Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Galega purpurea Root

This study was designed to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of methanol extract of Galega purpurea (MEGP) (Papilionaceae) root in various systems. The antioxidant property was evaluated by two methods, namely the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) test and the lipid peroxidation assay by using rat liver homogenate. In lipid peroxidation assay MEGP showed significant activity in all the tested concentrations and the results were dose dependent and comparable to that of the standard drug α-tocopherol. Also the extract inhibited DPPH radical at all concentration in a dose-dependent manner with a calculated IC50 = 51.5±0.02 μg mL-1. Further the extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial activity using disc diffusion method, with three gram positive, three gram negative and two fungal species. MEGP showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms. The results suggest that the methanol extract of G. purpurea root possesses significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.