Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of mistletoe (Viscum album) growing on cola (Cola nitida) tree in Akure North, Nigeria.

Abstract

The result from this research work showed that the percentage yield of the 60% methanolic-extract of V. album leaves was the highest (25.36 + 1.58 ). The lowest yield was recorded for cold water extract (13.36 + 0.50 ). The antioxidant assay of the V. album extracts was 194 mg/100g total phenol content and a dose-dependent (0.1 -1.0 mg/ml) relationship for the reducing ability, Free radical scavenging and the Fe2+ chelating tendency. The result of the antibacterial properties of the extracts recorded the highest inhibition zones (15.33 + 0.33) for Strep. faecium and the least zone (7.33 + 0.67) for Enterococcus faecalis. For the antifungal, the highest inhibition zone recorded was ( 9.17 ± 0.17) for Aspergillus Niger and the least zone was (2.00 + 0.00) for Fusarium oxysporium and Microsporum Sp. The results from this work show that V.album leaves extract is a potential source of broad spectrum antimicrobial agent and a potent antioxidant.