Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Heracleum nepalense D Don root

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of the methanol extract of Heracleum nepalense D.Don roots. Method: The antimicrobial effect was determined by agar dilution and disc diffusion method. The free radical scavenging potential was studied by using different antioxidants models of screening using vitamin E (5mM) as standard. Results: The crude methanol extract of H.nepalense root was found to be active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The ethyl acetate soluble fraction of the extract showed similar activity against these organisms. Similarly, the methanol extract at 1000 μg. ml^-1 and the ethyl acetate fraction at 50 μg. ml^-1 exhibited significant antioxidant activity in ferrous sulphate induced lipid peroxidation, 1,1- diphenyl- 2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide scavenging models. Conclusions: The study confirms the possible antioxidant and antimicrobial potentiality of the plant extract. Presence of flavonoid alone or in combination with its other components could be responsible for the activity.