Phytochemical analysis, phenolic content, antioxidant, antibacterial, insecticidal and cytotoxic activites of Allium reuterianum Boiss. extracts

Abstract

Dried bulbs and leaves of <em>Allium reuterianum</em> were extracted with different solvents and evaluated for antioxidant, antibacterial, insecticidal, <em>in vitro</em> cytotoxic activities. The obtained results indicated that the highest compound 3, 4-dihidroksi benzoic acid with 166.2 µg/g in extracts. The ethanolic extracts had the highest phenolic content and acetone extracts had the lowest fenolic content. In the β-carotene-linoleic acid test system, bulb methanol (ABM) and leaf methanol (ALM) extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity. The mean antioxidant activity of ABM and ALM were 75.76±1.22% and 73.42±1.03%, respectively. The highest ferric-reducing power of extract (ABM) was determined 12.75±0.010 trolox equivalent (mg/g). Methanolic extract (ALM) exhibited a dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH and ABTS radicals with IC₅₀values of 0.512±0.003 mg/mL and 0.378±0.002 mg/mL respectively. Very strong reduction of gram-positive <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> growth were observed during incubation of bacteria in bulb extracts (MIC was 20±1.01 μg/mL). The brine shrimp lethality assay of bulb extract has showed good toxic to brine shrimp nauplii, with LC₅₀ of 3.987 μg/mL. The bulb extract of <em>A. reuterianum</em> showed highest larvicidal activity against <em>Cx. pipiens</em> with value LC₅₀ (6.4129 μg/mL). The results suggest that these plants could be used as a source of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents.