Vol. 6, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

Terminalia arjuna, a medicinal tree native to South Asia, has garnered attention for its broad pharmacological properties. This study focuses on the antimicrobial and antioxidant potential of extracts derived from the leaves and bark of Terminalia arjuna. The primary aim was to evaluate the bioactive properties of these extracts, utilizing different solvents to maximize the extraction of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other bioactive constituents. Both leaves and bark extracts were subjected to in vitro assays to assess their antimicrobial activity against a range of bacterial and fungal pathogens, including B. subtilis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans etc. The antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated by broth dilution method for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The antioxidant potential was investigated using assays such as DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay, and total phenolic content estimation. The results revealed that both the leaves and bark extracts exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, with the leaves extract showed slightly higher potency, likely due to its higher phenolic content. Furthermore, both extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity, with % scavenging activity values comparable to standard antioxidants like ascorbic acid. The findings suggest that Terminalia arjuna extracts could serve as a natural source of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, potentially useful for therapeutic applications in treating infections and combating oxidative stress-related disorders. Further studies are recommended to isolate specific bioactive compounds and explore their mechanisms of action.