EVALUATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF CLEOME VISCOSA L.

Cleome viscosa L. commonly known as Asian spider flower is used in Ayurvedic system of medicine for therapeutic purposes. The current study was undertaken with the aim of phytochemical analysis, evaluation of antibacterial activity and antioxidant properties of ethanol, acetone and methanol extracts of leaves this plant. The extracts were subjected to preliminary phytochemical analysis using standard phytochemical methods, in-vitro antibacterial activity against six standard bacterial strains by cup-plate agar diffusion method and antioxidant determination by DPPH method. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, phytosterols, fixed oil, saponins, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Though all the extracts exhibited antibacterial activity, methanol extract of leaves registered highest antibacterial highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus (28 mm zone of inhibition), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (28 mm zone of inhibition), Acinetobacter baumannii (26 mm zone of inhibition), Aeromonas hydrophila (26 mm zone of inhibition), Proteus mirabilis (18 mm zone of inhibition) and Yersinia enterocolitica (15 mm zone of inhibition). The DPPH free radical scavenging assay revealed that the extracts exhibited scavenging effect in concentration-dependent manner. The strong free radical scavenging effect (43.33%) was observed with ethanol extract at 100 μg/mL which was comparable to that of standard ascorbic acid. This study confirmed the broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and free radical scavenging activities of Cleome viscosa L. and could be used as a potential alternative for treatment of various ailments.