BIOACTIVE PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES OF UTLERIA SALICIFOLIA

Utleria salicifolia is an unexplored medicinal plant with potential pharmacological
importance. In this study, an intensive phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity
of the ethanol extract was conducted. Qualitative phytochemical profiling indicated the
existence of a wide spectrum of secondary metabolites represented by phenol, flavonoids,
tannins, glycosides, saponins, anthraquinones and amino acids. These indicated a high
quantity of bioactive components. The DPPH assay revealed concentration dependent
antioxidant activities with an IC50 value of 370 μg/mL, suggesting a moderate antioxidant
capacity that may be associated to the extracts phenolic and flavonoid content. Further with
minimum inhibitory concentrations varying from 150 to 250 μg/mL, of the extract
demonstrated broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gramnegative
microorganisms. With significance was the maximum susceptibility obtained against
Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Altogether, these findings offer the represent the first
consistent evidence that U. salicifolia possesses numerous phytochemical constituents
exhibiting noticeable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties on this plant, and hence
provides an attractive possibility for the identification of novel therapeutic compounds.