PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND IN-VITRO ANTIOXIDANT, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND DNA INTERACTION OF LEUCOJUM AESTIVUM

Abstract

The aim of this study was evaluation of in-vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Leucojum aestivum extracts, and determination of the total phenolic compounds of Leucojum aestivum by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Leucojum aestivum is known as summer snowflake. It is the only single species of Leucojum genus in Turkey. This species contains various alkaloids in the bulbs and has beautiful flowers. Therefore, it is used as ornamental and economic plant in Turkey and in many parts of the world. This species is categorized in the group of medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants in Turkey. We prepared extracts of below- and above-ground parts of the plant with three solvents, namely ethanol, methanol, and hexane, to analyze its potential as a medicinal plant. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Leucojum aestivum have been found to demonstrate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast. In conclusion, the high phenolic and flavonoid content of the extract exhibits high antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity results are associated with DNA interaction.