In vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and phytochemical screening of Apium graveolens

The present study evaluates the phytochemical screenings, antioxidant activity and antimicrobial assay of Apium graveolens L. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, saponins and steroids in Apium graveolens while terpenoids was absent. The total phenolic content was slightly higher in methanolic fraction (63.46 +/- 12.00mg GAE/g) followed by ethanol (36.60 +/- 12.28 mg GAE/g) and hexane fractions (34.86 +/- 6.96mg GAE/g). The flavonoid content was high in methanolic extract (56.95 +/- 7.14mg Quorcetin/g) and low level of the content was found in methylated spirit extract (29.2 +/- 3.15mg Quercitin/g). Antioxidant activity assayed by FRAP was higher in methanolic fraction (12.48 +/- 1.06 mmole of FeSO4 equivalent/litre of extract) compared with other extracts. Likewise, good antimicrobial activity was measured by crude ethanol fraction against S. aureus (MIC=0.12 +/- 0.03 mu g/ml) and S. typhi (MIC= 0.5 +/- 0.2 mu g/ml). Results also that ethanolic fraction was effective against A. flavus (MIC= 05 +/- 1.0 mu g/ml)