Full Length Research Paper

Phytotoxic, Antibacterial and Haemagglutination activities of the aerial parts of Myrsine africana L.

Bashir Ahmad¹*, Sadiq Azam¹, Shumaila Bashir², Ibrar Khan¹, Niaz Ali⁴ and M. Iqbal Chaudhary³

¹Pharmabiotech Research Lab, Centre for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar. KPK. Pakistan.

²Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar. KPK Pakistan.

³International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

⁴Department of pharmacy University of Malakand, KPK, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: bashirdr2001@yahoo.com.

Abbreviations: EtOAc, Ethyl acetate; BuOH, butanol; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.

Accepted 13 October, 2010

   Abstract

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions derived from the aerial parts of Myrsine africana were screened in vitro for possible phytotoxic, antibacterial and haemagglutination activities. Moderate phytotoxic activity (31.25 %) was observed against Lemna minor L at 1000 µg/ml by chloroform fraction (CHCl₃). The crude methanolic extract and CHCl₃ fraction showed good antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC₅₀ = 2.45 and 2.1 mg/ml respectively). The crude methanolic extract and other fractions showed moderate activity against tested bacterial strains. The CHCl₃ and aqueous fractions showed no activity against Escherichia coli. Similarly, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (BuOH) fractions were found to be non active against Bacillus pumilus and Enterobacter aerogenes, respectively. Moderate haemagglutination activity was observed against human red blood cells (RBCs) of blood group AB^- by crude methanolic extract and CHCl₃ fraction and against AB⁺ by aqueous fraction, respectively. The plant specie can be a source of antibacterial agent(s) and phytolectins.

Key words: Myrsine africana, phytotoxicity, haemagglutination, antibacterial and MIC₅₀.