Abstract
Ziziphus Mill. is the most important genera of the family Rhamnaceae, which is widely distributed all over the world and is used for centuries in locale medicine system. The main aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical screening, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of crude methanolic extract of Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. leaves against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603, Pseudomonas aerugenosa ATCC 27853, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 14153 and a pathogenic fungus; Candida albicans. The results of phytochemical screening have shown that, the plant extract has a detectable amount of bioactive constituents; cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, phenols, phytosterols, quinones, resins, saponins and terpenoids. The results of antioxidant activity of plant extract have shown that, IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) value of plant extract was 0.875 mg/mL, which suggests that, the plant extract has a significant level of free radicals scavenging activity. The plant extract has also shown a significant level of antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC 25923 (zone of inhibition diameter: 12 mm, MIC: 625 mu g/mL, MBC: 1250 mu g/mL), B. cereus ATCC 10876 (zone of inhibition diameter: 12 mm, MIC: 625 mu g/mL, MBC: 1250 mu g/mL), S. pneumoniae ATCC 49619 (zone of inhibition diameter: 10 mm, MIC: 156.25 mu g/mL, MBC: 312.5 mu g/mL) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (zone of inhibition diameter: 10 mm, MIC: 125 mu g/mL). Thus, the crude methanolic extract of Z. mauritiana Lam. leaves might be used for the curing of various human diseases.