In vitro Study
on the Antioxidant, Antibiotic modulatory and Bactericidal Activity of the Methanolic
Extracts of Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. Root
Dash Jyotirmayee, Tripathy Sangeeta Rani, Ameeruddin Shaikh, Pradhan N. Susmita
and Das Sarita
Res. J. Biotech.; Vol. 20(6); 85-97;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/206rjbt085097; (2025)
Abstract
There are many roots rich in different phytotherapeutic nutrients that help human
beings to fight against different germs or pathogens and to overcome various deadly
diseases. This study provides comparative information regarding protective role
of the methanolic extract of roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd. and Desmodium gangeticum
(L.) DC. against multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-positive bacteria i.e. Staphylococcus
aureus and Gram-negative bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli. Phytochemical analysis
revealed that both the plants had major bioactive compounds like alkaloids, flavonoids,
terpenoids, phenols, tannins, steroids, glycosides etc. A. racemosus had a total
phenol content (TPC) of 41.91±7.716mg/g of Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE) and a total
flavonoid content (TFC) of 159±24.832mg/g of Rutin Equivalent (RE), while D. gangeticum
was calculated to have a TPC of 48.58±1.80 mg/g of GAE and TFC of 141.47±3.96mg/g
of RE. Though both roots exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against both
E. coli and S. aureus strains, A. racemosus inhibited the growth of S. aureus better
in comparison to E. coli by augmenting the bactericidal activity of conventional
antibiotics like ampicillin and nitrofurantoin against S. aureus while D. gangeticum
augmented the activities of ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and nitrofurantoin against
E. coli.
Hence, it may be concluded that both extracts can be used either singly or in combination
therapy with synthetic antibiotics to combat bacterial infections and infectious
diseases. However, further study can confirm the mode of action of certain phytocompounds
against bacterial pathogenesis and can help better in targeted alternative drug
therapy.
