Phytochemical and Biological Investigation of the Leaves of Tridax procumbens

Aims: Because of various traditional uses of Tridax procumbens leaves, the authors choose the plant for investigating the numerous biological activities. The main objective for this study is to search antioxidant activity, hypoglycemic activity and antibacterial activities with initial phytochemical investigations of the leaves of Tridax procumbens.

Methodology: The phytochemical purposes were achieved by using two different chromatographic techniques thin layer chromatography (TLC), vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC). DPPH test, glucose uptake activity of yeast cells and agar plate diffusion technique were performed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity, hypoglycemic activity and anti-bacterial properties respectively of different fraction obtained from VLC by using different solvent systems such as dichloromethane, butanol, ethyl acetate and methanol. 31.25 µg/ml, 62.5 µg/ml, 125 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml and 500 µg/ml sample were used from each fraction to investigate antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity where vitamin C tablet and metformin were used as standard respectively. Antibacterial capacity was measured by measuring zone of inhibition resulted by the fractions where ciprofloxacin was taken as reference drug.

Results: Some visible spots were identified in the TLC plate which confirms the presence of different compounds in the fractions obtained from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Tridax procumbens. Butanol and ethyl acetate fractions showed the highest antidiabetic activity. In addition to, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol fractions exerted more than 80% antioxidant capacity in DPPH assay. Furthermore, butanol fraction gives maximum zone of inhibition up to 21 mm against Staphylocuccos aureas which ensure anti-bacterial properties of the leaves of Tridax procumbens especially against Staphylocuccos aureas and its strains.

Conclusion: Notwithstanding the all the research, the leaves had anti-inflammatory properties, which may have been generated by their antioxidant activity. As a result, if more therapeutic research is done, the separated compounds in those fractions may be employed as future therapeutic strategies.