Evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera ) extract

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor in Department of Marine Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran

2 B.Sc. in Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran

3 Assistant Professor in Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran

10.22124/japb.2024.27651.1544

Abstract

Despite the high potential that aquatic plants can have in the field of biotechnology, few studies have been focused on this area. This study has investigated the antibacterial and antioxidant effects of the ethanolic extract obtained from the seeds of the wetland plant lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). The antioxidant activity of this extract was evaluated using tests including iron reduction potential, phenol content and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) tests. The results indicated high antioxidant effects of the extract (EC50: 226.8µg/mL) and increased iron reduction potential and phenol content (192.93mg of gallic acid per g of extract). Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was observed (at the concentrations of 50µg/mL) in which the increase in the concentration of the extract led to the increase of its antibacterial effects significantly (P<0.05). However, despite the halo formation for the antibiotic disc, no halo was observed for the disc containing the concentrations of 200, 400 and 800µg/mL extract. In this study, also the flavonoid content of the extract was analyzed and its level obtained 50.3mg of quercetin per g of extract. These findings showed that the ethanolic extract of lotus seeds not only has antioxidant properties, but the use of appropriate concentrations can reduce the growth of bacteria, and open a window for future studies on the extract of this plant for use in traditional medicine and pharmaceutical industries.

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Main Subjects


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