Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC, PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITTY STUDIES ON BEGONIA PICTA.

Nisha Shrestha*, Renuka Itani and Dharma Prasad Khanal

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to extend the scientific knowledge for utilization of traditionally used medicinal plant Begonia picta. It includes the macroscopic, microscopic, phytochemical studies, antioxidant and antibacterial activity evaluation of leaves and stems of Begonia picta. The transverse section (T.S) of leaves showed the presence of upper and lower epidermis, mesophyll and mid rib region with numerous vascular bundle. The epidermal layer of leaf shows the presence of anisocytic type of stomata. The T.S of stem showed the epidermis, cortex, vascular bundle arranged in ring and pith with parenchymatous cells consisting abundant starch grains. Phytochemical present in different extract of Begonia picta were alkaloid, tannin, saponnin, terpenoid, glycoside, carbohydrate, flavonoid, phenol, cardiac glycoside and anthraquinone glycoside. TPC was measures by using Folin-ciocalteau’s reagent. And TFC of Begonia picta was measured by colorimetric assay. The TPC and TFC of the extracts were expressed as milligram of Gallic Acid Equivalent per gram of extracts i. e. mg GAE/g extract and milligram of Quercetin Equivalent per gram of extract i. e. mg QE/g extract respectively. The result of the present study revealed that the ethyl acetate extract of Begonia picta has highest TPC (66.994 mg GAE/g) and hexane extract of Begonia picta has highest TFC value (33.3617 mg QE/g) of extract. Antioxidant activity was determined by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging method. Inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were calculated. The sequence of antioxidant activity of Begonia picta extracts were; ethyl acetate (with IC50 value 40.949μg/ml) > methanol (IC50 value 45.7184μg/ml) > hexane (IC50 value 248.365μg/ml). Antibacterial activity was evaluated by cup diffusion method in which only ethyl acetate extract Begonia picta showed the indicative antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi.

Keywords: Begonia picta, polyphenol, flavonoid, antioxidant, antibacterial.