Abstract:

Objective: In this study, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities as well as total phenolic content of dried leaf extracts of Corchorus olitorius grown in North Cyprus were determined. Methods: The total phenolic content, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu, DPPH free radical and broth dilution methods, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested against eight different microorganisms (Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6037, Listeria monocytogenes Scott A, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureus 6538P, Bacillus cereus No 8, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895, Escherichia coli ATCC 1103, Salmonella Typhimurium NRRL-B-4420). Results: The highest phenolic content was obtained from ethanol extract as 24.61 mg GAE/g. Water, ethanol and methanol extracts of C. olitorius were inhibited the DPPH radical by 17.50%, 87.10% and 86.00%, respectively. MIC values of ethanol and methanol extracts of C. olitorius against test cultures were varied between 50.00% and 6.25%, while no inhibitory effect was observed for water extract. The most susceptible microorganisms to methanol extract of the plant were L. monocytogenes Scott A, E. faecalis ATCC 29212 and B. subtilis ATCC 6037 (MIC value of 6.25%). Conclusion: All these results showed that C. olitorius extracts are important sources showing antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Keywords: