EXPLORATION OF THE PHYTOCHEMICALS, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF PLANTAGO OVATA (ISPAGHOL)

Plants are of great importance. They are the major source of secondary metabolites. Antibiotic resistance and side effects of synthetic drugs urge the use of medicinal plants as a therapeutics or curative aid against infectious diseases. Thus, the present study conducted to evaluate the anti-microbial and anti-oxidant potential of Plantago ovata (Isapaghol). Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of plantago ovata were prepared and screened for various phytochemicals such as phenols, tanins, flavonoid, terpenoids etc. Furthermore, these extracts were used to analyze antioxidant activity using DPPH as a scavenging agent. Antimicrobial properties of the extracts were assessed against Staphylococuss aureus IARS-4, Shigella dysenteriae IARS-9, Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli IARS-3, Enterobacter cloacae IARS-7, Acineto bacterbaumannii IARS-10 and A. niger. It was observed that majority of the phytochemicals were present in both extracts. The maximum anti-oxidant activity of Plantago ovata was observed for ethanolic husk (31.67%). It has been observed that husk extracts efficiently inhibit the growth of microorganisms as compared to seed extracts except for A. niger. Hence, it is concluded that the P. ovata extracts has a great ability to be used as anti-microbial. The anti-oxidant property of Plantago ovata made it a potential candidate to be utilized in food, nutraceuticals and cosmetic industry. Keywords: Plantago ovata, antibiotic resistance, phytochemical, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant