Phytochemical, antimicrobial, antioxidant and immunomodulatory studies of leaf extracts of Cyclea peltata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson

The objective of the present investigation is to study the phytochemical constituents, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory effects of Cyclea peltata leaf extract. The fresh whole plants were collected from Kannur, Kerala, India. The crude extract of leaves of C. peltata prepared using methanol and aqueous solvents and were used to investigate the antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae by well diffusion method. Antioxidant by DPPH method and immunomodulatory study using Swiss albino rats. The extracts showed the presence of phytoconstituents like tannin, proteins, resins, carbohydrates, alkaloids and terpenoids. Both the extracts showed varying degree of inhibitory potential against all the tested bacteria. Methanol extract of plant had higher inhibitory action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus mutans. While Staphylococcus aureus showed low sensitivity against aqueous extract of C. peltata. The body weight of the animals showed constant in the case of lower concentration of the drug (1 mg/kg), whereas at higher concentration, the animals showed reduced body weight, with more reduction in highest concentration. Similarly for the organs like liver, the higher dose showed increased mass of liver when compared to lower doses of the drug. The tested animals showed good immunomodulatory effect against the leaf extract. This study further suggests the use of plant extract in treating disease caused by tested microbial organisms.