Bioactivity - Guided Isolation and Partial Characterization of an Anti - Inflammatory and Antibacterial Principles from M. paradisiaca

Abstract

This study deals with the bioactivity guided isolation and partial characterization of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial principles from M.paradisiaca. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of leucoanthocyanins, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The Brine Shrimp Test shows that among the four extracts produced from serial extraction, methanolic extract has the highest mortality ranging from 63.33% - 90.00% at concentrations 10 - 1000 ppm. The methanolic extract exhibited superior anti inflammatory activity over the control both in the lower and higher concentrations in the casein solution. While in the albumin solution, methanolic extract only shows higher anti inflammatory activity over the control at higher concentration. Antimicrobial activity of the extract exhibits significant susceptibility to the following bacteria: S. aureus, B. subtilis, P. bulgaris, and E. coli. Data reveal that the extract exhibits greater bioactivity as the extract becomes purer.  Spectroscopic analyses reveal that the bioactive fraction has alcohol functionality with bands at regions 3200 - 3600 cm' and 1050 cm', for presence of aliphatic O-H stretch and aliphatic C-O stretch, with aromatic C - H stretch at 1050 cm' respectively. The UV spectrum reveals a peak at max 290 nm, which denotes that the structure of the bioactive fraction may consist of several conjugated double bonds. With the IR and UV spectra, it can be hypothetically-believed that the bioactive fraction may be a conjugated alcohol with benzene ring