ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES OF TABERNAEMONTANA HEYNEANA WALL. AN ENDEMIC PLANT OF WESTERN GHATS

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different crude extracts of leaves of T. heyneanaMethods: Crude extracts of methanol, chloroform, dichloromethane and dichloroethane of leaf were evaluated for antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method and antioxidant activity by DPPH (diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and reducing power assay. Quantitative analysis of total phenolics was done by Folin-Ciocalteau method and total flavonoids by aluminium chloride method.Results: Methanolic extract of T. heyneana exhibited the presence of all the phytochemicals tested except triterpenoids and saponins. The highest phenolic content of 14.0±0.45 mg GAE/g and flavonoid content of 81.62±0.47 mg QE/g were found in methanol extract. The highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 20.3±0.56 µg/ml) and reducing power was exhibited by methanolic extract. The methanolic extract showed maximum antibacterial activity of 12.66±0.57 mm zone of inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and least of 9.23±0.25 mm against Proteus vulgaris.Conclusion: These findings provide scientific evidence to support the traditional use of Tabernaemontana heyneana Wall. and also indicate that the leaves of this species are a promising potential for the development of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents