Comparative analysis of the antioxidant, antibacterial and plant growth promoting potential of five Indian varieties of Moringa oleifera L

• Published in: South African journal of botany 2020-03, Vol.129, p.47-55
• Main Authors: Farooq, B., Koul, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Antioxidant; Foliar spray; Free radicals; Jaffna; Moringa oleifera
• ISSN: 0254-6299; 1727-9321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2018.12.014

The aqueous and ethanolic leaves and seeds extract of M. oleifera varieties, ‘Jaffna’, ‘PKM-1’ (Periyakulam-1), ‘PKM-2’ (Periyakulam-2), ‘ODC’ and ‘Conventional’ were analyzed for their free radical scavenging effect on DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) and ABTS (2, 2-azinobis,3-ethyl-benzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid). The DPPH and ABTS activity (based on IC50 values) trend with leaves extract was: Conventional >ODC > PKM-2 > PKM-1 > Jaffna and Conventional >ODC > PKM-2 > PKM-1 > Jaffna respectively. Similarly, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of seeds extract was: Conventional >ODC > PKM-2 > PKM-1 > Jaffna and Conventional >ODC > PKM-2 > PKM-1 > Jaffna respectively. The trend observed with total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) values for both leaves and seeds extracts was: Jaffna >PKM-1 > PKM-2 > ODC > Conventional. The antibacterial activity (disc-diffusion method) of the aqueous and ethanolic leaves and seeds extracts of the five varieties on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus showed a similar trend: Jaffna >PKM-1 > PKM-2 > ODC > Conventional. A comparative assessment of the plant growth promoting potential of the leaves extracts on Stevia rebaudiana was also performed. The trend observed was: Jaffna >PKM-1 > PKM-2 > ODC > Conventional. Therefore, the comparative study reveals that ethanolic leaf and seed extracts of Jaffna variety possess strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties with a high TPC and TFC, as compared to the other varieties. It also exhibits a promising plant growth promoting activity. Thus, this variety can be explored further as a reliable source of natural bacteriostatic agent, antioxidants and plant growth enhancer. •This is the first report of comparative assessment of five different varieties of Moringa oleifera.•The strong antibacterial activity of Jaffna variety, suggests a promising alternative to the noxious synthetic drugs.•Compared to other varieties, Jaffna leaf extract significantly improved the growth of Stevia rebaudiana.