In vitro Antimicrobial Activity, Antioxidant Activity and Synergistic/Antagonistic Effect of Arum maculatum L. in Mersin Province, Turkey

Arum maculatum is used for the treatment of colitis and internal bleeding haemorrhoids among the local people in Turkey. This study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and protective effects of the leaf and root methanol extract of Arum maculatum L. The phenolic compound content of the root and leaf extract was determined as 207.135 +/- 0.07 mu g GAE g-1, and 386.054 +/- 0.7 mu g GAE g extract-1, respectively. The total flavonoid amount was determined as 53.386 +/- 0.220 mu g QE g-1 and 347.704 +/- 0.352 mu g QE g-1 extract, respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging of leaf and root extracts was determined as 76.69% and 67.33%, respectively.. The metal chelating effect was determined as 46.585 +/- 0.025 mg EDTA/g extract and 35.610 +/- 0.087 mg EDTA g extract-1 for roots and leaves, respectively. All extracts were effective against all tested bacteria, and Staphylococcus mutans ATTC 10449 was the most sensitive bacterium with the lowest MIC value (0.20 mg mL-1, 0.81 mg mL-1) for leaf and root extracts, respectively. The biggest diameter of growth inhibition zone (8 +/- 2.44 mm, 9 +/- 3.26) compared to Chloramphenicol. Arum leaf extracts showed a synergistic effect with OFX against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus mutans, and Arum root extracts have a synergistic effect with OFX against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus mutans. These results displayed that A. maculatum has notable natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial properties.