Pharmacological Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Hydroalcoholic Extracts from <i>Oroxylum Indicum</i> and <i>Pongamia Pinnata</i>

Background: For centuries, plants like Pongamia pinnata and Oroxylum indicum have been recognized in Ayurveda for their medicinal value. Pharmacological studies are essential to validate their traditional therapeutic uses. Method: This work investigates the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of hydroalcoholic extracts from Oroxylum indicum and Pongamia pinnata. Antioxidant potential was tested using multiple assays, while antimicrobial effects against Salmonella bongori and Streptococcus mutans were assessed by agar well diffusion. Result: The extraction yield was 3.59% for Pongamia pinnata and 4.15% for Oroxylum indicum. In the DPPH assay, Oroxylum indicum showed an IC50 of 82.67 μg/ml, indicating stronger radical scavenging compared to Pongamia pinnata (102.62 μg/ml). The nitric oxide assay also favored Oroxylum indicum (82.25 μg/ml) over Pongamia pinnata (106.17 μg/ml). Similarly, in the hydrogen peroxide assay, Oroxylum indicum (76.58 μg/ml) proved more effective than Pongamia pinnata (103.04 μg/ml). Oroxylum indicum exhibited inhibition zones of 14 mm against Salmonella bongori and 14 mm against Streptococcus mutans at 100 mg/ml, whereas Pongamia pinnata showed 12.3 mm and 11 mm, respectively. Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin were used as standards, with Ciprofloxacin showing a maximum inhibition zone of 25mm against Salmonella bongori. Conclusion: Both plants demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, with Oroxylum indicum exhibiting greater efficacy than Pongamia pinnata.