In vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracts from the leaves and stems of Oudneya Africana R. growing in the El Oued (Algeria)

This work is a component of the development of the aerial parts (leaves and stems) of Oudneya africana R., of the Brassicaceae family. For that purpose, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, β-carotene, and phenanthroline assays), and antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extracts of this plant were evaluated. Ethanolic leaf extract had a higher quantity of phenolics (69.75 ± 1.87 μg GAE/mg) and flavonoids (91.88 ± 1.94 μg QE/mg) than stem extract. Despite their significant antioxidant activities, leaf and stem ethanolic extracts had a weaker capacity to block the DPPH radical, as well as the ABTS radical, the β-carotene-linoleate bleaching assay, and the phenanthroline test, than industrial antioxidants, namely butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylhydroxyanisole (BHA). The remarkable antioxidant activity was observed in ethanolic stem extract on the ABTS assay with an IC50 value of 15.90 μg/mL and in the β-carotene with an IC50 value of 20.21 μg/mL. The ethanolic extract from leaves and stems showed excellent antibacterial activity against Candida albicans , with inhibition diameters of 13 mm and 12 mm, respectively. This work comprises a preliminary investigation, and as such, it suggests Oudneya africana R. as a potential candidate for having antibacterial and antioxidant properties and also draws attention to the potential value of using this plant as a traditional treatment.