ANTIBACTERIAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND TOPOISOMERASE- I INHIBITOR ACTIVITIES OF THE COASTAL ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT PEMPHISACIDULA

Abstract

Pemphis a(idu!a stem bark had been used traditionally in Indonesia to treat Recurrent Aphthous SromatitisThis research was conducted to examine the biological activities of its ei.tract as antibacterial, antioxidant and topoisomerase-l inhibitor. The latter mentioned is one of the target molecules for anticancer drug. The antibacterial activity was examined using disc diffusion assay against Stnphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas t1eruginosa, Esth<ricbia coli and Streptococcus mu/am. 'The antioxidant activity was measured using superoxide radical scavenging activity assay. Topoisomerase-lnhibitor activity was determined using the method reported byTopoGEN .1be chloroform extract did not show antibacterial activity and ir has low antioxidant activity (48.5%). The ethyl acetate and methanol ex"tracts positively inhibited the growth of target bacteria at concentration of0.3-mg/paper disk. It also showed high antioxidant activity. At concentration of250 ~tg/ml both e.xtracts were able to scavenge superoxide free radicals which was 94.8% and 83.4% for ethyl acetate and methanol extract, respectively. The methanol i:.xtract also inhibited topoisomerase-1 activity at concentration of 7.5 μg/ml. The results suggest that there is a correlation benveen antibacterial, antioxidant and t<>poisomcrase-I inhibitor activity. The stem bark extracts contain biologically active compounds that could be potencial for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical development.