Evaluation Of The Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory And Antioxidant Activities Of Acalypha Indica Leaf Extract Incorporated Into Chitosan Gel: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

Background: Plant-derived bioactive materials are increasingly investigated for antimicrobial, antioxidant and inflammation-related properties. Acalypha indica L. is a medicinal herb of interest, while chitosan is a biodegradable polymer widely used as a carrier for bioactive agents. The present study evaluated A. indica leaf extract incorporated into 2% chitosan gel.
Materials and Methods: A. indica leaves were collected and ground using a mortar and pestle. The processed material was centrifuged at 8000 rpm for 5 minutes and the supernatant was collected. The extract was mixed with 2% chitosan and stirred for 6 hours; the resulting gel was stored at 4°C. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Acinetobacter baumannii and Streptococcus mutans. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 µg/mL using ascorbic acid and diclofenac sodium as the respective reference standards.
Results: The formulation produced inhibition zones of 21 mm against both A. baumannii and S. mutans, compared with 23 mm for the positive controls. Radical scavenging increased from 11.33% to 63.42% across 20-100 µg/mL, compared with 21.02% to 89.64% for ascorbic acid. Anti-inflammatory inhibition increased from 12.38% to 63.88%, compared with 21.82% to 87.32% for diclofenac sodium.
Conclusion: A. indica leaf extract incorporated into chitosan gel demonstrated preliminary antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities under the tested in-vitro conditions. Further standardized studies are required to establish reproducibility, phytochemical composition, formulation stability and biological safety.