Environmental Applications and Bio-Profiling of Tribulus Terrestris: an Ecofriendly Approach

The antibacterial and antioxidant activity of different parts of Tribulus terrestris, such as leaves and roots, was carried out using methanol and n-hexane as solvents. The leaves of plant have greater extraction yield than roots. The antibacterial activity was checked against both gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). Antibacterial activity was performed by disk inhibition method. Leaves show greater antibacterial activity (29 mm and 30 mm) against both S. aureus and E. coli, whereas roots show (16 mm and 21 mm) against both species respectively. Antioxidant activity was carried out by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging free-radical assay. Leaf extract showed greater antioxidant activity (73%) than that of roots (52%). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined by spectrophotometer analysis. The results indicate that leaf extract contains higher phenolic and flavonoid contents (723 mg Gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 476 mg Quercetin equivalents (QE)/g as compared to roots extract (235mg GAE/g and 93 mg QE/g).