Abstract
Ethanol extract of leaf, stem and flower of Wedelia trilobata was assessed for its antimicrobial,
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and phytochemical screening. Total phenolic content was
assessed using Folin-Ciocalteu’s method. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the
scavenging activity of DPPH radical and FRAP assay. The antimicrobial efficacy was determined using
paper disc method against different fungi and bacteria. Sensitivity in terms of zones of inhibition and
phytochemical composition of the all parts extracts were also determined. In vitro anti-inflammatory
activity was evaluated using albumin denaturation, membrane stabilization assay and proteinase
inhibitory assay. Aspirin was used as a standard drug for the study of anti-inflammatory activity. The
results show that, all parts extracts effective against all the bacteria tested, whereas all the extracts were
failure in inhibiting the growth of all Alternaria sp., Cercospora carthami and Nigrospora oryzae, but
other fungi also were showed moderate inhibition against all the three extracts. Phytochemical analysis
revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols and saponins. Leaf and stem ethanol
fractions showed highest total Phenolic content. The leaf and stem ethanol extract possessed strong
scavenging activity in both DPPH and FRAP methods. In DPPH and FRAP method, the leaf and stem had
showed free radical inhibition of 86, 82 and 630.72, 508.81 respectively. The leaf and stem ethanol extract
also showed in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the heat induced albumin denaturation and
red blood cells membrane stabilization with 87.14 and 86.76 and 78.11, 74.17 g/ml respectively.
Proteinase activity was also significantly inhibited by the leaf (84.19 g/ml) and stem (81.84 g/ml). From
the result, it is concluded that phytochemicals (tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols and saponins)
present in the W. trilobata extract may be responsible for the antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity.
Key words: Wedelia trilobata, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, phytochemicals.
