Antibacterial activity of different extracts of Daucus carota canopy

Genus Daucus is a member of Apiaceae family which is one of the most important families of angiosperms. The usage of these plants, particularly as flavourings, spices, and in traditional medicine, is connected with aromatic compounds that may occur in all parts of the plant. Carrots (Daucus Carota) are nutritional heroes; they store a goldmine of nutrients; e.g. carotene as carrots, which the body converts it to vitamin A, an excellent source of vitamins B, C, D and E, thiamine, folic acid and magnesium, as well as calcium pectate (pectin fibre) which have cholesterol-lowering properties. They are used in the diet of cancer patients, the dried flowers are used as a remedy for dropsy, besides, they are antianaemic, healing, diuretic, anthelmintic, carminative, emmenagogue, ophthalmic and sedative properties. Its phytochemical screening showed the presence of coumarin, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavones, flavanols and their glycosides and terpenes In the present study, dried collected Daucus Carota canopy was powdered then extracted by successive solvent extraction in Soxhlet extractor with chloroform followed by ethyl acetateand finally ethanol. The three extracts were vacuum dried and checked for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutans and Escherichia coli. The ethanolic extract gave the largest zone of inhibition i.e. showed to be the most active one against the tested bacteria. Thus, phytochemical screening of this extract was carried out and indicated the presence of apigenin 7-O-β-D-arabinoside-4'-O-β-D-glucoside, 7-O-β-D-glucoside, 4'-O-β-D-glucoside, 7-O-β-D-arabinoside, luteolin 7-O-β-D-mannoside-4'-O-β-D-glucoside, 7-O-β-D-galactoside, 7-O-β-D-mannoside, chrysoeriol 7-O-β-D-arabinoside, 7-O-β-D-glucoside besides the three aglycones: luteolin, apigenin, chrysoeriol and the following phenolic acids: caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids.