Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Mespilus germanica (L.)

Mespilus germanica L. which has an edible fruit is a medicinal plant whose therapeutic effects have historically been emphasized. In this study, we determined antioxidant capacities of methanolic extracts obtained from M. germanica fruits and seeds by using DPPH assay and Folin-Ciocaltaeu method. It was revealed that the total phenolic contents of methanolic extracts of M. germanica seeds (22.94 mgGAE/g extract) were higher than M. germanica fruits (4.67 mgGAE/g extract). Also, the seed extract (9.33 mgTE/g extract) exhibited stronger free radical scavenging activity in DPPH assay as compared to fruit extract (6.67 mgTE/g extract). Moreover, we determined antimicrobial activity of methanolic extract obtained from M. germanica fruits and seeds against 16 different bacteria by the microdilution method. While the extract of M. germanica obtained from seeds used in study did not have any effects againts bacteria, it was shown that the fruit extract was effective againts five bacteria in 32 mg/ml concentration and against eleven bacteria in 64 mg/ml concentration. Our findings could provide a starting point for further studies on M. germanica.