Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the methanolic extract of Centaurea zuvandica Sosn

A methanol crude extract and a sesquiterpene lactone, cynaropicrin, isolated from Centaurea zuvandica aerial parts, were evaluated for antioxidant activity using FTC and TBA methods. The antimicrobial activity of the crude extract was also tested against six strains including gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria by disk diffusion method. The methanolic extract and cynaropicrin obtained of Centaurea zuvandica aerial parts possessed high antioxidant activity when tested with both methods. The MeOH extract was also inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli but had no inhibitory effects on Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. These results indicated the possibility of using MeOH extract of Centaurea zuvandica for medicinal uses and food prevention.