ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT CHARACTERISTICS OF CANNABIS SATIVA: A MEDICINAL HERB FROM GILGIT-BALTISTAN

Abstract

Medicinal plants are being used from prehistoric times for the curative purposes. In present study, local plants of Gilgit-Baltistan i.e., Cannabis sativa, Arteimisia sieversiana and Delphinium brunonianum were investigated for their antibacterial and antioxidant potential. Ethyl acetate extracts of these selected plants revealed the presence of different phytochemicals in all extracts. Maximum antibacterial activity against Bacillus (KC 881030) and Pseudomonas (KC 881031) strains was shown by C. sativa (14 mm). Its minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) was found to be 1.56 mg/ml against test strain of Bacillus. Free radical scavenging ability of C. sativa plant extract was highest (68.9%) as compared to rest of the tested extracts. Antimitotic assay showed considerable antimitotic potential (20% mitotic index) of C. sativa. Thin Layer Chromatography revealed 11 different spots that were further partially purified to determine their antibacterial activity. Significant zone of inhibition were exhibited by two spots i.e. 17 mm and 18 mm. In future, bioactive components of these selected plants can be used in pharmaceutical sector as antioxidant and antimitotic agents.