2017, Vol. 5, Issue 4, Part A

author(s)
Phyu Phyu Myint, Aye Nyein Sann and Naing Mar Soe

abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the possible phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-microbial activities of Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. plant, well known as folk dietary supplement in Rakhine coast, Myanmar. In this study, preliminary phytochemical investigation, DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging and agar well diffusion methods were conducted. The results showed that the presence of steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins in samples. Nutrient value has been found as 6.1 and 6.0 % of moisture, 3.6 and 14.2 % of crude fat, 18.4 and 6.0 % of protein, 5.7 and 30.0 % of dietary fiber, 59.7 and 33.2 % of carbohydrate, 6.6 and 10.6 % ash, and 344.8 and 284.6 kcal /100 g based on dried leaf and root samples. In vitro antioxidant assay, the result suggested the order of the extracts of EtOH (root) > aqueous (root) > aqueous (leaf) > EtOH (leaf). The antimicrobial activities (in vitro) of pet-ether, EtOAc, CH₂Cl₂, 95 % EtOH, MeOH and aqueous extracts were screened on six species of microorganisms, namely Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Among the tested crude extracts of leaf sample, pet-ether and EtOH extracts were found to possess the most potent antimicrobial activity against all the test microorganisms. However, pet-ether and aqueous extracts did not show the antimicrobial activity for the root sample.From the results of this study, the plant could be applied as the local health remedy to the local indigenous communities of our country.