Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae)

The hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water extracts of Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae) were assessed for their antibacterial and antioxidant capacities. The antioxidant capacities were evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and β-carotene bleaching assays. The antimicrobial activities were assessed using the classical pour-plate disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and death kinetic assays, against six bacterial strains. The ethanol extract displayed significant antioxidant capacities both in the FRAP and β-carotene bleaching assays. The ethanol extract abrogated the growth of all the bacteria tested. Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride spectrometry assays indicated the presence phenolic compounds, including flavonoids in the ethanol extract.