AUTHOR=Sarwar Rizwana , Farooq Umar , Khan Ajmal , Naz Sadia , Khan Sara , Khan Afsar , Rauf Abdur , Bahadar Haji , Uddin Reaz 

TITLE=Evaluation of Antioxidant, Free Radical Scavenging, and Antimicrobial Activity of Quercus incana Roxb.

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2015.00277

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2015.00277

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Considering the indigenous utilization of <italic>Quercus incana</italic> Roxb., the present study deals with the investigation of antioxidant, free radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content, and antimicrobial activity of <italic>Q. incana</italic> Roxb. <italic>In vitro</italic> antioxidant activity of the plant fractions were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and nitric oxide scavenging method. Total phenolic contents were determined by gallic acid equivalent and antimicrobial activities were determined by agar well diffusion method. It was observed that <italic>Q. incana</italic> Roxb. showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. <italic>n</italic>-Butanol fraction showed maximum activity against <italic>Micrococcus leuteus</italic> with 19 mm zone of inhibition. <italic>n</italic>-Butanol fraction of <italic>Q. incana</italic> Roxb. showed immense antifungal activity against <italic>Aspergillus niger</italic> (32 mm ± 0.55) and <italic>A. flavus</italic> (28 mm ± 0.45). Similarly <italic>n</italic>-butanol fraction showed relatively good antioxidant activity with IC<sub>50</sub> value of 55.4 ± 0.21 μg/mL. The NO scavenging activity of ethyl acetate fraction (IC<sub>50</sub> = 23.21 ± 0.31 μg/mL) was fairly good compared to other fractions. The current study of <italic>Q. incana</italic> Roxb. suggests the presences of synergetic action of some biological active compounds that may be present in the leaves of medicinal plant. Further studies are needed to better characterize the important active constituents responsible for the antimicrobial, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity.</p>