Antioxidant and Biological Activities of Leptadenia Hastataethyl Acetate Roots Extracts

Background: Leptadenia hastata (Pers) Decne is one of the most important medicinal plants in West African traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, Ant gonorrhea, stomach ache, hypertension, catarrh, skin diseases, trypanosomiasis and Wound healing. Much attention has been paid to this medicinal plant because of its traditional uses. The aim of the study was to evaluate antioxidant and biological activity of the extract obtained from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Leptadenia Hastata (Pers.) Decne. Material and Method: Antioxidant activity of extracts was evaluated by DPPH and the bacterial effect of the plant Leptadenia hastata was evaluated for antimicrobial activity in vitro by agar desk diffusion method with four standard bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Kleibsilia pneumonia). Result: The ethyl acetate possessed strong radical scavenging activity (IC501.889). The extracts were also effective against all Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria tested, especially for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with an inhibition potential of 1.03 ± 0.12 and 1.30 ± 0.10 respectively at 500ppm. Conclusion: These findings give a scientific basis to the traditional usage of Leptadenia hastata (Pers) Decne, also showing its potential as rich sources of natural antioxidant compounds. Thus is a potential candidate to be used as an antioxidant agent, for treatment of other ailment as well as infectious diseases.