Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts from tubers and leaves of Colchicum balansae Planchon

In this study, we examined the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Colchicum balansae Planchon (CB). The solvent extracts were prepared from CB tubers and leaves. In addition, free radical scavenging activities were also determined. Result of this study show that leaves extracts of CB exhibited higher antioxidant activity than tuber extracts with all types of solvent. The highest antioxidant activity efficiency was determined in extract leaf-ethanol (64%) and the least efficiency in extract tuber-benzine (14.5%). All extracts of CB tubers and leaves have effective free radical scavenging and reducing power. The highest free radical scavenging activity was determined in extract leaf-benzine (68.35%), this activity was followed by acetone (61.23%), methanol (58.67%) and ethanol extracts (54.74%) respectively. The highest radical scavenging activity was determined in extract tuber-benzine (61.28%), and the least efficiency in extract tuber-ethanol (20.48%). In addition, all extracts of CB tubers and leaves were determined as pyrocatechol equivalents. The results showed that Colchicum ethanol extract had a weak inhibitory effect against tested bacteria. S. aureus ATCC 25923 was more sensitive against ethanol extract (10 mm inhibition zone). When comparing the antimicrobial activity of the control antibiotics, the ethanol extract exhibited lower antimicrobial activity.