Extraction And Evaluation of Herbs Having Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activity

Abstract

The present study investigates the pharmacological potential of a polyherbal extraction (PHE) designed for the treatment  and  protection of normal cells through antioxidant mechanisms. Extracts from ten medicinal plants were individually prepared using double-distilled water, with Terminalia chebula (17.5%) and Emblica officinalis (13.5%) incorporated in higher proportions to enhance therapeutic efficacy. In phytochemical screening observed constituents like flavanoids, tannins, glycoside, alkaloids,  all of which are known to contribute to antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed using agar disc diffusion method, with Ofloxacin as the reference standard. Extraction demonstrated pronounced inhibitory activity against gram-positive bacteria (16.7 mm), while moderate inhibition with gram-ve strains, Escherichia coli and Proteus (15.3 mm). Quantitative estimation of phytochemicals revealed that TPC and TFC measured by Folin–Ciocalteu, and aluminium chloride colorimetry, were strongly correlated (r = 0.97), suggesting that flavonoids constitute a major fraction of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant potential was comprehensively evaluated using multiple  assays, including ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching. Free radical scavenging, thereby accounting for differences in radical species and reaction mechanisms. The results highlight that antioxidant activity is a multifactorial process influenced by the synergistic interplay of diverse phytoconstituents. Collectively, these findings support the therapeutic promise of the PHE as both an antibacterial and antioxidant agent, providing a scientific basis for its potential application in managing skin infections and protecting cellular integrity.