Investigation on the Phenolic Content in Moringa oleifera and Its Antimicrobial Activity

Background: One of the most commonly cultivated plant is Moringa oleifera because it has high medicinal in South India and nutritional values. The phytochemicals in it are widely used for the rapeutic purposes. It has a high economic value because of its usefulness traditionally and has a vast number of bioactive compounds. Phenol is one of the most common antimicrobial compounds found in the seeds of M. oleifera. Methods: In this study we aim to analyse Total Phenolic Compound (TPC) and to observe its antimicrobial activity. Seed extracts were prepared using ethanol in Soxhlet apparatus for 36 hrs. The quantification of phenolic compound was done by spectrophotometric method using gallic acid as standard. The crude extract was characterized by HPLC and FTIR, showed that it contained phenol compounds confirmed by specific peak in some areas. FTIR and showed that it contained phenol compounds confirmed by specific peak in some areas. FTIR revealed the following bonds: 3280.92 cm-1 (O–H groups of phenols), 2922.16 cm-1 (C-H groups of phenols), 1544.98 cm-1 (C=O carbonyl group) and 1230.58 (C-O group of phenol) and 1743.65 cm-1 (C=C group of aromatic compounds). Whereas HPLC analysis of and library search confirmed peaks matches with Gallic acid standard. Moringa seeds were characterized by FTIR before extracted. Therefore the highest Total Phenolic Compound found to be 11.85 mg GAE/g (Gallic Acid Equivalent) was reached at 1: 5 ethanol solvent ratio and 3 days extraction time.Conclusion: This M. oleifera extract showed antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1688), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 8561), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 3160) and Proteus mirabilis (MTCC 3310). The anti-microbial activity of the M. oleifera seed is due to the presence of various phytochemicals like phenols. Also it exhibits, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity that proves further research is needed to elucidate other bioactive compounds over other pathogens.