Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Property of a True Mangrove Rhizophora apiculata Bl.

Mangroves are abundant in bioactive natural substances that fight off pathogenic diseases. Different parts of R. apiculata, an abundant mangrove found in Bhitarkanika National Park, India were extracted with methanol and a mixture of solvents methanol/ethanol/chloroform (60 : 20 : 20) to evaluate their antimicrobial properties. The combination solvent extract of bark had the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 18.62 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a ZOI of 17.41 mm against Streptococcus mitis. Bark extracts had the highest DPPH (43 %) and FRAP (96 %) activities. The combination solvent bark extract of R. apiculata had the highest ZOI of 20.42 mm (lowest MIC of 2.12 μg/ml) against Candida albicans and ZOI of 15.33 mm (MIC of 3.02 μg/mL) against Penicillium chrysogenum. Combination bark extracts of R. apiculata contained flavanols than methanolic extracts. The crude extract of R. apiculata bark made with a mixture of solvents containing more active ingredients could be used in novel drug formulation.