In Vitro Pharmacological Investigations (cytotoxic, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activity) Fraction of Dichloromethane of Ficus Racemosa

Abstract

The plant Ficus racemosa has been used for the general promotion of health and longevity by Asian tribal. It is used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases like asthma, piles, diarrhea etc. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity activity, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity of dichloromethane extract of Ficus racemosa. The powdered leaves of Ficus racemosa were extracted with methanol and then partitioned with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and dichloromethane consecutively. The dichloromethane fraction was used to evaluate cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The cytoxic activity was measured by brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Dichloromethane fraction showed cytotoxic activity with LC50 value 17.64μg/ml in brine shrimp lethality test. The antimicrobial activities of dichloromethane solvent extract of Ficus racemosa plant were tested against the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains by observing the zone of inhibition. The antimicrobial test was performed by Disc diffusion method. The crude dichloromethane extract of Ficus racemosa plant showed low to moderate antimicrobial activities against the microorganisms at concentrations of 400 μg/disc. The fraction contained 33.632mgAAE/g of total phenolic content and 715mg AAE/g total flavonoid content. The results of study clearly indicate the presence of cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of dichloromethane extract. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.