Phytochemical Investigation and in vitro Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities Evaluation of Erianthemum aethiopicum Wiens and Polhill

Abstract

Background

Erianthemum aethiopicum Wiens and Polhill (Loranthaceae) is a parasitic plant native to north eastern Africa and Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, it is traditionally used to treat breast swelling, mastitis, morning illnesses and vomiting.

Objective

This study aimed to screen the main phytochemical constituents; determine the total amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins; and evaluate the antimicrobial (against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sciuri, Candida glaebosa and Cryptococcus albidus) and antioxidant (against DPPH radical and ferric ion) activities of E. aethiopicum leaves extracts.

Methods

Powdered E. aethiopicum leaves were macerated using n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and methanol. All crude extracts were qualitatively screened for phytochemical identification. The total phenolic, flavonoid, and condensed tannin contents of the chloroform, ethanol, and methanol extracts were determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against the aforementioned microbes using agar disc diffusion and broth micro-dilution techniques. Chloroform, ethanol, and methanol extracts were also evaluated for antioxidant activity by DPPH and ferric ion reduction antioxidant power (FRAP) assays.

Results

Methanol (17.56 ± 16%) and ethanol (16.45 ± 19%) showed better extraction efficiency. Flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, and sterols were detected in all extracts. The highest total content of phenolics (22.63 ± 0.69 mgGAE/gDCE), flavonoids (5.38 ± 0.52 mgCE/gDCE) and tannins (39.18 ± 38 mg CE/g DCE), as milligram of gallic acid and catechin per gram of dried crude extract, were recorded in the methanolic extract. The methanolic extract also presented best anti -DPPH strength (IC ₅₀, 4.31 μg/mL) and ferric ion reduction power (absorbance of 0.71) though found weak compared to the ascorbic acid (IC ₅₀ of 0.49 μg/mL and absorbance of 0.93, respectively).

Conclusion

All evaluated extracts displayed antifungal activity against both Cryptococcus albidus and Candida glaebosa strains (minimum inhibitory concentration values of 12.5–25 mg/mL), whereas they were found to have negligible activity against all tested bacterial strains. This report provides preliminary information for further phytochemical investigation of Erianthemum aethiopicum to isolate potential antioxidant and antifungal compounds.