Abstract

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The study investigates the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts of leaves and bulbs of Caladium bicolor (green background with white patches), C. bicolor (green background with pink veins) and C. tricolor (green background with white and pink patches). The chemical and biological analyses were performed using standard procedures. The phytochemical screening indicated varying amount of alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids/steroids, de-oxy sugars, phenols, flavonoids, reducing sugars, phlobatannins and carbohydrates in the extracts. The samples contained high concentration of saponins and carbohydrates, especially in the tubers. Phlobatannins and anthraquinones were not detected in any of the plant extracts. The different concentrations of Caladium leaves and bulbs extracts exhibited moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity against selected wound pathogens (Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans) using disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varied between 0.006 g/ml to 0.55 g/ml. In DPPH assay, leaves extract of Caladium bicolor (green background with white patches) demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity (64.7%, IC50 value, 1.15 mg/ml) which could be correlated to its phenolic content. The results of the study indicate that Caladium bicolor and C. tricolor leaves and bulbs contain potential natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents which could be exploited for possible drug development

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