DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v26i1.247

Keywords: Commelinaceae; Tradescantia spathacea; phytochemical study; antioxidant; antibacterial

Abstract

Tradescantia spathacea Sw. (T. Spathacea) belongs to the Commelinaceae family and has a wide range of pharmacological activities. This study aims to identify the classes of phytochemicals through phytochemical screening, quantify the antioxidant content via total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) analyses, evaluate the antioxidant activity via DPPH free radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and analysis of the antibacterial properties of leaf extracts via disc diffusion (DF) and broth microdilution (MD) assays. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of terpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, and quinones. The ethyl acetate extract showed the best TPC and TFC values of 84.5 ± 0.6 mg GAE/g DW and 33.6 ± 3.0 mg CE/g DW, respectively. Ethyl acetate leaf extracts also exhibited good antioxidant properties in the DPPH assay and FRAP assay with EC50 values of 288 ± 36 µg/mL and 12.18 ± 0.12 mmol Fe2+/g DW, respectively. The results of the antibacterial assay revealed that ethyl acetate leaf extracts were active against S. aureus, E. coli, and A. baumannii with the MIC value of 5 mg/mL, respectively. To date, the antibacterial activity of T. spathacea leaf extract against E. faecium and A. baumannii has not been reported. The results showed that T. spathacea is a potential source of natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents.