ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-BACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF AESCULUS INDICA

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and bacterial infections have been identified as the root cause of the development and progression of several diseases. Despite many medicinal plants being reported to have antioxidant and antibacterial potentials, only a few are investigated. Medicinal plants exerting these properties can be used alone or in combination with other drugs for the treatment of various disorders. OBJECTIVE: To determine the antioxidant and anti-bacterial activity of ethanolic extract of Aesculus Indica. METHODOLOGY: This experimental, lab-based study was carried out at the Pharmacy department of Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, from September 2022 to March 2023. The ethanolic extract of Aesculus indica was evaluated for its antioxidant and antibacterial activity. The stable 1,1-diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl radical was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. Quercetin was used as standard antioxidant. Antibacterial activity of Aesculus indica was evaluated by paper disc diffusion method against the bacterial cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus atrophaeus at the dose of 100mg/ml and 200mg/ml. Ciprofloxacin (40μg/ml) was used as a standard antibacterial drug for Staphylococcus epidermidis. RESULTS: The mean of Aesculus Indica extract for 1,1-diphenyl -2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was 83.76±0.76 while that of standard drug quercetin was 93.21±0.97. Statistically significant difference was found between the two. Ethanolic extract of Aesculus Indica showed significant (p<0.05) antibacterial activity in comparison to ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus atrophaeus. CONCLUSION: Ethanolic extract of the Aesculus Indica showed significant antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties. KEY WORDS: Aesculus indica, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Quercetin, Ciprofloxacin.