A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIAL OF LEAVES & FLOWERS OF MIKANIA MICRANTHA KUNTH FROM PASCHIM MEDINIPUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Mikania micrantha Kunth is a noxious weed of Asteraceae, which is the biggest enemy of biodiversity right now, but we cannot disregard the plant’s therapeutic potential. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of leaves and flowers from Mikania micrantha Kunth. Antibacterial screening was done by agar well diffusion method using Gentamicin (4mg/ml stock) as a standard antibiotic. The active extract’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth dilution method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH method using Ascorbic acid as standard. The results showed that leaf and flower is antioxidant property correlates with their total phenol and flavonoid content. The flower extract exhibited highest antioxidant properties with IC₅₀ value of 60.44 μg/ml. Leaf extract showed very strong antibacterial properties against wound infection-causing bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 87 and Streptococcus pyogens MTCC 437. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active extract against Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 87, Streptococcus pyogens MTCC 437 was 400μg/ml and 800μg/ml, respectively. The result of this study indicates that the flower of Mikania micrantha contains high phenols and flavonoids which is responsible for their strong antioxidant property. So, the flower extract has the potential to be used as a natural antioxidant. The result of antibacterial study also scientifically validates the use of Mikania micrantha leaf paste for cut and wounds in traditional medicine.