In vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract

Nowadays, with the increase in the incidence of diseases, the use of natural herbal compounds to treat them is increasing. Among medicinal plants, Ziziphus nummularia has been considered for its unique properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua and Bacillus cereus.

Extraction of Ziziphus nummularia leaves was done by maceration method for 72 hours. The phenol and flavonoid content of the extract was measured. Antioxidant capacity evaluated using DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assay. Agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were used to evaluate antimicrobial activity of extract.

Total phenolic content and flavonoid of Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract were 47.38 mg GAE/g and 28.5 mg QE/g respectively. Antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS and β-carotene /linoleic acid bleaching assay were 60.3, 54.55 and 57.44 percent respectively. Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract showed a significant antimicrobial effect on the studied microorganisms. The most sensitive and resistant microbial strains to the extract according to the agar well method were Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively.

Due to the considerable antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Ziziphus nummularia leaf extract, this extract can be used in the pharmaceutical and food industries.