Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content and antimicrobial activity of two medicinal plants from Sulaimani City, Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Abstract

Malabar spinach  fruit  with dark blue skin and deep red violet flesh is a potential source of natural colorant. Nasturtium  officinal (watercress) of family  Brassica  ceae  has been long used as a home remedy or a medical plant by the people  Iraq- Sulaimaini City .The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant , antimicrobial activity of Malabar spinach &Nasturtium  official (water cress) extracts using various in vitro assay systems including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP),1,1-dipheny-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2-azinobis -3- ethylbenzothiozoline sulphonate (ABTS ).Antibacterial activity were tested against five gram-positive ,three gram –negative bacteria and two fungi by disc  diffusion method for different extract  and determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)values .

Total phenolic content was determined by folin ciocalteu reagent for the extract (mg Gallic acid  /g extract ). From the result  highest total phenol content was shown by Malabar  spinach  & Nastartium officinale in methanol extracts. Elemental analysis  have been done element by inductive couple plasma (ICP) techniques for each this two medicinal plants high amount of Na ,K Ca, Mn ,Zn ,Mg, Fe, Cu ,and se  elements have been detected in ppb.

Key words:  Malabar spinach  , Nasturtium  officinal, antioxidant   , antimicrobial  ,phenolics