PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT STUDIES ON LEAF EXTRACTS OF PIPER BETLE L.

Objective: In the present research, a clear systematic investigation of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of ambadi variety of P. betle of Mysore region has been carried out.Methods: Antibacterial activity of aqueous and solvent extracts of Piper betle L. was evaluated by agar cup diffusion and disc diffusion methods against some common pathogenic bacteria. The antioxidant property of all the solvent extracts were evaluated by diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. The IC50 values were calculated and compared with standard BHT and AA.Results: The results indicated that methanol and chloroform extracts of this variety recorded significant antibacterial activity and all the extracts recorded good radical scavenging capacity. Phytochemical analysis revealed that phenols, tannins, flavanoids, glycosides and proteins are present in aqueous, methanol and petroleum ether extracts.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study clearly indicate that P. betle extracts has a significant potential to use as antibacterial agent. The free radical scavenging capability by DPPH was better and IC50 value found was lesser than the standard used for all the extracts, which suggest that P. betle extracts have potent antioxidant activity. The solvent extracts are effective against free radical mediated diseasesÂ