EVALUATING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND PHOTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF TAXUS BACCATA BARK

Taxus baccata is known for its several biological activities, including cytotoxic, antibacterial, antibacterial, antioxidant, etc.In this study, the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of different fractions of T. baccata bark have been determined.The antibacterial potential of extracts was determined using the disc diffusion method, whereas the antioxidant activity was evaluated utilizing the 2, 2diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) test.The other three fractions demonstrated antibacterial activity, with the exception of watery fraction.The highest antibacterial activity was recorded against Klebsiella pneumonia (K.pneumoniae) with a 11.34 mm zone of inhibition by the ethyl acetate fraction, followed by N-butanol extract against Klebsiella pneumonia with a 10.34 mm inhibition zone while against P. aeruginosa the recorded zone of inhibition was (9.67 mm) by chloroform fraction.The fractions showed potent antioxidant activities against DPPH free radicals in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 103, 109, 143, and 265 against n-butanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and aqueous extracts, respectively.The total flavonoid contents recorded were in order: n-butanol>ethyl acetate>chloroform>aqueous extracts with numerical values; 16050, 5925, 10475, and 14100 mg/100 g respectively.In GC-MS investigation, 17 biologically active phytochemicals were recognized in the methanolic extract of T. baccata bark.The extracts exhibited antibacterial and antioxidant potentials, and it was inferred that the observed potential might be at the cost of the reported phytochemicals in the literature.Therefore, this potent medicinal plant needs further investigation to isolate potent antimicrobials and antioxidants in a pure state.