Evaluation of Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Total Phenolic, Total Flavonoids, Metal Content and Proximate Potential ofSolanum xanthocarpumL. (Solanaceae)
Authors: Azhar Nosheen , Khan Muhammad Qayyum , Bibi Asia , Shoaib Muhammad , Mumtaz Sadia , Batool Tahira , Ashraf Saima , Ijaz Shabir , Firdous Sadiqa , Sharif Faryal 
Published: February 2020

The current research work is focused on screening of antimicrobial, antioxidant, total phenolic, total flavonoid, metal estimation and proximate potential of four parts (fruits, leaves, stem bark and root bark) ofS. xanthocarpum. Antimicrobial potential of dried crude extracts ofS. xanthocarpumwere evaluated against two gram positive bacteria (S. aureus, P. vulgaris), three gram negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa, K. pneumonia, E. coli), three fungi (A. flavus, F. solani, stolonifer) and two yeasts (S. cerevisiae, C. albicans) by using disc diffusion assay. Five organic solvents ranging from non-polar to highly polar were used for extraction of active metabolites. Amongst all the parts ofS. xanthocarpumtested, antimicrobial activity of methanol extract of fruits (14.67±0.33) againstP. aeruginosa, ethanolic extract of leaves againstP. vulgaris(14±0.58), stem bark methanolic extract againstS. aureus(13±0.58) and stem bark methanolic extract againstP. vulgaris(17.67±0.33) were found to be more significant. All other extracts also showed promising antimicrobial activity against bacterial pathogens. Among fungal pathogens,R. stoloniferandS. cerevisiaewere found to be more sensitive to extracts ofS. xanthocarpum. Gram negative bacteria exhibited more resistance than gram positive bacteria. However, fungi were found to be more resistant than bacteria. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity. However, methanol extract of stem bark ofS. xanthocarpumwith IC50value of 0.323102 mg mL−1showed maximum antioxidant potential. Total phenolic contents ranged from 12.3541±1.73 to 23.2942±1.33 Pmol GA/ug. However, highest flavonoid content was found in the stem bark extract (17.8480±1.75 ugRutin/ug) and lowest in leaves extract ofS. xanthocarpum(2.4806±0.59 ugRutin/ug). Total metal contamination in four parts ofSolanum xanthocarpum(fruits, leaves, stem bark and root bark) was estimated by atomic absorption spectroscopy and results showed Cadmium contamination in its stem bark and root bark, Chromium contamination in leaves, stem bark and root bark, Copper and Magnesium contamination in all parts ofS. xanthocarpumand Maganese contamination in leaves critically above the standard permissible limits. The proximate analysis of theSolanum xanthocarpumrevealed that stem bark is a poor source of lipid (3.42%) and high carbohydrate (50.07%) and ash (16.50%) contents. Whereas, root bark has highest wet moisture content (65%), dry moisture content (20%) and lowest fiber (13%). Highest energy (285.455%), protein (8.32%), fat (9.79%) and lowest amount of ash (13%) was found in fruits. This composition shows that theSolanum xanthocarpumcould be considered as a good source of carbohydrate, moisture and energy. These results revealed that over all, methanolic extract of theS. xanthocarpumis richest in phenolic, flavonoid and nutritional contents as well as most potent against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Therefore, further investigation is recommended to isolate, screen and characterize their active metabolites.