Abstract

Objective: To prepare different polarities crude extract from the leaves of Ficus carica and to evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial potential against food borne pathogenic bacterial strains. Methods: The dried leaves were macerated in absolute ethanol for one week. The ethanol was evaporated and the crude extract was defatted with ethanol-water. The defatted hydro alcoholic crude extract was successively extracted with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The antioxidant potential was determined against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Evaluation of antimicrobial potential of different crude extracts against selected Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by agar disc diffusion method. Results: The total extraction yield was 2.2%. The highest extraction yield was in chloroform and the lowest in hexane. The antioxidant results were found in the order of hydro alcoholic>ethyl acetate>hexane>chloroform. Hydro alcoholic crude extract and its derived fractions display moderate antimicrobial potential against the selected bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escheichia coli and Pseudomonas, in the range of 0%-13%. Conclusions: It is concluded that the hydro alcoholic and ethyl acetate crude extracts of Ficus carica possess very good antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.

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