An Investigation of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Nettle (Urtica dioica L.), Mint (Mentha piperita), Thyme (Thyme serpyllum) and Chenopodium album L. Plants from Yaylacık Plateau, Giresun, Turkey

Abstract

Ethanol, chloroform and hexane extracts from plants namely Urtica dioica L., Mentha piperita, Thyme serpyllum and Chenopodium album L. were evaluated for their total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, antioxidant and antibacterial efficiencies. The antioxidant activities were screened utilizing DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS scavenging activity, CUPRAC activity and total antioxidant capacity. Antibacterial activity of the tested extracts was determined by disc diffusion and broth dilution methods. U. dioica and C. album extracts showed varying activities against the test bacteria. The hexane extracts of T. serpyllum and C. album showed the weakest copper reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) activity. 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity of the solvents are increased in the following order: Ethanol>Chloroform>Hexane. Our results revealed that all of the tested plants might be an alternative to synthetic antioxidant and antibacterial agents.