Antitumor and antibacterial activity of ethylacetate extract of Ludwigia hyssopifolia linn and its active principle piperine.

An alkaloid constituent 1-[5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-1-oxo-2,4-pentadienyl]piperidine, trivial name piperine was isolated from Ludwigia hyssopifolia Linn. (Family-Onagraceae). The ethylacetate extract of the plant and the isolated compound piperine were studied for antitumor and in vitro antibacterial activity. Ethylacetate extract showed 73.05 and 84.14% inhibition of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced crown gall tumor formation in potato disc. Piperine exhibited antitumor activity with IC50 value of 13.50 microg/disc. Both ethylacetate extract and piperine showed mild to moderate antibacterial activity against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.