Antioxidant, antimicrobial and FTIR analysis of methanol root extract of Cnestis ferruginea and ethanol root extract of Citrus limon

Concoctions of roots of Cnestis ferruginea and Citrus limon are used locally in the treatment of breast cancer, wounds, dysentery and tooth ache. In this study, methanol root extracts of Cnestis ferruginea and ethanol root extracts of Citrus limon were evaluated for antimicrobial, and antioxidant capacities. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts was performed using standard methods. The agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial activities of the extract against test organisms Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtillus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration of extracts was evaluated using broth dilution method. The antioxidant activity was determined by total antioxidant capacity and DPPH free radical scavenging assay. FTIR analysis were conducted on a component of each extracts. Extracts from both plants showed antimicrobial activity against test organisms. The IC50 values were 0.069 mg/mL and 0.618 mg/mL for Cnestis ferruginea and Citrus limon respectively. Preliminary phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and glycosides in both extracts with Cnestic ferruginea extract having anthraquinones in addition. FTIR analysis indicated the presence of various functional groups in both extracts that confirms the presence of the phytochemicals identified in the screening test. The results from the study showed that both extracts had antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.