PHARMACOGNOSTICAL, ANTIMICROBIAL AND LAXATIVE STUDY OF SCORZONERA UNDULATA IN LIBYA

Abstract

ABSTRACT
This work describes the microscopical, phytochemical, antimicrobial and laxative studies of methanolic extracts of both aerial and root parts of Scorzonera
undulata (Asteracea) which is commonly known in Libya as Elgiz. The results indicate the presence of some secondary metabolites; coumarines, flavonoids,
tannins and different types of glycosides; phenolic, anthraquinone and cardiac glycosides. The aerial part extract also exhibited antimicrobial activities against
three standard strains of bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with a reasonable low minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli of 25 mg/ml while the root part extract showed antibacterial activity only against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml respectively. Both extracts of Scorzonera undulate didn’t show
any anti-fungal effect against the fungus Candida albicans. The laxative study was applied only on the aerial part of Scorzonera undulata (200 and 400
mg/kg) using gastro-intestinal transit of a charcoal meal method where it exhibited a high significant dose dependent increase in the percentage of total length
of the intestine. These findings proved the folk use of Scorzonera undulate as a laxative plant.