative bacteria tested
in this study. Although not completely fungicidal, these
extracts showed significant growth inhibition against all
the fungi tested. The concentrations of the different
classes of phenolic compounds were higher in the methanol
extracts when compared with the water extracts. Antioxidant
activities of the methanol and water extracts as assessed by
three established in vitro methods, namely,
2,2´-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid) (ABTS), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and
ferric ion reducing power showed that the extract possessed
strong scavenging activity and moderate reducing power.
Results obtained in this study show that P. reniforme
has good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity and this
validates its traditional use in the treatment of liver
diseases. Also, a comparative study of the antioxidant and
antimicrobial activities of both the leaves and root showed
that both parts had similar activity. The choice of the root
by the traditional healers over the leaves may be arbitrary
or due to easy collection. The leaves of P. reniforme
may, as well, substitute for its roots in medicinal
formulations.
Key words:
Pelargonium reniforme, antimicrobial activity,
antioxidant activity, phenolic compounds, liver diseases. |
