Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Antibacterial Potential of Lyophilized Powder of Ziziphus rugosa Lam. Leaf Extract (ZLE)

In the present investigation, an attempt was made to determine the therapeutic potential of ethnomedicinal plant Ziziphus rugosa Lam. leaf extract (ZLE) as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drug. Analytically, it was noticed that, the lyophilized powder has a significant quantity of total phenols (122 mg/g ZLE powder), flavonoids 157.19 mg/g ZLE powder), and flavonol (214.93 mg/g ZLE powder) contents. The antioxidant assays revealed a remarkable capacity to scavenge free radicals. For 100 µg of ZLE powder, the assay value showed a scavenging potency at levels of 73.01% for DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and 43.80% for NOx (Nitric Oxide), assays respectively. The ability of the ZLE for H₂O₂ scavenging was assessed using peroxidase assay. 100µg of ZLE powder inhibited albumin denaturation at a level of 27.64% and proteinases by 39.47%. The inhibition by standard drug aspirin (100µg) on albumin denaturation and proteinases was 84.70% and 51.71% respectively. ZLE lyophilized powder was tested for its ability to inhibit the growth of three common wound infecting bacteria- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones formed were compared to the inhibition zones formed by the standard drug cefotaxime (30 mcg/disc) and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of ZLE against test organisms were determined.