In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of some Tunisian vegetables

The aim of the present study was the investigation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of aqueous and methanolic extracts obtained from some Tunisian vegetables. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the microdilution method. Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay.Among tested extracts, the methanolic extract of Apium graveolens had the best antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida kreussei and Candida parapsilosis with MIC values ranging between 0.08 and 0.31 mg/ml. Concerning the antioxidant activity we conclude that aqueous extracts of A. graveolens, Solanum melongena and Anethum graveolens showed the best antioxidant activity with IC50 of 20 μg/ml. These results may suggest that methanolic extracts of Solanum tuberosum and A. graveolens possess good antimicrobial activity, and therefore, they can be used in biotechnological fields as natural preservative ingredients in food and/or pharmaceutical industry.

► We investigated antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of extracts from Tunisian vegetables.
► Antifungal activity was manifest for methanolic extracts of Apium graveolens.
► Methanolic extracts of Solanum tuberosum and Apium graveolens possess good antimicrobial activity.
► Important antioxidant activity was also found in three aqueous extracts.
► Some of the plants can therefore be envisaged for commercial and medicinal applications.