The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2019;8(4):155-160 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2019.8402

Research Article

Antimicrobial and radical scavenging activities of Moroccan Ziziphus lotus L. seeds

Rais Chaimae^1,2 , Benidir Meryem² , Slimani Chaimae² , EL-Ouazna Bouchamma² , Ettadili Hamza³ , ElHanafi Laila^2,4 , EL Ghadraoui Lahsen² , Benjelloun Meryem²

Rais Chaimae,Benidir Meryem,Slimani Chaimae,EL-Ouazna Bouchamma,Ettadili Hamza,ElHanafi Laila,EL Ghadraoui Lahsen,Benjelloun Meryem

1. Laboratory of botany, National Agency for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O.Box 159. Taounate, 34025, Morocco
2. Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, Faculty of sciences and technology, USMBA, Fez, Morocco
3. Laboratory of Microbial biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, USMBA, Fez, Morocco
4. Laboratory of Engineering, Electrochemistry, Modeling and Environment, Faculty of Sciences DharMahraz, USMBA, Fez, Morocco

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 10th June, 2019 / Accepted: 26th July, 2019

Abstract

Natural plant extracts contain a variety of phenolic contents, which are associated to various biological activities. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of organic (ethanol and methanol) and aqueous extracts prepared from Ziziphus lotus L seeds. The total polyphenol content of the extracts was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, it was in the range of 50.67 ± 1.44 (Ethanolic Extract), 39.32 ± 1.44 (Methanolic Extract) and 23.54 ± 0,44 (Aqueous Extract) mg gallic acid equivalent/g DW. The content in flavonoids was estimated at 69.19 ± 0.10 (Ethanolic Extract), 53.13 ± 0.55 (Methanolic Extract) and 9.63 ± 0.88 (Aqueous Extract) mg equivalent quercitin/g DW. The condensed tannin assay revealed that the methanol extract was rich on tannin (9.12 ± 1.07 mg/g) relatively to the ethanol and aqueous extracts (4.97 ± 0.95 and 1, 88 ± 0.47 mg/g respectively). The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro by DPPH and phosphomolydbate (total antioxidant capacity). The results reveal that the three extracts have a capacity to trap the DPPH radical with IC50 1.33 ± 0.01, 1.32 ± 0.09 and 3.11 ± 0.05 mg/ml for the methanol, ethanol and aqueous extract respectively. This antioxidant activity is confirmed by the phosphomolybdate test. The antimicrobial activity of the studied extracts was evaluated using the broth microdilution, on five microbial strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis and Candida tropicalis. Results revealed an activity on the four bacterial strains tested. While the fungal strain (Candida tropicalis) showed an amount of resistance to the tested extracts. All this results could justify the use of Ziziphus lotus in the treatment of various infections in traditional environments.