Browsing by Author "Afzal, Aroosa"

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    Formulation and characterization of extracts of AJWA dates
    (University of Management and Technology Lahore, 2017) Afzal, Aroosa
    Ajwa dates (phoenix dactylifera) are special type of fruit which are cultivated in Madinah. Ajwa dates are unique due to its medicinal properties and high nutritional value. It contains high percentage of secondary metabolites. Ajwa dates are being used for medicinal purposes for decades due to the presence of bioactive compounds in them. Objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activity of the Ajwa date extracts. In order to carry out the extraction methanol, water and n-hexane were used as solvents. Phytochemical tests of these extracts were carried out and results showed the high concentration of the flavonoids, saponnins, steroids and many phenolic compounds. Antioxidants were evaluated by using TPC assay which shows that the aqueous extract gives 2.1233 which is the highest value among all solvents and the lowest activity shown by the n-hexane extract which was (0.283).Methanolic extract showed activity (0.6156) which was slightly greater than the n-hexane. Antibacterial activity was performed by agar well diffusion method. In this method all extracts of Ajwa dates were tested against the four bacteria using Amoxicillin as standard. Highest zone of inhibition was shown by the methanolic extract with 50mg/mL concentration of 21mm against E.coli. N-hexane extract of concentration 100mg/mL shows maximum zone of inhibitionof 13mm against theStaphylococusaureus. The aqueous extract of concentration 150mg/mL shows13mmas highest zone of inhibition for both Staphylococusaureus, Spectrococcusmutans. Results suggested that Ajwa dates can significantly act as an anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant agent.