Abstract:
Solvent extracts were prepared from dried fruits of Piper longum and their antioxidant activities
were evaluated. Out of the different extracts tested, the hot ethyl acetate extract and cold hexane:
water extracts (1:1) showed better antioxidant activity. The screening of antimicrobial and anti
tumor effects of piper longum showed the better efficacy of these two extracts. The anti tumor
activity studies showed a dose dependant behaviuor of the extracts towards the leukaemic cell
lines K562 .Among the three bacteria tested, hot ethyl acetate extract showed more potency
against E coli than Bacillus subtilis and was found to be less active for Staphylococcos aureus.
The antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti tumor effects were found to be higher for hot extracts
than cold extracts. The chemical fingerprinting of the most active extract was also carried out
using HPTLC. The present study paved way for the extraction procedure for better biologically
active constituents of Piper longum.
