Abstract

The Borassus flabellifer fruit which is one of the summer fruits of India can be considered a promising therapeutic food as it is a good source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial, anticancer and antidiabetic activity of the locally available aqueous freeze-dried seed powder extract of Borassus flabellifer. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using agar well diffusion assay against gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Anticancer activity was studied using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay against HeLa and Vero cells. Antidiabetic activity of the sample was evaluated using alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase inhibition assays. Results revealed that the sample displayed maximum antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae); showed satisfactory anticancer activity against the HeLa cells and exhibited potent alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, thus indicating the use of the Borassus flabellifer seed powder as a potential therapeutic agent for the development of drugs and functional foods.