Phytochemical Analysis, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of the Leave Extracts of Ruta Chalepensis

Rue (Ruta chalepensis) commonly known as rue, is traditionally used in Ethiopia for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Therefore this study conducted to investigate phytochemical constituents, antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the leave extracts of Ruta chalepensis. The phytochemical screening tests were conducted as per the standard procedure to identify the classes of compounds present in the leave extract of Ruta chalepensis. In vitro antibacterial activities of crude extracts were evaluated via disc diffusion method while antioxidant activities of extracts were determined by DPPH assay, the phosphomolybdenum method and total flavonoid contents were determined as per of the standard procedures. Phytochemical screening of leave extracts of Ruta chalepensis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites. The methanol extract had the greatest DPPH scavenging (93.851±0.148%) and total antioxidant (1.63 ± 0.19 mg AAE/g of dried extract) activities. Ethyl acetate extract showed the growth suppression of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli and methanol extract showed growth suppression of Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibition concentration 50mg/mL. The antibacterial activities of the extracts were compared with a commercially available antibiotic (chloramphenicol) and showed moderate antibacterial activities, with inhibition zones ranging between 18–28 mm. Therefore the solvent extracts of Ruta chalepensis revealed the presence of important secondary metabolites, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, phytochemical profile, Ruta chalepensis DOI: 10.7176/CMR/11-6-01 Publication date: August 31st 201