RISHABH SHARMA, SANJANA, SAROJ RANI AND RAJESH YOGI*
Department of UIBT (University Institute of Biotechnology)- Biosciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali-140 413 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail: rajeshyogi999@gmail.com; Mobile: 99963 49056)
(Received: July 2, 2023; Accepted: August 7, 2023)
ABSTRACT
This study examined the antimicrobial activities, antioxidant properties and phytochemical composition of weed samples from the Amaranthaceae family. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion method with weed extracts at 25 and 50 micrograms. The presence of phenolic compounds, indicating antioxidant activity, was measured at 517 nm. Phytochemical analysis was screened for glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, terpenoids, steroids and reducing sugars in the methanol extracts. Among the species tested, Achyranthes aspera and Alternanthera sessilis exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Bacillus rhizoplanae and Pseudomonas protogens, respectively, with a 9 mm zone of inhibition. Amaranthus deflexus displayed the least antibacterial activity. A. aspera demonstrated the highest antifungal activity against Phoma herbarum, while A. sessilis showed the largest zone of inhibition (9 mm) against Penicillium xyleborini. A. deflexus exhibited the highest zone of inhibition (8 mm) against Trichoderma reesei. Chenopodiastrum murale showed the highest antioxidant activity, whereas Chenopodium ambrosioides exhibited the least. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, glycosides and flavonoids in most plants. These findings suggest that methanolic extracts of these weed species may serve as antimicrobial agents and sources of antibiotics for bacterial illnesses. Additionally, their strong antioxidant activity indicated potential as natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants for food preservation.
Key words : Amaranthaceae, weeds, antimicrobial, antioxidant, phytochemical, disc diffusion