ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A FLAVONE FROM SUDANESE VITEX DONIANA (SWEET)(VERBENACEAE) AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE METHANOLIC FRACTION

From the leaves of Vitex doniana (Sweet) , a flavone (compound I) was isolated and characterized. The isolate was purified by different chromatographic techniques and identified via a combination of spectral tools( IR, UV, 1HNMR and Mass spectroscopy). The methanolic fraction of Vitex doniana was evaluated(in vitro) for its antimicrobial potential against Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Salomonella typhi and Pseudomonasa eruginosa) and Gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus aureus and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans .Promising results were obtained. In vitro antioxidant assay for the methanolic extract was conducted . Evaluation of the antioxidant activity was carried out by measuring the capacity of the extract against stable DPPH radical. The extract showed significant antioxidant activity.