PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSES, ANTIBACTERIAL, IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI (L.) SEED EXTRACT

Phytochemical constituents present in the aqueous and ethanolic extract of Syzygium cumini seeds were investigated which were found to be responsible for its medicinal efficacy. The major phytoconstituents present in S. cumini seeds were further determined by GCMS analysis which showed the presence of polyphenols, sesquiterpenes, n-alkanes. The antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of S. cumini seeds were tested against common human pathogens by agar well diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of various pathogens were also evaluated. The seed extract was found to have high antibacterial activity. The total polyphenolic content of the ethanolic extract of S. cumini seed was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method. The antioxidant activity of S. cumini seed ethanolic extract was evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay and total antioxidant capacity. S. cumini seed extract was found to have very high and potent antioxidant activity and might be due to the presence of high phenolic components in seed. The cytotoxicity assay of S. cumini seed ethanolic extract was carried out by trypan blue dye exclusion technique where the seed extract showed potential cytotoxic activity against cervical cancer cells.