Phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of tree spinach [Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Miller) I. M. Johnston]

Abstract

Ethanol extracts of leaves, stem and root of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Miller) I. M. Johnston, were screened for their phytochemical constituents and also investigated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of secondary metabolites of both preventive and curative importance in medicine. All the plant parts (leaf, stem and root) showed activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtiliswhile the stem showed the broadest spectrum of activity against the different strains of bacteria used. Although the antioxidant activity of the extract [determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-picryl-1-hydrazyl radical (DPPH)] is  less potent in comparison with vitamin C, however, it showed increase in activity with increased concentration.   Key words: Phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius.