ANTIMICROBIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION OF Duchesnea indica PLANT

Since ancient times, medicinal plants are commonly employed for pharmaceutical purposes and to cure many diseases. More than 50% of modern drugs have been obtained from plants and used to treat diverse diseases. In this study, phytochemical analysis of different parts of Duchesnea indica has been performed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Antioxidant and antibacterial potentials were probed, and antimicrobial analysis of extracts against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and salmonella typhae and MDR strains was also performed by employing Kirby Baur disc diffusion and well diffusion methods. Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed that all extracts of the selected plant are enriched with important medicinal constituents. Quantitatively total phenolic contents of D. indica revealed the maximum extraction of contents (93.70±1.79) by methanol. The total flavonoid contents of D. indica stem and leaves assay exhibited the highest quantity in aqueous (20.64±1.00) and chloroform (20.72±0.73) extracts. In addition, antioxidant assays by DPPH of D. indica revealed the highest activity for scavenging free radicals. Analysis of D. indica revealed excellent activity against many microorganisms, including S. aureus, S. typhae, E. coli, and Vibrio cholera. Maximum activity (18.6±0.6) against S. aureus was shown by chloroform extract of the stem. The present study's findings advocate the traditional uses of D. indica as an antimicrobial agent and could be envisioned as a valuable source of novel compounds for infection management.