Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Erigeron bonariensis L.: A therapeutic weed

Year 2025, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 188 - 203

Supriya Kumari Sharma , Afroz Alam

Abstract

Erigeron bonariensis L. is a weed belonging to the Asteraceae family and possesses diverse medicinal properties. It is known to have therapeutic uses, including infection management and disease treatment. The current research aims to investigate the pharmacological and phytochemical properties of Erigeron bonariensis plant extracts (leaves and shoots). A thorough examination of diverse phytochemicals was carried out through standardized procedures, and the quantitative assessment was evaluated through spectral analysis. The plant extract was subjected to a pharmacological investigation, conclusively establishing its potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl 1-picryl-hydrazyl) scavenging assay and NOSA (Nitric Oxide scavenging) assay, while antimicrobial activity was determined through the disc diffusion method. The phytochemical screening disclosed the presence of alkaloids, sterols, flavonoids, tannins, proteins, fixed oils and fats, carbohydrates, phenols, glycosides, and saponins. The DPPH and NOSA assay revealed that the extract had a significant scavenging capacity. The methanolic leaf extracts exhibited higher efficacy against specific varieties of Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and few fungal species (Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum) in contrast to the extract obtained from the shoot, as evidenced by the antimicrobial tests conducted. The outcomes indicate that the leaves of Erigeron bonariensis, when prepared in methanol, show greater antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than the shoots do. It would be highly beneficial to isolate the specific bioactive compounds responsible for natural substances' therapeutic properties. This approach can facilitate the development of effective treatments for various health conditions in the future.

Keywords

Phytochemicals, Erigeron bonariensis, Antioxidant, Antimicrobials, Weeds

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