Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity of different Portulaca oleracea L. extracts growing in Kashmir Valley

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate phytochemicals composition, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal activity of different solvent extracts of P. oleracea L. (purslane) growing in Kashmir Valley. Different solvent extracts of the aerial parts of P. oleracea were prepared including aqueous, methanolic, ethanolic, acetone, and hexane. Qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed by different tests and quantitative analysis for total flavonoids and total phenolics was performed. Antioxidant potential was analyzed through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, and FARP assay. Finally, the antimicrobial activity was evaluated through the disc-diffusion method. Results indicated that P. oleracea is very rich in phytochemical composition and revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and anthraquinones. Total flavonoids and phenols were found significantly in these extracts while acetone extract showed the highest total flavonoids content (21.75 ± 0.21) and ethanolic extract showed the highest phenolic content (31.97 ± 0.32) mg g -1 dry matter (DM). Acetone extract possesses the highest antioxidant activity. The antibacterial activity was analyzed against S. aereus, E. coli, and M. luteus and antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum. Each extract showed significant antifungal and antibacterial activity but the highest was revealed by ethanolic extract of P. oleracea. Ethanolic extract yielded minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) values of 0.14, 0.05, 0.07, 0.62, and 0.73 mg/ml against S. aereus, E. coli, M. luteus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Aspergillus flavus, respectively. In conclusion, P. oleracea growing in Kashmir Valley showed rich phytochemical composition, strong antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activities.