Phytochemical and Biological Screening of Organic Solvent Extracts of Ipomoea Pes-Capraeflower

Abstract

Phytochemicals are extensively used as medicinal compounds for treatment of various ailments all over the world. Ipomoea pes-caprae is a medicinal plant and utilizing naturally derived plant product or drug is less dangerous. The phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer activity of Ipomoea pes- caprae flower extract were studied. Phytochemical analysis reported the presence of carbohydrate, protein, amino acids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, saponins and glycosides. Carbohydrate, protein, amino acid, alkaloid and flavonoids are the major components in the ethanolic flower extract. Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, Nitric Oxide scavenging assay, and Hydroxyl scavenging assay of the ethanolic extract showed good scavenging and reducing activity and it possessed good antioxidant efficacy. The flower extracts were tested against three gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans, three gram negative bacteria Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Escherichia coli and three fungus Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp., by disc diffusion method. The ethanolic extract showed antimicrobial activity against all pathogens and maximum zone of inhibition of 21 mm was recorded with Staphylococcus aureus and 20 mm with Penicillium sp. As a result of potential antimicrobial activity and bioactive compounds present in the ethanolic flower extract, it was tested against lung cancer cell line - A549 by MTT assay and it showed effective cell inhibition with IC50 value 55.2527µg/mL. It was also tested for the cytotoxicity against normal cell line-L929 and observed with IC50 value 161.45. This study revealed that ethanolic extract of Ipomoea pes-caprae flower can be evolved as a new drug for treating cancer and microbial diseases.