Screening of the antioxidant, antimicrobial and DNA damage protection potentials of the aqueous extract of Inula oculus-christi

Abstract

In this study, in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and DNA damage protection potentials of the aqueous extract of Inula oculus-christi was firstly evaluated in addition to its total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Antioxidant activity was determined by five complementary test systems named as beta-carotene linoleic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) free radical scavenging, reducing power, chelating effect and phosphomolibdenum methods. The extract exhibited remarkable activity potential in DPPH free radical scavenging system. Antimicrobial activity was determined by agar-well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration tests. In this case, Shigella dysanteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella boydii and Bacillus subtilis was found as the sensitive microorganisms. According to the electrophoretic pattern of pBR322 plasmid DNA after treatment with UV and H2O2, supercoiled DNA was successfully protected in the presence of 14.28 mg/ml or above the concentrations of the aqueous extract.