Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce (Draceanaceae) is an indigenous plant of South Africa used in herbal medicine for the treatment of different infectious diseases. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the acetone and methanol extracts from its leaves and roots were investigated. The extract exhibited 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity greater than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and is comparable to ascorbic acid. The leaves extract at 1 mg/ml exhibited over 80% DPPH activity, while acetone and methanol extracts from the roots at 0.75 mg/ml showed 91.4 and 92.8% DPPH scavenging activity. The FRAP values for the investigated extracts varied in a wide range between 32.55 and 174.24 µmol Fe II /g. The antibacterial assay showed significant activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The activity was more pronounced on Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus kristinae, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an MIC of 0.1 mg/ml. The results obtained in this study suggest the potential of S. hyacinthoides as a source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Sansevieria hyacinthoides, Draceanaceae, Medicinal plant