Phytochemical constituents, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial potential of Pulicaria incisa (lam.) DC as a folk medicinal plant

The species belonging to the genus Pulicaria are well known for their traditional uses in folklore medicine, active chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the active constituents, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial potential of Pulicaria incisa (lam.) DC extracts. Ethyl acetate and diethyl ether extracts of the dried aerial parts of P. incisa were prepared. The active secondary constituents (alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids and tannins) were quantitatively determined. The active constituents in the ethyl acetate extract were higher than those of diethyl ether extract. The ethyl acetate extract expressed higher antioxidant activity in terms of diphenyl picryl hydrazyl (DPPH•) radical scavenging assay in comparison with ascorbic acid as a reference standard. The antimicrobial activity analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate extract expressed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Erwinia carotovora and Candida albicans while that of diethyl ether expressed activity against Bacillus subtillis, Erwinia carotovora and Candida albicans. In conclusion the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activity of the studied extracts of P. incisa may be attributed to its richness with the medicinally active metabolites.