THE NON-ENZYMATIC ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF FICUS CARICA L. SUBSP. CARICA LEAVES AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES AGAINST FOOD PATHOGENS

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate of the antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of methanol extracts from Ficus carica. Methanol extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against different species of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and one yeast. The methanol extract of Ficus carica showed maximum inhibition zone of 10 mm against Listeria monocytogenes. In addition to, the plant extracts were tested against the stable DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free-radical. Trolox was chosen as a standard antioxidant. Finally, the methanol extract displayed a strong antioxidant activity (Trolox equivalent= 1.33 mM). Ficus carica methanol extracts have antimicrobial and antioxidant potential.