| Abstrakt: |
Leaf extracts ofCassia roxburghiiDC., prepared in petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and methanol/water (70:30, v/v), were evaluated as antioxidant, pro-oxidant, anti-infectious, and cytotoxic agents. The major metabolite of each extract was identified by chromatographic and spectroscopic means. The redox properties were assessed with a battery of assays, which revealed that the ethyl acetate extract demonstrated an interesting scavenging activity of DPPH and superoxide radicals and an ascorbic acid-like pro-oxidant activity. All the tested extracts showed moderate antiplasmodial activity against a chloroquine-resistant strain ofPlasmodium falciparum, by possible disruption of parasite fine redox balance. Cytotoxicity was evaluated against a human breast cancer cell line. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were estimated against representative bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus hirae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli) and fungal species (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger). The ethylacetate extract possessed the highest redox properties and exhibited the highest antiplasmodial activity; there was no correlation between antibacterial activity and the redox properties of the extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER] |
