In Vitro Evaluation of Antibacterial and Anticoagulant Activities of Harmala Alkaloids Roots

Abstract

Peganum harmala L. is a wild herbal plant rich in active compounds, and is among the most used plants in local medicine. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the evaluation of some biological activities of alkaloids extract of P. harmala roots. Using the classical method of extraction of β-carboline alkaloids, the yield of alkaloids in the roots was estimated at 2.34 %. The thin layer chromatography (TLC) method identified the two components Harmine and Hrmaline in the total alkaloid extract of the roots. We evaluated the antibacterial activity of harmala alkaloids in roots against three referenced bacterial strains, and this using the agar medium diffusion method, all extracts showed significant activity against all tested bacterial strains, the largest inhibition zone diameter of 20 mm was recorded with Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 50 mg/ml of crude alkaloids. The anticoagulant activity of alkaloid extracts was also examined using the prothrombin time (PT) and partial activation thromboplastin time (APTT) tests. The clotting times obtained in normal plasma indicate that they have good activity in both coagulation pathways compared with sodium heparin, especially in the prolongation of blood clotting in the intrinsic pathway.

Keywords

• peganum harmala
• alkaloids
• tlc
• antibacterial effect
• anticoagulant activity.