In-vitro Assay of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Leaf Extract and Leaf Derived Callus Extract of Acalypha Indica L

Acalypha indica (Indian Acalypha), commonly known as Mukhtajhuri in West Bengal is an important medicinal plant of India. The leaves are known to possess antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Leaf decoction is said to have anti-inflammatory properties. The present study shows the presence of antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Acalypha indica leaf extract and leaf-derived callus extract. Antioxidant activity was studied through DPPH assay. Whereas, in vitro antibacterial study of the extracts were carried out by adopting agar well diffusion technique using the pathogens Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella sp, Salmonella sp, Bacillus sp. After 24 hours of incubation maximum zone of inhibition was found against Bacillus sp. for leaf extract and Salmonella sp. for callus extract. These activities may be due to presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds and other secondary metabolites present in these extracts.